Spurs Rattle Sonics

SAN ANTONIO -- Shortly after losing two of their best players, the Seattle SuperSonics had all but lost the game. And it wasn't even halftime yet.

The San Antonio Spurs didn't have the same type of Game 1 letdown they had in the opening round, taking a big first-half lead and holding it the rest of the way in a 103-81 victory over Seattle on Sunday night in the opener of their second-round series.

In the span of less than a minute during the second quarter, the Sonics lost Ray Allen and Vladimir Radmanovic to ankle sprains. The Spurs then went on a 17-2 run to make it 58-28 with about two minutes remaining in the half.

Allen, an All-Star who averaged 32.4 points in the SuperSonics' first-round series win over Sacramento, sprained his right ankle while driving to the basket with about eight minutes left in the first half. Radmanovic rolled his right ankle while defending Brent Barry and had to be carried from the court by teammates. He was later seen being pushed in a wheelchair.

It was not immediately known if either would be able to play in Game 2 on Tuesday night.

Tony Parker matched his career playoff high with 29 points for the Spurs, who lost Game 1 of their first-round series at home against Denver after coming out slow and then shooting poorly in the fourth quarter. San Antonio then won the next four games to advance.

Tim Duncan added 22 points and nine rebounds for the Spurs, who shot 51 percent. Glenn Robinson added 16 points.

Rashard Lewis led Seattle with 19 points and Antonio Daniels scored 15.

Parker said before the series started he would attack the Sonics defense from the get-go, and he was true to his word.

He drove inside for San Antonio's first three baskets. Ten of the Spurs' 12 field goals in the first quarter were layups, and Duncan had a dunk.
Manu Ginobili hit a 3-pointer from the left wing to give San Antonio a 18-8 lead midway through the first quarter. Two layups by Allen and a short jumper by Lewis cut it to 19-14, but the Spurs then finished the period by outscoring Seattle 16-8.

San Antonio led by 13 when Radmanovic rolled his ankle. Radmanovic had suffered a stress fracture in his lower right leg in March and missed the final 19 games of the regular season. He played in all five first-round playoff games against the Kings, averaging 6.4 points and 3.6 rebounds.

Seattle, which trailed 62-35 at the break, finished the second quarter by shooting 3-for-13 after Allen's injury.

Notes
The Spurs are 5-0 in the Duncan era when hosting Game 1 of a Western Conference semifinal series. ... The Spurs' Robert Horry played in his 181st playoff game, moving past Dennis Johnson for ninth place all-time. ... Nate McMillan's playoff record is 5-5 as Seattle's coach. ... Nick Collison beat the third-quarter buzzer with a heave from the Spurs' free-throw line to make it 75-57.
Updated on Sunday,