Full-Package Payton Burns Grizzlies

Gary Payton has always been known for his great defense. Now opponents are starting to talk about his offensive skills.

“He’s always been a great defender, but his perimeter shooting has taken a quantum leap,” Vancouver’s Brian Winters said Monday night after Payton’s 30-point performance sparked Seattle to a 112-96 victory in KeyArena.

“He’s the full package now,” Winters said. “He is a great guard.”

In a game when the Sonics improved their record to 8-0 in January and the second-year Grizzlies became the fastest team to lose 100 games, Payton scored 30 points or more for the fourth time this season.

In 40 minutes, last season’s NBA defensive player of the year hit 11 of 14 shots, including 6 of 8 3-point attempts.

“All this is a result of work,” said Payton, a member of Dream Team III at the Atlanta Olympics. “I had no time to do anything but play basketball last summer.”

“This is an example of Gary growing up and how as a mature player he comes through when we need him,” said Sam Perkins.

“When he’s knocking down that 3, he’s impossible to guard,” teammate Hersey Hawkins added.

Shawn Kemp added 23 points and Detlef Schrempf had 20 for the Pacific Division-leading Sonics, who scored the final 10 points of the game after the Grizzlies pulled within 102-96.

“We let it get away,” Winters said. “But they’re a good team. They do what they have to do when the game is close.”

The frustrated Grizzlies replaced the Miami Heat in the record book by losing their 100th game in 123 starts. Miami lost 100 of its first 124 games in its first two seasons, 1988-89 and 1989-90.

Greg Anthony, who left with an injured left thumb with 2:10 remaining and Seattle ahead 107-96, scored 24 points, including three 3-pointers in the final quarter. He tied his own Vancouver franchise record with six 3-pointers.

Anthony required stitches after cutting his thumb on the rim while trying to block a shot.

Perkins, who had hit nine consecutive 3-pointers in two straight games, was 0 for 2 from 3-point range in his bid to tie the NBA record of 13 straight 3-pointers held by Brent Price and Terry Mills.

Perkins’ first missed 3-pointer came with 3:56 to go in the third quarter.

“I thought it was in for a minute,” said Perkins, who tied the league record for most 3-pointers without a miss by going 8 for 8 in a victory over Toronto last Wednesday. “It was the best way to miss a shot. A guy runs at you and the ball skims out.”

Shareef Abdur-Rahim scored 19 points for Vancouver.

The Sonics led 65-53 at halftime as Payton connected on three 3-pointers and scored 15 points in the first quarter.

SuperSonics 112, Grizzlies 96

FG FT Reb VANCOUVER Min M-A M-A O-T A PF Pts Abdur-Rahim 33 8-13 3-6 1-3 1 3 19 Lynch 19 3-6 3-6 2-6 5 5 9 Reeves 34 3-6 1-2 5-8 1 5 7 Mayberry 24 4-7 0-0 0-2 2 2 10 Peeler 29 1-12 2-2 1-3 0 2 4 Rogers 25 5-8 4-4 2-6 1 5 14 Chilcutt 10 0-0 0-0 0-1 2 0 0 Anthony 28 7-10 4-4 0-2 3 0 24 Edwards 22 1-5 2-2 1-2 5 4 4 Moten 14 2-4 1-2 1-4 2 3 5 Mobley 2 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 Totals 240 34-71 20-28 13-37 22 29 96

Percentages: FG .479, FT .714.

3-Point Goals: 8-13, .615 (Anthony 6-7, Mayberry 2-3, Edwards 0-1, Peeler 0-2).

Team Rebounds: 9.

Blocked shots: 4 (Rogers 3, Chilcutt).

Turnovers: 19 (Reeves 4, Lynch 3, Mayberry 3, Abdur-Rahim 2, Peeler 2, Anthony 2, Edwards 2, Moten).

Steals: 9 (Lynch 3, Peeler 2, Abdur-Rahim, Mayberry, Anthony, Moten).

Technical fouls: None.

Illegal defense: 1.

FG FT Reb SEATTLE Min M-A M-A O-T A PF Pts Kemp 30 6-9 9-12 1-5 0 6 23 Schrempf 38 8-13 4-5 2-7 7 3 20 McIlvaine 24 4-5 2-2 2-2 0 5 10 Hawkins 37 3-8 3-4 1-5 7 3 9 Payton 40 11-14 2-4 1-6 4 1 30 Perkins 23 3-8 2-2 1-1 3 1 8 Wingate 13 1-4 0-0 0-0 0 1 3 Cummings 18 2-5 3-4 0-2 0 1 7 Stewart 5 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 Snow 12 1-2 0-0 0-1 2 2 2 Totals 240 39-69 25-33 8-29 23 23 112

Percentages: FG .565, FT .758.

3-Point Goals: 9-20, .450 (Payton 6-8, Kemp 2-2, Wingate 1-2, Perkins 0-2, Schrempf 0-3, Hawkins 0-3).

Team Rebounds: 8.

Blocked shots: 5 (McIlvaine 2, Kemp, Hawkins, Perkins).

Turnovers: 16 (Payton 5, Kemp 4, Schrempf 2, McIlvaine 2, Perkins, Cummings, Snow).

Steals: 9 (Schrempf 3, Hawkins 3, Payton 2, Cummings).

Technical fouls: None.

Illegal defense: 1.

Vancouver 24 29 25 18 - 96

Seattle 35 30 25 22 - 112

A-17,072 (17,072). T-2:09.

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