Watson unwrapped
SEATTLE – Bob Hill saw Earl Watson start to overcome his early season struggles in practice about 10 days ago.
It didn’t materialize on the court until Friday night.
Watson sparked Seattle off the bench with 17 points, seven assists and five steals, leading the SuperSonics to a 94-74 victory Friday night over the New Orleans Hornets.
Watson entered the game shooting just 30.6 percent, but was 7 of 13 and ignited a dominant first half by the Sonics, who won their third straight home game.
“He turned the corner 10, 12 days ago in practice … but it’s still somewhat of a breakthrough performance for him. That’s what we got used to seeing last year,” Hill said. “His energy, stealing the ball, making dramatic plays; I’m happy for him, he needed it.”
Watson, who darted out of the locker room before Hill finished his postgame comments, had struggled to find his shot and his bantering in the media with Hill fueled rumors the reserve guard could be on the trading block.
Watson showed glimpses of emerging from his slump Tuesday with 10 points against Atlanta. His improvement will be needed for the next two weeks as the Sonics will be without leading scorer Ray Allen, out with a bruised bone in his right ankle.
Allen enjoyed what he saw from the sidelines as the Sonics built a 26-point first-half lead, watched the Hornets close to seven in the third, then pulled away the final 15 minutes.
“We know Earl is a good player and eventually he would come around,” Rashard Lewis said. “Hopefully, he can be more consistent and play well off the bench, because we need it.”
Chris Wilcox had 19 points and eight rebounds, Lewis 15 points and Damien Wilkins 14 for the Sonics.
The Hornets lost for the sixth time in the last seven games and coach Byron Scott ripped into his players afterward for their lack of effort and focus.
“It’s getting redundant. We are getting two or three games where we come out and get great effort and then we get a few games where we come out like we did tonight,” Scott said. “I went on a mini rampage in there and I’m not happy. I’m not happy with the effort.”
Chris Paul scored 16 points to lead the Hornets, who played again without Bobby Jackson (cracked rib), Peja Stojakovic (back spasms) and David West (forearm).
Desmond Mason added 10 points for the Hornets, who showed little energy at the start and stumbled offensively in the first half. If not for Hilton Armstrong’s seven points off the bench in the final 4 minutes of the second quarter, the Hornets would have threatened the franchise record for fewest points in a half at 25.
New Orleans went 9:03 of the first half with just two baskets, getting outscored 19-4 during the stretch, as Seattle took its biggest lead at 46-20 on Wilkins’ basket with 4:05 left in the second quarter.
“Three of four games we play hard and three or four games we take it off,” Scott said. “If that’s the case, then somebody should be giving their money back.”
The low point for the Hornets was Watson swiping the ball from Jannero Pargo as Pargo lazily dribbled to halfcourt to call a timeout. Watson dribbled in the clear and slammed down a one-handed dunk.