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Sonics Top Spurs to End Skid 88 - 85

January 29, 2008

Kevin Durant scored 26 points, including the go-ahead jump shot with 32.6 seconds remaining, and the Seattle SuperSonics stunned the defending N.B.A. champion San Antonio Spurs, 88-85, on Tuesday night to end their team-record losing streak at 14 games.

Durant made an open shot created by a screen by Kurt Thomas, whose consecutive open jumpers had given Seattle the lead with 90 seconds left. Luke Ridnour made a free throw with 12 seconds left before Manu Ginóbili, who had 29 points, missed a leaning 3-pointer with 4.9 seconds remaining that would have tied the score.

The Spurs lost their third in a row while playing without guard Tony Parker, who is out indefinitely with a bone spur in his left heel.

"Fourteen games? That's a big number. You kind of don't want to show your face when you're losing like that," said Chris Wilcox, who had 16 points including the basket before Durant's thriller.

After Seattle's Luke Ridnour dribbled away the final seconds, he fired the ball high in the air toward a crowd that was roaring for one of the few times in this dreadful, potentially final season in town for the Sonics. Wally Szczerbiak thrust both arms skyward, like Rocky.

"It was like we won the championship," said Durant, the 19-year-old rookie who was trying to win an NCAA one for Texas this time last year. "It was a big-time win for us."

The Sonics (10-35) won for the first time since Dec. 29, over Minnesota, and for just the second time this season against a team with a winning record.