SEATTLE -- Sam Perkins has been a SuperSonic for only three months, but Seattle wouldn't be on its way to Phoenix without him.
Perkins, who was traded to Seattle by the Los Angeles Lakers in late February, scored 'the big shot' and 23 points for a 103-100 overtime win Saturday in the final game of their seven-game series against the Houston Rockets.
The Sonics, who also beat Utah in the final game of their series, open the best-of-seven Western Conference final series Monday in Phoenix against the Suns.
Ricky Pierce led Seattle with 25 points, while Shawn Kemp added 18 points and 11 rebounds.
Perkins, who has become one of Seattle's veteran leaders, hit a difficult turn-around jumper with 24 seconds left in overtime to put the Sonics ahead 101-98.
'There wasn't much time left (he shot with two seconds left on the 24-second clock), but I took my time because I didn't think Otis (Thorpe) would block it,' Perkins said. 'I just got it over him with a good release and it went right in.'
Hakeem Olajuwon, who had 23 points, 17 rebounds and nine assists, countered with a basket eight seconds later.
Seattle's Derrick McKey missed two free throws with a 101-100 lead and 14 seconds left, but Perkins' basket held up when Vernon Maxwell missed a jumper with three seconds to go.
Kemp rebounded and made two free throws with a second to go for the final score. Olajuwon missed a desperation 30-footer at the buzzer.
'We were trying to get it into Hakeem,' said Maxwell, who had 19 points. 'But they were there and I got a good look, so I shot. It was a great shot, I just didn't make it.'
The Sonics trailed by 10 points at halftime before rallying in the third quarter to set up the exciting finish.
Perkins, who will be playing in his third conference final with his third team (also Dallas and the Lakers), said their was no panic in the Seattle locker room at halftime.
'We've got a lot of leaders on this team, and I guess I'm one of them,' said Perkins, who also had nine rebounds and four assists. 'We knew we had to come out more aggressive and start dictating things. We talked about it, and we did it.'
The Sonics, who trailed for most of three quarters, went ahead 91-89 on McKey's jumper with 2:15 left in regulation, but Olajuwon tied the score a minute later.
Robert Horry hit a wide-open 20-foot jumper with 33 seconds remaining for a 93-91 Houston lead, but Pierce countered with a jumper of his own for a tie with 24 seconds left.
Kenny Smith missed a shot from the corner at the buzzer to send the game into overtime.
'I like all our shots considering the pressure situations and their defense,' said Houston coach Rudy Tomjanovich. 'A lot of nights those are going to go in. They just didn't this time.'
Seattle coach George Karl said he wasn't sure the best team won.
'We're going on, but I don't know who is the better team,' Karl said of the two teams, which both won 55 games in the regular season. 'I think we're so close it's unbelievable. It was a great series.'
The Sonics used consecutive three-point shots by Eddie Johnson and Dana Barros to grab their first lead at 65-64 with 2:55 left in the third quarter.
Perkins and Kemp led the third-quarter charge, both scoring 10 points in the period -- Kemp giving Seattle a 73-70 lead entering the fourth quarter by making six straight free throws during the last 1:40.
The Rockets played a masterful first half, moving the ball deftly to the open man on offense and taking advantage of Seattle's poor shooting (39 percent) -- caused primarily by Olajuwon's presence in the middle.
Matt Bullard swished a three-point shot at the buzzer for a 48-38 halftime score.
