SAN ANTONIO, April 23 (UPI) -- Gary Payton scored 21 points and grabbed 11 rebounds Monday night as the Seattle SuperSonics, constantly double-teaming San Antonio superstar Tim Duncan and using a balanced scoring attack, beat the Spurs, 98-90, to even their NBA Western Conference first-round playoff series at one game apiece.
San Antonio's other seven-footer, David Robinson, sat out the contest out with a lower back strain and, defensively, Seattle sent every
big man available to guard Duncan, who still finished with 32 points and 12 rebounds. However, the Sonics forced the ball out of Duncan's hands with the double-teams and his teammates were unable to make them pay.
"We were much more focused tonight," Payton said. "We executed better, we played hard, we were cutting hard, getting to loose balls and getting rebounds. Now the fight is just starting."
Seattle took the lead for good when Vladimir Radmanovic scored five straight points and Jerome James added a tip-in for an 80-74 advantage with 9:12 remaining.
Duncan scored inside to cap a run of six straight points to pull San Antonio to within 85-84 with 5:24 left.
Payton then responded with a tough turnaround jumper over Spurs rookie Tony Parker and Rashard Lewis added a basket for an 89-84 lead with just over four minutes left. Seattle held the Spurs without a basket for the final 5:24.
"We tried to confuse Tim and cut out some of those assists he was getting the other night, passing out of the double-team," said Seattle forward Vin Baker. "Tim is an excellent player and we just tried to make him work to his post spots."
Lewis scored 19 points and Baker added 15 and 10 rebounds for Seattle, which hosts Game Three on Saturday afternoon.
Payton and Seattle overcame a nightmarish first quarter in which San Antonio built a 36-22 lead and Payton missed all seven of his shots. Payton's free throw capped a 15-2 run to open the second quarter and pull the Sonics to within 38-37 and his jumper cut the deficit to 54-52 at halftime.
Duncan had 19 points in the first half, but James provided tough defense and limited him to six points in third. James had back-to-back baskets as Seattle opened up a 73-69 lead with just over a minute left in the quarter.
Although James was successfully able to body up Duncan for that stretch, the double-teams had an effect as San Antonio continually misfired from the perimeter. Parker and Steve Smith combined for six missed three-pointers as the Spurs made just 5-of-17.
Seattle enjoyed a 49-35 rebounding edge without Robinson in the middle as Desmond Mason added 15 points and eight rebounds. The Sonics grabbed 19 offensive rebounds, which helped them to a 22-10 advantage in points in the paint.
"Tim and Malik (Rose) are monsters on the board," said Seattle Coach Nate McMillan. "The key to this game is to keep them off the boards and not create second opportunities."
"It was huge not having David on the court," said Duncan, who also had a playoff career- high six blocked shots. "We are going to have to find a way to get it done and move on."
Smith finished with 16 points and Parker netted 13, but managed only two assists while being defended by Payton. Danny Ferry and Antonio Daniels combined to miss all six of the shots they took.
