SEATTLE, May 2 (UPI) -- Minus big men Tim Duncan and David Robinson, the San Antonio Spurs lost three more players Wednesday night and were no match for the Seattle SuperSonics, who rode big games from Gary Payton and Vladimir Radmanovic to a 91-79 rout in Game Four of the their NBA Western Conference first-round playoff series.
The seventh-seeded SuperSonics evened the series at two games each and forced a Game Five, which will be played Friday in San Antonio.
The pivotal player for the series is Duncan, the superstar power forward who was named to the All-NBA First Team on Wednesday but was in the Virgin Islands to be with family following the death of his father earlier this week.
"The last time I spoke to him before he left, the plan was to try to get back for Friday's game," said Spurs Coach Gregg Popovich.
Robinson, another 7-footer, has played in just seven minutes in the series, wrenching his back in Game One. He is not expected to play again on Friday, either.
Meanwhile, forward Danny Ferry played just two minutes before being sidelined with a sprained wrist, and fellow forward Mark Bryant was ejected for fighting in the third quarter and guard Charles Smith suffered a partially- separated right shoulder in a terrible fall in the final period, leaving the Spurs with just seven players.
Payton collected his second career playoff triple-double with 28 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists.
Radmanovic, a rookie from Yugoslavia, scored 19 of his 23 points in the first half, when the Sonics buried the Spurs by racing to a 57-31 halftime lead.
"I played in Europe as a pro and I got some experience," said Radmanovic. "I mean, some important games in Europe, fans will expect more from you because if you don't give your best, they'll be men sometimes trying to beat you (up) and things like that. Here, there's some pressure but not much. That pressure I had in Europe helps me a lot here."
The best shooting team in the NBA, Seattle shot 61 percent (22-of-36) from the field in the first half while holding San Antonio to 25 percent (10-of-40).
Desmond Mason scored 17 points for the Sonics, who have not won a playoff series since 1998.
Malik Rose had 28 points and 13 rebounds for the Spurs, who fell to 1-4 all-time in the playoffs without Duncan. He missed a 2000 first-round series against Phoenix with a knee injury and San Antonio lost in four games.
"I made my mind up early that I was going to try and be a force," Rose said. "But the first half just didn't work out that way. I was hesitant on a few shots and then we were all out of whack and we were just going 1-on-1 and we weren't really a team in the first half."
Less than two minutes into the game, Spurs swingman Bruce Bowen elbowed Sonics guard Brent Barry in the chest. A scuffle ensued, with Seattle forward Vin Baker grabbing Bowen around the neck. All three players received technical fouls.
"This is playoff basketball," said Payton. "We just responded to their physical play."
With nine minutes left in the third quarter, Bryant tussled with Mason and Baker intervened again. Bryant had to be restrained by teammates before being tossed and could be suspended for Game Five.
San Antonio trailed, 76-59, entering the final period. Early in the quarter, Smith soared for an offensive rebound and was upended, landing on his shoulder before hitting his head on the floor.
Tony Parker scored 14 points and Steve Smith added 11 for the Spurs, who shot less than 33 percent (27-of-82) for the game.
