Ray Allen scored 29 points, capped by two free
throws with 16.7 seconds left, to help the Seattle SuperSonics' snap the
Houston Rockets' eight-game winning streak with an 87-85 victory Tuesday
night.
Houston had a chance to tie it with 5 seconds left, but Scott Padgett's
3-point attempt was short and Allen came up with the rebound.
Houston led throughout the game before a dunk by Allen with 38 seconds
left put Seattle ahead 85-84.
Houston's Dikembe Mutombo, who came in after Yao Ming fouled out with
1:17 left, tied it with a free throw with 19.7 seconds left, but missed
his second attempt.
David Wesley was called for a foul in the scramble for the
rebound, sending Allen, who had 12 fourth-quarter points, to the line for
the winning free throws.
Rashard Lewis added 23 points for Seattle, including seven in the final
5 minutes.
Yao led Houston with 30 points, and Wesley had 19, including four 3s.
The Rockets were without starting point guard Bob Sura, sidelined by
a sore back. Rod Strickland had five rebounds in 13 minutes in place of
Sura.
Sura missed the first 14 games of the season after surgery to repair a
herniated disc in his lower back Sept 1. He was injured during
an offseason workout.
(Agencies)