NBA Game Summary - New York at Seattle

Seattle, WA (Basketball News) - Ray Allen poured in a season-high 40 points, including 10 in the overtime period, as Seattle earned a hard-fought 109-101 victory over New York at KeyArena.

Rashard Lewis registered 30 points and Luke Ridnour had 15 for the SuperSonics, who recorded their fifth straight win and seventh triumph in eight games.

"It’s been a long year," said Ridnour. "We want to finish strong and keep winning games. Everybody’s been contributing all year long."

Stephon Marbury delivered 31 points and six assists for the Knicks, who had a two-game win streak halted. Tim Thomas finished with 19 points and forced the extra session with a triple near the end of regulation.

Allen, who went 13-of-23 from the field and collected nine rebounds, gave Seattle an 89-86 lead after sinking a three-pointer with 2:25 left in the fourth quarter. The Sonics maintained that cushion until Thomas was left open beyond the arc and swished home a 25-footer with nine seconds remaining to send the contest into extra minutes tied at 95-95.

Behind Allen, Seattle took control in the early stages of overtime. The All- Star guard opened the scoring by making two foul shots, then drained a trey near the two-minute mark for a 100-95 advantage. Lewis’ jumper with 1:22 to go extended the margin to seven and virtually sealed the win.

"Thomas hit a big shot to put the game in overtime," said Sonics forward Nick Collison. "But we took care of business. We were trying to keep them from the paint the whole game. We got good work inside that kept them on the perimeter."

The Sonics trailed 69-66 after three quarters, but another Allen three-pointer and consecutive layups from Collison ignited a 12-1 run which gave the hosts an eight-point lead with under nine minutes left in regulation. New York countered with a 9-2 charge capped by Marbury’s driving layup at the 5:35 mark of the fourth quarter to move to within 80-79, and the game remained close down the stretch.

The Knicks made just 4-of-15 field goal attempts in the first quarter and fell behind 23-14 with three minutes left in the period. New York then went on a 13-0 tear, with Jamal Crawford netting seven of those points, to take a four- point lead with 8 1/2 minutes to go in the second quarter.

The Sonics drew even at 29-29 with seven minutes to go in the half before the Knicks put together another one-sided run, this one a 13-2 spurt, to take command. Two made free throws by Marbury with 2:51 remaining before intermission gave New York a cozy 42-31 advantage.

Seattle would then score the final seven points of the half and went into the locker room down just 42-38 after Lewis hit two foul shots with four seconds on the clock.

The Sonics would move back ahead early in the third quarter, but a 13-4 spurt by the Knicks staked the visitors to a 65-59 edge with 2:50 remaining in the frame. Mike Sweetney had six points during the burst, which ended with a three-pointer by Crawford.