Raptors, Sonics battle at KeyArena

Seattle enters tonight’s contest on a six-game losing streak. On Wednesday, Erick Dampier scored 22 points and pulled down 16 rebounds as the Dallas Mavericks beat the SuperSonics, 103-95.

Luke Ridnour had 21 points and nine assists before fouling out in the loss to Dallas for Seattle, which has dropped 10 of its last 14 games overall. Chris Wilcox collected 18 points and nine boards, while Ealr Watson netted 18 in defeat.

All-Star Ray Allen may return to the court for the SuperSonics. The sharp- shooting Allen has missed nine straight games with a bone bruise in right ankle. Seattle is 3-6 without Allen, who is averaging a team-high 25.3 points per game.

Forward Rashard Lewis (sprained tendon in right hand) is expected to miss up to eight weeks. Lewis was injured against Dallas. He is averaging 21.9 points and 6.8 rebounds per game.

The SuperSonics are 6-7 at home this season. They will host Chris Paul and the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets on Tuesday in the finale of the current homestand.

Toronto wraps up a four-game road trip this evening. It is 2-1 on the current swing. On Friday, Andrea Bargnani knocked down a jumper with 3.5 seconds left in overtime to lift the Raptors past the Portland Trail Blazers, 101-100, at the Rose Garden.

T.J. Ford scored 23 points, including nine in overtime, to go along with 10 assists for the Raptors, who have won two in a row and five of their last six games overall. Anthony Parker scored 13 points and grabbed eight rebounds for Toronto, while Rasho Nesterovic and Fred Jones both had 12 points and five boards.

Bargnani, the No.1 overall pick in the 2006 draft, finished with 11 points against Portland.

The Raptors are just 5-12 on the road this season. Toronto returns home to host the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday and the Chicago Bulls on Friday at Air Canada Centre.

This is the first of two meetings between the clubs this season. Toronto is scheduled to host the SuperSonics on March 11, 2007 in the final contest of the season between the squads.

Toronto has lost seven of 10 at Seattle. The Sonics have captured four of the last five contests in this series.