| Comments: |
Despite an impressive playoff run, Seattle`s season came to an end in Salt Lake City with a 93-96 loss in Game 5. Seattle trailed 79-70 going into the fourth quarter, but a 9-1 Sonics run pulled them within 1 with 8:12 left in the game. The score was 92-89 with 2:06 to play before Jeff Hornacek tipped in a Karl Malone miss to make it 94-89. After Olden Polynice missed two free throws late to keep the score at 94-91, Gary Payton scored a basket with 25 seconds left to bring the Sonics within one. John Stockton subsequently hit two free throws, giving the Sonics a final possession to tie the game. However, Chuck Person missed a three pointer at the buzzer, ending the series and, as a result, Seattle`s season.<\p> This marked the only game of the series in which a team won by less than double digits. Malone scored 27 points on 13-24 shooting, capping off a series in which he averaged 30.6 points per game. Stockton added 17 points and a series-high 15 assists in the victory. Payton had a strong game once again, recording 27 points, 6 rebounds, and 9 assists. Rashard Lewis added 20 points on 8-15 shooting. This gave Lewis a 15.4 ppg average for the series, nearly doubling his 8.2 ppg average for the regular season. |
