Sonics advance after eliminating Kings 4-1
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-05-04 14:15

Ray Allen didn't have to do everything himself, and his team is heading into the second round of the NBA playoffs. Allen scored 30 points and Rashard Lewis added 10 of his 24 in the fourth quarter, leading the Seattle SuperSonics to a 122-118 win over the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday night.

The Sonics eliminated the Kings 4-1 and advanced in the playoffs for the first time since 1998. They'll meet the survivor of the San Antonio-Denver series, which the Spurs lead 3-1.

Sacramento Kings guard Maurice Evans, left, and center Brad Miller, second from right, squeeze out Seattle SuperSonics guard Ray Allen in the first half, Tuesday, May 3, 2005, in Game 5 of the first round playoff series in Seattle.[AP]

Allen, coming off a 45-point performance in Game 4, was smothered by double teams all night, but the Sonics supported him with a solid team effort reflected by seven players scoring in double figures.

Reserve forward Nick Collison had 15 points and nine rebounds, Antonio Daniels scored 14, Jerome James added 11 points and six rebounds and Reggie Evans and Luke Ridnour each scored 10.

The Kings haven't exited in the first round since 2000, when they lost a decisive fifth game to the Lakers. This year's playoffs also marked the first time in franchise history they'd trailed 3-1 in a series.

Peja Stojakovic had 38 points and Mike Bibby 35, but Stojakovic missed his first six shots of the fourth quarter when the Kings needed him most. Up to that point, he'd shot 13-of-17 for 31 points.

Stojakovic finally connected, pulling Sacramento to 120-118 on a 3-pointer with 36 seconds to play, but Allen answered by splitting three defenders as he drove the lane for a layup with 12.8 seconds remaining.

Stojakovic missed another 3-point try, and the Kings' final opportunity ended with 3.9 seconds remaining when Bibby missed from the right wing.

It touched off a celebration at the capacity-filled arena, with the Sonics massing at midcourt to congratulate each other as fans stood and waved thousands of yellow pompoms. James donned a garbage bag, a nod to his claim that the Kings gave him a bag to clean out his locker after they cut him as a rookie.

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