By the end, they were chanting.

"Gary. Gary. Gary."

The 14,129 fans on hand at Key-Arena were nearly genuflecting at the feet of Seattle SuperSonics point guard Gary Payton, who finished one point shy of his career high, totaling 43 points to lead the Sonics to a 101-90 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday night

Payton hit a variety of shots, going 18-for-29 overall. Scoop shots, jump shots, acrobatic lay-ins, up-and-unders, 3-pointers. He scored 20 points in the fourth quarter, had no turnovers in 45 minutes and essentially turned in his best performance of the season, perhaps the second-best of his career, in leading the Sonics to their fifth consecutive victory, the second-longest current streak in the NBA.

"I was shooting the ball really well," said Payton, who also had eight rebounds and six assists. "It was coming out of my hand really well. I was going to the basket and I was concentrating. It was just one of them nights. Everybody have one. Everything was going in."

Outside of Payton's phenomenal night, the game was not eye candy. But the Sonics reached their stated goal.

When they finished up the brutal part of their early schedule five games below .500, the Sonics said they wanted to come out of December sporting an even record.

By beating the Clippers (15-13) in ugly fashion, the Sonics improved to 15-15 and stayed on pace with the other teams in the Western Conference for the eighth spot in the playoff race, something that seemed like a distant dream when they were 10-15 on Dec. 12, following a blowout loss to these same Clippers.

"We had a team meeting, and we said we had the opportunity to run the table for the rest of the month," Vin Baker said. "So far we have achieved it. Now we are right in the mix. There is a positive vibe around here, and hopefully we can just keep it going."

In order to keep their goal intact, however, the Sonics need to finish up 2001 with a victory over the Toronto Raptors (15-13) Saturday night.

Of course, the Sonics have benefited from their recent schedule much the same way they seemed at a decided disadvantage with their schedule early in the season.

The Clippers got into town at 3 a.m. after losing to the Philadelphia 76ers in Los Angeles on Wednesday night.

The Clippers also were playing without point forward playmaker Lamar Odom, who missed the game with a sprained right wrist.

But that was nothing compared to the Sonics' growing list of unhealthy players. Not only did centers Calvin Booth and Jerome James miss the game, but Vladimir Radmanovic also sat out, still suffering from effects of a mild concussion.

And in the Sonics' continued ambulatory season, Rashard Lewis was the latest victim of injury.

In the second quarter, Lewis took an elbow to the face from Corey Maggette and suffered a lacerated lower lip. He returned late in the third quarter after receiving eight stitches in the locker room.

Shorthanded, and with Art Long in constant foul trouble before fouling out in the fourth, the Sonics needed every one of Payton's baskets.

Taking Payton's shot totals away, the rest of the Sonics shot 21-for-54 (38 percent), breaking a trend of good shooting when they get some time off.

Their inability to hit shots - something coach Nate McMillan lamented before the game because the team had had three days off since its last game - kept the Clippers in it, even though Elton Brand was in foul trouble and they could only manage 32 percent of their shots.

But in the fourth quarter, with the game in the balance, Payton took over. Ahead 78-75, Payton raced down the middle of the floor after a turnover, executed a wondrous spin move in the lane and laid the ball in between two Clippers defenders.

He followed that up with a 3-pointer from the top of the key, backpedaling with his hand still in the air.

Baker tipped in a rare Payton miss for 85-79, but Payton followed with four consecutive shots to take control of the game.

"Normally you need somebody to make a play to win a ballgame," Brent Barry said. "Fortunately for us, Gary made about 10."

Note - McMillan said he expected both Booth and James to be ready to play when the Sonics begin the New Year against Philadelphia.

- - -

Sonics 101, Clippers 90

Saturday: vs. Toronto, 7 p.m., KONG, 950-AM.

- - -

SIDEBAR: Game in Review

Sonics 101, Clippers 90

KEY STATS - Sonics point guard Gary Payton scored 16 points in the final six minutes of the game, taking advantage of a Clippers offense that shot 32 percent.

STAR OF THE GAME - Payton scored 43 points, one shy of his career high. Perhaps the only game in which he played better in his career was when he carried the Sonics in a Game 5 first-round playoff victory against Minnesota four years back.

TURNING POINT - With the Sonics leading, 78-75, Payton made an fastbreak layup off an impressive spin move, then followed that with a 3-pointer that staked the Sonics to a controlling 83-75 lead.

KEY OBSERVATION - Vin Baker played well despite an injured right (shooting) hand. Baker had 10 points, nine rebounds and three assists, outplaying Clippers star Elton Brand.

QUOTABLE - "I didn't realize he had 43 until the fans started chanting his name." - Sonics coach Nate McMillan.

NEXT - 7 p.m. Saturday, Toronto Raptors at Sonics, KeyArena.

HIGHLIGHTS: Brent Barry's two-handed bounce pass between his legs that Rashard Lewis converted into a 3-point play in the first quarter. ... Barry, again, threading the needle with a three-quarters-court bounce pass to Gary Payton for a layin in the third quarter. ... A minute later, Payton going up and under Corey Maggette and cashing in from the baseline with one of his trademark scoop shots.

LOWLIGHT: Predrag Drobnjak air-balling a wide-open 8-footer from the baseline in the third quarter.

INJURY REPORT: Vladimir Radmanovic missed the game last night because of a slight concussion suffered last Saturday against Detroit. He was also hit in the head Wednesday during practice. Radmanovic is expected to play tomorrow night against Toronto.

GOOD NEWS: Coach Nate McMillan said that injured centers Jerome James and Calvin Booth should be ready to return next Friday against Philadelphia, just in time for Dikembe Mutombo's elbows.

LEWIS HURT: Rashard Lewis took an unintentional shot to the face from Maggette in the second quarter. Maggette was called for an offensive foul. Lewis cut his lip and returned late in the third quarter -- with eight stitches.

SIDELINED: One of the Clippers' best players, Lamar Odom, averaging 12.4 points, missed the game because of a sprained right wrist.

ALL-STAR VOTING: Payton is third in Western Conference All-Star balloting for guards behind Kobe Bryant and the injured Steve Francis. Payton, who is averaging 22.1 points and 9.2 assists, has played in every All-Star Game since 1994.

DOUBLEHEADER: Kevin Calabro handled the play-by-play of two games yesterday, the Seattle Bowl at Safeco Field, and the Clippers-Sonics game. "It was insane," Calabro said of his Seattle Bowl experience. "It had been awhile. I was rusty."

BACK IN TOWN: Former Husky Eldridge Recasner, 34, signed with the Clippers Dec. 20 and returned to Seattle last night. He played in the second quarter but did not score.

PUT IT UP: After checking into the game for the first time in the second quarter, Shammond Williams didn't take long to hoist his first shot -- all of three seconds, missing wildly.

NEXT UP: Toronto, KeyArena, tomorrow at 7 p.m.

Battling through a night when most of the Sonics did not have their A game, fortunately one player did.

Gary Payton was terrific, scoring 43 points and completing one of his most memorable performances with 20 in the fourth quarter, leading the Sonics to their fifth consecutive win, a 101-90 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers last night in KeyArena.

The All-Star guard went 18-for-27 from the field and 6-for-7 from the line, his missed free throw with 42 seconds left preventing him from tying his career high.

After that, a crowd of 14,129 was on its feet, chanting his name, wanting "Gary, Gary" to score more points than he ever had in 12 NBA seasons. Shammond Williams knew how everyone felt.

"I wanted him to go for 45," Williams said. "Forty-three is good. Forty-five stands out a little more. But I'll take the 43 any day."

"He's pretty good," said Brent Barry in a deadpan tone. "Between the two starting guards, we had a great night, 49 points."

Perhaps most remarkable of all: In 45 minutes, Payton did not commit a single turnover while also finding time to produce eight rebounds and six assists.

Payton was brilliant in every way imaginable, scoring from inside and out, posting up, facing the basket, spinning in the lane, rattling some shots through the twine and swishing others.

His best bucket might have been the up-and-under move he put on Corey Maggette, who had a fine evening himself with 25 points. Defensively, Maggette was overmatched, watching helplessly as Payton burned him along the baseline, converting a one-handed scoop in the third quarter.

There were clutch hoops as well, including two in the fourth quarter when he whirled around Jeff McInnis and left another beaten Clipper in his wake.

"We were struggling a little at the offensive end," Payton said. "When they start calling plays for me, I should get something done. I just felt it tonight and everything was going in."

"It wasn't a runaway 43," said Vin Baker. "It was a 43 that we needed every bucket of down the stretch."

Added Barry: "His timing was absolutely perfect, and he was absolutely awesome."

Payton even made something else -- a rare on-court appearance with play-by-play man Kevin Calabro after the game. Amid more adulation and shouts of "GP for MVP," Payton took the microphone but none of the credit, praising his teammates.

"Our younger guys are doing a great job," he said. "Our team right now is very together."

For the first time since Nov. 27, the Sonics moved to .500 at 15-15, taking advantage of a good scheduling situation, wearing down the Clippers in the fourth quarter.

This is the way it was in November for the Sonics, showing up in Seattle or somewhere else, fatigued from playing too many games in too many nights, ripe for another battering.

The Clippers, who lost to Philadelphia Wednesday night in Staples Center, arrived here yesterday morning at 3. Going to sleep in the middle of the night in another hotel room is not the way you want to get ready for a rested team like the Sonics, especially with Payton as torrid as he was.

The Sonics won despite their own obstacles. With Jerome James and Calvin Booth on the injured list, they are still center-less. Vin Baker played last night with a brace protecting his sprained thumb and affecting his shooting. Desmond Mason also is wearing a brace and not looking like he has fully recovered from a sprained knee.

Vladimir Radmanovic did not play because of a concussion. And as if the Sonics needed any more injuries, Rashard Lewis went down with a wicked cut to his lip in the second quarter, whacked unintentionally by Maggette.

Lewis returned in the second half with eight stitches and a desire to get it done regardless. He hit a tie-breaking three in the fourth quarter, connected on a runner from the lane and knocked a pass away, fueling a fastbreak that culminated in a Payton layin.

Lewis ended up with 16 points and Baker, toiling at less than full capacity, still managed to nearly record a double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds while also helping shut down Elton Brand.

The Clippers' biggest force inside scored 16 points but most of them were irrelevant. He was flustered by the Sonics' double-teaming tactics, harried into four turnovers.

The Sonics limited the Clippers to 32-percent shooting.

"All of us were bucking down on defense," Payton said. "We were making it hard for them to go where they wanted to."

The Sonics are heading in the right direction and will attempt to go over .500 when they play Vince Carter and the Toronto Raptors tomorrow night in KeyArena.

SONICS 101, CLIPPERS 90

TOMORROW: Sonics vs. Raptors, KeyArena, 7 p.m.

TV/RADIO: KONG-TV/6, 16; KJR-AM/950

While many people lightened their work schedules this week because of the holidays, Sonics broadcaster Kevin Calabro did double duty yesterday.

Before calling last night's Sonics game against the Los Angeles Clippers for KJR radio, Calabro did play-by-play for the Seattle Bowl, which Georgia Tech won 24-14 over Stanford.

Calabro arrived at Safeco Field around 11 a.m. to prepare with broadcast partners Mike Gastineau and Dave Grosby.

"I walked around Safeco Field a little bit, got down the field and watched some of the warmups to get an idea of who these guys are," Calabro said. "And then I jumped in the booth with Gas and Groz, and away we went."

The game ended early enough for Calabro to arrive at KeyArena at his usual time, before 5:30 p.m.

"I like doing football whenever I get a chance to do football," said Calabro, who was asked about a month ago by KJR.

But the Sonics play-by-play announcer, considered among the best of NBA broadcasters, certainly won't give up his day job.

"Kevin is one of the best-kept secrets in the NBA," owner Howard Schultz said before the game. "But if there's a better guy calling basketball in the NBA, I haven't heard him. The best guy that I heard as a young guy was Marv Albert. I think Kevin is better."

During Jim Lambright's last season with the Huskies in 1998, Calabro called UW football for Fox along with Sonny Sixkiller. So he wasn't totally out of his element.

"I didn't find it too much different this time around," Calabro said. "Gas and Groz are both very good. All I had to do was call the play in hand, and the fellas took care of everything in between."

Notes

? The Sonics have formed a partnership with the Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. The deal gives Nasdaq naming rights to the Courtside Club restaurant. The club ? available to courtside and suite ticket-holders ? will be called Nasdaq-100 Club until the deal expires in three years.

? Half-price tickets for Sonics games are still available for military personnel. Those eligible must present valid military identification at the KeyArena East Box Office two hours before tipoff.

? Vladimir Radmanovic didn't play as a precaution after being hit in the head during Wednesday's practice.

Yesterday's game at a glance PLAYER OF THE GAME: Gary Payton showed yet again that he remains on top of his game at age 33. The point guard toyed with the younger, more athletic Clippers before finishing with 43 points (on 18-for-27 shooting), eight rebounds and six assists. Payton had zero turnovers in 45 minutes.

TOP RESERVE: Desmond Mason had a shaky start with turnovers but finished strong. Mason had 12 points, five rebounds, one block and one steal.

KEY TO THE GAME: The Clippers stayed close with aggressive play, attacking the basket and crashing the boards. But there was little they could do in the fourth quarter to contain Payton, who scored 20 in the final period.

NEXT: Tomorrow, 7 p.m. vs. the Raptors at KeyArena.

Two weeks ago, the Sonics held a players-only meeting and set a goal that seemed ambitious as recently as last week: reach .500 by the New Year.

Last night, Gary Payton made sure the Sonics reached that goal by scoring a season-high 43 points in the Sonics' 101-90 NBA victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.

Behind Payton's virtuoso performance, which was one short of his career best, the Sonics won their season-high fifth straight game, improving to 15-15 as they continue to play their best ball of the season.

"It's a small goal that we set for ourselves," said Brent Barry, who missed six of eight shots but had a game-high seven assists. "But we're not going to settle for mediocrity."

"Gary, Gary, Gary," fans chanted in the waning moments.

Seattle's previous three games ended in blowout fashion as the team has combined smothering offense with sharp execution against road weary teams. But against the young, athletic Clippers, last night's outcome wasn't determined until the fourth quarter, when Payton scored 20 points.

"Not only did he get the 43," said Vin Baker, "but he got big buckets for us when we really needed it. And I think that's the most impressive part of it. It wasn't a runaway 43, it was a 43 that we needed every bucket of down the stretch."

Before the season, management requested that Payton dominate the offense less as the club developed its younger players, particularly Rashard Lewis and Desmond Mason.

And the point guard has complied for most of the season. But with the Clippers staying close through most of the fourth quarter, the 33-year-old Payton showed why he remains one of the top players in the league.

Although Payton took 27 shots, making 18, he played within the flow of the game. With fans cheering wildly for Payton to set a career-high mark in the final seconds, the point guard passed to Shammond Williams after being double-teamed.

"I didn't realize he had 43 until the fans started chanting his name," said Coach Nate McMillan, whose team was .500 two other times this season, at 1-1 and at 8-8. "It was just a solid floor game by him. I don't think he forced anything.

"It was an unbelievable fourth quarter by him, taking over and reading situations and, you know, putting the game away."

The Sonics weren't close to having an even mark after being trounced 114-94 by the Clippers on Dec. 12. That lackluster performance ended with the Clippers trying trick shots, which the Sonics didn't take kindly to.

Last night, the Clippers played the second of a back-to-back set. And Los Angeles ? which entered last night's game 1-6 on the road ? was without Lamar Odom (right wrist).

However, the Clippers didn't lay down for a Sonics team bent on revenge. Seattle led for most of the first half, yet the Clippers showed unexpected energy for a team that arrived in Seattle around 3 a.m.

Los Angeles played aggressively, attacking the rim to force fouls and crashing the boards with intensity. The Clippers made all 21 free-throw attempts in the first half. And it was fitting that the final two free throws gave the Clippers a 49-47 lead to enter the third quarter.

The Clippers' aggressive play forced Rashard Lewis out midway through the second quarter. Lewis drew a charge against Corey Maggette that split open Lewis' upper lip. He went into the locker room to receive eight stitches before returning midway through the third.

The Sonics have two more home games left, including tomorrow against the Raptors.

And now that the Sonics are at .500, they intend to raise their goals using the increased confidence of a break-even mark.

"We were .500 opening night," Barry said. "We were 0-0. It's been two months. It's kind of like running on a treadmill. You're not going anywhere until this point. So come Saturday, we can get a game up above .500 and really start the new year off with a different focus."

Forward Lamar Odom did not play Thursday against the Seattle SuperSonics, which was expected.

Odom aggravated his sprained right wrist in Wednesday's loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. Darius Miles took his spot in the Clippers' starting lineup Thursday.

The plan is for Odom to be sidelined for at least one game and perhaps two while his wrist heals.

He has been injured since taking a nasty fall Dec. 16 against the Detroit Pistons.

Larry Brown reviewed the NBA standings and pointed out the math to his team.

Before the 76ers played the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night, the Sixers were six games out of first place in the Atlantic Division and, more important, a game and a half out of a playoff spot.

That reminder could have brought desperation. But for the Sixers, it brought relief.

"We looked at it as we're a game and a half back and we haven't been playing well with 50 games left," Eric Snow said. "We're trying to find a positive situation and build off it instead of a negative."

Two weeks ago, the Sonics were 10-15 and reeling from their latest loss, looking occasionally hopeless and otherwise hapless against the Los Angeles Clippers.

Record-wise, they had become one of the worst teams in the Western Conference.

The Sonics have not lost since, winning four consecutive games, going from awful to awfully impressive.

Tonight at KeyArena, they get another shot at the rising Clippers in what amounts to a payback game, given the circumstances.

The Clippers were high-fiving and low-blowing when they weren't laughing and joking during extended periods of garbage time in their 114-94 victory Dec. 12 at Staples Center.

Darius Miles tried to throw down a windmilling jam that ricocheted off the rim and nearly hit the scoreboard. Coach Alvin Gentry apologized to Sonics coach Nate McMillan for Miles' over-the-top intentions.

"It's an opportunity for revenge," Desmond Mason said.

Several factors point to a strong likelihood that the Sonics can extend their streak to five and perhaps rub the Clippers' noses in it in the process. The Clippers might be 15-12 and for real for once, but they are only 1-6 on the road and playing on back-to-back nights after a 100-86 loss to the 76ers at home last night.

The Sonics have not played since Saturday and are 14-1 against the Clippers in Seattle the past seven years. McMillan's team is 5-0 with two days or more between games, and has won by an average of 21 points in its past three home games.

If the Sonics can reach .500 tonight, it would be a modest milestone for this club, with all of the injuries and schedule craziness that have combined to inhibit early development.

"The schedule was just too hard the beginning of the year," said Gary Payton. "We were not ready for that."

A break-even season of 41-41 would seem a logical goal for the Sonics, who have plenty of talent and scoring ability but not much size and experience.

Expectations are modest given the influx of seven new players.

But this year a .500 record might be good enough to make the playoffs if the current pace continues. The Sonics and the Jazz are tied for seventh in the Western Conference at 14-15.

Making up for their limitations inside, the Sonics have been torrid of late, hitting a club-record 20 of 22 shots in the second quarter against Golden State last Friday and following it up the next night with a season-high, 60-percent shooting night against Detroit.

"We have played better defense," McMillan said. "That's led to better rhythm at the offensive end."

They have managed their finest stretch of the season without their only two centers, Calvin Booth and Jerome James, both on the injured list.

Booth and James scrimmaged yesterday, which is a positive step. They won't play tonight and likely will not be activated for the Sonics' next game against Toronto on Saturday. But both figure to be ready for Philadelphia on Jan. 4.

Vin Baker, who sprained his right thumb against the Warriors and did not play against the Pistons, expects to return tonight.

He will play with a protective brace that affects his shooting "quite a bit," Baker said.

The Sonics' power forward figures his thumb is about 75 percent of what it normally is.

McMillan has yet to have an injury-free team. The Sonics might continue to compensate with just three games in eight days, all at home.

But then the grind returns: nine of the next 11 are on the road.

Regardless, most of the signs are positive, as Payton has noticed.

"I knew we could play," he said. "I can see our potential. If we get our rest, we can beat anybody in the NBA."

When: Today, 7:30 p.m.

Where: Key Arena.

Radio: KJR (950 AM).

Records: Sonics 14-15, Clippers 15-11.

Notes: The Sonics are on a four-game winning streak, their largest of the season. Seattle defeated the Detroit Pistons 117-89 Saturday. ... The Clippers played the Philadelphia 76ers at home last night. ... The Clippers embarrassed the Sonics, beating them 114-94 at the Staples Center Dec. 12 after the Sonics defeated the Lakers the night before. It was the Clippers biggest win over the Sonics since 1993. ... The Sonics are 100-48 against the Clippers all-time, 63-12 at KeyArena. The Clippers have lost 15 of 16 in Seattle. ... F Vin Baker (right thumb) expects to play while Radmanovic (head) is questionable. ... The Clippers are 1-6 against Western Conference teams on the road. ... Payton has scored in double figures in 59 consecutive games dating to last season.

Injuries: Sonics ? C Jerome James (sprained right foot) and C Calvin Booth (sprained right ankle) are on the injured list; Clippers ? G Eric Piatkowski (strained right hip flexor), G Keyon Dooling (left ankle sprain), F Harold Jamison (left shin contusion) are on the injured list.

They performed flashy dunks. They laughed at inside jokes.

They were whipping the Sonics by 20 points.

And to make it worse: They were scrubs.

Playing punch line to a bad joke, the Sonics were humiliated by the Los Angeles Clippers' bench in the waning minutes of an already miserable 114-94 loss Dec. 12 at the Staples Center.

Things were so bad Clippers Coach Alvin Gentry apologized to Sonics Coach Nate McMillan for his youthful team's exuberant play.

But as far as McMillan was concerned, that's what his team gets for the way it played.

Rested from the holiday break and riding a four-game winning streak, the third best in the league, the Sonics hope tonight's game is payback. This time it's the Clippers (15-11) who will be weary from back-to-back games instead of the Sonics, who were wrapping up a three-game trip when they lost to the Clippers, including a victory over the Lakers.

"In our eyes it is revenge," said Desmond Mason, who didn't play in the last meeting because of a right knee injury. "It's embarrassing when a team gets you down to the point where they can laugh and joke while playing. We had to watch it again on videotape, and it's just embarrassing."

Unlike past years, the Clippers aren't the dark hole of the NBA. The Generation X team led by forward Elton Brand's 19.7 points and 11.0 rebounds was on a three-game winning streak heading into last night's game against the Philadelphia 76ers and has every right to think playoffs even after finishing 31-51 last season.

"There's nobody that can just show up and beat the Clippers now," said guard Gary Payton, who was named NBA Player of the Week. "They've always had talent but didn't play together. Now they have a lot of young talent and like to play together."

The Sonics (14-15) are just learning what it feels like to win with the inexperienced players on their roster. Seattle defeated the Detroit Pistons on Saturday for its fourth consecutive victory, recording season highs in margin of victory (28) and field-goal percentage (60.5).

Forward Vin Baker missed the game with a slight tear in his right thumb, a different injury than the left thumb in 1998-99. He practiced yesterday with a makeshift brace but said it caused problems shooting, such as when he missed two free throws during a drill and the entire team had to run. Yet, fans can expect to see him in the lineup tonight.

"I want to play," said Baker, who had his bulky, bandaged hand in ice. "One thing is that I could possibly completely tear (the ligament), but I'm not really worried about it. I had some pain at practice and it's not completely healed, but I'm going to play through it."

Baker could start. Rookie Vladimir Radmanovic is listed to start for the Sonics, but he missed most of yesterday's practice after getting knocked in the head during one-on-one drills. That was after landing headfirst on the court after a two-handed dunk went haywire in Saturday's game.

McMillan said Radmanovic was fine through the weekend, but after he was hit yesterday, he was sent to see a doctor as a precaution.

"He was a little blurry, so we sent him," McMillan said.

Both centers Calvin Booth (sprained right ankle) and Jerome James (sprained right foot) practiced, but neither is expected back soon. Booth, who signed a six-year, $34 million contract in the offseason, has missed 13 games because of injuries this season, and James has missed 18 games.

"They're not where we want them to be as far as health," McMillan said. "They were able to scrimmage, which is a good sign, but you can see they're not even close to 100 percent."