When: Tonight, 7. Where: Rose Garden Arena.

TV: Ch. 5. Radio: KJR (950 AM).

Records: Sonics 9-13; Blazers 9-9.

Notes: The Sonics will reunite with Patterson, who was Seattle's energy and best defender off the bench last season. He started in 22 games and averaged 13.0 points and 5.0 rebounds before being acquired by Portland through free agency. ... Former Sonics forward Shawn Kemp is also on Portland's roster. In 17 games, he's averaged 5.5 points and 2.8 rebounds off the bench. ... The Sonics were 2-2 against the Blazers last season and lead the series 83-77, dating back to 1970. ... The Blazers have six new faces on their team. ... Portland is 3-2 in its past five games. ... After last night's game, the Sonics are 4-9 in back-to-back matchups and have yet to win the second game. ... Portland is among the league leaders in free-throw percentage (77.3), but shoots 45.1 percent from the field. ... Seattle is the league's worst defensive rebounding team, averaging 27.9 defensive rebounds a game.

Injuries: Sonics ? G Desmond Mason (sprained right ankle), C Jerome James (sprained right ankle) and C Antonio Harvey (patella tendinitis in right knee); Blazers ? Mitchell Butler (left knee quadriceps tendinitis) on the injured list.