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