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.

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Sonics 101, Clippers 90

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

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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.