This is not to suggest that the Seattle SuperSonics' record is not deserved, but the Sonics certainly have serendipitously benefited from injuries to others.

In their 31 games, the Sonics have played 11 games against teams who were missing their star players.

It started in the season opener against Sacramento, when the Sonics played the Kings, who were without Chris Webber. Since, they have played Denver without Antonio McDyess, Houston without Steve Francis, the Los Angeles Lakers without Shaquille O'Neal, Milwaukee without Glenn Robinson, Miami without Alonzo Mourning, Orlando without Tracy McGrady and Grant Hill, the Kings again without Webber, Detroit without Jerry Stackhouse, the Los Angeles Clippers without Lamar Odom and Toronto without Vince Carter on Saturday night.

In the games against Houston, Milwaukee, Sacramento the second time and Toronto, the player got hurt the day before playing the Sonics.

O'Neal and Stackhouse were ejected in the first half against the Sonics, and McGrady was injured in the first quarter.

"That's part of the game," Sonics coach Nate McMillan said. "They have had us without Vin (Baker), and us without (Desmond) Mason. I've said all along that when we had all our injuries, you have to make adjustments. There is nothing you can do about it. I just hope we can take advantage of it."

McMillan, however, said he does feel sympathy for the fans who came to KeyArena to see some of the game's best players.

"As good as (Carter) is and as much as he does, I want the advantage," McMillan said. "But I am a fan of the game. I like to see the guy play. And I'm sure our fans were looking forward to him playing against us. So there is sort of an empty feeling (because) he won't play."

After the Toronto game, the Sonics have five days between games. They play again Jan. 4, when they play host to the Philadelphia 76ers.

"I think two days is enough time off between games," McMillan said. "To have five days off, and a holiday in between where you can't practice, it's almost like wasting days. I would rather use those days somewhere else, like earlier in the season."

Lip service - When Rashard Lewis got an elbow in the face Thursday night from the Clippers' Corey Maggette, he said he knew it was bad when he felt his lip with his tongue and his tongue went all the way through the hole and out the front.

Lewis had to get 10 shots to dull the pain, then got eight stitches from the doctor.

Payton falls behind - Even though he is having his best statistical season of his career, Sonics point guard Gary Payton is third in the All-Star balloting of Western Conference guards.

Not only that, but while Houston's Francis (second place, behind Kobe Bryant of the Lakers) has been injured for a month, he increased his lead over Payton, who was named the Western Conference's player of the week.

"I think it's a great honor," Francis said. "It's one of every players' goals to win a championship and play in an All-Star Game. With me not playing in a month, it shows people were taking notice of my play. I think a lot of the national publicity and the things I did last year are helping me."