Sweep-less in Seattle

John Stockton (left) of the Utah Jazz and Seattle's Shammond Williams battle for a loose ball during their playoff game in the best-of-five first-round series. Despite a 30-point performance from Utah's Karl Malone, the Sonics stayed alive with an 89-78 victory that cut the Jazz's lead to 2-1. Seattle, embarrassed by their performances in Utah, outrebounded the Jazz 46-38 as rookie Rashard Lewis had 14 points and 10 rebounds. Seattle's Gary Payton scored nine of his 23 points in the fourth quarter, while Vin Baker, the Sonics' US$87-million power forward who was criticised for his play in Games One and Two, added 15 points and 11 rebounds. Payton, who shot 8-for-24 from the field, added 10 assists and seven rebounds in 48 minutes as Stockton had just four points.