Sonics | Durant does it in the clutch in 2OT win
ATLANTA - Remember this game.
TiVo it for posterity or post it to your favorites on YouTube because years from now you’ll want to know that the legend of Kevin Durant began on a sleepy Friday night in front of a sparse crowd at Philips Arena.
Who knew that a meeting between the Sonics and the Atlanta Hawks - a pair of conference bottom-feeders - would turn into an instant classic and finish in a remarkable 126-123 double-overtime victory for Seattle?
But when Durant is involved, anything can happen.
Anything - as in a thrilling, heart-pounding affair in which the sensational rookie played decoy in the fourth quarter, the first overtime and most of the second extra period while Damien Wilkins took over offensively and scored a career-high 41 points.
But when the Sonics needed a miracle, they turned to Durant, who rose to the moment and authored a classic finish.
With the score tied and everyone - players, coaches and 13,534 fans - exhausted from more than three hours of action, Durant retrieved an inbound pass from Wally Szczerbiak at the top of the key.
“After the timeout, he said, if you give it to me I’ll hit,” said Szczerbiak, who finished with 15 points off the bench.
Only 2.1 seconds remained, enough time for Durant to catch and shoot a high-arcing 28-footer that sailed over charging rookie Al Horford. Durant didn’t begin believing the shot would fall perfect until it reached the rim.
“That is the first game-winner I’ve ever hit,” he said. “That was great defense. I thought he blocked the shot. He got all up into me, and I knew I had to get the shot off, so I shot it.”
When the buzzer sounded, Durant raced to the sideline near the bench. He pounded his chest three times with a clenched fists and shouted at the crowd.
Later, the shy 19-year-old explained: “I get excited. That’s not me, except out there. I just want to win. Real bad.”
Maybe the hype is real and Durant is truly “The Savior.”
These are the moments Seattle fans dreamed about ever since the Sonics selected him second overall in the draft.
In just his 10th game as a professional, Durant not only led Seattle (2-8) to its second victory, he sent a message to everyone in the NBA.
“Hopefully it says that he’s capable of doing this many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many more times before he’s done,” coach P.J. Carlesimo said.
Through three quarters, Durant scored just 16 points and committed four turnovers. He missed all three field-goal attempts in the fourth quarter and didn’t take a shot in the first overtime.
“Damien was the hot guy tonight,” said Durant, who finished with 21 points on 8-for-18 shooting. “We just tried to get him the ball and he was coming through for us. I think we were all looking for him to get his buckets.”
With his father, Gerald Wilkins, and uncle, Dominique Wilkins, watching from courtside seats, Wilkins didn’t disappoint. He played 51 minutes and matched Atlanta’s Joe Johnson, who had 39 points, shot for shot.
“I’ve dreamed of having a game like that everywhere and it feels even better to have it at home in front of my family, friends, my dad and my uncle,” Wilkins said. “It’s just a great feeling. An unbelievable feeling that I can’t even put into words.”
Six Sonics scored in double figures, and missed free throws added to the excitement.
Forward Josh Childress missed the first of two foul shots with 4.9 seconds left in regulation that would have given Atlanta a one-point lead.
In the first extra period, Horford missed the first of two free throws with 29.4 seconds remaining. Had he made the shot, the Atlanta would have led by three. As it was, Wilkins erased Seattle’s two-point deficit on the ensuing possession with a running layup that tied the game 114-114 and forced a second overtime.
With 17.2 seconds left in the second overtime, Szczerbiak missed the front end of a pair of free throws that gave Atlanta a chance to force another extra period.
Facing a box-and-one defense, Joe Johnson passed to Tyronn Lue, who sank an off-balance layup that tied the score at 123 with 2.1 seconds left and set up the final theatrics.
“I’m starting to get used to playing every other night or so, and I’m gaining more confidence in my game,” Durant said. “This is what I live for and I wouldn’t want it any other way.”
The NBA had better take notice.
Percy Allen: 206-464-2278 or pallen@seattletimes.com