THE Seattle SuperSonics survived a comeback by the Houston Rockets to win 114 107 to sweep, the two time defending NBA champions out of the Western Conference semi finals on Sunday.
"Man I'm glad it's over," said Seattle guard Gary Payton. "This team, my God, they just don't die. They really had me going. I just couldn't believe it. They were like a vampire. You stab them 18 times, they just don't die."
The Rockets erased a 20 point deficit in the last nine minutes of regulation with a barrage of three pointers, the last one by Sam Cassell with 4.1 seconds to go, but Hersey Hawkins scored six crucial points in overtime to help Seattle to the victory and a 4-0 sweep of the best of seven series.
The Sonics await the winner of the series between the San Antonio Spurs and Utah Jazz. The Jazz went up 3-1 in the series bye beating the Spurs 101-86, led by Chris Morris's 25 points and a defence that stifled San Antonio star centre David Robinson.
The Rockets had been 8-0 when facing elimination during their title reign and had adopted as their slogan the declaration "Never underestimate the heart of a champion" proclaimed by coach Rudy Tomjanovich last year immediately after their second improbable run to the championship.
"Our heart was there, but we ran into a team that's really got it going," Tomjanovich said on Sunday. "They have so much depth and so much confidence. We ran into a phenomenal basketball team.
Shawn Kemp scored 32 points and Payton added 24 for the SuperSonics, who have won 13 straight games against the Rockets.
"It's more a relief than exciting because we kicked a big lead," Sonics coach George Karl said. "The last four games is probably the best basketball we've played in a while and I think we'll continue to do that."
The Sonics, who won their sixth straight post season game, had been eliminated in the first round the last two years but now move into the conference finals for the first time since 1993.
"We're a little looser now, more focused," Karl said. "We don't point fingers as much (because) we don't have the pressure on us.
Detlef Schrempf scored 18 points, Hawkins added 17 and Sam Perkins 14. Kemp grabbed 15 rebounds and Payton had 11 assists for the Sonics, who shot 48 percent (42 of 87) from the field.
For the Rockets, Hakeem Olajuwon scored 26 points, Robert Horry added 20 and Clyde Drexler, Cassell and Mario Elie had 15 apiece. Drexler had 15 rebounds and Horry 12 for Houston, which shot 38 per cent (35 of 92).
In Salt Lake City, Karl Malone added 22 points and was 10 for 10 from the free throw line while Robinson, who had to sit with foul trouble and eventually fouled out, managed just 11 points.
The Jazz travel to San Antonio for game five today.
Robinson, who was scoreless in the second half, was just 2 of 3 from the field and 7 of 10 from the line before fouling out with 4:15 remaining in the fourth quarter. Sean Elliott led San Antonio with 22 points and Chuck Person added 17.
The Spurs used a 15-1 run that bridged the third and fourth quarters to draw within 83-78 with 11 minutes remaining. But the Jazz answered with a 16-2 burst that put the game out of reach.
The Jazz remained unbeaten in five home contests and have yet to allow San Antonio more than 88 points in any of the four games. The Spurs shot just 46 percent (29-of-63) from the field and attempted just nine three pointers.
"We are not shooting the ball very well," Spurs coach Bob Hill said. "Utah is playing great basketball right now and you have to give them credit. All of the things that are important this time of the season are clicking.
"We have our backs to the wall, we have to go home and win, come back and win and go home and win again."
Morris made 11-of-14 shots, including 3-of-4 from three point range. John Stockton added 13 points and 10 assists. The Jazz backcourt of Stockton and Jeff Hornacek grabbed 11 rebounds while Malone and Morris combined to grab 10.
"We can't look too far ahead," Morris said. "We've got to think about the game that is coming up and try to play them a different way because we know that they are going to come out and change things.
