Sonics overcome two ejections

Seattle improves to 21-6 with win over Hawks

? Ray Allen didn’t like watching Jerome James and Danny Fortson lose their tempers.

Allen scored 20 points and Rashard Lewis added 17 as the Seattle SuperSonics overcame the ejections of James and Fortson to beat the Atlanta Hawks, 94-79, Thursday.

“We have to get better for tomorrow night,” Allen said. “And those big guys have to understand what’s happening.”

The Sonics improved to 21-6, including 10-3 on the road.

Official Bob Delaney ejected James after giving the center his first technical foul with 7:14 left in the third quarter. James, called for an offensive foul, appeared to use an expletive as he looked at Delaney.

With 6:33 remaining in the fourth quarter, Fortson complained about contact on Seattle’s offensive end and was tossed by Delaney.

“Officials are going to make calls, and you’re not going to change it,” Seattle coach Nate McMillan said. “We’ve got to be smarter than that, not allow that to creep into a good game. I’ll stand up when I feel we’re playing aggressive, playing right. But in a situation like that, there’s nothing you can do. I know we know better.”

The Hawks, who dropped to an Eastern Conference-worst 5-23, have lost eight of nine. Antoine Walker led Atlanta with 19 points and 11 rebounds.

“Our defense — we just can’t trade buckets,” Hawks coach Mike Woodson said. “Early, we were trading back and forth, and they just got in a rhythm, but we then we couldn’t make shots and they got the cushion they needed.”

Seattle's Nick Collison, right, drives to the hoop against Atlanta's Predrag Drobnjak. Collison had 10 points and 11 rebounds in the Sonics' 94-79 victory Thursday in Atlanta.

Reserve Nick Collison pulled down 11 rebounds for Seattle.

Heat 89, Pistons 78

Auburn Hills, Mich. — Dwyane Wade’s first NBA triple-double kept Miami’s winning streak alive. Wade had 31 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds to lead the Heat past Detroit to extend their franchise-record winning streak to 13 games.

Wade, in his second NBA season, dominated the Pistons with unstoppable drives, timely passes and rebounding. He was 12-of-18 from the field and made 7 of 10 free throws.

Shaquille O’Neal, playing despite a sore back and ribs, had 21 points for the Heat.

Pacers 96, Nets 83

East Rutherford, N.J. — Hours after a judge ruled that he didn’t have to serve the final 10 games of a suspension, Jermaine O’Neal scored 31 points to lead Indiana over New Jersey.

Jeff Foster added 16 points and a season-high 16 rebounds and Austin Croshere had 17 points off the bench as the Pacers won their third straight game.