Sonics turn back Kings, claim 2-0 series lead

? Ray Allen kept things going for Seattle, and Jerome James wasn’t kidding when he said he had another big game in him.

Allen scored 26 points, and James added 19 points and nine rebounds, leading the Seattle SuperSonics to a 105-93 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday night for a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference playoff series.

Rashard Lewis scored 12 points, and Vladimir Radmanovic added 10 for the Sonics, who took control of the game with a decisive third quarter, then held off a fourth-quarter charge with the Sacramento starters on the bench.

Mike Bibby had 16 points and eight assists, a respectable follow-up after his 1-for-16 shooting effort in Game 1. Bobby Jackson scored 17 points after going 0-for-7 in the opener, but it wasn’t enough.

Game 3 is Friday in Sacramento.

The Sonics ran away from the Kings in the third period, outscoring Sacramento 33-20 behind a balanced attack.

The Seattle offense was fueled by tight team defense, with the SuperSonics forcing six turnovers during the period.

James keeps playing beyond expectations, getting two big baskets in a 15-6 burst to open the third quarter. Seattle’s center had 17 points, 15 rebounds and five blocked shots in Game 1, and his continued production was a nice surprise for the Sonics.

Bibby, Peja Stojakovic, Kenny Thomas, Cuttino Mobley and Brad Miller — all of the Sacramento starters — spent the fourth quarter on the bench, while trying to ignore taunts from nearby fans as they rested for Game 3 of the series.

Stojakovic scored nine points on 3-for-10 shooting, and the Kings shot only 42 percent from the floor.