Hawkins’ Free Throws Lift Sonics

Hersey Hawkins scored 24 points and made two critical free throws with 9.9 seconds left Thursday night, lifting Seattle to a 103-98 win over Phoenix, the SuperSonics’ fifth straight victory over the Suns.

Gary Payton, who added 25 points and seven assists, sliced through the Phoenix defense for an important layup with 1:27 to play, helping the Sonics hang on.

Hawkins added 12 rebounds, and Detlef Schrempf had 17 points and 13 rebounds for the Sonics. Shawn Kemp scored 16 for Seattle, but fouled out with 1:43 to play.

Danny Manning had 23 points and 11 rebounds for the winless Suns, who are off to an 0-4 start for the first time in 11 years. Wesley Person had 17 points and Rex Chapman scored 10 of his 12 points in the fourth quarter.

Chapman cut the Seattle lead to 101-96 with a 3-pointer with 26 seconds to go, and Schrempf, who was fouled on the in-bounds pass, missed both free throws. But Hawkins was solid when he got his turn seconds later.

Seattle started the third quarter with a 52-37 lead, and the Suns never got closer than 15 throughout the period.