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Petro scores career-high 22 as SuperSonics shoot down Grizzlies

Mar 31, 2007 - 6:15 AM SEATTLE (Ticker) -- Lights-out shooting by the Seattle SuperSonics turned out the lights on the Memphis Grizzlies.

Nick Collison scored 22 points and Rashard Lewis added 21 as the SuperSonics posted their third straight win, a 120-93 triumph over the Grizzlies.

Johan Petro scored a career-high 22 points and Luke Ridnour had 13 and 12 assists for Seattle, which shot 58 percent (47-of-81) from the field and posted its largest margin of victory in the all-time series between the teams.

Seattle's highest regulation output this season was 121 in a victory over Memphis on February 20, and its season high of 126 points came in an overtime loss to the Grizzlies on December 18.

The Sonics got a combined 21 points from Lewis and Damien Wilkins during a 40-point first period.

"I thought we built that big early lead and didn't have to chase them all night," Lewis said. "It's all about pride with this organization now. It would be a long 10 games if we just hung our heads."

Lewis reached the 10,000-point plateau in the opening quarter.

"I didn't even know that until I made the three and they announced it on the loudspeakers," Lewis said.

Seattle shot 58 percent in the opening half to build a 69-55 advantage.

"I thought we got off to an awfully good start," Seattle coach Bob Hill said. "We got the tip, got out and ran, shared the ball. I was scared to death going into the third quarter because we're so famous for letdowns in the third quarter."

Collison scored 10 points and Lewis eight as Seattle shot 13-of-18 in the third period to push the lead to 101-72.

"I think everyone was having a lot of fun (building the early lead)," Wilkins said. Everyone was looking for each other and giving each other shots and the shots were falling. It's easy to have fun when the shots are falling."

Petro shot 11-of-14, grabbed five rebounds and blocked two shots.

"Everybody got a chance to play which was great," Hill said. "Johan Petro had a breakthrough game, didn't turn it over much, took his time and made shots, blocked shots."

"It was a good feeling seeing him get his career high," Lewis said. "We were talking on the bench that he hadn't ever scored 20 points. I thought he played well and hit a lot of shots."

Hakim Warrick scored 26 points and rookie Tarence Kinsey added 20 for the Grizzlies, who were trying for their first three-game winning streak of the season.