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Durant, Sonics hope to earn first win against Jazz

Nov 9, 2007 - 3:39 PM Utah (3-2) at Seattle (0-5) 10:30 pm EST

SEATTLE (Ticker) - This is not how Kevin Durant hoped to start his rookie season.

Durant and the Seattle Supersonics hope to avoid tying a dubious team record when they face the Utah Jazz on Friday.

Seattle dropped a 105-98 home loss to Memphis on Wednesday to remain winless through its first five games. Its just second time since the team began play in 1967 that the club has started in that fashion.

Durant, the only rookie in the NBA averaging double digits points (22.3) had a miserable shooting night, misfiring on 3-of-17 from the floor for the Sonics, who could match a franchise-worst 0-6 start from 1969-70 with a defeat at the hands of Utah.

The 6-10 rookie, who was the unanimous player of th year in college last season, is not used to being on the losing side of the court.

"I hate to lose, basically," said Durant, whose 17 points vs. the Grizzlies was a season-low. "I don't care if it's an 82-game season and people say you have to lose - I hate to lose. Period."

Seattle, which has given up 110.0 points per game, now has to face Utah, which leads the league at 111.4 ppg.

The Jazz have the early lead in the Northwest Division after a 103-101 victory over Cleveland on Wednesday. Deron Williams' coast to coast layup with no time left provided the winning margin against the Cavaliers. Williams, finished with 15 points and 12 assists while Carlos Boozer had 23 points and 12 rebounds for the second straight game.

Boozer, an All-Star for the first time last season, has double- doubles in all five games for the Jazz. Utah, which won 20 more games than Seattle did in 2006-07, split its four games with the Supersonics a year ago.