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Durant, Sonics aim for second straight home win

Mar 26, 2008 - 2:25 PM Washington (36-34) at Seattle (17-54) 10:00 pm EDT

SEATTLE (Ticker) - The Seattle SuperSonics days in the "Emerald City" seem to be numbered, but they still have the support of their fans.

Kevin Durant and the Sonics aim for a second straight home win when they host the Washington Wizards on Wednesday.

Durant scored 23 points as Seattle snapped an 11-game losing streak with a 97-84 win over Portland on Monday. It was the Sonics' longest losing streak since dropping a franchise-record 14 in a row earlier this season.

"Eleven in a row, that's tough," Durant said. "It's kind of like we got the monkey off our back for a little bit. Even with the losses we've had, we've still been playing well on offense, but the defense just wasn't there. But we showed a lot on defense, contesting shots and getting out an running."

During the game fans chanted "Save our Sonics," which was a reference to the team's seemingly imminent move to Oklahoma City.

Commissioner David Stern said on Tuesday that a subcommittee of three NBA owners would suggest approval of the Sonics' move by the rest of the league. If Stern and owner Clay Bennett have their way, the Seattle fans will only have seven more chances to watch the ultra-talented Durant hone his game.

One of them will come against the Wizards, who are still waiting for the return of superstar guard Gilbert Arenas. Arenas, who had a second surgery on his left knee on November 21, participated in the shoot around prior to Sunday's game against Detroit, but was told he would not play.

"I went in there hoping to have them look at the knee and say I could play," Arenas told the Washington Post. "Then, (the doctor) told me I need one more week."

Washington, which is coming off a 102-82 loss to Portland on Tuesday, has won seven of the last eight meetings with Seattle. A meeting with the Sonics should help the Wizards protect the slim 1/2 game lead they hold over Philadelphia (36-35) for the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference.