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SuperSonics face struggling Hornets without Allen

Dec 8, 2006 - 3:58 PM New Orleans (9-8) at Seattle (8-11) 10:30 pm EST

SEATTLE (Ticker) -- The Seattle SuperSonics picked up a win without Ray Allen on Tuesday. Three days later, they will have to do it again.

The SuperSonics will not have Allen in the lineup Friday when they host the slumping New Orleans Hornets.

Seattle's leading scorer at 25.3 points per game, Allen missed Monday's practice, did not play Tuesday and skipped practice again Wednesday with a right ankle injury. A six-time All-Star, Allen underwent an MRI on Wednesday that showed no structural damage but revealed a bruise.

The team announced Thursday that Allen will not accompany the club on its five-game road trip which starts next Tuesday. Seattle also has a home game against Golden State on Sunday.

In the Sonics' only game since Allen's injury, Rashard Lewis scored 29 points and Seattle had six double-figure scorers in a 102-87 rout of Atlanta.

Chris Wilcox added 18 points for Seattle, which shot a blistering 55 percent (42-of-76) from the field and outrebounded the Hawks, 44-28, to make up for 23 turnovers.

On Wednesday, Chris Paul had 26 points and 11 assists and Rasual Butler scored 20 points as the Hornets snapped a five-game skid with a 105-89 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.

Tyson Chandler collected 10 points and 12 rebounds for the Hornets, who shot 48 percent (44-of-92) from the field and grabbed 20 offensive rebounds.

The Hornets won three of the four matchups with the Sonics last season but have dropped four of their last five road games in this series.