41.   Rutgers began to hurry its shots, and the Red Storm forced several turnovers that led to easy baskets.

42.   Scoring easy baskets in transition and cleaning up their misses is what kept the Sonics close.

43.   Sacramento began to outrun the Sonics and scored easy baskets off its fastbreak.

44.   Several times the shot clock wound down to a few ticks, but its guards found a way to get the ball inside for an easy basket.

45.   Shandon Anderson had just performed some act of defense on young Clemson that translated into an easy Bulldog basket.

46.   So the Nets decided to press on occasion Monday and run when possible, hoping for a turnover and a couple of misses, longing for an easy basket.

47.   So we got out and pushed it and got some easy baskets.

48.   Still, the Suns did little to stop the Sonics from running toward easy baskets.

49.   Suddenly, the easy baskets refused to drop.

50.   Sure, MacCulloch was punishing in the middle, but this trio kept shooting nicely outside and then penetrating and dishing to MacCulloch for easy baskets.