Lewis will give strained shoulder time to recover

But if Lewis continues to feel movement in his left shoulder like he has in two of the past four games, he may become concerned. Lewis dislocated the shoulder in April 2002 during the playoffs against San Antonio.

"I've been real comfortable this season because it has been feeling good," Lewis said. "And I haven't really had no problems until this past week. ... If it continues to do it, I would start to worry about it. But right now, it's just something that happened and won't continue to happen, hopefully."

If it does, Lewis could require an operation similar to the one that has sidelined rookie teammate Nick Collison for the season. The procedure tightened Collison's shoulder.

Lewis aggravated the shoulder yesterday early in the third quarter. His left arm was struck by Milwaukee center Daniel Santiago as both jumped for a rebound under the Bucks' basket. After landing, Lewis immediately grabbed his shoulder, bent over in pain for a moment and headed to the locker room.

Lewis returned to the Sonics' bench shortly afterward but did not re-enter the game. He said he could have played but instead returned to the locker room to ice the joint and get stimulation treatment.

"They were playing well, so I thought it was best for me just to get treatment and see how I feel in the morning," Lewis said.

Lewis previously felt the shoulder "shift" in last week's loss at New Jersey.

Lewis could have undergone surgery after the shoulder was dislocated in 2002 but chose to strengthen the muscles around the joint to help keep it in place. He has continued the shoulder exercises this season.

"It has been feeling good the majority of the whole year, the whole season," Lewis said. "And just recently this is the first time it has happened this year."

ALLEN ARIZONA-BOUND: Ray Allen, who is recovering from ankle surgery, will travel with the team to Phoenix for the team's game there tomorrow.

Allen has been working out, and his drills will increase in intensity this week.

"I'll be practicing this week," he said. "Most definitely."

Allen likely won't participate in all drills, and he said it's too early to set a date for his return. He has already been on the floor for individual shooting and mobility drills.

MASON'S HOMECOMING: Desmond Mason arrived at KeyArena yesterday wearing a cream-colored suit and a smile glowing even brighter than the fabric as he prepared for his first game against the Sonics since they traded him to Milwaukee on Feb. 20.

The Sonics faced the Bucks at KeyArena the day after the trade, but none of the five traded players participated in the game. Mason was the only one of the five to attend the game. He wore a charcoal-colored suit and didn't cheer for either team. In fact, he didn't even smile, caught in a transition game between his future and former team.

Ten months later, that suit still reminds him of the emotions he felt during that game.

"I think I wore it actually one time since that day," Mason said. "When I do put it on I do remember coming out and sitting on that bench for 48 minutes.

"I just watched the game. It was a tough situation."

It was easier this time around, and not just because he played.

He has found a home in Milwaukee, signing a three-year contract extension that takes effect next season. He has moved into a lakeshore house in Milwaukee.

Yesterday's KeyArena crowd gave him the loudest cheer of any Bucks player when he was introduced.

Mason scored 14 points on 5-of-13 shooting.

NOTES: Brent Barry did not play in the fourth quarter and scored a season-low two points. He appeared to injure his knee after he tripped while trying to dribble around T.J. Ford in the first half. Barry was wearing a protective sleeve and applying ice to the knee. McMillan said he noticed Barry was trying to ease the pain but emphasized that neither Barry nor the trainer said he was unavailable because of the injury. "I just was going with the combinations that had somewhat of a rhythm," McMillan said. ... The Sonics played a three-guard lineup of Antonio Daniels, Luke Ridnour and Ronald Murray much of the fourth quarter.