Win would quiet Sonics' spat

There was a sentiment around the Furtado Center on Tuesday that tonight's matchup with the Orlando Magic carries more weight than a normal late November game.

The Sonics have lost two consecutive games by a total of 29 points, prompting coach Bob Hill to call out the bench for a lack of production. Two members of that bench responded with criticism of their coach and the past two days have provided opportunities for each to voice their opinions to the media.

The consensus now is that all is well heading into tonight and a victory would work to put the spats behind this unstable bunch.

Hill met with swingman Damien Wilkins on Monday to discuss Wilkins' displeasure with Hill's quick hooks. But each of the three primary reserves, Wilkins, Earl Watson and Nick Collison, is shooting below his career average.

That is pushing Hill to give rookie Mickael Gelabale more of an opportunity to play. The Frenchman has averaged just 3.6 minutes per game but has wowed teammates and coaches with his recent performances in practice.

More minutes for Gelabale would mean taking away time from Watson, Wilkins and Ray Allen.

"Would you do that?" Hill asked a reporter Tuesday.

"Gelabale was really good today," Hill said. "I would like to (give him minutes). But not now."

Before he decides on wholesale changes, Hill wants to give the current crew a chance to redeem itself. The meeting with Wilkins was productive, according to both parties.

"We had some things I don't agree with and some things he didn't agree with me and the bench and we spoke on it publicly," Wilkins said, "which we shouldn't have done. The meeting went great. We just talked. That's something that Coach and I hadn't done in a while. He understood that I was frustrated with the team losing. It wasn't about how many minutes I was playing. Things are good now. He was just being a dad and I was being a son."

Perhaps Wilkins' point of contention with Hill occurred during the 98-78 loss to San Antonio, when he spun down the baseline for a dunk on Tim Duncan, only to be replaced by Rashard Lewis on the next stoppage of play. Some in the Sonics camp thought Lewis should have been called back to the bench because Wilkins was playing well and igniting the crowd.

"That was frustrating to me at that time," Wilkins said. "There are a thousand plays that are going to happen that guys are going to make, and going to come out because of a decision that Coach makes. I have to live with that decision and I don't disagree with it.

"More importantly the meeting (Monday) was about us speaking and us being cool with each other because we hadn't spoken in a while."

Hill said he wanted the Sonics to be near .500 by the end of the month. They would be two back with a win tonight at KeyArena. There is no panic in his voice, only the desire to get the team untracked. The Sonics have been a streaky team this season, and just a week ago they led the Los Angeles Clippers from start to finish for a 10-point win.

"Damien and I go way back," Hill said. "It's different with him. I care about him. I feel responsible to help him get started playing better again. You've got to get the guys playing that are struggling a little bit. How long do I wait on that? That's a gut feeling."

Meanwhile, forward Danny Fortson said he is a couple of weeks away from returning to the lineup because of his troublesome left knee. Fortson, who has missed the past six games, practiced Tuesday but said he wants to play more than in just spurts.

"I am nowhere near ready to play basketball, not yet anyway," he said. "It feels good. It's getting there. When the swelling goes down, I should be fine. ... When I come back, I want to play more than five minutes. I want to prepare myself to play at least 15."

Fortson said doctors told him that he will not require surgery.

SONICS VS. MAGIC

WHEN/WHERE: Tonight, 7, KeyArena

TV/RADIO: FSN; KTTH-AM/770

ORLANDO (11-4)

Pts Ast Reb

G Jameer Nelson 14.7 3.8 3.1

G Grant Hill 16.5 2.5 3.5

F Hedo Turkoglu 10.2 2.5 3.5

F Tony Battie 5.1 0.4 4.9

C Dwight Howard 16.7 1.8 13.7

SEATTLE (6-9)

Pts Ast Reb

G Luke Ridnour 15.5 6.5 2.9

G Ray Allen 25.5 3.2 3.9

F Rashard Lewis 22.9 2.3 6.4

F Chris Wilcox 10.5 1.6 8.9

C Johan Petro 5.1 0.6 4.1

WHAT TO KNOW: The Sonics are off to another shabby start at home, losing five of their first seven. ... The Magic is off to its best start in years and dominated Utah in Salt Lake City on Monday. ... The Sonics dropped a 98-78 decision to the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday, causing dissention in the locker room. Coach Bob Hill criticized the bench players and the reserves responded by saying Hill doesn't trust them and runs first unit-type play for the second unit. Hill said he is going to try to get the bench going, and the reserves will need to produce against the Magic, which is sixth in the league in field goal percentage defense and allowed the Jazz 43 percent shooting and 75 points. ... Howard, 20, is the best young rebounder in the league.

WHOM TO WATCH: Nelson is fun to watch because of his ability to score against bigger guys as well as rebound. He gives opposing point guards problems because of his quickness, and can shoot from the perimeter.

HEAD TO HEAD: The Sonics lost 88-87 on Nov. 8 in Orlando on Turkoglu's 22-footer from the corner with 0.4 seconds left. The Magic is 3-14 in Seattle and 13-22 all-time against the Sonics.

ROLL CALL: Sonics -- C Robert Swift (torn anterior cruciate ligament) is out; F Danny Fortson (sore left knee) is questionable. Magic -- F Pat Garrity (sprained right knee) is questionable.

P-I reporter Gary Washburn can be reached at 206-448-8006 or garywashburn@seattlepi.com.

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