Ray Allen scored 35 points and hit a layup with 5.8 seconds to play, lifting the SuperSonics to a 111-109 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night in Gary Payton's first game in Seattle since being traded away last February after 12 1/2 seasons.

Los Angeles Lakers' Gary Payton (20) drives past Seattle SuperSonics' Ronald Murray during the second quarter Friday, Jan. 2, 2004, in Seattle. [AP]

Kobe Bryant scored 18 of his 32 points in the fourth period, but he missed a 3-pointer that would have won it at the buzzer. Fans and Sonics players broke into pandemonium when Rashard Lewis collected the rebound.

Payton scored 24 points with five assists and five rebounds, but it couldn't prevent the Sonics from their third straight win over the Lakers.

Los Angeles didn't have Karl Malone, who hasn't played since Dec. 21 because of a sprained knee ligament, and lost Shaquille O'Neal early in the second quarter when a strained right calf flared up.

O'Neal, averaging 20.6 points and 11.8 rebounds, played only 14 minutes, scoring six points with five rebounds.

Payton was shipped to Milwaukee in the blockbuster deal that brought Ray Allen to Seattle.

"The Glove," who joined the Lakers as a free agent last summer, remains Seattle's franchise leader in scoring, assists, steals, games played, minutes and several other statistical categories.

Payton was the first player introduced and received a standing ovation of just over a minute. Sonics chairman Howard Schultz, who feuded with Payton last season, stood to applaud from his courtside seat.

Fans posted signs that read, "G.P.: Greatest Sonic of all time," "Welcome Home Gary" and "We'll Always Love the Glove."

It was a thrilling finish. Seattle led 106-102 after two foul shots by Lewis and a bank shot by Allen, but Bryant hit a 3-pointer and Payton made one of two free throws to tie it with 1:11 to go.

Allen swished a 3-pointer from the left side with 36.4 to play, then had Bryant smothered in the left corner at the other end.

But Bryant calmly hit a 3-pointer of his own, sending a groan through the sold-out arena when his shot fell as he backed into the Sonics bench. That tied it at 109 with 22.8 seconds remaining.

After a Seattle timeout, Allen brought the ball downcourt, worked 10 seconds off the clock, swung around Bryant's defense and drove for a layup that went in with 5.8 seconds on the clock.

Rashard Lewis scored 20 and Brent Barry had 12 points and 11 assists for Seattle.

Slava Medvenenko added 14 points for Los Angeles.

With O'Neal gone in the second half, both teams went to smaller lineups and it evolved into an exciting duel.

The Sonics broke away early in the fourth quarter, with Allen hitting a 3-pointer and a jumper to spark a 12-2 run that gave Seattle a 96-89 lead with 8:04 remaining after a 3-pointer by Richie Frahm and two free throws by Reggie Evans.

Bryant led a rally, scoring six points and dishing an assist to Payton during an 11-2 Lakers run that tied it at 100 with 4:13 remaining. The Sonics went scoreless for a span of 2:58 during that burst.

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