SEATTLE (AP) -- Ray Allen scored a season-high 40 points and

Rashard Lewis added 30 to lead the Seattle SuperSonics to a 109-101

overtime victory over the New York Knicks on Friday night.

Allen had eight points and Lewis six in overtime as the Sonics

beat the Knicks for the second time in less than two weeks.

The Northwest Division-leading Sonics, with their fifth win in a

row and fourth straight at home, moved within one victory or a

Minnesota loss to clinching a berth in the Western Conference

playoff race. They can get that berth Saturday if the Timberwolves

lose at New Jersey.

The Knicks dropped to 8-24 on the road.

Tim Thomas sent the game into overtime with a 3-pointer for the

Knicks with 9.5 seconds left in regulation.

But in the overtime, New York was only 3-for-11 from the field.

Stephon Marbury led the Knicks with 31 points.

Allen put the Sonics ahead with two free throws at 3:55 of the

overtime after being fouled by Marbury and then made a 3-pointer

with 2:01 on the clock before Lewis sank an eight-footer with 1:22

to go to give Seattle a 102-95 lead.

The Knicks missed their first seven shots in overtime before

Thomas scored on an offensive rebound put-back with 1:06 to go.

The Sonics led 78-70 after two free throws by Vitaly Potapenko

with 8:41 left in regulation, but the Knicks went ahead 84-83 on

two free throws by Malik Rose with 4:06 to go in the fourth

quarter.

The Knicks had a 13-0 run in the first half and led 42-31 after

two free throws by Marbury with 2:52 to go. The Sonics scored seven

straight points to cut their deficit to 42-38 at halftime. New York

led 69-66 after three periods.<

^Notes: Kurt Thomas of the Knicks and Lewis were game time

decisions. Both started. Thomas missed the game against Boston in

New York on Wednesday night because of a left elbow injury. Lewis

came out late in the first quarter after playing 10 minutes in

Portland on Thursday night because of tendinitis in his left knee

and did not return. ... Damien Wilkins, who scored 21 points in

place of Lewis in Seattle's victory in Portland, had no points on

0-for-2 shooting in 6 minutes, all in the second quarter. ... Lenny

Wilkens, who resigned as coach of the Knicks Jan. 21, was not at

the game although he lives in the Seattle area. He has been serving

as a local television sports commentator and has been a spectator

at the Key Arena since he left the Knicks. Wilkens was replaced by

assistant Herb Williams as coach of the Knicks.