Ruben Patterson scored a season-high 32 points as Seattle overcame the ejection of Gary Payton and defeated Dallas.
Payton was ejected for his second technical foul late in the third period.
But the Sonics never missed their All-Star guard because Patterson took over down the stretch. Payton had 19 points, nine assists and eight rebounds.
Patterson scored 16 points in the fourth quarter as the SuperSonics pulled away.
Michael Finley had 31 points for the Mavericks and Dirk Nowitzki added 22.
The Mavericks lost their fifth straight game and fell to the Sonics for the eighth straight time.
Patterson was 6 of 9 in the fourth quarter. He also finished with five steals and eight rebounds as the Sonics began a favorable part of their schedule at home.
Counting Tuesday’s game, the Sonics play 10 of their next 11 at Key Arena.
Many in the crowd of 13,261 came to see Dennis Rodman.
He had 15 rebounds and two points in 35 minutes.
Payton was called for his fifth foul with 54.7 seconds left in the third quarter and was nailed for his second technical foul and ejected with Seattle ahead 72-64.
