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PHOENIX (Ticker) -- Jason Kidd scored 25 points and handed out 14 assists to lead the Phoenix Suns to their third straight win, a 99-86 victory over the Seattle SuperSonics. Kidd made 10-of-18 shots from the field, including 4-of-5 from 3-point range, and grabbed seven rebounds. Kidd's short jumper from the left sideline gave the Suns an 85-81 lead with 4:41 left in the fourth quarter and, after a miss by Vernon Maxwell, he nailed a 3-pointer for a seven-point cushion. Tom Gugliotta had 16 points and six rebounds and Cliff Robinson added 15 and eight off the bench for Phoenix, which has won the last six meetings with Seattle. Penny Hardaway shot just 4-for-12, but finished with 11 points, seven assists and six rebounds. "That's the type of game where you're going to get excited to play because those guys like to talk a lot of trash," said Robinson about Seattle. "I think both teams worked really hard to get the win, we just had a little but more. We're just trying to play consistent off the bench, trying to give the starters a lift and try to maintain what they're doing. They're a good team, they had a nice streak going in. They're a division rival, so it was a nice win." Maxwell led the SuperSonics with 20 points in 34 minutes off the bench. Vin Baker returned to the lineup after missing a game when he was diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat and had 13 points and 14 rebounds for Seattle. "We had an opportunity to win this game," Baker said. "This would have been our best win, especially coming off what we've gone through (with) the long road trip. I don't believe in moral victories. We'll play them again and we'll play better the next time." Ruben Patterson had 13 points and seven boards for the Sonics, who had a four-game winning streak snapped. Seattle shot just 38.5 percent (35-for-91) and committed 19 turnovers that led to 26 points. Gary Payton had 11 points, nine assists and seven rebounds, but made just 3-of-14 shots, including 1-of-6 from behind the arc. Payton made a 16-footer to cut Phoenix's lead to 83-81 with 5:02 left before Kidd answered with consecutive baskets. Rodney Rogers, who had 13 points, took a pass from Kidd and made a layup to give Phoenix a 90-81 lead with 3:43 to play. Patterson scored nine points and the Sonics hit 10-of-20 shots in the first period to take a 23-17 lead. Phoenix shot just 28 percent (8-for-29) in the first. "I thought early in the game we struggled," said Phoenix coach Danny Ainge. "Obviously the first quarter was one of the ugliest we've played all year. We really came ready to play, but you've got to give a lot of credit to Seattle because they really took us out of our game." Seattle held the lead for most of the second quarter and went ahead 46-41, when Payton made a 3-pointer with 1:39 remaining. Rogers answered with a dunk with 63 seconds to go, Kidd followed with a layup and Robinson dunked with 31 seconds left to give the Suns a 47-46 edge. Kidd had four points as the Suns opened the third period with a 15-6 run to take a 62-52 lead on Todd Day's layup with five minutes left.
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