Seattle Sports: In the Morning

Paul Pierce had 37 and the Celtics pulled away from a game Sonics team, winning 104-97. It was the second sellout of the season. Highlights and a recap at NBA.com.

The Celtics bench was trash-talking Durant, reports TNT's Eric Williams. Said Durant: "It was kind of a unique situation. I heard their bench talking a lot of trash. It was very fun, and very competitive. I kind of had a few words back at them, and I think when I had an opportunity to get the ball I just tried to be aggressive.”

Update on the Husky DC search. Brian Dohn of the LA Daily News writes this: "My sources are telling me Washington has now officially offered UCLA defensive coordinator DeWayne Walker a two-year deal, but Walker is expected to wait until the UCLA head coaching job shakes out before making a decision."

Tim Morris got a broken nose in practice but he'll play Saturday against LSU wearing one of those masks. A Joe Wolfinger elbow was the culprit.

Luke Ridnour didn't play against the Celtics after reaggravating a left quad strain. He's questionable for the Minnesota game Saturday.

Field Gulls does a great job of explaining why D.J. Hackett's absence is hurting Deion Branch's production.

Seahawks playoff tickets go on sale Monday at Seahawks.com and over the phone to Ticketmaster.

"Actually, I was a little embarrassed so I sent my wife into the store and then I bought my other one online but I’ve since gone to the store." Matt Hasselbeck's not telling TNT's Frank Hughes about penile enhancement cream, but rather his titanium necklace. The necklaces are supposed to encourage healing.

Brandon Roy and Martell Webster are not the only Seattle-area products enjoying breakout years. "Marvin Williams is quietly showing his massive promise at the tidy age of 21. After his 14-point, five-rebound and five-assist night, Williams is averaging 16.7 points, 5.7 rebounds and, the biggie, shooting an astounding 50 percent from the field in his third season. He's also second on the Hawks in steals at 1.2 per game." This from Brian Windhorst writing on TrueHoop, who says the difference has been that Williams has ditched the three-ball and become a pure mid-range shooter.

Steve Kelley defends the Ray Allen trade against Allen's contention that the Sonics could've won 50 with he, Rashard Lewis, and Durant: "Fifty wins? The Sonics, with Allen and Lewis, had the fifth-worst record in the league last season. Adding Durant would not have meant 19 more wins...The Sonics needed to get out from under Allen's and Lewis' suffocating contracts. They needed salary-cap space to add free agents to their stockpile of draft picks. They need to grow together. One season with Allen, Lewis and Durant would have been fool's gold."

You may not have heard the last of Horacio Ramirez. John McLaren tells John Hickey of the P-I: "I talked to him the other day, and I liked what I heard. He's working with Mel (new pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre), and we're anxious to see where he's at. He had some spurts where he pitched well for us last year." Yeah, and Jimmy Fallon had some spurts where he was funny, but...

The P-I's Jon Naito asks some Seahawks about the concept of "ghetto-loyalty," which a recent S-I article argues figured in Michael Vick's downfall. Says Deon Grant: "People got to know the difference between homeboys and family and who's not. He stayed loyal to some guys that back home we call crabs."

Franklin had a one-point halftime lead over L.A.'s Dominguez High, ranked #21 in the nation by USA Today, but ended up losing by nine. That and other holiday tourney scores, compiled by the tireless Seattle Times staff.

Former M's starting catcher Miguel Olivo, who was with the Marlins last year, will be reunited with Gil Meche in Kansas City.

Game of the night: Maryland vs. Oregon St., Emerald Bowl, 5:30pm, ESPN. AP Preview.