(My Sportsbook) - Eleven games into their season the surprising Seattle SuperSonics are still clinging to a lead in the loaded Pacific Division.

The Sonics had run off four straight wins before falling on Tuesday, when Seattle collided with an even hotter force -- Tracy McGrady.

McGrady scored at least 30 points for the sixth straight game, finishing with 41 in the Magic's 101-84 win. It was also the third time this season that McGrady reached the 40-point plateau.

"One player can't win a game all by himself, but he came pretty close," said Seattle forward Rashard Lewis. "You still need all five players and guys on the bench, but Tracy had it going. And when someone has it going like that, it's hard to stop."

Seattle's loss coupled with the Sacramento Kings' win on Tuesday left the 8-3 Sonics with just a half-game lead in the division. But as they proved last Friday, the Sonics are not about to surrender to the Kings' rule.

In the first of four meetings between the teams this season, the Sonics made a a statement by rolling to a 111-97 home victory. All five Seattle starters scored in double figures, with Gary Payton's 24 leading the way. Desmond Mason came off the bench to collect 20 points and 17 rebounds.

The Sonics, who shot 55 percent from the field, gave Sacramento a taste of its own medicine with an offensive assault.

"I guess we're taking a page out of what Sacramento and Dallas like to do," said Seattle guard Brent Barry, who had 14 points, a career-high 13 assists and four steals. "Those teams have been successful, so it's not a bad book to read."

"They just came and took it from us," Sacramento forward Chris Webber said. "They beat us to the boards. I think Seattle thinks they can out-tough us, and tonight they did that. That's not the way to lose. We have to give a better effort."

The teams don't meet again until January 30 -- also in Seattle.

Seattle will likely fade from the top of the Pacific in the upcoming weeks, especially with the looming returns of LA's Shaquille O'Neal and Sacramento's Mike Bibby. After Thursday's game against Portland at KeyArena, the Sonics embark on a four-game road trip that begins with stops in Dallas and San Antonio.

Then again, this young and fearless Sonics team has been anything but predictable so far.