PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS vs. HOUSTON ROCKETS DECEMBER 10, 1995 Refitting for the Rockets --- The Portland Trail Blazers, (9-9), who go from the Sonics to the Rockets inside 24 hours, will be looking to get back to their winning ways, bounce back above .500, and stretch their win streak in Rose Garden to three games when they entertain defending NBA champion Houston Sunday. Portland saw a modest two- game win streak scissored in hard-fought game in Seattle last night, losing to the Sonics, 106-97. The Blazers would like a repeat of last year when they won three straight from the defending world champion Rockets, including two big wins in Memorial Coliseum. The Blazers-Rockets series --- The Blazers are behind in the all-time series with Houston, 60-48, but hold a 30-23 advantage in games played in Portland. The Blazers have won two in a row here and nine of the last 12. The Rockets last success on the road against Portland was March 15, 1994, when they left Memorial Coliseum with a 105-99 decision. The Blazers, scheduled for a rematch with the Rockets in Houston 11 days, have an 18-37 record in the Texas city and have been victorious on only two of their last eight stops there. Houston holds a 14-7 lead in the season matchups between the two teams and there have been four ties. Portland and Houston last year --- Portland was a thorn in Houston's side most of last season. The Blazers shot down the Rockets in each of the first three meetings in the last campaign, including a series-record 38-point blowout in Portland on Feb. 6, 120-82. The Rockets recovered to take the final matchup of the season between the two teams, 112-99, in Houston, but only after coming from behind in the final quarter to keep from being swept in the series. The three-games-to-one series win was Portland's second in three years. The Blazers outscored the Rockets by an average of 112.0 to 99.3 points in the four contests and had a 47.5- 39.0 rebounding edge. Both teams shot 46 percent from the field in the series. Clifford Robinson was the Blazers top scorer, averaging 23.8 ppg; Clyde Drexler averaged 23.0 ppg in two outings for Portland before the trade that put him in a Rocket uniform. (He then averaged 23.5 ppg in the two games he played against his former teammates.) Back-to-back --- Sunday's Houston game closes out the fifth of 19 sets of back-to-back games (games played on consecutive nights) on the Trail Blazers' 1995-96 schedule, and the first of four in a 22-day span in December. Last night, Portland lost in Seattle, 106-97. So far this year, the Blazers are 1-3 in second-game matchups, and are 0-1 when the second game is at home. (Portland dropped a 100-99 decision to Milwaukee in the Rose Garden two weeks ago after beating Golden State the night before in Oakland). Overall Portland has a 4-5 mark in two-night sets this year. Last season the Blazers were 21-17 in consecutive outings. Sonics shoot down Blazers --- The Seattle SuperSonics rode a 53- point showing by starting forwards Shawn Kemp and Delef Schrempf to a 106-97 win over the Blazers in a foul-filled contest in the Key Center last night. Seattle led by as many as 12 points in the second quarter but Portland narrowed it five, 49-45, at halftime. After intermission the Blazers kept close, pulling even on five different occasions, and were within two, 78-76, with 7:45 remaining in the game. But Seattle answered with an 18-8 run in the next five minutes to put the game away. James Robinson came off the bench to lead Portland with a season-high 19 points. The Blazers shot 41 percent (35-86) and Seattle 49 percent (34-69). The Sonics converted an all-time series high 34 free throws (in 45 tries), while the Blazers were hitting on 20 of 28 from the line in the foul-filled contest that saw nine technicals whistled and Portland's Rod Strickland and Seattle's Gary Payton both ejected late in the game for disputing calls. Strickland had dished out a season-high 13 assists and posted his ninth double-double of the season (13 points) before exiting with 1:14 remaining. Among the leaders --- ARVYDAS SABONIS was 2 of 6 from the field against Seattle last night, lowering his NBA-best field goal shooting mark to .622 (79-127). He's shooting .571 (16-28) from from three-point range. . . ROD STRICKLAND dished out a season-best 13 assists in the Seattle contest, raising his 18-game average to 8.9, third best among the league's leaders . . . CLIFFORD ROBINSON, who leads the Blazers in scoring with a 23.8 ppg average, was ninth in the league's point parade after Saturday's game . . . CHRIS DUDLEY grabbed just 3 rebounds in 8 foul-troubled minutes at Seattle, pushing his season's rebounding average down to against Toronto and is averaging a team-best 9.7 rebounds a game. That moved him from among the league's top 10 rebounders for the first time this season. Roster moves --- Portland activated forward HARVEY GRANT from the injured list on Friday. Grant was placed on the injured list on Nov. 27 with a sprained left mid-foot and missed the team's last five games. At the same time, the Blazers requested waivers on 6-7 forward REGGIE SLATER. Slater had appeared in four games with the Blazers, totalling six points and three rebounds in 20 minutes of action. 2,000 for Rod --- The first of ROD STRICKLAND'S nine assists in Thursday's Toronto game was his 2,000th as a Portland Trail Blazer. He added a season-high 13 in the Sonics game last night to up his Portland career total to 2,022. He's now fourth on the all-time list and is one of only five Blazers to dish out 2,000 or more assists. The others are Terry Porter (5,319), Clyde Drexler (4,933), Geoff Petrie (2,057), and Jim Paxson (2,007). Trail Blazing --- The Blazers have won six of their last nine games and have won two straight at home. . . Five of Portland's nine losses this season have been by 5 points or less . . . Seven of the Blazers nine wins have been by 6 points or more . . . Portland is 8-1 when leading going into the fourth quarter and 1-8 when tied or behind . . . It is 5-2 when holding the lead at halftime and 3-7 when trailing . . . The Blazers are 4- 2 when leading after one quarter and 4-7 when behind . . . They are 6-4 when scoring more than 100 points and 5-1 when limiting their opponents to under 100 points . . . Portland is 5-4 against teams with .500 or better records and 4-5 with teams at .500 or under . . . The Blazers are averaging 101.0 points a game to 100.1 by their opponents. Fighting off the Raptors --- The Blazers trailed the Toronto Raptors at intermission, 52-45, but put the defensive clamps on in the third quarter and went on to win, 96-88, Thursday in the Rose Garden. It was the first meeting ever between the two teams. Portland held Toronto to just 10 points in the third period---tieing a franchise record low by an opponent for the quarter---and just 36 points in the second half. Gary Trent, Clifford Robinson, Rod Strickland, Aaron McKie and Arvydas Sabonis all had roles in the Blazers' surge. Trent posted his first-ever double-double with career highs of 15 points and 11 rebounds; Robinson put 15 of his team-high 24 points on the board in the fourth quarter; Strickland had 12 of his 18 in the second half; McKie was one off his season high with 18 points and Sabonis chipped in with 17 points in 24 minutes of play. Former Blazer Tracy Murray paced the Raptors with a career-high 28 points. Toronto banged out a 52-45 rebounding advantage. Portland turned the ball over a season low 10 times, with only four of those coming after halftime. Blazers board up Magic --- The Blazers overwhelmed Atlantic Division- leading Orlando on the backboards, 67-31, enroute to a 93-82 victory last Sunday, ending a six-game Magic win streak in the series that included three straight in Portland. The Orlando point total was the lowest ever against the Blazers. Portland's season-high 67 rebounds was the most ever against the Magic and just four shy of its all-time record. Chris Dudley grabbed 14 rebounds, 10 of them in the game's first 10 minutes, and Buck Williams corralled a season-high 12 misses. Portland dominance included a 20-6 margin on the offensive glass. Portland's bench had a big role in the victory, outscoring their Magic counterparts, 42-16 and outrebounding them 37-5. Clifford Robinson led all scorers in the game with 22 points and first-year guard Randolph Childress scored a career-high 18 points, including 4 of 6 from three- point range. The Blazers shot .397 from the floor while holding Orlando to a .379 field goal night. The Blazers won despite turning the ball over 23 times; Orlando committed just eight miscues. P.J. --- P.J. Carlesimo begins his second season as head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers. Last year, Carlesimo guided Portland to a 44-38 record, the first coach in 25 years to have moved directly from college to a head coaching job in the pros and post a winning record in his first season. The last coach to make the successful jump in one season was Cotton Fitzsimmons, who went from Kansas State to Phoenix to guide the Suns to a 48-34 in 1970-71. Charlotte comes to town --- Following the Houston game Sunday, the Blazers have a three day break until Thursday when they open another back-to-back set by hosting Charlotte in the Rose Garden (7 p.m., KEX Radio, BlazerVision TV). On Friday they are in Vancouver for a rematch with the Grizzlies (7 p.m., KEX Radio). Portland is at home next Sunday against Washington (6 p.m., KEX Radio) before heading out on a two- game invasion of Texas, playing at San Antonio Dec. 19 and at Houston Dec. 21. CLIFFORD ROBINSON . . . . . vs. the Sonics Saturday: 17 points (5-16 FGs, 1-5 3pt, 6-11 FTs), 5 rebounds, 1 steal, 42 minutes before fouling out with 3:08 remaining, his third DQ of the season . . . vs. the Raptors Thursday: Game-high 24 points---15 of them in the 4th quarter, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 32 minutes . . . vs. the Magic Sunday: 22 points, 5 rebounds, 2 steals, 45 minutes . . . Just missed his first career triple- double with 16 points, 9 rebounds, 9 assists in the Nov. 21 win at the Lakers . . . Attempted a career high 19 free throws in Nov. 5 win over Utah . . .Had a career-high 6 three-pointers in 7 tries at Chicago Nov. 11 . . . Has topped Blazers in scoring 11 times . . . Has tallied 30 or more points in five games and 20 or more in 14 . . . Is averaging a team-high 41.4 minutes in 18 starts . . . Among NBA leaders in three-pointers made with 53, has connected for three or more in 11 of the 18 games and has at least one in 17 of the 18 . . . Is tied with Buck Williams for the longest current tenure with the Trail Blazers, playing his seventh season in a Portland uniform . . . Ranks 8th on Portland's all-time list in games played, points and field goals made, 9th in field goals attempted and 3rd in three-point field goals made and attempted . . . Last year vs. Houston: Averaged team-best 23.8 points plus 7.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 37.8 minutes in four starts. BUCK WILLIAMS . . . . . vs. the Sonics Saturday: 6 points (2-5 FGs, 2-2 FTs), team-high 8 rebounds, 22 minutes coming off the bench for the sixth straight game . . . vs. the Raptors Thursday: 3 points, 7 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block, 31 minutes . . . vs. the Magic Sunday: 6 points, season- high 12 rebounds, season-high 36 minutes . . . vs. the Bulls Nov. 27: 3 points, 3 rebounds, 1 block, 21 minutes in his first action of the season . . . Was activated Nov. 27 after opening the season on the injured list with torn tendons in his left thumb, missing the first 12 games this season . . . In his previous 14 years in the league, he missed only 26 of 1,148 games and only 23 of those because of injury . . . Played in one preseason matchup prior to the injury (Oct. 13 at Vancouver), and charted 5 points and 2 rebounds in 12 minutes of action . . . Averaged 9.2 points, 8.2 rebounds and 29.5 minutes over 82 games last season, posting a .512 field goal percentage . . . Only the eighth player in NBA history to record 12,000 career points and 15,000 rebounds . . . Last year vs. Houston: Averaged 8.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 28.0 minutes in four starts. ROD STRICKLAND . . . . . . vs. the Sonics Saturday: 13 points (5-14 FGs, 1-2 3pt, 2-4 FTs), season-high 13 assists, 3 steals, 45 minutes before being ejected with 1:14 remaining in the game . . . It was a team- best ninth double-double of the season . . . vs. the Raptors Thursday: 18 points---12 in the second half, 9 assists, 1 rebound, 38 minutes . . . vs. the Magic Sunday: 7 points, 4 assists, 5 rebounds, 21 minutes before sitting out last 15 minutes of the game because of a sore right shin . . . Just missed a triple-double with 18 points, 10 assists, 8 rebounds, vs. Milwaukee Nov. 30 . . . Had a game-high 24 points (9-12 FGs, 4-5 3pt), 11 assists, in 38 minutes at Golden State Nov. 29. Scored 13 points and was 5 of 5 from the floor and 3 of 3 from three-point range in the game's first 12 minutes . . Has scored 22 or more points in eight games and is averaging 18.9 ppg while shooting .491 percent from the floor and 52 percent (13-25) from long range . . . Has led Blazers in assists in all 18 games, is averaging 8.9 a game. . . His 9 assists against Toronto moved him into fourth place on Blazers' all-time list and made him one of only five Blazers to reach the 2,000 assists plateau. He now has 2,022 as a Blazer . . . Last year vs. Houston: Averaged 20.7 points, 7.0 assists, 2.3 steals and 36.0 minutes in three games. On injured list with fractured wrist for first matchup on Nov. 22. CHRIS DUDLEY . . . . . vs. the Sonics Saturday: 2 points (1-1 FGs), 3 rebounds, 4 personals in 8 minutes . . . vs. the Raptors Thursday: 0 points, 9 rebounds, 2 blocks, 1 steal, 24 minutes . . . vs. the Magic Sunday: 0 points, game-high 14 rebounds, 10 in the game's first 10 minutes, 1 block, 22 minutes . . . vs. the Lakers Nov. 21: Season-high 12 points (6-9 FGs), 15 rebounds, 4 blocked shots, 36 minutes . . . fourth double-double of the season vs. Lakers . . . Leading Blazers rebounder in 12 of the 18 games played . . . Among NBA rebounding leaders with an 8.9 average . . . Last year, was one of two Blazers to play in all 82 games . . . Has played in 106 consecutive games, Portland's longest current streak . . . Last year vs. Houston: Averaged 6.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.0 blocks and 26.3 minutes in four starts. ARVYDAS SABONIS . . . . . vs. the Sonics Saturday: 7 points (2-6 FGs, 3-3 FTs), 7 rebounds, 1 steal, 22 minutes . . . vs. the Raptors Thursday: 17 points (6-8 FGs, 1-1 3pt, 4-6 FTs), 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 24 minutes . . . vs. the Magic Sunday: 10 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, 1 block, 22 minutes . . . at the Warriors Nov. 29: Had a perfect night from the floor while equalling his NBA career high of 23 points. Finished with 8-8 FGs, 3-3 3pt., 4-4 FTs . . . Had an NBA career- high 16 rebounds versus Phoenix Nov. 18 . . . Has connected on 68 percent of his field goal attempts (65-96) in his last 11 games . . .Among the NBA's top three in field goal accuracy at .622 (79-127) and is shooting .571 (16-28) from three-point range . . . Is averaging 13.3 points, 6.2 rebounds and 22.8 minutes in 16 games . . . Considered to be one of the best Europeans ever to play the game . . . Helped lead Lithuania to a silver medal in the 1995 European Championships in Athens, Greece, and a berth in the 1996 Olympic Games. AARON McKIE . . . . . vs. the Sonics Saturday: 18 points (7-13 FGs, 1-2 3pt, 3-4 FTs), 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 29 minutes . . . vs. the Raptors Thursday: 18 points, 6 rebounds, 2 steals, 34 minutes . . . vs. the Magic Sunday: 17 points, 9 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 30 minutes . . . Equalled his season high with 19 points at Phoenix Nov. 18 . . . Is shooting .521 from the field for the year (85-163) and has hit at a .546 (77-141) rate in his last 12 outings, all starts . . . Has scored in double figures 11 times and has had 17 or more in seven of his last 11 games while averaging 113.4 ppg . . . Returned to action wearing a facemask to protect a broken facial bone to play 18 minutes in the Nov. 5 win over Utah. Played his first game without the facemask against Orlando Sunday . . . Broke the zygomatic arch under his left eye during fall camp practice on Oct. 25 . . . Started 20 games for last season and averaged 6.5 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.0 assists in 45 appearances . . . Last year vs. Houston: Averaged 7.0 points, 1.5 assists, 2.0 rebounds, 2.5 steals and 21.0 minutes in two games, both starts. HARVEY GRANT . . . . . vs. the Sonics Saturday: 10 points (5-11 FGs), 5 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 block, 38 minutes off the bench in his first game back after being activated from the injured list on Friday. He missed five games with a sprained left mid-foot . . . last previous appearance vs. Nets on Nov. 24: 11 points, 1 steal, 23 minutes . . . Started nine games at small forward after beginning the season as the starting two guard . . . Averaged 9.1 points, 3.8 rebounds and 23.6 minutes with a .461 field goal ledger in 75 games last season while starting 14 games, including five at shooting guard . . . Last year vs. Houston: Averaged 5.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, 0.8 assists and 23.0 minutes in four games. JAMES ROBINSON . . . . . vs. the Sonics Saturday: Season and game- high 19 points (6-15 FGs, 3-9 3pt, 4-4 FTs), 3 assists, 20 minutes . . . vs. the Raptors Thursday: 1 point, 3 assists, 2 rebounds, 14 minutes . . . vs. the Magic Sunday: 8 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 17 minutes . . . vs. the Lakers Nov. 21: Scored the game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer and finished with season-high 17 points, 6 assists, 0 turnovers, 27 minutes . . . Has connected on at least one three-pointer in 13 of the 18 games . . . Missed entire preseason after suffering fracture of fourth metacarpal in his left hand in fall camp . . . Ranks 5th all-time in three- point field goals made with 122 and 6th in three-point attempts with 347 . . . Last year vs. Houston: Averaged 14.0 points, 6.0 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 35.5 minutes in two games. RANDOLPH CHILDRESS . . . . . vs. the Sonics Saturday: Scoreless in 2 minutes of action . . . vs. the Raptors Thursday: Scoreless with 1 steal and 1 rebound in 10 minutes . . . vs. the Magic Sunday: Career-high game of 18 points (5-8 FGs, 4-6 3pt, 4-5 FTs), 3 assists, 3 rebounds, 1 steal, 27 minutes . . . His 5 points and 5 assists in the win over Utah Nov. 5, were the first of his professional career . . . Before his 18-point outburst against Orlando, had scored 30 points in his previous 14 games while averaging 7.1 minutes per game . . . Was acquired, along with forward Bill Curley, from the Detroit in exchange for Otis Thorpe . . . Was the Pistons' first round draft pick (19th overall) in 1995 draft. GARY TRENT . . . . . vs. the Sonics Saturday: Scoreless with 1 rebound in 6 minutes in his sixth consecutive start at small forward . . . vs. the Raptors Thursday: First ever double-double with career-high 15 points (6-18 FGs, 3-5 FTs), career and team-high 11 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 32 minutes . . . vs. the Magic Sunday: 5 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 20 minutes . . . Scored 12 points (6-8 FGs)---his first points as a pro, in 23 minutes in the Nov. 5 win over Utah . . . Was acquired (along with a conditional 1996 first round draft pick) from Milwaukee in exchange for the draft rights to Shawn Respert . . . Was Milwaukee's 1st round pick (11th overall) in the 1995 Draft. DONTONIO WINGFIELD . . . . . vs. the Sonics Saturday: 5 points (2-4 FGs, 1-1 3pt), 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 6 minutes . . . vs. the Raptors Thursday: Scoreless in 1 minute of action . . . Did not play (coach's decision) in prior two games . . . Was signed as a free agent . . . Spent last season with the Seattle and averaged 2.3 points and 4.0 minutes in 20 games . . . Played one year of collegiate basketball at Cincinnati, where he averaged 16.0 points and 9.0 rebounds in 29 games. ANTHONY COOK . . . . . Did not play (coach's decision) in last three games . . . Last appearance vs. Warriors Nov. 29: Scoreless in 2 minutes . . . Played with the Denver Nuggets from 1990-91 to 92-93, and with the Orlando Magic and Milwaukee Bucks in 1993-94 . . . Averaged 3.8 points and 4.0 rebounds with a .439 field goal percentage and a .531 free throw mark in 105 career NBA contests before joining the Blazers as a free agent BILL CURLEY . . . . . Opened the season on the injured list, as he recovers from left ankle surgery performed Oct. 5 . . . The surgery removed a bone fragment . . . Was acquired from Detroit (along with the draft rights to Randolph Childress) in exchange for Otis Thorpe on Sept. 20 . . . Played in 53 games during his rookie campaign at Detroit and averaged 2.7 points, 2.3 rebounds and 11.2 minutes per game.