PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS vs. HOUSTON ROCKETS DECEMBER 21, 1995 To The Summit --- The Portland Trail Blazers (11-12), head for The Summit in Houston Thursday looking to finish their two-game ride through Texas with a split and at the same time put an end to a three- game losing streak, their longest of the season. The Blazers extended their string of road losses to three, also the longest this year, when they saw a fourth quarter lead evaporate in a 111-103 loss at San Antonio. After concluding the short journey to the Lone Star State against the Rockets, the Blazers return home to meet the Los Angeles Lakers in the Rose Garden on Saturday. The Blazers-Rockets series --- The Blazers trail in the all-time series with Houston, 60-49, but have won four of last five against the two-time defending world champs. Portland was 1-1 in trips to The Summit last year, winning 102-94 in November before Houston ended a three-game Blazers win streak in the series with a 112-99 decision on April 13. The Rockets hold a 37-18 advantage over Portland on their own court where they have won five of the previous seven matchups. The Blazers are up 31-23 in games played in Portland where they have a three-game win streak going. The last time they met --- Arvydas Sabonis' rebound and seven-foot hook shot at the buzzer put a dramatic ending to a two-overtime battle with the defending world champions on Dec. 10. The 103-101 Blazers victory was the fourth in five games against the Rockets and the third straight in Portland. Houston battled back after being down by as many as 17 points in the second quarter and trailing at halftime, 48-35. Hakeem Olajuwon's two free throws with 38 seconds remaining in regulation earned the Rockets their first tie of the game at 86-86, the score at the end of regulation. It was tied at 91 after the first OT. Rod Strickland, with a season-high 32 points, had six of Portland's 12 points in the second extra session. With Chris Dudley sidelined with a bruised sternum, Sabonis saw an NBA-career high 39 minutes of action and responded with 13 points and 15 rebounds. Clyde Drexler led the Rockets with 26 points and 14 rebounds; Hakeem had 21 points and 17 boards for the Rockets. Portland shot 42 percent and Houston 38 percent from the field. Houston had a 60-56 edge in rebounding. The Blazers won despite shooting just 55 percent from the free throw line, 17-31. Spurs override Blazers --- Portland had the lead for three quarters of the game at San Antonio but couldn't hold it as the Spurs rallied for a 111-103 win at the Alamodome Tuesday. It was the Blazers' third straight setback, their longest string of losses so far, and their eighth loss in the last nine trips to San Antonio. Portland jumped to a 33-26 first quarter lead, was up 58-52 at intermission and still had the lead, 93-92, with seven minutes remaining. David Robinson, who scored 10 of his game- high 31 points in the fourth quarter, sparked the Spurs comeback. Clifford Robinson topped Portland scoring with 25 points. The Blazers shot 46 percent from the field (39-85), slightly better than San Antonio's 43 percent chart (40-93). But Portland again sputtered at the line, converting 55 percent (18-33) while the Spurs were making 79 percent of their free throws (27-34). Portland, led by Chris Dudley's 14 boards, had the rebounding edge, 50-45. Among the leaders --- ROD STRICKLAND has dished out 54 assists in his last four outings, raising his 23-game average to 9.7 a game, second only to Utah's John Stockton among NBA leaders . . ., STRICKLAND is second in the league in three-point percentage after 23 games. Rod is shooting .489 (23-47) from three-point range. (He was a .317 career shooter from long range coming into the 1995-96 season) CLIFFORD ROBINSON, who leads the Blazers in scoring with a 23.6 ppg average, is ninth among the league's leading scorers after hitting for 25 against the Spurs . . . CHRIS DUDLEY has grabbed 57 rebounds in his last four games. That combination upped his 22-game average to 10.5 boards a game, placing him 10th among the league's top rebounders . . . ARVYDAS SABONIS ranks fifth in the league in field goal accuracy with a .566 mark (90-159). Rod moves into third --- ROD STRICKLAND dished out 14 assists Tuesday at San Antonio, giving him 54 in his last four games. It raised his total in three-plus seasons with the Blazers to 2,083. He's moved into third place ahead of Geoff Petrie (2,057) on Portland's all-time assists list and has become one of only five Blazers ever to distribute 2,000 or more assists. The others are Terry Porter (5,319), Clyde Drexler (4,933), Petrie and Jim Paxson (2,007). In the last five games, Rod has averaged 13.5 assists in his last four games and is averaging 9.7 for the season, the second best mark in the NBA. Milestones --- CHRIS DUDLEY grabbed 67 rebounds in the last four games to up his total in a Blazers uniform over the 1,000 mark. He now has 1,020 in 110 games for Portland, a 9.3 per game average . . . BUCK WILLIAMS has connected on 10 field goals in his last three games, raising his total as a Trail Blazer to 2,009. That makes him the 14th Portland player to make 2,000 or more field goals. He needs just 11 more to reach the 6,000 plateau in his NBA career spanning 14-plus seasons and now 1,133 games. Trail Blazing --- The Blazers have won eight of their last 14 games with three of the losses by four points or less . . . Six of Portland's 12 setbacks have been by 5 points or less . . . Eight of the Blazers 11 wins have been by 6 points or more . . . Portland is 10-3 when leading going into the fourth quarter and 1-9 when tied or behind . . . It is 6-3 when holding the lead at halftime and 4-8 when trailing . . . The Blazers are 6-4 when leading after one quarter and 4-8 when behind . . . They are 8-5 when scoring more than 100 points and 5-1 when limiting their opponents to under 100 points . . . Portland is 6-5 against teams with better than .500 records and 5-7 with teams at .500 or under . . . The Blazers and their opponents are both averaging 101.7 points per game. Up and down --- After 23 games the Trail Blazers have shown improvement in accuracy from the field over last year, both from inside and outside the three-point arc. They are hitting at a .458 clip overall, up from the .451 mark in 82 games last year. The conversion rate from long range has also improved; As a team the Blazers are shooting .402 from three-point range, second best in the league. Last year, the Blazers' compiled a .365 three-point chart, the league's 16th highest. On the flip side, Portland continues to struggle at the free throw stripe. In Tuesday's loss to the Spurs, the Blazers were good on just .545 of their foul shots. In last Friday's loss at Vancouver, the Blazers shot a season-low .526 from the line (10-19). Portland has been below the 60 percent mark 11 times and below the 70 percent level 17 times. For the season, Portland is shooting .628 at the line, 29th best on the league's charts. Vanquished in Vancouver --- The Trail Blazers have a collective 62-12 mark and winning records against five of the six expansion teams to come into the NBA since 1988. But after Friday's disappointing 104-100 overtime loss in Vancouver, Portland dropped to 0-2 against the sixth team--the Grizzlies. Vancouver's win, only its third of the season, broke a 19-game losing streak which was one short of equalling the league's all- time consecutive loss record. Two of of the Blazers' season-long problems---accuracy at the free throw line and taking care of the ball--- came back to haunt them again. Portland hit a season-low .526 from the charity stripe for the game (10-19) including three misses in the final 15.9 seconds of regulation. And, after turning the ball over a season-low seven times against Charlotte the night before, Portland committed 23 miscues for 19 points by the Grizzlies. Rod Strickland finished with 29 points and 13 rebounds. Bryant Reeves led Vancouver with 25 points and 17 rebounds. Portland had a 49-48 rebounding edge. Bullets shoot down Blazers --- The Washington Bullets shot 67 percent from the field in the second half, outscored the Blazers in each of the first three quarters and went on to a 112-100 victory in their first visit to the Rose Garden on Sunday. The loss was Portland's second in three days and snapped a five-game win streak over the Bullets. Clifford Robinson, coming off the bench for the first time this season, led Portland in scoring with 24 points, 22 of them in the second half. Arvydas Sabonis added 20 points to the Blazers cause and Rod Strickland had 18 points and 13 assists, his 12th double-double of the season. But it wasn't enough as the Bullets answered with all five starters in double figures including a season-high 25 points by Calbert Cheaney. Washington's 7-7 Rumanian center Gheorghe Muresan had a career best 17 rebounds to go with 18 points. Portland shot .379 (36-95) from the floor while the Bullets were fired at a .545 clip (48-88). 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. Home for the holidays --- After finishing their two-game Texas invasion in Houston Thursday, the Trail Blazers return home to take on the Los Angeles Lakers Saturday in the Rose Garden (7 p.m., KEX Radio, BlazerVision TV) before taking a two-day Christmas break. Portland returns to action following the holiday with a back-to-back set, playing at Utah on Tuesday (6 p.m., KEX Radio) then back home Wednesday against the Boston Celtics (7 p.m., KEX Radio). CLIFFORD ROBINSON . . . . . vs. San Antonio Tuesday: Team high 25 points (8-21 Fgs, 3-7 3pt., 6-9 Fts), 5 rebounds, 1 block, 41 minutes before fouling out for the third time this season . . . vs. Washington Sunday: Team-high 24 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 36 minutes in his first non-start of the season . . . vs. Vancouver Friday: 19 points, 7 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block, 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 14 times . . . Has tallied 30 or more points in five games and 20 or more in 17 . . . Ranks ninth in the NBA in scoring with a 23.6 average . . . Is averaging 41.5 minutes in 23 games, second highest minutes per game in the league . . . One of two Blazers to play in all 23 games thus far . . . Among NBA leaders in three-pointers with 68 makes and has connected for three or more in 14 of the 23 games and has at least one in 22 of the 23 . . . Is tied with Buck Williams for the longest current tenure with the Trail Blazers, playing his seventh season in a Portland uniform . . . Ranks in the Blazers' all-time top ten in 16 of 17 statistical categories, including 8th in games played, points and field goals made, and 3rd in three-point field goals made and attempted . . . Last game vs. Rockets: 18 points (6-14 Fgs, 1-2 3pt., 5-10 Fts), 7 rebounds, 3 blocks, 2 steals, 1 assist, 47 minutes. BUCK WILLIAMS . . . . . vs. San Antonio Tuesday: 3 points (1-4 Fgs, 1-2 Fts), 8 rebounds, 23 minutes off the bench . . . vs. Washington Sunday: 8 points, 5 rebounds, 20 minutes in his second start of the season . . . vs. Vancouver Friday: season-high 17 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist before fouling out, his first DQ of the season . . . His first FG in the Grizzlies game was his 2,000th as a Trail Blazer . . . 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 in the first pre-season game Oct. 13 in Vancouver, 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 . . . Only the eighth player in NBA history to record 12,000 career points and 15,000 rebounds . . . Last game vs. Rockets: 4 points (2-5 Fgs, 0-2 Fts), 10 rebounds, 1 steal, 30 minutes in first start of the season and first start ever at center for Blazers. ROD STRICKLAND . . . . . . vs. San Antonio Tuesday: 15 points (6-13 Fgs, 0-4 3pt., 3-7 Fts), season high equalling 14 assists, 7 rebounds, 1 block, 35 minutes---team-best 13th double-double of the season . . . vs. Washington Sunday: 18 points, 13 assists, 6 rebounds, 37 minutes . . . vs. Vancouver Friday: Game-high 29 points, game-high 13 assists, 48 minutes before fouling out for the first time this season and only the seventh time in his NBA career, spanning 523 games . . . vs. Houston Dec. 10: Season-high 32 points . . . Just missed a triple-double with 18 points, 10 assists, 8 rebounds, vs. Milwaukee Nov. 30 . . . Had a game- high 24 points, 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 . . Only Blazer to start all 23 games. In the last five games has averaged 23.0 points and 12.4 assists a game . . . Has averaged 13.5 assists in last four games . . . Second in the league in three-point accuracy with a .489 mark (23-47) . . . Has led Blazers in assists in all 23 games, is averaging 9.7 a game, ranking second in the NBA . . . He's one of only five Blazers to reach the 2,000 assists plateau . . . Has 2,083 assists, putting him third all-time in Portland. Last game vs. Rockets: Season-high 32 points (13-25 Fgs, 3-4 3pt., 3-5 Fts), 8 assists, 5 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block, 47 minutes. CHRIS DUDLEY . . . . . vs. San Antonio Tuesday: 10 points (5-10 Fgs, 0- 2 Fts), 14 rebounds, 2 blocks, 1 steal, 32 minutes---sixth double-double of the season . . . vs. Washington Sunday: Season-high 13 points, team- high 11 rebounds, 33 minutes before fouling out with 23 seconds remaining, his third DQ of the season . . . vs. Vancouver Friday: 6 points (3-5 Fgs), team-high 13 rebounds, 30 minutes before fouling out . . . vs. Charlotte Thursday: 6 points, season-high 19 rebounds . . . Has averaged 14.2 rebounds in last four games . . . Leading Blazers rebounder in 16 of the 22 games he's played in . . . Ranks 10th in the league in rebounding with a 10.5 average . . . Had played in 103 consecutive games, the Blazers' longest consecutive streak, before sitting out the Dec. 10 game vs. Houston because of a bruised sternum suffered the night before in Seattle. HARVEY GRANT . . . . . vs. San Antonio Tuesday: 13 points (6-9 Fgs, 1- 1 3pt.), 6 rebounds, 3 blocks, 31 minutes . . . vs. Washington Sunday: scoreless, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 20 minutes . . . vs. Vancouver Friday: 9 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 35 minutes... vs. Charlotte Thursday: 13 points, season-high 12 rebounds, 2 blocked shots, his first double-double of the season . vs. Houston Dec. 10: 14 points, 9 rebounds and a career-high 6 steals . . . vs. the Sonics Dec. 9: 10 points, 5 rebounds, 38 minutes off the bench in his first game back after being activated from the injured list. He missed five games with a sprained left mid-foot . . . Has started 14 games at small forward after beginning the season at guard . . . Last game vs. Rockets: 14 points (7- 14 Fgs, 0-2 Fts), 9 rebounds, career-high 6 steals, 1 block, season-high 47 minutes. ARVYDAS SABONIS . . . . . vs. San Antonio Tuesday: Did not dress (back spasms) . . . vs. Washington Sunday: 20 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks, 22 minutes . . . Did not dress for the previous two games (lower back strain) . . . vs. Houston Dec. 10: 13 points, 15 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, in an NBA career-high 39 minutes. Hit the game-winner, a hook shot following a rebound at the buzzer to beat the Rockets in double OT . . . 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 . . . sixth in the league in field goal accuracy at .566 (90-159). . . Is averaging 13.6 points, 6.8 rebounds and 23.6 minutes in 18 games . . . Has three double-doubles . . . 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 . . . Last game vs. Rockets: 13 points (4-13 Fgs, 5-6 Fts), 15 rebounds, 1 block, 2 steals, 2 assists, career-high 39 minutes. AARON McKIE . . . . . vs. San Antonio Tuesday: 15 points (6-13 Fgs, 1-3 3pt., 2-6 Fts), 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 28 minutes . . . vs. Washington Sunday: 4 points, 2 rebounds, 24 minutes . . . vs. Vancouver Friday: 7 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 35 minutes in 18th start of the season . . . Equalled his season high with 19 points at Phoenix Nov. 18 . . . Has scored in double figures 14 times and has had 17 or more in seven of his last 15 . . . 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 Dec. 3 . . . Broke the zygomatic arch under his left eye during fall camp practice on Oct. 25 . . . Last game vs. Rockets: 10 points (4-14 Fgs, 2-2 Fts), 3 assists, 5 rebounds, 33 minutes. JAMES ROBINSON . . . . . vs. San Antonio Tuesday: 6 points (2-7 Fgs, 2-5 3pt.), 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 20 minutes . . . vs. Washington Sunday: 5 points, 2 assists, 2 rebounds, 1 steal, 21 minutes . . . vs. Vancouver Friday: 3 points, 1 rebound, 6 minutes . . . vs. the Sonics Dec. 9: Season and game-high 19 points (6-15 FGs, 3-9 3pt, 4-4 FTs), 3 assists, 20 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 15 of 22 games . . . Missed entire preseason after suffering fracture of fourth metacarpal in his left hand in fall camp . . . Ranks 5th all-time in three-pointers with 125 and 6th in three-point attempts with 357 . . . Last game vs. Rockets: 2 points (0-4 Fgs, 0-1 3pt., 2-2 Fts, 1 assist, 3 rebounds, 1 steal, 24 minutes. RANDOLPH CHILDRESS . . . . . vs. San Antonio Tuesday: 5 points (0-1 3pt., 5-5 Fts), 2 assists, 20 minutes . . . vs. Washington Sunday: 2 points, 1 assist, 11 minutes . . . vs. Vancouver Friday: 3 points, 6 minutes. vs. the Magic Dec. 3: 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 versus Utah Nov. 5, were the first of his pro career . . . 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 . . . Last game vs. Rockets: 4 points, 1 assist, 2 rebounds, 11 minutes. GARY TRENT . . . . . vs. San Antonio Tuesday: 11 points (5-7 Fgs, 1-2 Fts), 2 rebounds, 17 minutes . . . vs. Washington Sunday: 6 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 16 minutes . . . vs. Vancouver Friday: 7 points, 4 rebounds, 1 steal, 24 minutes . . . vs. the Raptors Dec. 7: First ever double-double with career-high 15 points (6-18 FGs, 3-5 FTs), and career and team-high 11 rebounds, in 32 minutes . . . Scored 12 points (6-8 FGs)---his first points as a pro---in the Nov. 5 win over Utah . . . Has started six games at small forward, scored in double figures eight times in 21 games and is averaging 7.3 ppg . . . 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 . . . Last game vs. Rockets: 6 points (3-3 Fgs, 0-2 Fts), 11 minutes. DONTONIO WINGFIELD . . . . . Did not play (coach's decision) in last two games . . . vs. Vancouver Friday: Scoreless in 2 minutes . . . 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 . . . Last game vs. Rockets: Scoreless in 1 minute of action. ANTHONY COOK . . . . . Did not play (coach's decision) in last eight 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. Last game vs. Rockets: Did not play (coach's decision). 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.