PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS at SAN ANTONIO SPURS JANUARY 26, 1996 Halfway --- The Trail Blazers (20-20), reach the halfway mark in the 1995-96 season Friday when they open a back-to-back set in Texas against the San Antonio Spurs in the Alamodome. Portland will be looking to shake off a 96-72 loss at Utah Tuesday by evening up its season series with Spurs and at the same time move back above .500. San Antonio captured the first matchup between the two teams on the same floor back in December, 111-103. Tomorrow night the Blazers take on the Mavericks in Dallas. Friday's probable starters --- (F) 44 HARVEY GRANT, 6-9, 9.3 ppg, 5.1 rpg; (F) 52 BUCK WILLIAMS, 6-8, 7.5 ppg, 6.8 rpg; (C) 24 CHRIS DUDLEY, 6-11, 5.2 ppg, 9.9 rpg; (G) 23 AARON MCKIE, 6-5, 11.6 ppg, 4.3 rpg; (G) 26 ROD STRICKLAND, 6-2, 20.1 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 9.6 apg. The all-time series --- Portland and San Antonio have split their last four matchups with each team winning once at home and once on the road. That has allowed the Blazers to maintain a ten-game lead (46-36) in the all-time series between the two teams. However, the Spurs have won five of the last six clashes, including the initial meeting this season in San Antonio. Portland triumphed, 91-71, on the previous visit at the end of last season to break a Spurs' seven-game homecourt series win streak. San Antonio owns a 26-16 advantage in games played next to the Alamo. And, while the Spurs have won three straight in Portland, the Blazers still have a 30-10 winning margin over the Midwest Division club at home. The last time they met --- Portland had the lead for three quarters but couldn't hold it as the Spurs rallied for a 111-103 win at the Alamodome on Dec. 19. It was the Blazers' third straight setback 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. Blazers fall in Jazz country --- The Blazers made only 26 field goals and broke an all-time low scoring mark for a game Tuesday when they fell to the Utah Jazz, 96-72, in Salt Lake City. Portland's previous low production for a game came in a 130-74 loss at Chicago on Feb. 20, 1976. The 26 field goals tied the team's all-time low set in a 90-89 win over Miami earlier this month. The Blazers got off to a good start, leading 24-22 after one quarter. But then the roof fell in. The Jazz outscored Portland, 30-8, in the second quarter to take a 52-32 halftime lead. The eight points was just one shy of the Blazers' all-time low for a quarter. Portland moved to within eight early in the fourth period but a 19-5 run put the game away for the Jazz. Portland shot 35 percent (26-73) for the game and Utah 53 percent (41-78). Rod Strickland, back in action after missing three games with an eye injury, led the Blazers in scoring with 18 points. Chris Dudley added 12 points and a game-high 16 rebounds. Karl Malone led the Jazz with 29 points. The 24-point loss was the Blazers' biggest since 1993-94. Happy New Year! --- Tuesday' loss at Utah only slightly dampened the Blazers' 'new beginning' in 1996. After losing eight of their last nine to finish out December and fall five games below .500, the Blazers have won eight of eleven since the calendar turned to 1996. At 8-3 with five games remaining in January, Portland has already assured itself of a winning record for the month. That comes on the heals of 7-8 and 5-9 records for November and December respectively. January traditionally has been good for the Blazers, who are 199-170 all-time, and have now posted seven consecutive seasons on the plus side for the month. Hot in January --- Through games of Tuesday, Portland remains one of the league's hottest teams during January. The Blazers' 8-3 record is fourth best for the month behind Chicago 10-0, Indiana 9-2 and Atlanta 10-3. Seattle is also 8-3. Chicago, Indiana and Seattle are all scheduled for action on Wednesday. Back-to-Back --- Friday's game at San Antonio opens the 11th set of back-to-back games (contests on consecutive nights) on the Blazers' 1995-96 schedule. Portland is scheduled to play Saturday in Dallas. The Blazers so far are 10-10 in two-night combos and are 5-5 in first engagements including a 3-5 record when the first game occurs on the road. Among the leaders --- CLIFFORD ROBINSON'S 23.7 points per game average places him seventh among NBA scoring leaders and his 40.9 minutes per game is No. 4 in the league . . . ROD STRICKLAND is averaging 9.6 assists a game, second best in the NBA behind John Stockton, his 20.1 ppg scoring average ranks him 23rd in the league, and his 38.8 minutes per game average is 13th highest . . . ARVYDAS SABONIS is fourth among the league's best field goal shooters at .577 (168-291) . . . CHRIS DUDLEY is 14th in rebounding with a 9.9 average. Robinson in AT&T Shootout --- CLIFFORD ROBINSON, who ranks third in the NBA in three-point field goals with 111 and 19th in three-point accuracy at .440, has been selected to compete in the AT&T Shootout on Feb. 10, during the NBA All-Star Weekend in San Antonio. He is booked to go against defending champion Glen Rice of Charlotte. Others in the field include Dana Baros, Hubert Davis, Steve Kerr, Tim Legler, George McCloud, and Dennis Scott. Sabonis selected for Schick Rookie Game --- Arvydas Sabonis, the Blazers' 7-foot-3 center from Lithuania, has been selected to play in the Schick Rookie Game during NBA All-Star Weekend in San Antonio on Feb. 10. Sabonis, who ranks fifth among NBA rookies in scoring (13.8 ppg) and third in rebounding (6.9 rpg) while averaging 23.2 minutes, is among 16 first-year players who will participate in the contest which will be divided into two 15 minute halves. Strickland off to best start --- Point guard Rod Strickland was off to the best start of his career before being sidelined for two games with an eye injury following the Jan. 16 Denver game. Now back in action, Rod is averaging 9.6 assists per contests, second only to Utah's John Stockton, and is scoring at a 20.1 per game clip, second on the team to Clifford Robinson. Rod's best year for assists up to this season was 1993-94 when he averaged 9.0 apg in 82 games for the Blazers. His best scoring was done last year when he averaged 18.9 ppg in 64 outings. He's been the Blazers' leading assists man in all but one of his 37 games, has been in double figures in assists 19 times and has had 16 or more three times. Strickland has topped the Blazers 14 times in scoring and has tallied 20- plus games on 19 occasions, including twice topping the 30-point mark. Clifford from long-range --- Clifford Robinson, who connected on all five of his three-point attempts in the second half Jan. 16 against Denver and finished 5 of 7 for the game, is third in three-point conversions with 111 even though he's missed the last four games with a sprained ankle. He is 16th in the league in three-point accuracy at .440 (111-252). In the two- game set with Denver, Clifford was 8-12 from beyond the arc. His five three-pointers versus the Nuggets, which tied an all-time club record for a half, marked the sixth time this season he's connected for five or more. He's cashed in on three or more triples in 24 contests thus far and has a string of 30 games with at least one make and has made one or more in 34 of the 35 games this season. And, his .440 three-point mark is slightly better than his overall shooting (.431). The Sabonis Story --- With 456 points in 33 games through Sunday, Arvydas Sabonis, the 7-foot-3 center from Lithuania, is the highest scoring Blazers rookie since Clifford Robinson tallied 746 points in 82 games in 1989-90. Last season, Aaron McKie scored 293 points in 45 outings, and James Robinson had 276 in 58 games in 1993-94. Geoff Petrie is the all-time rookie leader, scoring 2,031 points in 82 games in 1970-71. . . . Add Sabonis: He has been named 1995 European Player of the Year by the Italian weekly Gazetto Dello Sport. Sabonis, considered to be one of the best European players ever, led Club Real Madrid of Spain to the 1995 European Men's Club Championships and helped Lithuania take a Silver Medal in the European Championships before joining the Blazers in September. The most recent honor was based on a poll of European managers, players, coaches and writers. Trail Blazing --- Eleven of Portland's 20 setbacks have been by 5 points or less . . . 14 of the Blazers 20 wins have been by 6 points or more . . . The Blazers are 4-6 in games decided by three points or less, but 4-1 when the final margin is two points or under . . . Portland is 18-4 when leading going into the fourth quarter and 2-16 when tied or behind . . . It is 14-6 when holding the lead at halftime and 5-13 when trailing . . . The Blazers are 12-10 when leading after one quarter and 7-10 when behind . . . They are 14-8 when scoring more than 100 points and 12-3 when limiting opponents to under 100 points . . . Portland is 9-11 against teams with better than .500 records and 11-9 with teams at .500 or under . . . Portland is 10-4 when shooting 50 percent or better from the field and 11- 4 when keeping opponents at 43 percent or under . . . The Blazers are averaging 101.9 ppg (14th best in the league) to their opponents' 100.8 . . . Portland is 3-5 against Midwest Division teams, and 1-4 when the inter- divisional games are on the road . . . The Blazers are 10-11 overall in matchups with Western Conference teams and 4-8 on the road. On the boards --- The Trail Blazers, the league's premiere rebounding team last year, is right up there among the leaders again this season. After Tuesday's game, Portland leads the league in defensive rebounding percentage (.723), is fourth overall (.529) and sixth on the offensive boards (.335). The Blazers have a 45.2-40.6 overall rebounding advantage over their opponents, lead them on the defensive boards 30.9- 28.9, and 14.3-11.7 at the offensive end. Chris Dudley leads the team in rebounding with a 9.9 average. Swishing stats --- Portland's .513 field goal shooting mark versus Phoenix last Friday, following on the heals of a season-best 59 percent effort two games earlier at Denver, was the 14th time this season the Blazers have topped the .500 mark from the field and the sixth time in the last 13 games . . . Portland is shooting .460 from the floor thus far in the season, nine percentage points better than last year's 82-game mark . . . The Blazers rank third in the league in three-pointers made (264). Attendance league's fourth best --- The Blazers' 20-game average attendance in the Rose Garden is 20,882, fourth highest in the league behind Charlotte, Chicago and Toronto. To put attendance in the new Rose Garden in perspective, the Blazers attendance for its first 20 games this season---417,644---exceeds the total home crowd count in five of the first six seasons from 1970-71 through 1973-74. Garden show burns Suns --- The Trail Blazers turned in a solid team performance to make up for the absence of their top two scorers, Clifford Robinson and Rod Strickland, to zip past Phoenix, 101-84, in the Rose Garden on Friday. The victory snapped a six-game Suns win streak in the series and was the first at home over the Suns in the last four tries. Six Blazers finished in double figure scoring, led by rookie forward Gary Trent with a career-high 21 points. The Blazers broke the game open in the second quarter when another rookie, center Arvydas Sabonis, swished eight straight baskets and scored all 17 of his points to stake Portland to a 54-48 halftime lead. Portland shot 51 percent and Phoenix 42 percent for the game. The Blazers, led by Buck Williams' 9 boards, outrebounded the Suns, 43-36. Blazers put clamps on Cavs --- Portland's defense stepped up in the third quarter and the offense finished the job in the final stanza on Sunday as the Blazers downed Cleveland, 88-81, in the Rose Garden to earn a season series split with the Cavs. The victory was Portland's season-best sixth in a row at home. That equals the longest homecourt success stretch since P.J. Carlesimo took over the Blazers coaching chores. Portland went into the final quarter down, 61-55, then outscored the Cavs, 33-20, for the victory. James Robinson, starting at point in place of the injured Rod Strickland, had a season-high 22 points to lead the Blazers, Aaron McKie added 21 and Buck Williams equalled his season's best with 17. Arvydas Sabonis aided the cause by scoring nine of his 15 points in the fourth quarter. Portland shot 45 percent (33-74) and Cleveland 42 percent (30-71). Chris Dudley led all rebounders with 11, six of them in the third quarter, as the Blazers pounded out a 44-30 advantage on the backboards. Danny Ferry had a career high 29 points to led the Cavaliers. P.J. --- P.J. Carlesimo is in 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. Roster moves --- Guard RANDOLPH CHILDRESS underwent surgery on his left shoulder Jan. 9 and has been placed on the injured list by the Trail Blazers. He suffered a torn anterior capsule and labrum of the left shoulder in Portland's Dec. 30 game at Cleveland. On Jan. 10, the Blazers signed free agents RUMEAL ROBINSON and ELMORE SPENCER. Robinson, a 6-2 guard, played four seasons in the NBA with Atlanta, New Jersey and Charlotte, and has been the CBA's fourth leading scorer at Connecticut this season. Spencer, a 7-0 center, played three seasons for the LA Clippers and briefly this season with Denver. On the road --- The Blazers finish a two-night swing through the Lone Star State tomorrow night in Dallas (5:30 p.m., KEX Radio). Portland then returns home to take on the Seattle SuperSonics on Monday (7 p.m., KEX Radio, BlazerVision), then hosts Utah on Wednesday (5 p.m., KEX Radio, BlazerVision) before heading east on a four-game road trip beginning Friday in Washington. BLAZERS PROFILES CLIFFORD ROBINSON . . . . . Suffered a severely sprained left ankle in the Jan. 19 Denver game and has missed the last four outings. His availability Friday will be a game-time decision . . . vs. Denver last Jan. 19: Game-high 24 points in 36 minutes---scored 20 of his points in the second half, including 5-of-5 from long range, tieing a club record for makes in a half . . . Selected NBA Player of the Week for week ending Jan. 7 after scoring a career-high 41 points versus Minnesota on Jan. 7 to cap a four-game string in which he averaged 28.8 ppg, 6.5 rpg and 2.8 assists and shot 48 percent from the field to lead the Blazers to three wins. It was the first Player of the Week honor for Robinson . . . had 26 points, including 6 treys in the Dec. 29 loss at Charlotte . . . 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 . . . Has topped Blazers in scoring 21 times . . . Has tallied 30 or more points seven times and 20 or more 28 times . . . Ranks seventh in the NBA in scoring with a 23.7 average . . . Is averaging 40.9 minutes in 36 games, fourth highest minutes per game in the league . . . Is third in the league in three-point conversions with 111, has connected for five or more in six games, four or more in 12, three or more in 24 and has swished at least one trey in 30 straight games and in 34 of 35 this season . . . Ranks 16th in the league in three-point percentage (.433) . . . Is tied with Buck Williams for the longest current tenure with the Trail Blazers, playing his seventh season in Portland . . . was team's current leader in consecutive games played at 59 before sitting out the last four contests . . . Has played all but 11 of the 532 games in his career, including a Blazers record 461 straight . . . Has moved into second place on the Blazers' all-time blocked shots list with 624, ahead of Jerome Kersey (621) . . . Ranks in the Blazers' all-time top ten in 16 of 17 statistical categories . . . Last game vs. Utah: 26 points, 4 rebounds, 3 steals, 38 minutes . . . vs. San Antonio Dec. 19: Team-high 25 points (8- 21 fgs, 3-7 3pt, 6-9 fts), 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, 41 minutes before fouling out. ROD STRICKLAND . . . . . . vs. the Jazz Tuesday: Team-high 18 points (6-14 fgs, 0-1 3pt, 6-8 fts), team-high 8 assists, 39 minutes in first game back after missing previous three games (broken blood vessel in his left eye suffered in Jan. 19 Denver contest) . . . vs. Denver Jan. 19: 17 points, 8 assists, 5 rebounds, 34 minutes . . . vs. Denver Jan. 13: Team- high 26 points and a game-high 16 assists---his team-best 19th double- double of the season . . . Had season-high 18 assists along with game- high 27 points while playing 48 minutes in the OT win at Boston Jan. 3 . . . Played a career-high 50 minutes while leading the team in scoring with 22 points in the Dec. 30 OT loss at Cleveland . . . Scored a team-high 30 points at Houston Dec. 21 after having a season high 32 against the Rockets on Dec. 10 . . . Game-high 29 points and 13 assists in 48 minutes at Vancouver Dec. 15 before fouling out for the first time this season and only the seventh time in nine years in the NBA . . . Twice has come up just 2 rebounds shy of triple-doubles this season (Jan. 3 at Boston and Nov. 30 vs. Milwaukee) . . . Had a game-high 24 points, 11 assists, in 38 minutes at Golden State Nov. 29, scoring 13 points and going 5 of 5 from the floor and 3 of 3 from three-point range in the game's first 12 minutes . . . Started 35 of the team's 40 games . . . Ranks 13th in the NBA in minutes played with a 38.8 average . . . Has led Blazers in assists in 36 games and in scoring 14 times . . . Has contributed 12 or more assists in 11 games . . . is averaging 9.6 assists a game, second in the NBA . . . Has 2,211 assists, third all-time in Portland . . . vs. San Antonio Dec. 19: 15 points (6-13 fgs, 0-4 3pt, 3-7 fts), game-high 14 assists, 7 rebounds, 1 block, 35 minutes. BUCK WILLIAMS . . . . . vs. the Jazz Tuesday: 3 points (1-10 fgs, 1-2 fts), 6 rebounds, 2 steals, 36 minutes . . . vs. the Cavs Sunday: Tied season high with 17 points, plus 8 rebounds, 1 steal, season-high 46 minutes in his fifth start of the season . . . vs. the Suns Friday: 12 points, team-high 9 rebounds, 2 steals, 2 blocks, 39 minutes . . . vs. the Heat Jan. 10: Season high-equalling 17 points, game and season-high 15 rebounds . . . Scored a season-high 17 points at Vancouver Dec. 15 before fouling out, his first DQ of the season . . . Saw his first action of the season versus Chicago Nov. 27 . . . 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 . . . vs. San Antonio Dec. 19: 3 points (1-4 fgs, 1-2 fts), 8 rebounds, 23 minutes. CHRIS DUDLEY . . . . . vs. the Jazz Tuesday: 12 points (4-9 fgs, 4-4 fts), game-high 16 rebounds, 3 steals, 3 blocks, 37 minutes---his seventh double-double of the season . . . vs. the Cavs Sunday: Scoreless with game-high 11 rebounds, 1 steal, 2 blocks, 24 minutes . . . vs. the Suns Friday: 2 points, 5 rebounds, 1 block, 24 minutes . . . vs. the Heat Jan. 10: 4 points, 6 rebounds and a key block of an Alonzo Mourning shot at the buzzer to preserve the Blazers one-point victory . . . Scored a season- high 13 points and had team-high 11 rebounds vs. Washington Dec. 17 before fouling out with 23 seconds remaining, his third DQ of the season . . . Season-high 19 rebounds versus Charlotte Dec. 14 . . . Leading Blazers rebounder in 24 of the 39 games he's played in . . . Has grabbed 12 or more rebounds in 13 games . . . Ranks 14th in the league in rebounding with a 9.9 average, while averaging 26.5 minutes . . . Had played in 103 consecutive games, the Blazers' longest streak, before sitting out the Dec. 10 game vs. Houston with a bruised sternum suffered the night before in Seattle . . . vs. San Antonio Dec. 19: 10 points (5-10 fgs, 0-2 fts), game-high 14 rebounds, 1 steal, 2 blocks, 32 minutes. ARVYDAS SABONIS . . . . . vs. the Jazz Tuesday: 2 points (1-3 fgs, 0-1 3pt, 0-2 fts), 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 17 minutes . . . vs. the Cavs Sunday: 15 points, 7 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block, 23 minutes . . . vs. the Suns Friday: 17 points, 4 rebounds, 1 steal, 2 blocks, 24 minutes---scored all 17 of his points while making eight straight baskets in a seven minute span in the second quarter to break the game open . . . . vs. Denver last Tuesday: 15 points, game-high 15 rebounds,---his fifth double-double of the season . . . vs. Denver Jan. 13: 22 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, 2 blocked shots, 24 minutes and game-clinching free throw with 6 seconds remaining . . . Had game-tieing tip-in with 5 seconds remaining that setup up Portland's 90-89 victory over Miami Jan. 10 . . . Scored an NBA career-high 24 points and had 10 rebounds Jan. 3 at Boston, including 2 free throws to ice the victory in OT . . .Scored 13 points and grabbed 15 rebounds in an NBA career-high 39 minutes versus Houston Dec. 10, hitting the game-winner at the buzzer to beat the Rockets in double OT . . . Had a perfect night from the floor at Golden State Nov. 29, making all eight field goals, all three three-pointers, and all four free throws for a total of 23 points . . . . Had a career-high 16 rebounds at Phoenix Nov. 18 . . . Scored in double figures 26 times in 33 games, including 11 of last 12 and has had 20 or more in seven games . . . Fifth in scoring (13.8 ppg) and third in rebounding (6.9 rpg) among the league's rookies . . . Is fifth in the league in field goal accuracy at .577 (169-291) . . . Led Real Madrid to the 1995 European Men's Club title and helped Lithuania gain a Silver Medal in the 1995 European Championships . . . vs. San Antonio Dec. 19: Did not play (back spasms). AARON McKIE . . . . . vs. the Jazz Tuesday: 13 points (4-10 fgs, 0-1 3pt, 5-5 fts), 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 steal, 27 minutes . . . vs. the Cavs Sunday: 21 points, 4 assists, 7 rebounds, career-high 46 minutes . . . vs. the Suns Friday: 8 points, 5 rebounds, team-high 7 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 26 minutes . . . vs. Sacramento Thursday: Team-high 18 points, team-high 8 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 38 minutes . . . Career-high equalling 24 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, 1 block at New York Jan. 2 for his best game of the season . . . Has scored in double figures 20 times and has had 17 or more in 12 of his last 28 . . . Team leader in scoring twice, rebounding twice and assists once . . . Current Blazers leader in consecutive games played with 39. . . Broke the zygomatic arch under his left eye during fall camp practice on Oct. 25 . . . Returned to action wearing a facemask Nov. 5 and played his first game without it on Orlando Dec. 3 . . . vs. San Antonio Dec. 19: 15 points (6-13 fgs), 1-3 3pt, 2-6 fts), 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 28 minutes. HARVEY GRANT . . . . . vs. the Jazz Tuesday: 9 points (4-10 fgs, 1-2 3pt), 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 41 minutes . . . vs. the Cavs Sunday: 11 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 43 minutes . . . vs. the Suns Friday: 12 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, 29 minutes . . . Scored 14 points versus the Lakers Dec. 23 before fouling out for the first time this season . . . vs. Had a season-high 12 rebounds along with 13 points versus Charlotte Dec. 14 for his first double-double of the season . . . Came up with a career-high six steals plus 14 points and 9 rebounds in the Dec. 10 win over Houston . . . Missed five games in December with a sprained left foot . . . vs. San Antonio Dec. 19: 13 points (6-9 fgs, 1-1 3pt), 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 blocks, 31 minutes. JAMES ROBINSON . . . . . vs. the Jazz Tuesday: 8 points (3-10 fgs, 2-5 3pt, 0-2 fts), 1 assist, 2 rebounds, 21 minutes . . . vs. the Cavs Sunday: Season and team-high 22 points, team-high 6 assists, 6 rebounds, 1 block, season-high 42 minutes in his fifth start of the season . . . vs. the Suns Friday: 14 points, 6 assists, 3 rebounds, 34 minutes . . . Had a career-high 4 steals along with 18 points in 29 minutes in the Jan. 7 win over the Wolves . . . Had a season-high 6 rebounds at Milwaukee Jan. 5 . . . Scored 17 points including game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer at the Lakers Nov. 21 . . . Has connected on at least one trey in 30 of 39 games . . . Has scored in double figures 16 times . . . Missed entire preseason after suffering fracture of fourth metcarpal in his left hand in fall camp . . . vs. San Antonio Dec. 19: 6 points (2-7 fgs, 2-5 3pt), 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 6 minutes. GARY TRENT . . . . . vs. the Jazz Tuesday: 4 points (2-3 fgs), 2 rebounds, 1 block, 12 minutes . . . vs. the Cavs Sunday: Scoreless, 1 rebound, 5 minutes . . . vs. the Suns Friday: Career-high 21 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 31 minutes . . . Registered his first-ever double-double with a career and team-high 11 rebounds plus 15 points against Toronto on Dec. 7 . . . Scored 12 points (6-8 fgs)---his first points as a pro---in the Nov. 5 win over Utah . . . Started six games at small forward and has scored in double figures in 15 of his 36 appearances . . . 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 . . . vs. San Antonio Dec. 19: 11 points (5-7 fgs, 1-2 fts), 2 rebounds, 17 minutes. DONTONIO WINGFIELD . . . . . vs. the Jazz Tuesday: Scoreless in 2 minutes . . . vs. the Cavs Sunday: Scoreless in 2 minutes . . . vs. the Suns Friday: 2 points (1-2 fgs), 2 rebounds, 2 steals, 7 minutes . . . vs. Sacramento Thursday: 5 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals in 20 minutes, the most since Nov. 7 . . . Started three games at forward to begin the season . . . Was signed as a free agent . . . Spent last year with the Seattle and averaged 2.3 points and 4.0 minutes in 20 games . . . Played one year of college ball at Cincinnati . . . vs. San Antonio Dec. 19: Did not play (coach's decision). RUMEAL ROBINSON . . . . . vs. the Jazz Tuesday: 2 points (1-3 fgs, 0-1 3pt), 5 minutes . . . vs. the Cavs Sunday: 2 points, 1 assist, 9 minutes . . . vs. the Suns Friday: season-high 13 points, 6 assists, 4 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block, 26 minutes . . . vs. Denver Jan. 19: scoreless in 1 minute in his first appearance in a Blazers uniform . . . Signed as a free agent with the Blazers on Jan. 10 . . . A 1st round draft choice by Atlanta (10th overall) in 1990, he played four seasons in the NBA with Atlanta, New Jersey and Charlotte, averaging 8.9 points and 4.0 assists a game . . . The last two season's he's averaged 20.2 ppg in 37 contests in the Continental Basketball League, playing for Rapid City, Shreveport and Connecticut. He was Connecticut's leading scorer and fourth ranked in the CBA with a 22.9 ppg average before signing with Portland . . . Led Michigan in scoring in 1990 as was a key player in the Wolverine's run for the 1989 NCAA Championship. ELMORE SPENCER . . . . vs. the Jazz Tuesday: 1 point (1-2 fts) in 3 minutes in first appearance for Blazers . . . did not play (coach's decision) in previous five games . . . Signed as a free agent with the Blazers Jan. 10 . . . Drafted in the 1st round (25th pick overall) by the Los Angeles Clippers in 1992, and played three seasons with the Clippers before being traded to Denver for Brian Williams before the start of the current season . . . He was released by the Nuggets on Dec. 21 after appearing in six games . . . Has played in 145 NBA games, averaging 6.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.2 blocks, while shooting 52 percent from the field . . . All-American honorable mention as a senior at UNLV. RANDOLPH CHILDRESS . . . . . Underwent surgery on his left shoulder Jan. 9 to repair a torn anterior capsule and labrum and was placed on the injured list. He suffered the injury in the Dec. 30 overtime loss at Cleveland . . . In 28 games before the injury averaged 3.0 points, 1.1 assists, 0.3 steals, 8.9 minutes . . . Scored a career-high 18 points (5-8 fgs, 4-6 3pt, 4-5 fts in 27 minutes of the Dec. 3 win over Orlando. . . 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 . . . vs. San Antonio Dec. 19: 5 points (0-1 3pt, 5-5 fts), 2 assists, 13 minutes. 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. Please direct all comments or questions to John Christensen, Communications Director, Portland Trail Blazers at johnc@blazers.com.