PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS at UTAH JAZZ GAME NO. 50 --- FEBRUARY 13, 1997 Record: Overall---26-23, Home---15-9, Road---11-14 CHALLENGING THE JAZZ --- The Trail Blazers, 26-23, fresh from a 111-108 win over Phoenix that snapped a five-game losing streak---the longest of the season, will be looking to break another streak when they play at Utah Thursday. The Blazers, who have won only once in 11 visits to the Delta Center and have lost eight in a row there, can take a 2-1 lead in the four-game season series between the two teams with a victory. Final matchup of the season between the two teams comes Feb. 28 in the Rose Garden. The Tuesday victory over Phoenix pushed Portland's record two wins ahead of where it was after 49 games last season. The Blazers, who own the fifth best record in the Western Conference and have the second highest number of wins overall among teams in the West, are 22-12 in conference play are 13-5 against Midwest Division teams. Of the Blazers' 23 setbacks thus far, 15 have been by six points or less and seven have been by two or under. At the other end of the scale, Portland is 12-7 in games decided by 10 or more points. PROBABLE STARTERS --- F-- No. 3 Clifford Robinson (6-10), F--No. 33 Gary Trent (6-8), C--No. 24 Chris Dudley (6-11), G--No. 34 Isaiah Rider (6-5), G--No. 7 Kenny Anderson (6-1). RECENT TRANSACTIONS --- Stacey Augmon, a 6-foot-8 forward-guard in his sixth NBA season, was acquired by the Trail Blazers Jan. 24 from the Detroit Pistons in exchange for guards Randolph Childress, Aaron McKie and Reggie Jordan. Portland also signed former Blazer Ennis Whately to a 10-day contract Jan. 24. He was not re-signed. On Jan. 31, the Blazers signed Ruben Nembhard, a 6-3 guard who played in eight games for the Utah Jazz this season, to a 10-day contract, and to a second 10-day contract on Feb. 7. (See Player Notes for profiles.) INJURY REPORT --- Arvydas Sabonis was placed on the injured list (hematoma, left calf) on Jan. 24 and will miss his ninth game Thursday. The injury occurred in the Jan. 22 game at Seattle. Rasheed Wallace, on the injured list since suffering a fractured left thumb Dec. 23 against Washington, was activated last Tuesday after missing 19 games. THE BLAZERS-JAZZ SERIES --- Portland won its last matchup with Utah but still trails in the all-time series between the two teams, 56-44. Prior to defeating the Jazz, 102-96, in the Rose Garden on Jan. 19, the Blazers had lost four in a row and eight of 10 to the Utah club. Salt Lake City is the toughest place on the entire NBA circuit for the Blazers, where they have won just eight of 50 contests over 22 seasons. Portland's 99-94 loss on Dec. 26 was its eighth in a row in the Delta Center and the 10th in 11 games there. The Trail Blazers only success in the Delta Center came on Jan. 24, 1993, when they posted a 124-113 victory. At home, the Blazers have a 36-14 series advantage and have won three of the last four meetings. THIS SEASON --- The Blazers and Jazz split their first two contests this season with both teams winning at home. In the first matchup on the day after Christmas, Portland had a 10-point halftime lead and was still up 92-91 with 32.6 seconds remaining but ended up losing at the Delta Center, 99-94. Six straight Jazz free throws in the final half minute made the difference. In the rematch in Portland on Jan. 19, the Blazers roared back from a seven-point deficit after three quarters to claim a 102-96 win, the eighth in their last 10 games. Kenny Anderson, who topped all scorers in the game with 26 points, hit a pressure three-pointer and four free throws in the final 1:18 to seal the victory. Arvydas Sabonis was the top Trail Blazer in the two games, averaging 24.0 ppg while shooting 61 percent from the field while Isaiah Rider averaged 20.0 ppg in the two. Both teams posted 49% field goal shooting marks. Portland had a seven rebounds per game edge in the boards battle. ON DEFENSE . . . Portland has the NBA's ninth toughest defense to shoot against, holding foes to .436 field goal accuracy in 49 games . . . It has kept opponents below the 40 percent mark 12 times and 27 times below 45 percent . . . In winning 26 games, the Blazers have held 21 opponents under 100 points and overall have allowed only 15 of 49 to top the century mark . . . Their defensive average, 95.4, is the league's 14th lowest. ON OFFENSE --- The Blazers have the ninth most productive offense in the league, averaging 98.2 points a contest . . . In winning 26 games, the Blazers margin of victory has been 12.7 ppg, with the cushion being 10 or more points in 13 games and 20 or more six times . . . Portland's overall point margin of +2.8 is the league's 11th best . . . The Blazers field goal accuracy mark of .457 is the 12th highest in the league . . . They have topped 50 percent field goal shooting 12 times . . . Of the Blazers 23 losses, 15 have been by six points or less, eight have been by three or under, and five have been one-pointers . . . Portland is 13-7 in games decided by 10 points or more but 7-11 when the margin is four points or under and 2-7 when its two or under. ON THE BOARDS --- Portland has outrebounded 40 of 49 opponents this season and nine times has claimed 50 or more misses in a game . . . The Blazers lead the NBA in total rebounding percentage---the share of total misses in a game a team rebounds---(.530), are second in defensive rebounding percentage (.723) and fourth in offensive percentage (.337) . . . The Blazers have an overall advantage of 5.9 boards per game and a 4.3 per game margin on the defensive glass . . . Among the top five rebounding teams in the league for the past nine years, Portland again is the leader despite not having an individual among the league's top 30. AMONG THE NBA LEADERS ---RASHEED WALLACE, 1st in field goal percentage --- .592 (181-306) ---GARY TRENT, 5th in field goal percentage --- .556 (224-403) ---ARVYDAS SABONIS, 27th in field goal percentage---.491 (195-397), 24th in blocked shots (1.34), 34th in rebounding (8.1) ---KENNY ANDERSON , 14th in assists (6.9), is 18th in steals (1.78), 32nd in scoring (18.0), 32nd in 3-point accuracy, .377 (81-215), 28th in minutes played (38.0) ---CHRIS DUDLEY, 23rd in blocked shots (1.39), 38th in rebounding (7.4) ---CLIFFORD ROBINSON, 25th in minutes played (38.5) THE LAST THREE GAMES BURNING THE SUNS --- Kenny Anderson scored 19 of his game-high 33 points in the fourth quarter and Rasheed Wallace, back from the injury list for just his second game, added 30 as the Blazers pulled out a see-saw battle with Phoenix in the Rose Garden Tuesday, 111-108. The victory, which broke a five-game Portland losing streak, marked only the third time in 17 games the Blazers have recovered from a deficit to start the fourth quarter. Stacey Augmon turned in his strongest game thus far in a Portland uniform, contributing 12 points and a key steal in 26 minutes of action. Portland shot .514 (38-74) and Phoenix .469 (38-81) in a game that saw 11 ties and 13 lead changes. The Blazers, led by Chris Dudley's nine boards, had a 39-32 rebounding edge. Kevin Johnson topped Phoenix scorers with 32 points. JORDAN PULLS BULLS --- Portland led the Chicago, 64-60, going into the fourth quarter but in the end it was Michael Jordan stealing the show and the game for the world champs, as the Bulls escaped the Rose Garden with an 88-84 victory. Jordan scored 22 of his game-high 36 points in the final 12 minutes.. The Blazers, getting solid performances from all five starters, were led in scoring by Isaiah Rider's 19 points. Kenny Anderson and Gary Trent both chipped in with 18 and Clifford Robinson added 13. Chris Dudley's season-high 15 rebounds led Portland to a 39-33 edge on the glass. Portland shot .431 (31-72) and Chicago .427 (32-75) for the game. Turnovers were again the Blazers undoing. They gave up the ball 17 times for 24 Bulls points while Chicago committed just 8 turnovers (11 Portland points), all in the first half. The setback was Portland's fifth in a row, its longest stretch without a win this season. WOLVES BY ONE --- The Blazers battled back from a 10-point deficit with 4:51 remaining to get within two but free throws by ex-Portland players Terry Porter (2-of-2) and James Robinson (4-of-5) in the final 38.7 seconds sealed a 103-102 victory for the Timberwolves in Minneapolis Sunday. The setback was the Blazers' fourth straight on the road, its longest streak of the season overall as well as away from home. Kenny Anderson topped Portland with 26 points and Gary Trent, who had his fourth career best-equalling 24-point effort in seven games, scored nine of his team's 23 points in the final 4:51. The Blazers shot 40% (34-85) and the Wolves 50% (35-70). The loss, the Blazers' second straight at Minnesota after winning 14 in a row there, finished the season's series in a 2-2 split. Portland had won all seven previous season's matchups with Minnesota. BLAZERS MILESTONES --- Clifford Robinson has moved past Geoff Petrie as Portland's fifth all-time leading scorer and now, with 9,935 points, needs 65 more to become only the fifth Trail Blazer to reach the 10,000 mark. The others are Clyde Drexler, Terry Porter, Jerome Kersey and Jim Paxson . . . Robinson will move ahead of Larry Steele for fifth place on Portland's all-time games played list Thursday at Utah. Going into the Jazz game, Robinson has played in 611 of a possible 623 games during his seven-plus years as a Blazer. . . Kenny Anderson's season-high 15 assists at Phoenix on Jan. 24 allowed him to reach the 3,000 plateau in his career . . . Robinson and Chris Dudley both played in their 600th NBA game Jan. 17 versus Toronto. A BALANCED ACT --- Portland is ninth in the league in scoring and first in rebounding percentages, yet no Trail Blazer shows up in the top 30 in either category . . . However, six Blazers, led by Kenny Anderson's 18.0 ppg, are averaging in double figures and all six have led the team in scoring at least four times . . . The Blazers balance on the glass is even more pronounced: Arvydas Sabonis (8.1 rpg) and Chris Dudley (7.4 rpg) top the club in rebounding but are no higher than 34th and 38th respectively among the NBA's leaders . . . One reason for Portland's continued position as one of the league's rebounding elite is balance. No fewer than nine different Blazers have grabbed game rebounding honors this season and both starting guards--- Anderson and Isaiah Rider---are averaging nearly 5 retrieves a game. COMMUNITY CORNER DUDLEY HONORED BY USA WEEKEND . . . --- Blazers center Chris Dudley has been named one of five recipients of USA Weekend magazine's fourth annual Most Caring Athlete Awards. Other 1997 honorees recognized by the magazine for humanitarian efforts off the field are 49er quarterback Steve Young, Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Curt Schilling, LPGA golfer Val Skinner and tennis star Chanda Rubin. Dudley, 1996 winner of the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award presented by the Professional Basketball Writers Association, was recognized by USA Weekend for work among children and young adults. Diagnosed as a diabetic when he was 16, Dudley's charitable work includes a $100,000 gift to Oregon's Gales Creek Camp for diabetic youth; $300,000 to the I Have a Dream Foundation to sponsor college scholarships for 76 at-risk pupils at Portland's Vernon Elementary School when they finish high school, and last summer sponsoring Oregon s first basketball camp for diabetics. ANDERSON'S ASSISTS COUNTING UP --- Kenny Anderson has now dished out 338 assists for the season (6.9 per game, 14th best in the league). That means $6,760 so far for the Kids Making Miracles $1 million drive to fund a state-of-the-art health care facility at Portland's Doernbecher Children's Hospital. Anderson, honorary chairman of Kids Making Miracles, has pledged $20 for every assist he makes during the season. As part of the NBA's major youth initiative TeamUp, the Trail Blazers made a three-year commitment to help build public awareness of Kids Making Miracles, a volunteer organization of grade and high school students throughout Oregon and southwest Washington. ATTENDANCE IN TOP THREE --- The Trail Blazers, despite playing in the league's fourth smallest market area, rank behind only Charlotte and Chicago in home game attendance as the season passes the midway point. All 24 Blazers home games thus far have been in the 20,000-plus category with total attendance 491,703 and the average through the Feb. 11 game versus Phoenix at 20,488. ROSE GARDEN RANKS NO. 2 --- In its first year, the Blazers Rose Garden finished as the North America's second-highest money-making concert venue behind only Detroit's Palace at Auburn Hills. The rating, done by Performance Magazine based on arenas with 20,000 or more seats, showed the Rose Garden staged 47 shows with a total attendance of 510,275 and gross revenue of $12.5 million. Other arenas in the top 10 included New Jersey's Continental Airlines Arena (No. 3), Target Center in Minneapolis (No. 5), General Motors Place in Vancouver (No. 6), Boston's Fleet Center (No. 9) and Chicago's United Center (No. 10). P.J. CARLESIMO --- Head coach P.J. Carlesimo posted his 100th NBA career success Dec. 6 as his Blazers stopped Charlotte, 97-93. In his third season at the Portland helm, he became the fourth coach in franchise history to reach the century mark. The others are his three predecessors, Jack Ramsay (453-367, 55.2%), Mike Schuler (127-84, 60.2%) and Rick Adelman (291-154, 65.4%). P.J. currently is 114-99, 53.5%. Last season, Carlesimo guided Portland to a 44-38 record for the second year in a row. HOME FOR THE ROCKETS --- After Thursday's date with the Jazz , the Blazers return to Portland for back-to-back games Saturday and Sunday against Houston (7 p.m., KEX Radio, BlazerVision) and Boston (7 p.m., KEX Radio) respectively. Then its on the road again with another four-game Eastern road swing beginning Wednesday at Orlando (5 p.m., KEX Radio, KGW-TV). Subsequent stops are scheduled for Miami (Feb. 21), Philadelphia (Feb. 22) and Chicago (Feb. 24). THE PLAYERS KENNY ANDERSON --- Tuesday vs. Phoenix: Game-high 33 pts (10-19 fgs, 3-8 3pt, 10-12 fts), team-high 6 assists, 3 rbs, 1 steal, 37 minutes . . . His third 30+ game and the 20th at 20 or more . . . Feb. 4 vs. Chicago: 18 pts, game-high 6 assists, 6 rbs, 1 block, 41 minutes . . . Feb. 2 at Minnesota: Team-high 26 pts, 4 assists, 6 rbs, 2 steals, 39 minutes . . . Dished out a season-high 15 assists, scored 22 pts and had only 1 TO in 43 minutes at Phoenix last Friday ---his ninth double-double, his 10th double-figure assist game and 18th time at +20 points . . . Tuesday vs. Clippers: 15 pts, 4 rbs, 12 assists, 3 steals, 36 minutes . . . Scored a season-high 34 pts in a season-high 49 minutes Dec. 13 at the Lakers . . . Scored 32 points vs. Houston Nov. 26 . . . Has led team in scoring 14 times and in assists 30 times . . . Team's leading scorer at 18.0 ppg, the assists leader (6.9 avg.) and tops in steals (1.78 avg.) . . . Ranks 32nd in the NBA in scoring, 14th in assists, 18th in steals, 28th in minutes played (38.0), and 32nd in 3-point shooting (.377 on 81-215) . . . Kenny is one of 25 players in the league averaging at least 4 assists and 4 rebounds a game (6.9 and 4.7) . . . Signed as a free agent July 23 . . . Played last season with New Jersey and Charlotte, averaging 15.2 points and 8.3 assists in 69 games . . . Played the previous four years with New Jersey . . . Nets 1st round draft choice (2nd overall) in 1991 . . . Starting East guard in the 1994 NBA All-Star Game . . . New Jersey s all-time assists leader . . . vs. the Jazz this season: Averaged 18.0 pts, 7.5 assists, 1.0 steals, 2.0 rbs, 39.0 minutes in two games including game-high 26 points in Game 2. STACEY AUGMON --- Tuesday vs. Phoenix: Tied season-high with 12 pts (5-5 fgs, 2-4 fts), 8 rbs, 2 assists, 1 steal, 26 minutes---all highs as a Blazer . . . Feb. 4 vs. Chicago: 0 pts, 4 minutes . . . Feb. 2 at Minnesota: 4 pts, 3 rbs, 9 minutes . . . Acquired Jan. 24 from Detroit in exchange for guards Randolph Childress, Reggie Jordan and Aaron McKie (joined team Saturday) . . . In 20 games with the Pistons, averaged 4.5 pts, 2.5 rbs and 14.6 minutes . . . Played his first five NBA seasons with Atlanta before being traded to Detroit last summer along with Grant Long for a conditional 1998 1st round draft pick, and second round picks in 1997 and 1998 . . . In five seasons with Atlanta, played 390 games, starting 355, and averaged 13.7 pts, 4.5 rbs, 2.3 assists, 1.46 steals and 30.5 minutes . . . Has registered 100 or more steals in four of his first five seasons . . . A 1992 All-NBA Rookie first team selection . . . Scored the NBA's 6 millionth point March 23, 1992 against Golden State . . . Had a career-high 36 points versus the Blazers on Jan. 3, 1995 . . . The youngest member of the bronze medal-winning U.S. team at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul . . . Played on two NCAA Final Four teams at UNLV, including the Runnin Rebels 1990 NCAA championship club. MARCUS BROWN --- Tuesday vs. Phoenix: 2 pts (0-2 3pt, 2-3 fts), 3 assists, 1 rb, 1 steal, 11 minutes . . . Feb. 4 vs. Chicago: 2 pts, 1 assist, 7 minutes . . . Feb. 2 at Minnesota: 2 pts, 2 assists, 8 minutes . . . Scored a career-high 13 pts in a career-high 16 minutes Jan. 29 at Detroit . . . Played in his first NBA game against San Antonio Dec. 29, scoring 6 pts in 5 minutes---his first pro points came at 2:40 of 4th quarter on a three-pointer (his first attempt) from the left side . . . Activated Dec. 27 after spending the first 29 games of the season on th injured list (strained right groin) sustained in practice Oct. 29 . . . Portland's 2nd round draft pick (46th overall) in the 1996 NBA Draft . . . Second leading collegiate scorer in the nation last year at Murray State with a 26.4 average . . . vs. the Jazz this season: 0 pts in 4 minutes of Game 2. Injured list for first game. MITCHELL BUTLER --- Did not play (coach's decision) in last two games . . . Feb. 2 at Minnesota: 0 pts, 3 minutes . . . Had season highs of 13 points, 8 rebounds, 33 minutes Jan. 14 vs. Detroit . . . Activated Dec. 13 after spending five games on injured list (tendenitis, both knees) . . . Obtained in trade, along with Rasheed Wallace, with Washington for Rod Strickland and Harvey Grant on July 15 . . . Averaged 6.4 points in 212 games over three seasons with the Bullets . . . Not drafted, he was signed as a free agent by the Bullets in 1993 after playing in more games than any player in UCLA history . . . vs. the Jazz this season: 0 pts in 7 minutes of Game 1. Did not play (coach's decision) in second contest. CHRIS DUDLEY --- Tuesday vs. Phoenix: 4 pts (2-7 fgs), team-high 9 rbs, 1 assist, 1 steal, 29 minutes . . . Feb. 4 vs. Chicago: 7 pts, season and game-high 15 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, season-high 43 minutes . . . Feb. 2 at Minnesota: 2 pts, 5 rbs, 30 minutes before fouling out for the second time this season with 2:53 remaining . . . Scored season-high 12 pts Jan. 28 at Toronto . . . Blocked a season-high five shots Dec. 1 at Golden State . . . Second on team in rebounding (7.4 rpg) and leader in blocked shots (1.39) despite starting just 10 games . . . Ranks 23rd in the league in blocks and 38th in rebounding . . . Blazers leader in rebounds and blocks last two seasons . . . 10th year in the league, the team's longest tenured player . . . Played in his 600th NBA game Jan. 17 versus Toronto and has played in all but two of the last 209 games . . . Named 1996 winner of the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award presented annually by the Professional Basketball Writers Association in recognition of outstanding community service and charitable work . . . vs. the Jazz this season: Averaged 2.0 pts, 5.5 rbs, 1.5 blocks, 25.0 minutes in two games. RUBEN NEMBHARD --- Did not play (coach's decision) in last four games . . . Signed to 10-day contract Jan. 31 and to a second 10-day contract on Feb. 7 . . . Played 8 games for Utah after signing consecutive 10-day contracts through Jan. 26 . . . Averaged 4.0 pts, 1.5 assists, 0.8 steals, 11.8 minutes for Jazz . . . Prior to joining Utah club on Jan. 6, played 18 games with Yakima in the CBA where he averaged 18.0 pts, 4.9 assists, 2.3 steals and was selected to play in the CBA All-Star game and was the league's Player of the Week on Nov. 23 . . . Played in Europe during the 1995-96 season . . . His senior season at Weber State, was selected Big Sky Conference Player of the Year while leading the BSC in scoring (19.9 ppg), steals (2.3 per game) and was the league's top rebounding guard (5.1 rpg). JERMAINE O NEAL --- Tuesday vs. Phoenix: 0 pts, 1 rb, 1 block, 7 minutes . . . Feb. 4 vs. Chicago: 5 pts, 3 rbs, 16 minutes. . . Feb. 2 at Minnesota: 11 pts, 3 rbs, 14 minutes, his fourth double-digit scoring effort in the last 11 games . . . Scored career-high 20 pts, tied career high with 6 rbs, 2 blocked shots, in career-high 25 minutes last Jan. 22 at Seattle . . . Scored 10 pts in 11 minutes vs. Detroit Jan. 14. . . Had a career-high 3 blocks vs. San Antonio, Dec. 29 . . . Became the youngest player ever to participate in an NBA regular season game Dec. 5 at Denver, entering the contest at 7:24 of the second period. He was 1-of-1 from the floor in three minutes of action . . . At 18 years, 1 month and 21 days, he was the youngest since the Lakers Kobe Bryant, who was 18 years, 2 months, 11 days when he appeared in his first game on Nov. 3 . . . Spent season's first 17 games on the injured list . . . Scored the first points as a pro on his 18th birthday on Oct. 13 against Sacramento . . . Portland's first round pick (17th overall) in the 1996 NBA Draft out of Eau Claire H.S. in Columbia, S.C. . . . vs. the Jazz this season: Did not play (coach's decision) in either game. ISAIAH RIDER --- Tuesday vs. Phoenix: 4 pts (2-4 fgs, 0-1 3pt), 3 rbs, 3 assists, 1 block, 29 minutes . . . Feb. 4 vs. Chicago: Team-high 19 pts, 5 rbs, 1 assist, 41 minutes . . . Feb. 2 at Minnesota: 16 pts, 3 rbs, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 41 minutes . . . Made 15 of 18 free throws, both career highs, while scoring 30 points in Jan. 16 win at Lakers (the free throw makes and attempts were the most ever by a Blazer vs. L.A.) . . . Grabbed a game and season-high 11 rebounds vs. Seattle Dec. 18 . . . Dished out a career-high 11 assists Nov. 26 at Houston . . . Came to Portland from Minnesota in a July 23 trade for James Robinson and Bill Curley and a conditional 1st round draft choice . . . Minnesota's 1993 first round draft choice (5th overall) from UNLV . . . Averaged 18.8 points in 229 games for the Wolves in three seasons . . . 1993-94 NBA All-Rookie First Team . . . Winner of the Gatorade Slam-Dunk title at the 1994 NBA All-Star Weekend . . . vs. the Jazz this season: Averaged 20.0 pts, 4.0 rbs, 3.0 assists, 1.5 blocks, 36.5 minutes in two starts. CLIFFORD ROBINSON --- Tuesday vs. Phoenix: 14 pts (5-12 fgs, 0-3 3pt, 4-5 fts), 7 rbs, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 37 minutes . . . Feb. 4 vs. Chicago: 13 pts, 1 rb, 1 assist, 1 steal, 40 minutes . . . Feb. 2 at Minnesota: 15 pts, season and team-high 10 rbs, team-high 6 assists, 4 steals, 1 block in 41 minutes before fouling out with 1:47 remaining, his 4th DQ of the season and the third in the last six games . . . Has been team leader in assists nine times this season, one more than his total for the last three seasons combined . . . Matched his career high with 9 assists Jan. 25 vs. Minnesota . . . Grabbed season-high 9 rbs and had 23 pts Jan. 21 vs. Clippers . . . Poured in his 400th career three-pointer Dec. 12 versus Vancouver . . . Robinson has at least one trey in 41 of 47 games this season and with 437 stands third all-time among Blazers long-range shooters behind only Terry Porter and Clyde Drexler. . . Scored season-high 33 pts Dec. 10 vs. Orlando . . . Played a season-high 51 minutes (just two shy of his career high) vs. Indiana Nov. 3 . . . Ranks 25th in the NBA in minutes played (38.5) . . . Leading scorer the past two seasons . . . Averaged 21.1 points in 1995-96, league's 16th highest . . . Participated in his 600th game as a Blazer Jan. 17 against Toronto . . . Now fifth among Portland's all-time scoring leaders with 9,935 points . . . Ranks in top ten in 16 of 17 career categories . . . vs. the Jazz this season: Averaged 17.0 pts, 5.0 rbs, 1.5 assists, 2.0 steals, 1.5 blocks, 43.5 minutes in two starts. ARVYDAS SABONIS --- Placed on the injured list Jan. 24 because a hemotoma (deeply bruised) left calf sustained in a fourth quarter collision in Jan. 22 game at Seattle . . . Tallied 22 pts in a career high-equalling 41 minutes Jan. 19 vs. Utah. . . Has led Blazers in scoring on 8 occasions, in rebounding 21 times, and assists 3 times . . . Leads team in double-doubles with 11 . . . Scored career-high 33 points and had career high-equalling 11 field goals (on 14 attempts) and 8 free throws on a career-high 14 fts, plus a team-high 12 In the Jan. 4 win at Dallas . . . Equalled his career high with 26 points and had a game-high 13 rebounds Dec. 26 at Utah . . . Played a career-high 41 minutes in the Dec. 13 overtime loss at the Lakers . . Grabbed career-high 17 rebounds at Minnesota Nov. 7 . . . Team's leading rebounder (8.1 rpg) and second in blocked shots (1.34) . . . 25th in NBA field goal accuracy at .491 (195-397) and 24th in blocks . . On the NBA's All-Rookie first team last season, the first Blazer to make it since Sam Bowie in 1985 . . . Runner-up for the 1996 Schick Rookie of the Year and NBA Sixth Man honors . . . Was the first Blazers rookie in 15 years to score more than 1,000 points in a season . . . Gained his third Olympic Games medal during the summer in helping Lithuania to the Bronze at Atlanta . . . vs. the Jazz this season: Averaged team-best 24.0 pts, 10.0 rbs, 3.5 assists, 37.5 minutes in two starts and shot 61% from field (14-23) and 90% from the line (17-19). GARY TRENT --- Tuesday vs. Phoenix: 12 pts (4-10 fgs, 4-6 fts), 2 rbs, 3 assists, 33 minutes . . . Feb. 4 vs. Chicago: 18 pts, 5 rbs, 2 assists, 2 steals, 27 minutes . . . Feb. 2 at Minnesota: For fourth time in seven games matched career high with 24 pts (9-12 fgs, 6-7 fts), plus 6 rbs, 2 assists, 1 steal, 37 minutes . . . Jan. 24 at Suns: Matched career high with game-high 24 pts (10-14 fgs), and tied career high with 13 rbs in 36 minutes --- 10 field goals also a career high . . . In his last nine games has converted at a 66% clip, hitting 72-of-109, which raised his season field goal percentage to .556, the league's fifth best mark . . . Scored career-high 24 pts (9-11 fgs, 6-6 fts) in 32 minutes at Seattle Jan. 22 . . . Played a career-high 44 minutes and scored 19 points Jan. 2 at Houston . . . Claimed a game and career-high 13 rbs in 25 minutes Nov. 26 at Denver . . .. . . Averaged 7.5 points (14th highest for an NBA rookie) in 69 games as a Blazer last season . . . First round draft pick (11th overall) by Milwaukee in 1995 . . . Portland acquired his draft rights in an exchange involving Shawn Respert's draft rights . . . vs. the Jazz this season: Averaged 7.5 pts, 3.0 rbs, 0.5 blocks, 24.5 minutes in two starts. RASHEED WALLACE --- Tuesday vs. Phoenix: 30 points (10-14 fgs, 2-4 3pt, 8-10 fts), 5 rbs, 3 assists, 31 minutes . . . Feb. 4 vs. Chicago: Activated after missing 19 games and scored 2 pts, 4 rbs, 14 minutes . . . Placed on injured list Dec. 27 after surgery on his thumb . . . Dec. 23 vs. Washington: 5 pts, 1 rb, 16 minutes before leaving game with a fractured left thumb in the second quarter . . Tallied a career and team season-high 38 pts on career-high 17 of 25 fgs in 40 minutes at Sacramento Dec. 21---previous highs of 32 pts, 15-20 fgs, came Nov. 5 at Golden State . . . Converted a career-high 11 free throws (in 15 tries) while scoring 29 points in the Dec. 13 OT loss at the Lakers . . . Grabbed a season-high 13 rebounds vs. Vancouver Dec. 12 . . . No. 1 among NBA's field goal percentage shooters (.592 on 181-396) . . . His 32 points at Golden State Nov. 5 was the first 30-plus game of his career . . . Acquired by Portland, along with Mitchell Butler, from Washington in exchange for Rod Strickland and Harvey Grant on July 15 . . . 1996 NBA All-Rookie second team selection . . . Started 51 of 65 games he appeared in as a rookie and averaged 10.1 points a game . . . Selected in the first round (4th pick overall) by the Bullets in the 1995 NBA Draft . . . Second team sophomore All-American at North Carolina before becoming an early entry draft candidate . . . vs. the Jazz this season: Did not play (injured list) in either game. DONTONIO WINGFIELD --- Tuesday vs. Phoenix: Not with team (flu) . . . Feb. 4 vs. Chicago: 0 pts, 3 minutes . . . Feb. 2 at Minnesota: 2 pts, 7 rbs, 16 minutes . . . Grabbed a career-high 12 rbs and scored 14 points at Boston Jan. 31 . . . Scored season-high 16 points at Phoenix Jan. 24 . . . Played season-high 27 minutes vs. the Lakers Jan. 6 . . . Placed on injured list Dec. 13 (sprained left thumb suffered in Dec. 12 game with Vancouver) . . . Averaged 3.8 points and 2.4 rebounds in 44 games with Portland last season . . . Signed as a free agent in 1995 after playing the 1994-95 season with Seattle . . . Second round draft choice (37th overall) by Seattle in 1994 . . . Became an early entry draft candidate after one year of collegiate basketball at the University of Cincinnati . . . vs. the Jazz this season: Scored 11 pts and had 7 rbs, 1 assist, 1 block in 20 minutes of Game 2. Did not play (coach's decision) in first game. John Christensen Chuck Charnquist ************************************************************ Send subscribe/unsubscribe messages to majordomo@ripcity.com ************************************************************