PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS vs. UTAH JAZZ GAME NO. 58 --- FEBRUARY 28, 1997 Record: Overall---29-28, Home---17-10, Road---12-18 PLAYING JAZZ --- The Trail Blazers, 29-28, will be on a mission to break out of a slump when they host Utah Friday in the fourth game in eight days against league front-runners which have a combined win-loss record of 171-51 (through Wednesday's games). Last Friday, the Blazers won at Atlantic Division leader Miami (42-14), then dropped three in a row. Two of the losses were at Central Division leader Chicago (49-6) on Monday and to New York, second in the Atlantic (41-16) on Wednesday. Friday's matchup with the Jazz (39-15 and on top of the Midwest Division) will be the fourth this season between the two teams. A victory over the Jazz would give the Blazers a 2-2 split in the season s series. Despite losing four of its last five, Portland at 29-28 remains four games better than a year ago when it was 25-32 at the 57-game mark, and has the fifth-best record in the Western Conference. The Blazers are at home for eight of their next 10 contest before heading out on their final big road trip of the season, a five-games-in-seven-days challenge beginning March 20 in Milwaukee. PROBABLE STARTERS --- F-- No. 3 Clifford Robinson (6-10), F--No. 30 Rasheed Wallace (6-10), C--No. 11 Arvydas Sabonis (7-3), G--No. 34 Isaiah Rider (6-5), G--No. 7 Kenny Anderson (6-1). INJURY REPORT --- Rasheed Wallace, strained ligaments, left thumb (in Feb. 19 Orlando game). Probable for Wednesday. Mitchell Butler, effusion of the left knee (Feb. 23), placed on injured list Feb. 24. RECENT TRANSACTIONS --- Mitchell Butler was placed on the injured list (effusion, left knee) Feb. 24. The same day Portland signed guard Rumeal Robinson to a 10-day contract. Robinson, who appeared in 26 games this season with the Lakers and Phoenix, was a Trail Blazer last year. A starter in 11 of 43 games, he averaged 5.7 points and 3.3 assists in 43 appearances. (See Player Notes for more details.) Center Arvydas Sabonis was activated Feb. 19 after missing 11 games with a deeply bruised left calf. The same day, Portland also announced the release of guard Ruben Nembhard, who had been signed to a second 10-day contract on Feb. 7. 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. THE BLAZERS-JAZZ SERIES --- Portland won its last battle with the Jazz but trails in its all-time series with the Utah team, 57-44, and has won just two of its last eight matchups and four of its last 16. At home, the Blazers own a 36-14 edge over the Jazz and have won three of their last four meetings here. Its a different picture in Salt Lake City where Utah is 43-8 all-time against Portland, has won nine in a row and 11 of 12. SO FAR THIS SEASON --- Both teams have been able to defend the home maple thus far, with the Jazz claiming 99-94 and 110-86 victories in the Delta Center, and in between, the Blazers claiming a 102-96 win in the Rose Garden. In the first matchup between the two teams this season on the day after Christmas, a 10-point Blazers halftime lead and a one-point (92-91) edge with 32.6 seconds remaining evaporated as Karl Malone s long jumper and six straight Jazz free throws salvaged the Utah win in Salt Lake City. In the second clash in Portland on Jan. 19, Kenny Anderson popped in a three-pointer and four free throws in the final 1:18 to stake the Blazers to a come-from-behind win. Portland, down 76-69 after three quarters, outscored the Jazz, 33-20, in the final 12 minutes to gain the victory. Utah took a 2-1 season s series lead on Feb. 13, as it clicked for a .532 field goal night while holding Portland to .379 shooting for the game. A 38-13 third quarter put the game away for the Jazz. Arvydas Sabonis, who was on the injured list for Game 3, averaged 24.0 ppg in his two outings against Utah to lead seven Blazers in double-figure scoring for the series. Malone tops Utah scorers with a 21.7 average. Portland has a .445 field goal mark for the series while the Jazz is shooting .507. The Blazers have been outscored by 7.7 points a contest but have a 2.3 per game rebounding edge. CLIFFORD TOPS 10,000 --- Clifford Robinson s fastbreak layup with 4:22 remaining in the second quarter at Philadelphia last Saturday gave him 10,000 career points, and made him only the fifth Trail Blazer to reach that plateau. Before the evening was over, he had popped in 16 points to raise his career total to 10,008 points, moving him ahead of Jim Paxson (10,003) in fourth place on the Blazers all-time scoring list. Robinson, who since has added 13 more points to his total for 10,021, now needs 47 more to pass Jerome Kersey (10,067) and become Portland's third all-time leading scorer. Clyde Drexler is the all-time leader with 18,040 points and Terry Porter is second with 11,330. Robinson, who has missed only 12 games in his seven-plus seasons as a Blazer, ranks in the team's top ten in 16 of 17 franchise career categories. ON DEFENSE --- Portland has the NBA's ninth toughest defense to shoot against, holding foes to .440 field goal accuracy in 57 games . . . It has kept opponents below the 40 percent mark 13 times and 30 times below 45 percent . . . In winning 29 games, the Blazers have held 21 opponents under 100 points and overall have allowed only 21 of 57 to top the century mark . . . Their defensive average, 96.6, is the league's 16th lowest. ON OFFENSE --- The Blazers have the ninth most productive offense in the league, averaging 98.0 points a contest . . . In winning 29 games, the Blazers margin of victory has been 12.1 ppg, with the cushion being 10 or more points in 14 games and 20 or more six times . . . Portland's overall point margin of +1.4 is the league's 11th best . . . The Blazers field goal accuracy mark of .455 is the 13th highest in the league . . . They have topped 50 percent field goal shooting 14 times and are 11-3 when they have done so . . . Of the Blazers 27 losses, 16 have been by six points or less, nine have been by three or under, and six have been one-pointers . . . Portland is 14-11 in games decided by 10 points or more but 9-12 when the margin is four points or under and 2-9 when its two or under. ON THE BOARDS --- The Blazers, who outrebounded New York, 52-50, Wednesday rank third in the NBA in total rebounding percentage---the share of total misses in a game a team rebounds---(.523), fifth in defensive rebounding percentage (.716) and third in offensive percentage (.331) . . . The Blazers have an overall advantage of 4.6 rebounds per game and a 3.2 per game margin on the defensive glass . . . Portland has out rebounded 42 of 57 opponents this season and 10 times has claimed 50 or more in a game . . . Among the top five rebounding teams in the league for the past nine years, Portland is again among the leaders despite not having an individual among the league's top 35. AMONG THE NBA LEADERS ---RASHEED WALLACE, 3rd in field goal percentage, .565 (229-405) ---GARY TRENT, 6th in field goal percentage, .542 (262-483) ---ARVYDAS SABONIS, 35th in field goal percentage, .490 (217-443), 36th in rebounding (7.8), 27th in blocked shots (1.26) ---KENNY ANDERSON , 16th in assists (6.9), is 12th in steals (1.91), 29th in scoring (18.0), 35th in 3-point accuracy, .374 (95-254), 29th in minutes played (37.9) ---CHRIS DUDLEY, 26th in blocked shots (1.29), 38th in rebounding (7.2) ---CLIFFORD ROBINSON, 25th in minutes played (38.5), 36th in blocked shots (0.89) THE LAST THREE GAMES KNICKS IN OT --- The Blazers held New York to five points in the third quarter---an all-time Blazers opponent low and the second lowest NBA quarter ever ---but it didn t do any good in the end as the Knicks bounced back for a 96-95 overtime win in the Rose Garden Wednesday. It was the Blazers third straight loss and their fourth in the last five games. Portland outscored the Knicks, 27-5, in the third stanza to build a 73-58 lead going into the fourth period but couldn t hold it. Rasheed Wallace was the Blazers leader with 20 points and 12 rebounds---his fourth double-double in eight games. Knick center Patrick Ewing led all scorers with 27 points, including 8 of 10 from the free throw line in the game s last nine minutes. Three Blazers---Clifford Robinson, Arvydas Sabonis and Chris Dudley---fouled out, the most DQs in a game by Portland this season. The Blazers converted 38% and the Knicks 39% in the physical defensive game. Portland had a 52-50 rebounding edge. BULLS RUN --- Michael Jordan scored 30 of his 37 points in the first half as Portland succumbed to the World Champion Chicago Bulls in the United Center Monday, 116-89. The Blazers, who dropped their eighth road decision in nine tries and their fifth straight to Chicago, kept it close in the first quarter but by halftime were down, 67-49. The score read 95-67 after three quarters. Gary Trent s 14 points led six Blazers in double-figure scoring. Jordan tallied his game-high 37 points in 30 minutes. Portland converted 43% of its field goal attempts (35-82), while the Bulls were making a Blazer opponent season-high 46-of-99 (47%). Chicago had a 60-40 rebounding edge, a season-high against Portland. Gary Trent was Portland's rebound leader with nine. FLAT IN PHILADELPHIA --- Portland shot 39% from the field, was outrebounded by 16 and never got closer than 8 points after the first quarter in a 97-80 loss at Philadelphia Saturday. It was the sixth biggest loss margin of the season and the Blazers seventh road reversal in eight stops. Kenny Anderson led Portland with 20 points, his 22nd 20+ game this season. Clifford Robinson added 16 to make him the fifth Trail Blazer ever to score 10,000 career points. Portland finished shooting .388 (31-80) for the game while the Sixers, led by Derrick Coleman (28 points, 15 rebounds) and Jerry Stackhouse (21 points), fired at a .506 clip (40-79). Philadelphia s 49-33 rebounding margin was the second widest of the season by a Blazers opponent. A BALANCED ACT --- Portland is ninth in the league in scoring and third in rebounding percentages, yet no Trail Blazer shows up in the top 25 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 (7.8 rpg), Chris Dudley (7.1 rpg) and Rasheed Wallace (7.1) but none of the three rank among the NBA's top 35 boardsmen . . . One reason for Portland's continued position as one of the league's rebounding elite is balance. No fewer than 10 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 ANDERSON S ASSISTS COUNTING UP --- Kenny Anderson has now dished out 391 assists for the season (6.9 per game, 16th best in the league). That means $7,820 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 this season point. All 27 Blazers home games thus far have been in the 20,000-plus category, including four sellouts with a total attendance 554,432 and an average through Wednesday's New York game of 20,535. 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 117-104, 52.9%. Last season, Carlesimo guided Portland to a 44-38 record for the second year in a row. SIXERS HERE NEXT --- After playing the Jazz tonight, the Blazers remain at home for the third in a stretch of four straight contests in the Rose Garden as they entertain Philadelphia on Sunday (7 p.m., KEX Radio). The run concludes Tuesday against New Jersey (7 p.m., KEX Radio). Portland takes to the road Wednesday to face the Suns in Phoenix (6 p.m., KEX Radio) then returns to home for four more games beginning next Friday against Dallas. THE PLAYERS KENNY ANDERSON --- Wednesday vs. Knicks: 19 pts (6-19 fgs, 3-9 3pt, 4-4 fts), 9 assists, 3 rbs, season high-equalling 49 minutes . . . Monday at Chicago: 12 pts, team-high 8 assists, 3 rbs, 2 steals, 26 minutes . . . Saturday at Philadelphia: Team-high 20 pts, 6 assists, 6 rbs, 4 steals, 36 minutes . . . Scored a season high 35 points Feb. 15 vs. Houston ---his fourth +30 game . . . Dished out a season-high 15 assists, scored 22 pts and had only 1 TO in 43 minutes at Phoenix Jan. 24 ---his ninth double-double, his 10th double-figure assist game . . . 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 17 times, in assists 37 times and scored 20 or more points in 22 games . . . Team s leading scorer at 18.0 ppg, the assists leader (6.9 avg.) and tops in steals (1.91 avg.) . . . Ranks 29th in the NBA in scoring, 16th in assists, 12th in steals, 29th in minutes played (37.9), and 33rd in 3-point shooting (.374 on 95-254) . . . Kenny is one of 25 players in the league averaging at least 4 assists and 4 rebounds a game (6.8 and 4.6) . . . Has 95 treys in his first 57 games as a Blazer, placing him sixth on Portland's all-time three pointers-made list . . . 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 . . . This season vs. Utah: Averaged 17.0 pts, 6.3 assists, 1.7 rbs, 1.7 steals, 0.7 blocks, 36.3 minutes in three starts. STACEY AUGMON --- Wednesday vs. Knicks: 4 pts (2-2 fgs), 13 minutes . . . Monday at Chicago: Season-high 13 pts, 5 rbs, 30 minutes in his first start as a Trail Blazer . . . Saturday at Philadelphia: 8 pts, 4 rbs, 1 assist, 25 minutes . . . Acquired Jan. 24 from Detroit in exchange for guards Randolph Childress, Reggie Jordan and Aaron McKie . . . 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 . . . This season vs. Utah: 12 pts, 1 rb, 2 steals, 1 block, 20 minutes in Game 3. Not with team previous two games. MARCUS BROWN --- Wednesday vs. Knicks: Did not play (coach's decision) . . . Monday at Chicago: Career-high 13 pts, 2 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, career-high 26 minutes . . . Saturday at Philadelphia: 4 pts, 2 assists, 12 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 . . . This season vs. Utah: Averaged 3.0 pts, 1.0 rb, 0.5 assists, 6.0 minutes in two games. On injured list for Game 1. MITCHELL BUTLER --- Placed on injured list Monday (effusion of the left knee) . . . Did not play (coach's decision) in previous three games . . . 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 . . . This season vs. Utah: 0 pts, 1 rb in 28 minutes of Games 1 and 3. Did not play in Game 2 (coach's decision). CHRIS DUDLEY --- Wednesday vs. Knicks: 4 pts (2-5 fgs), 10 rbs, 19 minutes before fouling out with 44.2 seconds remaining in regulation, his third DQ of the season . . . Monday at Chicago: 4 pts, 6 rbs, 2 assists, 1 steal, 24 minutes . . . Saturday at Philadelphia: 1 pt, 5 rbs, 1 assist, 3 steals, 1 block, 18 minutes . . . Sat out Feb. 16 Boston game after playing in 72 consecutive contests, which was the Blazers longest current consecutive streak . . . Has missed only three if Portland's last 226 games . . . Grabbed a season and game-high 15 rebounds in a season-high 43 minutes Feb. 4 vs. Chicago . . . 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 (7.2 rpg) and leader in blocked shots (1.29) despite starting just 12 games . . . Ranks 26th in the league in blocks and 38th in rebounding . . . Blazers leader in rebounds and blocks previous two seasons . . . 10th year in the league, the team's longest tenured player . . . 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 . . . This season vs. Utah: Averaged 2.0 pts, 4.7 rbs, 1.3 blocks, 21.0 minutes in three games, including one start. JERMAINE O NEAL --- Wednesday vs. Knicks: Did not play (coach's decision) . . . Monday at Chicago: 3 pts, 2 rbs, 1 steal, 1 block, 12 minutes . . . Saturday at Philadelphia: Did not play (coach's decision) . . . Grabbed a career-high 8 rbs at Utah Feb. 13 . . . Scored career-high 20 in career-high 25 minutes 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 younger than 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. . . . This season vs. Utah: 9 points, career-high 8 rbs, 1 block in 22 minutes of Game 3. Did not play (coach's decision) in the other two. ISAIAH RIDER --- Wednesday vs. Knicks: 11 pts (3-10 fgs, 0-1 3pt, 5-6 fts), 5 rbs, 2 assists, 1 steal, 41 minutes . . . Monday at Chicago: Not with team (death in the family). . . Saturday at Philadelphia: Equalled season-low with 2 pts, 2 assists, 23 minutes . . . Registered personal and team season-high 40 pts (13-19 fgs, 2-2 3pt, 12-13 fts) in 43 minutes Feb. 16 vs. Boston --- Two points off his career high, making him only second Blazer to top 40-point mark in two seasons . . . 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 . . . This season vs. Utah: Averaged 15.7 pts, 3.0 rbs, 2.0 assists, 1.3 blocks, 33.7 minutes in three starts. CLIFFORD ROBINSON --- Wednesday vs. Knicks: 9 pts (3-12 fgs, 0-1 3pt, 3-3 fts), 7 rbs, 4 assists, 2 blocks, 46 minutes before fouling out with 50.9 seconds remaining in OT, his sixth DQ of the season and the 37th of his career which ties him with Tom Owens for third place on the team's all-time list . . . Monday at Chicago: 4 pts, 2 rbs, 3 assists, 1 steal, 34 minutes . . . Saturday at Philadelphia: 16 pts, 4 rbs, 2 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks, 40 minutes---Scored his 10,000th point and moved into fourth place on the Blazers all-time scoring list (see note on Page 1) . . . Registered a season and team-high 10 rbs, a team-high 6 assists, plus 15 points and 4 steals 41 minutes Feb. 2 at Minnesota . . . Has been team leader in assists 10 times this season, two more than his total for the previous three seasons combined . . . Matched his career high with 9 assists Jan. 25 vs. Minnesota . . . 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 . . . Ranks in top ten in 16 of 17 career categories . . . This season vs. Utah: Averaged 13.7 pts, 5.3 rbs, 1.7 assists, 1.7 steals, 1.3 blocks, 39.3 minutes in three starts. RUMEAL ROBINSON --- Wednesday vs. Knicks: 0 pts, 1 assist, 1 rb, 5 minutes . . . at Chicago Monday: 2 pts, 1 assist, 1 rb, 14 minutes in his first game back with Blazers after signing to a 10-day contract the same day . . . Started the season with the Lakers and played in 15 games (3 starts) and averaged 3.0 pts, 0.9 assists, 0.7 rbs, 0.3 steals and 8.4 minutes . . . Scored a season high 10 points vs. San Antonio Nov. 19 . . . Traded, along with Cedric Ceballos, to Phoenix for Robert Horry and Joe Kleine on Jan. 10 . . . Averaged 2.9 pts, 0.6 assists, 0.5 rbs and 6.8 minutes in 11 games with the Suns before being waived Feb. 15 . . . Joined the Blazers as a free agent on Jan. 10 of last season and appeared in 43 games, 14 of them starting assignments . . . Averaged 5.7 pts, 3.3 assists, 1.8 rbs and 16.6 minutes with the Blazers . . . Registered back-to-back double-doubles in his first two starts . . . Scored in double figures 11 times, including a season-high 20 points in 31 minutes at Miami March 1 . . . A 1st round draft choice (10th overall) by Atlanta in 1990, he played his first four seasons in the NBA with Atlanta, New Jersey and Charlotte, averaging 8.9 pts and 4.0 assists a game . . . During the 1992-93 season was a backup to Kenny Anderson at New Jersey then took over the starting job when Anderson was injured and had two triple doubles as a Net starter . . . Played two seasons in the CBA and averaged 20.2 ppg, playing for Rapid City, Shreveport and Connecticut . . . Led Michigan in scoring in 1990 and was a key to the Wolverines run for the 1989 NCAA Championship, including making two free throws in the final minute to seal Michigan s victory in the title game over P.J. Carlesimo's Seton Hall team. ARVYDAS SABONIS --- Wednesday vs. Knicks: 17 points (6-12 fgs, 2-4 3pt, 3-3 fts), 8 rbs, 2 assists, 2 steals, 28 minutes before fouling out with 4:41 remaining in OT, his third DQ of the season . . . Monday at Chicago: 12 pts, 4 rbs, 2 assists, 22 minutes . . . Saturday at Philadelphia: 9 pts, 6 rbs, 1 assist, 1 steal, 23 minutes . . . Wednesday at Orlando: 8 pts, 5 rbs, 1 block, 21 minutes in his first action since Jan. 22 . . . 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 13 rebounds Dec. 26 at Utah . . . Played a career-high 41 minutes Dec. 13 at the Lakers . . Grabbed career-high 17 rebounds at Minnesota Nov. 7 . . . Team s leading rebounder (7.9 rpg) and second in blocked shots (1.32) . . . On the NBA's All-Rookie first team last season, the first Blazer to make it since Sam Bowie in 1985 . . . Runner-up for 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 . . . This season vs. Utah: Averaged team-best 24.0 pts, 10.rbs, 3.5 assists, 37.5 minutes in two starts, and shot 61% from the field (14-23) and 90% from the line (17-19). On injured list for Game 3. GARY TRENT --- Wednesday vs. Knicks: 11 pts (4-9 fgs, 3-4 fts), 6 rbs, 19 minutes . . . Monday at Chicago: Team-high 14 pts, team-high 9 rbs, 2 assists, 28 minutes . . . Saturday at Philadelphia: 10 pts, 2 rbs, 1 assist, 1 steal, 2 blocks, 23 minutes . . . For fourth time in seven games equalled career high with 24 pts Feb. 2 at Minnesota . . . Jan. 24 at Suns: Matched career high with game-high 24 pts and tied career high with 13 rbs in 36 minutes --- 10 field goals also a career high . . . 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 . . . Is firing at a .542 clip from the field (262-483), the NBA's sixth best mark . . . 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 . . . This season vs. Utah: Averaged 8.3 pts, 4.7 rbs, 0.3 assists, 0.3 blocks, 23.7 minutes in three starts. RASHEED WALLACE --- Wednesday vs. Knicks: Team-high 20 pts (6-14 fgs, 0-1 3pt, 8-12 fts), team-best 12 rbs, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 block, season-high 45 minutes---fourth double-double in eight games and his eighth of the season . . . Saturday at Philadelphia: 10 pts, 6 rbs, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 40 minutes . . . Last Friday at Miami: Team-high 25 pts and team-high 10 rbsTied his career high with 14 rbs and set a new career standard with 15 free throw attempts Feb. 15 vs. Houston . . . Activated Feb. 4 vs. Chicago after missing 19 games and scored 2 pts and had 4 rbs in 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 . . . His 32 points at Golden State Nov. 5 was the first 30-plus game of his career . . . No. 3 among NBA's top field goal percentage shooters (.565 on 229-405) . . . 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 . . . This season vs. Utah: Scored 12 pts, grabbed 8 rbs and had 2 steals in 27 minutes of Game 3. On injured list for the first two meetings. DONTONIO WINGFIELD --- Wednesday vs. Knicks: Did not play (coach's decision) . . . Monday at Chicago: 1pt, 6 rbs, 2 assists, 1 steal, 12 minutes . . . Did not play (coach's decision) in last three games . . . Not with team (flu) the previous two games . . . 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 . . . This season vs. Utah: Scored 11 pts and had 7 rbs, 1 assist, 1 block in 20 minutes of Game 2. Did not play (coach's decision) in the other two games. John Christensen Chuck Charnquist ************************************************************ Send subscribe/unsubscribe messages to majordomo@ripcity.com ************************************************************