PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS at PHOENIX SUNS GAME NO. 61---WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5, 1997 Record: Overall---32-28, Home---20-10, Road---12-18 INTO THE VALLEY OF THE SUN --- The Trail Blazers, 32-28, will be looking to extend their current winning streak to four in a row and at the same time end a two-game road losing streak when they invade America West Arena tonight for their third meeting of the season with the Suns. The Blazers, who defeated New Jersey, 123-118, in a wild shooting match last night in the Rose Garden, can capture the season series by defeating Phoenix tonight. Portland already has two victories over the Arizona club under its belt, including a 115-105 success on its last trip south. The fourth and final clash between the two teams is scheduled for April 5 in the Rose City. The Blazers, who have the fifth best record in the Western Conference, and at 24-13, the fifth best mark against teams in the West. Portland also will be looking to keep its improving offensive clout rolling. In the last three games, Portland has fired at a 56.1% clip from the field and averaged 116.7 ppg. The Blazers, the youngest team in the league in terms of both age and experience and heading for the club's 20th playoff appearance in 21 seasons, are six wins ahead of last year s pace after 60 games (26-34). After playing in Phoenix tonight, Portland has four straight at home before heading out on a tough five-games-in-seven-days Eastern trip beginning March 20 at 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). 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-SUNS SERIES --- Portland has won three in a row and four of the last five matchups with the Suns but still trails in the all-time series, 78-66. The Trail Blazers have won two in a row in Phoenix after dropping nine straight there, including eight in a row in America West Arena. Their last loss on the Suns home floor was on Nov. 18 of last season, 107-102. Going into tonight's game, the Blazers have a 20-53 record in the Valley of the Sun over 27 seasons. At home, Portland owns a 46-25 edge in matchups with Phoenix. SO FAR THIS SEASON --- The Trail Blazers have cooled the Suns twice this season, winning 115-105 in Phoenix on Jan. 24, and 111-108 two weeks later in the Rose Garden. Gary Trent had turned in his second career high performance in as many games to stake Portland to its first win, putting 24 points on the board and grabbing 13 rebounds. Kenny Anderson, who had 22 points and 15 assists in the first victory, was the Blazers catalyst in the second win, scoring a game-high 33 points, including 19 in the fourth quarter. Rasheed Wallace added 30 points in the Feb. 4 victory. Portland shot 50.3% in the first two outings this season versus the Suns; Phoenix turned in a 49.4% field goal chart. The Blazers grabbed a 42.0-36.0 rebounding edge. CLIFFORD TAKES OVER NO. 3 --- Clifford Robinson's 28 points last night against the Nets raised his career point total to 10,080 and vaulted him into the third spot among Portland's all-time scoring leaders. Robinson, who scored his 10,000th career point at Philadelphia Feb. 22, moved past Jerome Kersey, who scored 10,067 during his tenure with the Blazers. Clyde Drexler is the team's all-time scoring leader with 18,040 points, 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. A HOT HAND --- The Blazers have turned in their best shooting nights of the season in their last three outings. They fired at a 55.0% (44-80) clip last night, were 55.6% (45-81) versus Philadelphia Sunday, and hit a season-best 57.9% (44-76) last Friday against Utah. In the three games, they have burned the nets at a 56.1% pace (133-237) . . . They ve topped the 50% mark for the 17th time Tuesday and are now 14-3 in games when they do so. . . For the season, Portland's field goal accuracy mark of .460 is 12th best in the league. THE LAST THREE GAMES A WILD ONE OVER THE NETS --- The Blazers won their third straight the hard way last night in the Rose Garden, coming from 13 points back in the fourth quarter to secure a 123-118 victory over the New Jersey Nets. Portland shot 55% for the game (44-80)---for the third time in three games bettering the 55% mark---and scored a season-high 69 first half points. But the Nets, riding the hot hands of Kerry Kittles (26 points) and Sam Cassells (25 points) moved out to a 16 point lead late in the third period and were up, 103-90, entering the final stanza. The Blazers then applied the defensive breaks, holding New Jersey to just 15 fourth quarter points while scoring 33 themselves. Kenny Anderson and Clifford Robinson each tallied 28 points as the Blazers rang up a season-high point total. Isaiah Rider added 21 for the winners. The Nets finished with a 52.3% field goal chart (45-86), including 12-of-20 from long range, a season high versus the Blazers. New Jersey had a 39-38 edge on the glass. The win gave Portland a sweep of its season series with the Nets. SILENCING THE SIXERS --- After suffering a 17-point loss in Philadelphia a week earlier, the Trail Blazers turned the tables by running past the Sixers, 112-95, in the Rose Garden Sunday to earn a split in the season series between the two teams. Kenny Anderson and Gary Trent each scored 20 points as six Blazers put double-figure numbers on the board. Isaiah Rider tallied 13 of his 19 points in the third quarter when Blazers outscored Philadelphia, 35-20. Sixers guard Allen Iverson led all scorers in the game with 25 points. Portland turned in its second straight hot shooting night, filling the hoop at a 55.6% clip (45-81), while limiting the Sixers to 42.9% shooting (36-84). Portland, outrebounded 49-33 in their first matchup with Philadelphia, this time pounded out a 46-33 advantage on the boards, led by Arvydas Sabonis 10 rebounds. The Blazers equalled their season high for second half scoring with 69 points. QUIETING THE JAZZ --- Portland turned in one of its best offensive performances of the season in quieting the Utah Jazz Friday in the Rose Garden to the tune of 115-105. For the second time this season, four Trail Blazers scored 20 or more points, as Portland connected on a season-best .579 from the field (44-76). Kenny Anderson, with his 10th double-double of the season (30 points, 12 assists) led the Blazers effort but he got plenty of help from Isaiah Rider (26 points), Clifford Robinson and Rasheed Wallace (20 each). Utah went down despite shooting a Portland opponent season-high .592 field goals (42-71). Karl Malone led the Jazz with 30 points. The Blazers turned in their most productive second quarter (34 points) and first half (64 points) of the season, including a 71% shooting mark for the second stanza (12-17). Portland's starting guards (Anderson and Rider) outscored their Jazz counterparts (John Stockton and Jeff Hornacek) 56-19. The victory earned Portland a 2-2 season split with the Midwest Division leaders. ON OFFENSE --- Portland has the ninth most productive offense in the league, averaging 99.0 points a contest . . . In winning 32 games, the Blazers margin of victory has been 11.9 ppg, with the cushion being 10 or more points in 16 games and 20 or more six times . . . Portland's overall point margin of +1.9 is the league's 11th best . . . The Blazers field goal accuracy mark of .460 is the 12th highest in the league . . . Portland has topped 50% field goal shooting 17 times and are 14-3 when it did so . . . Of the Blazers 28 losses, 16 have been by six points or less, nine have been by three or under, and six have been one-pointers . . . Portland is 16-11 in games decided by 10 points or more but 9-12 when the margin is four points or under and 2-8 when its two or under. ON THE BOARDS --- The Blazers rank second to the Chicago Bulls in the NBA in total rebounding percentage---the share of total misses in a game a team rebounds---(.523), fifth in defensive rebounding percentage (.717) and fourth in offensive percentage (.330) . . . The Blazers have an overall advantage of 4.6 rebounds per game and a 3.4 per game margin on the defensive glass . . . Portland has out rebounded 44 of 60 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, .566 (245-430) ---GARY TRENT, 6th in field goal percentage, .547 (277-506) ---ARVYDAS SABONIS, 33rd in field goal percentage, .489 (229-468), 35th in rebounding (7.9), 29th in blocks shots (1.23) ---KENNY ANDERSON , 16th in assists (7.1), is 12th in steals (1.90), 28th in scoring (18.4), 32nd in 3-point accuracy, .380 (102-271), 29th in minutes played (38.0) ---CHRIS DUDLEY, 23rd in blocked shots (1.31), 37th in rebounding (7.1) ---CLIFFORD ROBINSON, 23rd in minutes played (38.5), 39th in blocked shots (0.86) ON DEFENSE --- Portland has the NBA's 11th toughest defense to shoot against, holding foes to .443 field goal accuracy in 60 games . . . It has kept opponents below the 40 percent mark 13 times and 31 times below 45 percent . . . In winning 32 games, the Blazers have held 22 opponents under 100 points and overall have allowed only 23 of 60 to top the century mark. A BLOCK PARTY --- The Trail Blazers are averaging 5.62 blocked shots a game, the league's eighth best mark . . . four Blazers, led by Chris Dudley's 1.31 rejections a game, rank in the NBA's top 40 . . . Others providing a big defensive screen up front for Portland are Arvydas Sabonis (1.23), Rasheed Wallace (1.05) and Clifford Robinson (0.86). BACK-TO-BACKS --- Wednesday's visit to Phoenix closes out the 16th of 21 sets of back-to-back games (contests on consecutive nights) on the Blazers 1996-97 schedule. Last night, Portland defeated New Jersey, 123-118, at home to raise its overall record in back-to-backs to 17-14. The Blazers are 7-8 in second games of consecutive night sets and are 3-7 when the second game occurs on the road. A BALANCED ACT --- Portland is ninth in the league in scoring and second in rebounding, yet no Trail Blazer shows up in the top 25 in either category . . . However, six Blazers, led by Kenny Anderson's 18.4 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 (7.9 rpg), Chris Dudley (7.1 rpg) and Rasheed Wallace (6.9) 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. ANDERSON'S ASSISTS COUNTING UP --- Kenny Anderson has now dished out 44 assists in his last four games and 426 for the season (7.1 per game, 16th best in the league). That means $8,520 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 youth initiative TeamUp, the Trail Blazers are committed to help build public awareness of Kids Making Miracles, a volunteer organization of Oregon and SW Washington grade and high school students. 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 30 Blazers home games thus far have been in the 20,000-plus category, including four sellouts with a total attendance 618,122 and an average through Tuesday's New Jersey game of 20,604. 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 120-104, 53.6%. Last season, Carlesimo guided Portland to a 44-38 record for the second year in a row. MAVS ON FRIDAY --- After battling the Suns, The Blazers return to the Rose Garden to open another four-game homestand beginning Friday against Dallas (7 p.m., KEX Radio, BlazerVision). On Sunday, they host Seattle (12 noon, KEX Radio, NBC TV), then play the Clippers Tuesday (7 p.m., KEX Radio, BlazerVision), and Cleveland next Friday (7 p.m., KEX Radio). THE PLAYERS KENNY ANDERSON --- Tuesday vs. Nets: Tied for game-high honors with 28 pts (9-16 fgs, 4-8 3pt, 6-9 fts), game-high 14 assists, 4 rbs, 1 steal, 37 minutes---11th double-double and his 25th +20 game of season . . . Sunday vs. Sixers: 20 pts, 9 assists, 3 rbs, 2 steals, 40 minutes . . . Friday vs. Jazz: 30 points, game-high 12 assists, 2 rbs, 2 steals, 44 minutes . . . Has averaged 26.0 ppg in his last three outings and 11.0 assists in his last four . . . Scored a season high 35 points Feb. 15 vs. Houston . . . Dished out a season-high 15 assists, scored 22 pts and had only 1 TO in 43 minutes at Phoenix Jan. 24 . . . 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 20 times, in assists 40 times . . . Team's leading scorer at 18.4 ppg, the assists leader (7.1 avg.) and tops in steals (1.90 avg.) . . . Ranks 28th in the NBA in scoring, 16th in assists, 11th in steals, 29th in minutes played (38.0), and 32nd in 3-point shooting (.380 on 103-271) . . . 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 103 treys in his first 60 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 . . . vs. Phoenix this season: Averaged 27.5 pts, 10.5 assists, 5.0 rbs, 0.5 steals, 0.5 blocks, 1.5 turnovers, 40.0 minutes in two starts, including 33 pts in Game 2. STACEY AUGMON --- Tuesday vs. Nets: 5 pts (1-3 fgs, 2-3 fts), 5 rbs, 2 assists, 2 steals, 23 minutes---played big role in holding Nets to 15-point fourth quarter . . . Sunday vs. Sixers: 6 pts, 2 rbs, 1 assists, 19 minutes in his second start . . . Friday vs. Jazz: 2 pts, 2 rbs, 1 block, 12 minutes . . . Scored a season-high 13 pts in 30 minutes in his first start as a Blazer Feb. 24 vs. Chicago . . . 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 14.6 minutes . . . Played his first five NBA seasons with Atlanta before being traded to Detroit last summer with Grant Long for a conditional 1998 1st round draft pick, and 1997 and 1998 2nd round picks . . . 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 . . . vs. Phoenix this season: 12 pts (5-5 fgs), 8 rbs, 2 assists, 1 steal, 26 minutes in Game 2. Not with team for Game 1. MARCUS BROWN --- Did not play (coach's decision) vs. Nets Tuesday . . . Sunday vs. Sixers: 2 pts, 2 assists, 1 rb, 2 steals, 12 minutes . . . Did not play in previous two games (coach's decision) . . . Scored a career-high 13 pts in a career-high 26 minutes Feb. 24 vs. Chicago . . . 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. Phoenix this season: Averaged 4.5 pts, 1.5 assists, 0.5 rbs, 0.5 steals, 9.0 minutes in two games. MITCHELL BUTLER --- Placed on injured list Feb. 24 (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 . . . vs. Phoenix this season: 0 pts in 14 minutes of Game 1. CHRIS DUDLEY --- Tuesday vs. Nets: 2 pts (1-2 fgs), team-high 9 rbs, 1 assist, 2 blocks, 23 minutes . . . Sunday vs. Sixers: 0 pts, 5 rbs, 1 block, 15 minutes . . . Friday vs. Jazz: 0 pts, 4 rbs, 2 steals, 2 blocks, 24 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 (7.1 rpg) and leader in blocked shots (1.31) despite starting just 12 games . . . Ranks 23rd in the league in blocks and 37th 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 . . . vs. Phoenix this season: Averaged 5.5 pts, 10.0 rbs, 1.0 assists, 1.5 steals, 0.5 blocks, 33.0 minutes in two starts. JERMAINE O'NEAL --- Did not play (coach's decision) Tuesday vs. Nets . . . Sunday vs. Sixers: 2 pts, 3 rbs, 1 assist, equalled career-high with 3 blocks, 8 minutes . . . Friday vs. Jazz: 2 pts, 2 minutes . . . 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. . . . vs. Phoenix this season: Averaged 1.5 pts, 0.5 rbs, 0.5 blocks, 8.5 minutes in two games. ISAIAH RIDER --- Tuesday vs. Nets: 21 pts (9-15 fgs, 1-4 3pt, 2-3 fts), 3 assists, 1 steal, 33 minutes . . . Sunday vs. Sixers: 19 pts, 5 rbs, 4 assists, 1 steal, 31 minutes---scored 13 of his points in third quarter when Blazers broke the game open . . . Friday vs. Jazz: 26 pts, 4 assists, 1 rb, 38 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 . . . vs. Phoenix this season: Averaged 10.0 pts, 3.5 rbs, 2.5 assists, 0.5 steals, 0.5 blocks, 32.5 minutes in two starts. CLIFFORD ROBINSON --- Tuesday vs. Nets: Tied for game-high honors with 28 pts (9-13 fgs, 3-4 3pt, 7-12 fts), 2 rbs, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 40 minutes---raised his career total to 10,080 pts to move into 3rd place on Blazers all-time scoring list (see note on Page 1) . . . Sunday vs. Sixers: 13 pts, 6 rbs, 7 assists, 12 steal, 35 minutes . . . Friday vs. Jazz: 20 pts, 8 rbs, 2 assists, 1 steal, 39 minutes . . . Registered a season and team-high 10 rbs, a team-high 6 assists, plus 15 points and 4 steals in 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 23rd 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 . . . vs. Phoenix this season: Averaged 16.0 pts, 4.5 rbs, 3.5 assists, 1.5 steals, 1.0 blocks, 38.0 minutes in two starts. RUMEAL ROBINSON --- Tuesday vs. Nets: Blazers-high 9 pts (3-4 fgs, 3-3 3pt), 2 assists, 11 minutes . . . Sunday vs. Sixers: 4 pts, 2 rbs, 1 steal, 3 minutes . . . Friday vs. Jazz: 0 pts, 1 assist, 4 minutes . . . at Chicago Feb. 24: scored 2 pts in 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 --- Tuesday vs. Nets: 9 pts (4-9 fgs, 0-2 3pt, 2-2 fts), 6 rbs, 4 assists, 2 blocks, 21 minutes . . . Sunday vs. Sixers: 12 pts, 10 rbs, 2 assists, 1 block, 22 minutes---team-best 12th double-double . . . Friday vs. Jazz: 9 pts, game-high 9 rbs, 5 assists, 3 steals, 27 minutes . . . Feb. 19 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 24 times, and assists 3 times . . . Scored career-high 33 points and had career high-equalling 11 field goals (14 attempts) on a career-high 14 fts 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 (1.23) . . . 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 Atlanta . . . vs. Phoenix this season: Did not play in either game---injured list. GARY TRENT --- Tuesday vs. Nets: 11 pts (4-8 fgs, 3-5 fts), 4 rbs, 1 assist, 22 minutes . . . Sunday vs. Sixers: Tied for team-high honors with 20 pts, 6 rbs, 1 assist, 24 minutes---sixth +20 game of the season . . . Friday vs. Jazz: 6 pts, 3 rbs, 2 assists, 3 steals, 24 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 .547 clip from the field (277-506), 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 . . . vs. Phoenix this season: Averaged 18.0 pts, 7.5 rbs, 3.5 assists, 1.0 steals, 1.0 blocks, 34.5 minutes and shot 58% from the field (14-24) in two starts. RASHEED WALLACE --- Tuesday vs. Nets: 9 pts (4-10 fgs, 1-4 fts), 8 rbs, 1 assist, 30 minutes . . . Sunday vs. Sixers: 14 pts, 3 rbs, 2 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks, 31 minutes . . . Friday vs. Jazz: 20 pts, 2 rbs, 26 minutes . . . Tied 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 (.566 on 249-440) . . . 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. Phoenix this season: 30 pts (10-14 fgs, 2-4 3pt, 8-10 fts), 5 rbs, 3 assists, 31 minutes of Game 2. On injured list for first game. DONTONIO WINGFIELD --- Did not play (coach's decision) in last four 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 . . . vs. Phoenix this season: Season-high 16 pts (6-7 fgs, 3-3 3pt), 3 rbs, 1 assist, 1 steal, 18 minutes. John Christensen Chuck Charnquist ************************************************************ Send subscribe/unsubscribe messages to majordomo@ripcity.com ************************************************************