PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS vs. DALLAS MAVERICKS GAME NO. 62---FRIDAY, MARCH 7, 1997 Record: Overall---33-28, Home---20-10, Road---13-18 MAVERICKS RIDE INTO GARDEN --- The Trail Blazers, 33-28, can extend their winning streak to five in a row, equalling their longest of the year, with a victory over Dallas Friday. The red-hot Blazers, who have outscored their last four opponents by an average of 13.5 points a game while shooting 54% from the field and 54% from beyond the arc, go into the Dallas game with the Western Conference's longest winning streak and the second longest in the NBA behind New York's five in a row. (The Blazers last loss was to the Knicks, 96-95 in OT on Feb. 26.) Portland, the youngest team in the league in terms of age and experience, defeated Phoenix Wednesday, 121-99, to put together its first back-to-back set of 120-point plus wins since February of 1994. On Tuesday, the Blazers blitzed New Jersey, 123-118. At 33-28, the Blazers are six wins better than they were a year ago after 61 games and currently pack the Western Conference's fifth best record overall and the fifth best in conference play at 25-13. The Blazers, heading for their 20th playoff appearance in the last 21 seasons, have averaged 117.8 points a game in winning the last four and have hit 52% or better in all four victories. The Dallas game launches a string of four straight and five of their next six at home for the Blazers. The club's final long road trip, a five-games-in-seven-days test, begins 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 --- On Thursday, Rumeal Robinson was signed for the remainder of the season after joining the team on a 10-day contract on Feb. 24. Mitchell Butler was placed on the injured list (effusion, left knee) Feb. 24. Center Arvydas Sabonis was activated Feb. 19 after missing 11 games with a deeply bruised left calf. Stacey Augmon, a 6-foot-8 forward-guard in his sixth NBA season, was acquired by the Trail Blazers Jan. 24 from Detroit in exchange for guards Randolph Childress, Aaron McKie and Reggie Jordan. THE BLAZERS-MAVS SERIES --- Portland has won six in a row and 20 of its last 24 matchups with Dallas and leads the all-time series between the two teams, 48-26. The last Mavericks success in the series was by a 102-90 score on April 15, 1995, in Portland. Since then, the Trail Blazers have beaten Dallas three straight in the Rose Garden, including a 107-77 rout back in December. Over 17 campaigns, Portland has a 30-7 record against the Mavs in the Rose City. Portland won, 110-104, at the Reunion Arena in January and also has a three-game streak going in Dallas. However, the Texas club has a one-game series edge in Reunion, 19-18. SO FAR THIS SEASON --- The Trail Blazers corralled the Mavericks twice, defeating them, 107-77, in Portland on Dec. 20, and then taking the rematch in Dallas two weeks later, 110-104. In the first game, in which Portland posted its second biggest win margin of the season, things were close until the third quarter when the Mavs were outscored, 31-10. Clifford Robinson led the charge with 21 points. Portland shot 50% to the Mavs 34%, had 14 more field goals and a 55-29 rebounding edge. In the second victory, all five Blazers starters finished in double figures and three posted double-doubles, including Arvydas Sabonis's career-high 33 points and 12 rebounds. Kenny Anderson had 25 points and 11 assists and Isaiah Rider added 19 points and 10 rebounds. Portland hit a 49.4% rate from the field while holding Dallas to 42.9% shooting and for the second straight matchup topped 50 rebounds, this time grabbing a 54-46 advantage. In the two games, the Blazers have outscored the Mavs by an average of 18.5 ppg and and outrebounded them by 17.0 per game. A HOT HAND --- The Blazers fired at better than a 50% clip for the fourth straight game in Wednesday's win at Phoenix (52.1%). In the previous three outings they strung together their three best field goal efforts of the season: 55.0% (44-80) vs. New Jersey Tuesday; 55.6% (45-81) vs. Philadelphia Sunday, and season-best 57.9% (44-76) last Friday vs. Utah . . . In the four games, they combined to burn the nets at a 54.3% pace (171-315) . . . The Blazers are now 15-3 in games when they shoot 50% or better . . . For the season, Portland's field goal accuracy mark of .461 is 11th best in the league. DEALING TREYS --- Wednesday's record assault against the Suns from long range---16 three-pointers in 24 attempts---raised Portland's total for the last four games to 41 makes in 76 tries (53.9%). The 16 treys at Phoenix surpassed the Blazers all-time one-game mark of 13 set at Golden State on Nov. 29, 1995. Portland sizzled in the second half against the Suns, making 11 of 14 from beyond the arc, also a team record for one half. In the four-game surge, when the Blazers have won four in a row, Kenny Anderson has swished 14 of 26 treys, Isaiah Rider 9 of 14, and Clifford Robinson 13 of 22. CLIFFORD TAKES OVER NO. 3 --- Clifford Robinson s 52 points in the last two games has raised his career point total to 10,104 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 had 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. THE LAST THREE GAMES SHOOTING DOWN THE SUNS --- Portland unleashed a record long-range artillery attack in Phoenix Wednesday to shoot down the Suns, 121-99. The victory, Portland's fourth in a row and their fourth straight over Phoenix, was fueled by a team record 16 three-pointers, including 11 in the second half and six (in seven attempts) in the third period when the Blazers blew the game open, outscoring the Suns, 40-18. The third quarter and 70 second half point totals were Portland's biggest of the season. Kenny Anderson led the Blazers onslaught with 26 points, including a season-high 6 of 9 treys. Clifford Robinson and Isaiah Rider each tallied 24 points; Clifford making 5 of 8 from long range and Rider 3 of 3. The Blazers shot better than 50% for the fourth straight game, this time 52.6% (41-78) and a season-high 67% from three-point land (16-24). The Suns were held to a 41% night (34-83) and were just 2 of 16 in treys. Kevin Johnson and Danny Manning led Phoenix with 17 points apiece. Phoenix had the upper hand on the boards, 47-38. 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. ON OFFENSE --- Portland has the eighth most productive offense in the league, averaging 99.3 points a contest . . . In winning 33 games, the Blazers margin of victory has been 12.1 ppg, with the cushion being 10 or more points in 17 games and 20 or more seven times . . . Portland's overall point margin of +2.3 is the league's 11th best . . . 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 17-11 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 third in the NBA in total rebounding percentage---the share of total misses in a game a team rebounds---(.521), fifth in defensive rebounding percentage (.716) and fourth in offensive percentage (.327) . . . The Blazers have an overall advantage of 4.4 rebounds per game and a 3.3 per game margin on the defensive glass . . . Portland has outrebounded 44 of 61 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. ON DEFENSE --- Portland has the NBA's 11th toughest defense to shoot against, holding foes to .443 field goal accuracy in 61 games . . . It has kept opponents below the 40 percent mark 13 times and 32 times below 45 percent . . . In winning 33 games, the Blazers have held 23 opponents under 100 points and overall have allowed only 23 of 61 to top the century mark. AMONG THE NBA LEADERS ---RASHEED WALLACE, 4th in field goal percentage, .561 (252-449) ---GARY TRENT, 6th in field goal percentage, .543 (278-512) ---ARVYDAS SABONIS, 32nd in field goal percentage, .489 (232-474), 35th in rebounding (7.8), 25th in blocks shots (1.26) ---KENNY ANDERSON , 15th in assists (7.1), is 12th in steals (1.93), 27th in scoring (18.5), 23nd in 3-point accuracy, .389 (109-280), 29th in minutes played (38.0) ---ISAIAH RIDER, 29th in three-point percentage, .383 (79-206) ---CHRIS DUDLEY, 23rd in blocked shots (1.30), 38th in rebounding (7.1) ---CLIFFORD ROBINSON, 23rd in minutes played (38.5), 40th in blocked shots (0.86) A BLOCK PARTY --- The Trail Blazers are averaging 5.57 blocked shots a game, the league's eighth best mark . . . four Blazers, led by Chris Dudley s 1.30 rejections a game, rank in the NBA's top 40 . . . Others providing a big defensive screen up front for Portland are Arvydas Sabonis (1.26), Rasheed Wallace (1.00) and Clifford Robinson (0.85). A BALANCED ACT --- Portland is eighth in the league in scoring and third in rebounding, yet no Trail Blazer shows up in the top 25 in either category . . . However, six Blazers, led by Kenny Anderson's 18.5 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 (6.9) are Portland's leaders 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 honors this season and both starting guards--- Anderson and Isaiah Rider---are averaging nearly 5 retrieves a game. THE LEGACY OF THE 77 TEAM --- On April 9, the Blazers will bring back the 1976-77 team for events celebrating the 20th anniversary of the city's first ever major sports title---the NBA Championship. Winning the title and launching Blazermania is reason enough to recognize the coaches and players from that team, but of equal importance is the legacy it gave the franchise. Prior to the 1976-77 season, the Blazers had not had a winning season nor had they been in the playoffs. Since the start of the 1976-77 season and through Wednesday's win over the Suns, Portland has won 58.3% of its games, has had only two losing seasons, is heading for a league-best 20th playoff appearance in 21 seasons and its 15th in a row, and has made it to the conference finals four times and the NBA's biggest show three times. ANDERSON S ASSISTS COUNTING UP --- Kenny Anderson has now dished out 50 assists in his last five games and 432 for the season (7.1 per game, 15th best in the league). That means $8,640 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. All 30 Blazers home games thus far have been in the 20,000-plus category, including four sellouts. Total attendance is 618,122 with an average through Tuesday's New Jersey game of 20,604. SONICS ON SUNDAY --- The Blazers make their first national television appearance of the season on Sunday when they host arch Pacific Northwest rival Seattle (12 noon, KEX Radio, NBC-TV). The Sonics contest is the second in stretch when Portland plays four straight at home. The Clippers are here Tuesday (7 p.m., KEX Radio, BlazerVision) and Cleveland next Friday (7 p.m., KEX Radio). The Blazers travel to the Los Angeles for a rematch with the Clippers next Sunday (7 p.m., KEX Radio, KGW-TV) 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 121-104, 53.8%. Last season, Carlesimo guided Portland to a 44-38 record for the second year in a row. THE PLAYERS KENNY ANDERSON --- Wednesday at Suns: 26 pts (10-14 fgs, 6-9 3pt), team-high 6 assists, 4 steals, 33 minutes---26th +20 game of the season . . . Tuesday vs. Nets: Tied for game-high honors with 28 pts, game-high 14 assists, 4 rbs, 1 steal, 37 minutes---11th double-double . . . Sunday vs. Sixers: 20 pts, 9 assists, 3 rbs, 2 steals, 40 minutes . . . Has averaged 26.0 ppg in his last four outings and 10.0 assists in his last five . . . in the last four games, has swished 65% of his field goals (39-60) and 54% of his treys (14-26) . . . 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 21 times, in assists 41 times . . . Team's leading scorer at 18.5 ppg, the assists leader (7.1 avg.) and tops in steals (1.93 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 . . . Split last season between New Jersey and Charlotte after playing his first four seasons with the Nets. . . New Jersey's 1st round draft choice (2nd overall) in 1991 . . . Starting East guard in the 1994 NBA All-Star Game . . . vs. Dallas this season: Averaged 16.0 pts, 10.5 assists, 5.5 rbs, 1.5 steals and 33.0 minutes in two starts and shot 54% (12-22) from the field. STACEY AUGMON --- Wednesday at Suns: 6 pts (2-4 fgs, 2-2 fts), 2 rbs, 1 assist, 25 minutes in his third start aas a Blazer . . . Tuesday vs. Nets: 5 pts, 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 . . . 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 . . . In five seasons with Atlanta, played 390 games, starting 355, and averaged 13.7 pts . . . Has registered 100 or more steals in four of his first five seasons . . . A 1992 All-NBA Rookie first team selection . . . Had a career-high 36 points versus the Blazers on Jan. 3, 1995 . . . Played on two NCAA Final Four teams at UNLV, including the Runnin Rebels 1990 NCAA championship club. MARCUS BROWN --- Wednesday at Suns: 0 pts (0-2 fgs), 1 rb, 3 minutes . . . Did not play (coach's decision) vs. Nets Tuesday . . . Sunday vs. Sixers: 2 pts, 2 assists, 1 rb, 2 steals, 12 minutes . . . 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. Dallas this season: Did not play either game. CHRIS DUDLEY --- Wednesday at Suns: 6 pts (2-3 fgs, 2-2 fts), team-high 7 rbs, 1 steal, 1 block, 18 minutes . . . Tuesday vs. Nets: 2 pts, team-high 9 rbs, 1 assist, 2 blocks, 23 minutes . . . Sunday vs. Sixers: 0 pts, 5 rbs, 1 block, 15 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. Dallas this season: Averaged 4.0 pts, 6.5 rbs, 1.0 assists, 0.5 steals, 1.5 blocks, 20.5 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. Dallas this season: Averaged 1.0 pts, 1.0 rbs, 0.5 assists, 8.0 minutes in two games. JERMAINE O'NEAL --- Wednesday at Suns: 3 pts (0-1 fgs, 3-6 fts), 3 minutes . . . 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 . . . 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. . . . Averaged 2.0 pts, 1.5 rbs, 0.5 assists, 9.0 minutes in two games. ISAIAH RIDER --- Wednesday at Suns: 24 pts (9-12 fgs, 3-3 3pt, 3-4 fts), 4 assists, 4 rbs, 29 minutes. . . Tuesday vs. Nets: 21 pts, 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 . . . In last four games (all wins) has averaged 22.5 pts and made 62.5% (35-56) of his field goals and 64.3% (9-14) of his three-point attempts . . . 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. Dallas this season: Averaged 18.5 pts, 5.0 rbs, 1.5 assists, 1.0 steals, 34.5 minutes in two starts. CLIFFORD ROBINSON --- Wednesday at Suns: 24 pts (8-15 fgs, 5-8 3pt, 3-4 fts), 5 rbs, shared team assist honors with 6, 1 steal, 42 minutes . . . Tuesday vs. Nets: Tied for game-high honors with 28 pts, 2 rbs, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 40 minutes . . . Sunday vs. Sixers: 13 pts, 6 rbs, 7 assists, 12 steal, 35 minutes . . . Has averaged 21.3 pts and shot 59% (13-22) from three-point range in last four games . . . 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 11 times this season, three 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 . . . Has raised his career total to 10,104 pts to move into 3rd place on Blazers all-time scoring list (see note on Page 1) . . . Ranks in Blazers top ten in 16 of 17 career categories . . . vs. Dallas this season: Averaged 20.0 pts, 5.5 rbs, 3.5 assists, 2.0 steals, 1.0 blocks, 38.5 minutes in two starts. RUMEAL ROBINSON --- Signed for the remainder of the season on Thursday . . . Wednesday at Suns: 2 pts (1-3 fgs, 0-1 3pt), 4 rbs, 5 assists, 2 steals, 18 minutes . . . Tuesday vs. Nets: Blazers-high 9 pts, 2 assists, 11 minutes . . . Sunday vs. Sixers: 4 pts, 2 rbs, 1 steal, 3 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 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 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 . . . 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 . . . 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 run for the 1989 NCAA Championship, including making two free throws in the final minute to seal the Wolverines victory in the title game over P.J. Carlesimo s Seton Hall team. ARVYDAS SABONIS --- Wednesday at Suns: 10 pts (3-6 fgs, 1-1 3pt, 3-4 fts), 4 rbs, 2 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks, 16 minutes . . . Tuesday vs. Nets: 9 pts, 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 . . . 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 (7.8 rpg) and second in blocked shots (1.26) . . . 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 . . . Gained his third Olympic Games medal during the summer in helping Lithuania to the Bronze at Atlanta . . . vs. Dallas this season: Averaged team-best 21.0 pts, 9.0 rbs, 2.5 assists, 1.5 blocks, 28.5 minutes in two starts, and shot 67% from the field (14-21). GARY TRENT --- Wednesday at Suns: 4 pts (1-6 fgs, 2-2 fts), 1 rb, 1 steal, 18 minutes . . . Tuesday vs. Nets: 11 pts, 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 . . . 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 .54.3% clip from the field (278-512), the NBA's sixth best mark . . . 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. Dallas this season: Averaged 15.0 pts, 6.0 rbs, 1.5 assists, 1.0 blocks and 32.5 minutes in two games, including one start, and shot 65% from the field (13-20). RASHEED WALLACE --- Wednesday at Suns: 11 pts (3-9 fgs, 0-1 3pt, 5-6 fts), 5 rbs, 4 assists, 2 steals, 32 minutes . . . Tuesday vs. Nets: 9 pts, 8 rbs, 1 assist, 30 minutes . . . Sunday vs. Sixers: 14 pts, 3 rbs, 2 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks, 31 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. 4 among NBA's top field goal percentage shooters (56.1% on (252-449) . . . 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. Dallas this season: 12 pts, 6 rbs, 1 block, 16 minutes of Game 1. On injured list for second game. DONTONIO WINGFIELD --- Wednesday at Suns: 5 pts (2-3 fgs, 1-1 3pt), 1 rb, 3 minutes . . . 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 . . . vs. Dallas this season: Did not play in either game. John Christensen Chuck Charnquist ************************************************************ Send subscribe/unsubscribe messages to majordomo@ripcity.com ************************************************************