PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS vs. LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS GAME NO. 64---TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 1997 Record: Overall---35-28, Home---22-10, Road---13-18 KEEPING IT GOING --- The Trail Blazers, 35-28, and winners of a season-best six in a row, will be looking to keeping the string going when they entertain the Los Angeles Clippers Tuesday in the Rose Garden for the third matchup of the season between the two teams. The final clash of the four-game series is set for Sunday in the Los Angeles Sports Arena. Portland's six-game win streak is the Western Conference s longest current run and is the second longest in the NBA. The New York Knicks, the last team to beat Portland (96-95 in overtime on Feb. 26), have a seven-game string going. A victory Tuesday would extend the Blazers win streak to seven in a row, equalling the club's longest in the last four seasons, and would be the sixth straight at home, also a season best. A victory over the Clippers Tuesday would also push the Blazers eight games above .500, the farthest the team has been above the break-even mark since March 16, 1995. At 35-28, Portland is six wins better than it was a year ago after 63 games. In downing Western Conference leader Seattle on Sunday, 103-93, the Blazers registered their fifth double-digit margin in the six-game win streak. Since starting the run with a 115-105 victory over Utah on Feb. 28, Portland has outscored six opponents by an average of 12.5 points a game, has shot 52% from the field and 46% from three-point range. The Blazers go into the Clippers game with the fifth best Western Conference mark. Overall they are 26-13 against teams in the West and 17-2 against them at home. Portland, the youngest team in the league in terms of both age and experience, is in a stretch run to its league-best 15th consecutive post season playoff appearance and its 20th in the last 21 years. THE BLAZERS-CLIPPERS SERIES --- The Trail Blazers have won two in a row and nine of the last 11 and lead in their all-time series with the Los Angeles Clippers, 98-43.The Clippers, who split with the Blazers last season by winning both matchups on their own floor, last series win came last April, 102-89. At home, the Blazers are 59-11 all-time against the Clippers franchise and have won nine straight (not counting the victory in Japan which opened 1994 season). Their last loss to the Los Angeles club in Portland was a one-point decision, 107-106 on Feb. 16, 1992. In games on the road against the Clippers, the Blazers have an all-time 39-32 record. A victory Tuesday would give Portland the season series for the 20th time in the 27 years the two teams have been going at it. The series also has had five ties. SO FAR THIS SEASON --- Portland has captured both clashes with the Clippers this season, taking a 102-98 come-from-behind decision in the L.A. Sports Arena on Dec. 27, then blowing past the Clips, 100-82, in the Rose Garden on Jan. 21. Kenny Anderson, who led the Blazers in scoring with 25 points in the first game, drove the length of the court for a layup, was fouled and made the free throw with 27.1 seconds remaining for a 98-95 cushion. Free throws by Arvydas Sabonis and Isaiah Rider then clinched the win. In the second game, the Blazers built a 51-41 halftime lead and Los Angeles was never closer after that. Clifford Robinson paced the Portland victory with 23 points. In the two games, the Blazers shot 44.4% from the floor while holding the Clippers to 41.9%, and outpaced Los Angeles by 11.0 points and 2.5 rebounds per game. Robinson (21.0 ppg) and Anderson (20.0 ppg) led six Blazers in double-figure scoring averages in the series thus far. A HOT HAND --- The Blazers fired at better than a 50% clip in four of their last six games and in three of them 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 six games (all wins) they combined to burn the nets at a 51.8% pace (243-469) . . . 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 in 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 current six-game win streak, Portland is hitting at a 45.8% clip from long range (54-118) with Kenny Anderson making 17 of 37, Isaiah Rider 12 of 22 and Clifford Robinson 18 of 34. THE LAST THREE GAMES A SONICS STOPPER --- Portland posted its season-best sixth straight victory and its fifth in a row at home, defeating Western Conference leader Seattle, 103-93, Sunday. Isaiah Rider, with a team-high 25 points on 9-of-14 field goal shooting, and Gary Trent's 23 points (10-of-11 field goals) and a team-high nine rebounds in 25 minutes of action, led the solid Blazers effort that saw the Sonics hold the lead only briefly and that midway through the second quarter. In all, six Portland players finished in double-figure scoring. Sonics guard Hersey Hawkins led all scorers in the game with 29 points. The Blazers shot 48% for the game (38-79) and Seattle 49% (38-78). Portland grabbed a big 47-32 rebounding advantage, including 21 off the offensive glass, and converted 22 second chance points to 12 by the Sonics. The contest was played before the fifth Rose Garden sellout of the season as well as an NBA on NBC regional television audience. DEFENSE DOES IN DALLAS --- The Trail Blazers turned back the Dallas Mavericks, 80-69, in the Rose Garden Friday for their fifth straight win, equalling their longest streak of the season. In winning the previous four outings, Portland had turned it on offensively, averaging 117.8 ppg. This time it was defense as the Blazers limited Dallas to 45 points through the first three quarters and 30% shooting for the game (23-76). Portland's red-hot shooting in the previous four games---55.2%---fell off to just 41.3% (31-75) against the Mavs but it was good enough for the club's seventh win in a row over the Midwest Division team and its fifth straight by a margin of 10 points or more. Clifford Robins topped Portland with 15 points and Arvydas Sabonis had nine boards as the Blazers controlled the glass, 44-37. Michael Finley led Dallas with 17 points. 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. CLIFFORD TAKES OVER NO. 3 --- Clifford Robinson's 81 points in the last four games has raised his career point total to 10,133 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. ON OFFENSE --- Portland has the ninth most productive offense in the league, averaging 99.1 points a contest . . . In winning 35 games, the Blazers margin of victory has been 12.1 ppg, with the cushion being 10 or more points in 19 games and 20 or more seven times . . . Portland's overall point margin of +2.4 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 19-11 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---(.523), fifth in defensive rebounding percentage (.715) and fourth in offensive percentage (.331) . . . 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 outrebounded 46 of 63 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 ninth toughest defense to shoot against, holding foes to .441 field goal accuracy in 63 games . . . It has kept opponents below the 40 percent mark 14 times and 33 times below 45 percent . . . In winning 35 games, the Blazers have held 25 opponents under 100 points and overall have allowed only 23 of 63 to top the century mark. AMONG THE NBA LEADERS ---RASHEED WALLACE, 4th in field goal percentage, .560 (257-459) ---GARY TRENT, 6th in field goal percentage, .552 (294-533) ---ARVYDAS SABONIS, 32nd in field goal percentage, .493 (243-493), 31st in rebounding (7.8), 25th in blocked shots (1.25) ---KENNY ANDERSON , 16th in assists (7.1), is 11th in steals (1.95), 26th in scoring (18.4), 27th in 3-point accuracy, .385 (112-291), 30th in minutes played (37.9) ---ISAIAH RIDER, 38th in scoring, (16.1), 29th in three-point percentage, .383 (82-214) ---CHRIS DUDLEY, 23rd in blocked shots (1.29), 35th in rebounding (7.1) ---CLIFFORD ROBINSON, 23rd in minutes played (38.4), 39th in blocked shots (0.87) BALANCED ACT --- Portland is ninth 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 18.4 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 (7.8 rpg), Chris Dudley (7.1 rpg) and Rasheed Wallace (6.8) 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. ANDERSON'S ASSISTS COUNTING UP --- Kenny Anderson has now dished out 65 assists in his last seven games and 447 for the season (7.1 per game, 16th best in the league). That means $8,940 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. MARCH MADNESS, P.J. STYLE --- March is proving to be a good month for Blazers head man P.J. Carlesimo. His current club is 5-0 for the month. Last year, his team started their stretch run to the playoffs by finishing March with an 11-3 record, which makes him 16-3 for the month over the past two seasons . . . 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 123-104, 54.2% . . . Last season, Carlesimo guided Portland to a 44-38 record for the second year in a row. 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 32 Blazers home games thus far have been in the 20,000-plus category, including five sellouts. Total attendance is 660,903 with an average through Sunday's Seattle game of 20,653. CAVS NEXT --- After taking on the Clippers Tuesday, the Blazers are at home Friday against Cleveland (7 p.m., KEX Radio), winding up a stretch when they will have played eight of their last nine in the Rose Garden. The Blazers have a rematch with the Clippers Sunday in Los Angeles (7 p.m., KEX Radio, KGW-TV). They are back home next Tuesday to meet Sacramento (7 p.m., KEX Radio, BlazerVision) then head out on their last long trip of the year, a five-games-in-seven-nights eastern swing beginning March 20 in Milwaukee. THE PLAYERS KENNY ANDERSON --- Sunday vs. Seattle: 16 pts (6-14 fgs, 3-8 3pt, 1-2 fts), team-high 8 assists, 4 rbs, 42 minutes . . . Friday vs. Dallas: 10 pts, game-high 7 assists, 5 rbs, 3 steals, 29 minutes . . . Wednesday at Suns: 26 pts, team-high 6 assists, 4 steals, 33 minutes---26th +20 game of the season . . . Has 11 double-doubles . . . Has averaged 21.7 ppg in his last six outings and 9.3 assists in his last seven . . . in the last five games, has swished 56.6% of his field goals (47-83) and 46% of his treys (17-37) . . . 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 . . . Led team in scoring 21 times, in assists 43 times . . . Team's leading scorer at 18.4 ppg, the assists leader (7.1 avg.) and tops in steals (1.92 avg.) . . . 26th in the NBA in scoring, 16th in assists, 11th in steals, 30th in minutes played (37.9), and 25th in 3-point shooting (.385 on 112-291) . . . One of 25 players in the league averaging at least 4 assists and 4 rebounds a game (6.8 and 4.6) . . . Has 112 treys in his first 63 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. Clippers so far this season: Averaged 20.0 pts, 6.5 assists, 6.0 rbs, 3.0 steals, 37.0 minutes in two starts. STACEY AUGMON --- Sunday vs. Seattle: 2 pts (0-2 fgs, 2-4 fts), 3 rbs, 1 assist, 1 block, 13 minutes . . . Friday vs. Dallas: 2 pts, 3 assists, 5 rbs, 2 steals, 27 minutes . . . Wednesday at Suns: 6 pts, 2 rbs, 1 assist, 25 minutes in his third start aas a Blazer . . . 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 --- Placed on injured list Friday (strained left groin) . . . Wednesday at Suns: 0 pts, 1 rb, 3 minutes . . . Did not play (coach's decision) vs. Nets Tuesday . . . 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. Clippers so far this season: 7 pts, 1 rb, 1 assist, 1 steal, 12 minutes of Game 2. Did not play (coach's decision) in Game 1. MITCHELL BUTLER --- Sunday vs. Seattle: Did not play (coach's decision) . . . Activated Friday and had 0 pts, 3 rbs, 4 minutes vs. Dallas . . . 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 . . . 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. Clippers so far this season: Averaged 4.5 pts, 1.5 rbs, 0.5 steals, 9.0 minutes in two games. CHRIS DUDLEY --- Sunday vs. Seattle: 2 pts (1-3 fgs, 0-1 fts), 7 rbs, 1 assist, 21 minutes . . . Friday vs. Dallas: 4 pts, 7 rbs, 2 blocks, 22 minutes . . . Wednesday at Suns: 6 pts, team-high 7 rbs, 1 steal, 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 (7.1 rpg) and leader in blocked shots (1.31) despite starting just 12 games . . . Ranks 23rd in the league in blocks and 35th in rebounding .. . Blazers leader in rebounds and blocks previous two seasons . . . 10th year in the league, the team's longest tenured player . . . 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. Clippers so far this season: Averaged 3.0 pts, 5.0 rbs, 0.5 steals, 3.5 blocks, 22.0 minutes in two games. JERMAINE O'NEAL --- Sunday vs. Seattle: 0 pts, 3 minutes . . . Friday vs. Dallas: 0 pts, 2 rbs, 1 assist, 10 minutes . . . Wednesday at Suns: 3 pts, 3 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 3 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 . . . 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. Clippers so far this season: Averaged 5.5 pts, 6.0 rbs, 0.5 blocks, 15.5 minutes in two games. ISAIAH RIDER --- Sunday vs. Seattle: Team-high 25 pts (9-14 fgs, 3-5 3pt, 4-4 fts), 7 rbs, 5 assists, 1 block, 42 minutes . . . Friday vs. Dallas: 10 pts, 2 rbs, 3 assists, 21 minutes . . . Wednesday at Suns: 24 pts, 4 assists, 4 rbs, 29 minutes. . . In six-game Blazers win streak, has averaged 20.8 pts and made 61.2% (49-80) of his field goals and 54.5% (12-22) 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. Clippers so far this season: Averaged 14.5 pts, 5.0 rbs, 2.5 assists, 2.5 steals, 0.5 blocks, 32.5 minutes in two starts. CLIFFORD ROBINSON --- Sunday vs. Seattle: 14 pts (4-15 fgs, 2-7 3pt, 4-6 fts), 4 rbs, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 41 minutes . . . Friday vs. Dallas: Team-high 15 pts, 1 rb, 1 assist, 1 steal, 30 minutes . . . Wednesday at Suns: 24 pts, 5 rbs, shared team assist honors with 6, 1 steal, 42 minutes . . . Has averaged 19.0 pts and shot 52.3% (18-34) from three-point range in last six 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 . . . Second on the team in assists with a 3.3 average . . .Has led club in assists 11 times, equalling the number of times he did it in his first six seasons combined . . . Matched his career high with 9 assists Jan. 25 vs. Minnesota . . . Poured in his 400th career three-pointer Dec. 12 versus Vancouver . . . 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 (38.4) . . . Leading scorer the past two seasons . . . Averaged 21.1 points in 1995-96, league's 16th highest . . . Has raised his career total to 10,133 pts to move into 3rd place on Blazers all-time scoring list (see note on Page 2) . . . Ranks in Blazers top ten in 16 of 17 career categories . . . vs. Clippers so far this season: Averaged team-best 21.0 pts, 6.5 rbs, 0.5 assists, 0.5 steals, 0.5 blocks, 37.5 minutes in two starts. RUMEAL ROBINSON --- Sunday vs. Seattle: 0 pts (0-2 fgs), 1 assist, 6 minutes . . . Friday vs. Dallas: 3 pts, 3 rbs, 2 steals, 19 minutes . . . Signed for the remainder of the season on Thursday . . . Wednesday at Suns: 2 pts, 4 rbs, 5 assists, 2 steals, 18 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 including three starts. . . 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 . . .Played 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 starts, averaging 5.7 pts and 3.3 assists in 16.6 minutes . . . 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 . . . Averaged 20.2 ppg in two seasons in the CBA, 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 --- Sunday vs. Seattle: 11 pts (5-10 fgs, 0-1 3pt, 1-2 fts), 8 rbs, career-high 7 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 27 minutes . . . Friday vs. Dallas: 10 pts, team-high 9 rbs, 1 steal, 1 block, 22 minutes . . . Wednesday at Suns: 10 pts, 4 rbs, 2 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks, 16 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 of a 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 25 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. Clippers so far this season: Averaged 16.0 pts, 7.5 rbs, 2.5 assists, 2.0 steals, 0.5 blocks, 28.0 minutes in two starts. GARY TRENT --- Sunday vs. Seattle: 23 pts (10-11 fgs, 3-4 fgs), team-high 9 rbs, 1 block, 25 minutes . . . Friday vs. Dallas: 13 pts, 2 rbs, 2 assists, 17 minutes . . . Wednesday at Suns: 4 pts, 1 rb, 1 steal, 18 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 55.2% clip from the field (294-533), 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. Clippers so far this season: Averaged 10.0 pts, 3.0 rbs, 1.5 assists, 0.5 steals, 1.0 blocks, 23.0 minutes in two starts. RASHEED WALLACE --- Sunday vs. Seattle: 10 pts (3-8 fgs, 0-1 3pt, 4-6 fts), 5 rbs, 1 assist, 20 minutes . . . Friday vs. Dallas: 5 pts, 4 rbs, 1 assist, 3 steals, 32 minutes . . . Wednesday at Suns: 11 pts, 5 rbs, 4 assists, 2 steals, 32 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 (56.0% on (257-459) . . . 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. Clippers so far this season: Did not play in either game (injured list). DONTONIO WINGFIELD --- Sunday vs. Seattle: Not with team (team suspension) . . . Friday vs. Dallas: 5 pts, 3 rbs, 7 minutes . . . Wednesday at Suns: 5 pts (2-3 fgs, 1-1 3pt), 1 rb, 3 minutes . . . Did not play (coach's decision) in previous 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. Clippers so far this season: 6 pts, 2 rbs, 2 assists, 15 minutes of Game 2. Not with team (injured list) for Game 1. John Christensen Chuck Charnquist ************************************************************ Send subscribe/unsubscribe messages to majordomo@ripcity.com ************************************************************