PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS at MILWAUKEE BUCKS GAME NO. 68---TUESDAY, MARCH 20, 1997 Record: Overall---39-28, Home---25-10, Road---14-18 KEEPING IT GOING --- The young Trail Blazers, 39-28, will be out to extend their league-best winning streak, to 11 in a row when they open a tough five- games-in-seven-days Eastern road trip Thursday in Milwaukee. Portland, the youngest team in the NBA in terms of both age and experience, registered their tenth straight victory Tuesday, stopping Sacramento, 92-87, in the Rose Garden. The 10 straight equals the third longest string of wins in club history. At 39-28, the Blazers are 11 games above .500, the farthest they ve been over the break-even point in P.J. Carlesimo's three-year coaching tenure and the most since March 9, 1994, when they were up by 16 wins. Portland is seven wins better than it was after 67 games last year when it finished with a 44-38 record. The Blazers, with the Western Conference's fifth best record, are 5 1/2 games back of Houston and 6 behind the Lakers as they head down the stretch toward their league-best 15th consecutive playoff appearance and their 20th in the last 21 seasons. Since the start of the current ten-game winning streak on Feb. 28 (a 115-105 victory over Utah) the Blazers have outscored their opponents by an average of 11.9 points a game (including margins of 10 or more points in seven of the ten), pounded out a 6.0 per game rebounding advantage and shot 51.5% from the field. The victory Tuesday also pushed Portland's win streak in the Rose Garden to a season-best eight in a row. 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. 2 Stacey Augmon (6-8), G--No. 7 Kenny Anderson (6-1). RECENT TRANSACTIONS --- Forward Mitchell Butler was activated March 7. The same day, guard Marcus Brown was placed on the injured list (strained left groin). On March 6, Rumeal Robinson was signed for the remainder of the season after joining the team as a free agent on a 10-day contract Feb. 24. STREAKING --- The Blazers 10-game win streak, the NBA's longest current run, equals the third longest in franchise history. Only the 1990-91 team that posted a club-record 63 wins has done better, opening the season with an 11-0 run then setting a club record of 16 just before the playoffs. 16 straight --- March 20-April 19, 1991 11 straight --- Nov. 2-Nov. 25, 1990 10 straight --- March 3-March 20, 1990 10 straight --- Feb. 28, 1997-current THE BLAZERS-BUCKS SERIES --- Portland will put its 10-game win streak on the line in one of its least user-friendly venues on the NBA circuit. The Blazers lost on their last stop at the Bradley Center, 113-96, and have won only seven times in 34 visits to Milwaukee in 26 seasons. Their last victory there, by a 106-100 score, came on March 7, 1995. Overal, Portland has lost two in a row to the Bucks and trails in its all-time series with Milwaukee, 53-28. The Blazers, swept by the Bucks last year for the first time since 1988-89, hold a 21-19 homecourt advantage and have won six of the last seven matchups there. The second game between the two teams is scheduled in the Rose Garden on April 4. THE BLAZERS & BUCKS LAST SEASON --- An eight-foot jumper with 10.1 seconds remaining by Glenn Robinson gave Milwaukee a 100-99 victory in the Bucks first visit to the Rose Garden last season. In that game, in which Clifford Robinson led the Blazers with 21 points, Portland rallied from eight points back in the fourth quarter to force three lead changes in the final six minutes before the Glenn Robinson's game-winner. In the rematch in Milwaukee last January, the Blazers, playing their fifth game on an eight-day Eastern swing, went down 113-96, behind a 41-point barrage by the Bucks Vin Baker. Clifford Robinson was again Portland's leader with 29 points. The loss allowed the Bucks to gain their first series sweep since 1988-89. In the two-game set, Portland shot 43% and Milwaukee 53%. MAKING THE DIFFERENCE --- The current winning streak is a dramatic turnaround from the previous 14 outings when the Blazers won just four games. In the last 10 contests, the Blazers have averaged 105.7 ppg and outscored their opponents by 11.9 a game, have grabbed a 6.0 rebounds per game edge and shot 51.5% from the field and 45.7% from long range. In the previous 14 games, they were outscored by 3.6 points a contest, outrebounded 1.0 per game while shooting 44.4% from the field and 33% from three-point range. Portland has gone over the 100-point mark in seven of its 10 most recent victories while topping the century mark only five times when going 4-10. On the opposite side, opponents have bettered 100 points just three times in the last 10 games while going over that mark in 10 of the previous 14 contests. FOR THE 22ND SEASON --- Portland recorded its 37th victory of the season Friday against Cleveland, extending to 22 consecutive seasons its streak with 37 or more wins. The best any team in the NBA can come to that consistency in the same span is Seattle with at least 31 wins in each of the 22 seasons. THE LAST THREE GAMES HOLDING OFF THE KINGS --- Portland jumped to a 15-0 lead in the game's first 4 minutes then had to hold off Sacramento down the stretch for a hard-earned 92-87 victory in the Rose Garden Tuesday. The five-point margin was the biggest in the last five games between the two teams. The victory extended Portland's win streak to a league-best 10 in a row, was its season-best eighth straight at home and earned a split in the season series with the Kings. Kenny Anderson paced the Blazers with 22 points, all in the second half, and dished out a game-high eight assists. Rasheed Wallace added 15 points and Arvydas Sabonis had 13, a game-high nine rebounds. The Kings Mitch Richmond led all scorers with 29 points, 22 of them in the second half. The Blazers shot 50.8% from the floor (32-63), the seventh time in 10 games they topped the 50% mark. The 63 field goal attempts tied a Blazer record low for a game. Sacramento made 46.3% of their attempts (37-80), but were held to just eight points in the first quarter, an all-time Blazers opponent low. SWEEPING THE CLIPS --- The Trail Blazers made it a four-game sweep of its season series with the Clippers with a solid 106-94 victory in the L.A. Sports Arena Sunday. Portland jumped to a 27-17 lead after one quarter and headed into the final stanza with a comfortable 83-58 cushion. Clifford Robinson tallied 19 of his game-high 26 points to lead a Blazers effort that produced a 54.2% field goal performance (39-72). Conversely, Portland limited the host team to a 34.5% field goal night (29-84). Lamond Murray came off the bench to lead L.A. scorers with 20 points. All 11 players in uniform contributed to the scoring parade. Isaiah Rider, the Blazers second leading scorer, missed his second straight game with an upper respiratory infection. The victory extended Portland's league-best winning streak to nine in a row. CLAMPING DOWN THE CAVS --- Portland outscored Cleveland, 70-47, after the first 12 minutes to storm to its league-best eighth straight win, downing the Cavs, 96-73, in the Rose Garden on Friday. It was the sixth double-digit margin in the eight game streak, the longest for the Blazers since the start of the 1992-93 season. Kenny Anderson and Arvydas Sabonis each checked in with 20 points and Mitchell Butler added a season-high 17. Portland shot 49% (31-63) from the field while holding the Cavs to 38% (28-73). The 63 attempts tied an all-time low by a Blazers team. Chris Dudley's 10 rebounds keyed Portland's domination of the boards, 48-30, including a 35-19 edge on the defensive glass. Bobby Phills led Cleveland with 15 points. BLAZING --- The Trail Blazers shot 50.8% in Tuesday's win over the Kings, marking the seventh time in the current 10-game win streak they have made 50% or more of the attempts from the floor. In four of the games they converted at a better than 54% rate, including a season-best 57.9% (44-76) vs. Utah on Feb. 28; 55.6% (45-81) vs. Philadelphia on Mar. 2; 55.0% (44-80) vs. New Jersey on Mar. 4; and 54.2% (39-72) Sunday at the Clippers . . In the 10-game streak Portland has filled the nets at a 51.5% pace (386-749) . . . The Blazers are now 18-3 in games when they shoot 50% or better . . . Portland's field goal percentage for the season is now 46.3% is the league's ninth best mark and is from 45.5% when the win streak began Feb. 28. ON OFFENSE --- Portland has the eighth most productive offense in the league, averaging 99.2 points a contest . . . The Trail Blazers have a .463 field goal percentage after 67 games, the league's ninth best mark . . . In winning 39 games, the Blazers margin of victory is 12.0 ppg, with the cushion being 10 or more points in 21 games and 20 or more eight times . . . Portland's overall point margin of +3.0 is the league's 10th 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 20-11 in games decided by 10 points or more but 10-12 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), fourth in defensive rebounding percentage (.715) and fourth in offensive percentage (.331) . . . The Blazers have an overall advantage of 4.7 rebounds per game and a 3.7 per game margin on the defensive glass . . . Portland has outrebounded 49 of 67 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 eighth toughest defense to shoot against, holding foes to .439 field goal accuracy in 66 games . . . Its defensive average of 96.2 ppg is the 13th best in the league . . . The Blazers have kept opponents below the 40 percent mark 16 times and 36 times below 45 percent . . . In winning 39 games, the Blazers have held 28 opponents under 100 points and overall have allowed only 24 of 67 to top the century mark. AMONG THE NBA LEADERS ---RASHEED WALLACE, 3rd in field goal percentage, .563 (282-501) ---GARY TRENT, 6th in field goal percentage, .547 (305-558) ---ARVYDAS SABONIS, 31st in field goal percentage, .492 (260-528), 31st in rebounding (7.9), 25th in blocked shots (1.29) ---KENNY ANDERSON , 17th in assists (7.0), is 10th in steals (1.94), 27th in scoring (18.3), 26th in 3-point accuracy, .387 (118-305), 33rd in minutes played (37.9) ---ISAIAH RIDER, 40th in scoring, (15.9), 28th in three-point percentage, .382 (84-219) ---CHRIS DUDLEY, 24th in blocked shots (1.32), 36th in rebounding (7.1) ---CLIFFORD ROBINSON, 28th in minutes played (38.2), 34th in blocked shots (0.89) WALLACE MOST IMPROVED! --- Second-year forward Rasheed Wallace, a key to the young Trail Blazers team's surge to the playoffs, is a serious contender for the league's Most Improved Player award for the year. The 6-10 Wallace, who averaged 10.1 points and 4.6 rebounds as a rookie with Washington last season, has blossomed in his starting power forward role for the Blazers. Through Tuesday's win over the Kings, Rasheed is the team's fourth leading scorer, averaging 15.1 points and 6.7 rebounds and is shooting 56.3% from the field in 47 games, the third best mark in the NBA. That is up from 48.7% in 65 games with the Bullets last season, not among the top 75 percentage shooters in the league. He's bettered his career high points scored in a game seven times this season, including an all-time best 38 points at Scaramento Dec. 21. CLIFFORD MOVES UP THE LADDER --- Clifford Robinson played in his 628th NBA game---all in a Blazers uniform---Sunday at Los Angeles, moving him into fourth place ahead Jim Paxson on Portland's all-time list. Robinson also connected on five treys in his last two outings to up his career total to 469, lifting him to second place ahead of Clyde Drexler among all-time Blazers long range shooters. Clifford, who has missed only 12 games in his seven-plus NBA seasons, now ranks in the club's top six in 14 categories. He recently became the team's third leading scorer (now with 10,199 points) behind Clyde Drexler and Terry Porter and is second in blocked shots (719) behind Mychal Thompson's 768. DEALING TREYS --- In the current 10-game win streak, Portland is hitting at a 45.7% clip from long range (79-133) with Kenny Anderson making 23 of 51, Isaiah Rider 14 of 27 and Clifford Robinson 24 of 50 . . . March 5th's record assault against the Suns from long range---16 three-pointers in 24 attempts---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. 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 18.3 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 (6.7) 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. ANDERSON'S ASSISTS COUNTING UP --- Kenny Anderson has now dished out 471 for the season (7.0 per game, 10th best in the league). That means $9,420 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 --- Portland has averaged 21,257 fans in its last nine home games and, despite playing in the league's sixth smallest market, ranks behind only Charlotte and Chicago in home game attendance. All 35 Blazers home games thus far have been in the 20,000-plus category and have included five sellouts. Total attendance is 724,633 with an average through Tuesday's Kings game of 20,704. MARCH MADNESS, P.J. STYLE --- March is proving to be a good month for Blazers head man P.J. Carlesimo. His club is 9-0 for the month. Last year, the Blazers started their stretch run to the playoffs by finishing March with an 11-3 record, which makes Carlesimo 20-3 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 127-104, 55.0% . . . Last season, Carlesimo guided Portland to a 44-38 record for the second year in a row. ROAD TRIP: SECOND STOP --- After Thursday's battle with the Bucks in Milwaukee, the Blazers move on to Washington Saturday (4:30 p.m., KEX Radio) for the second stop on their five-game, seven-day road tour of the East, their last long trip of the season. Then its on to New York Sunday (5 p.m., KEX Radio, KGW-TV), Atlanta Tuesday (5:30 p.m., KEX Radio, KGW-TV) and at Charlotte Wednesday (4:30 p.m., KEX Radio). After that the Blazers have six of their 10 remaining games in the Rose Garden, including four in a row beginning March 28 versus Vancouver. THE PLAYERS KENNY ANDERSON --- Tuesday vs. Kings: Team-high 22 points---all in the second half (7-15 fgs, 3-6 3pt, 5-6 fts), game-high 8 assists, 5 rbs, 3 steals, 40 minutes . . . Sunday at Clippers: 8 pts, 2 assists, 5 rbs, 2 steals, 30 minutes . . . Friday vs. Cavs: Shared game-high honors with 20 pts, game-high 7 assists, 3 rbs, 2 steals, 38 minutes . . . Has 28 +20 games and 11 double-doubles this season. . . Has averaged 19.6 ppg in his last nine outings and 8.2 assists in his last 10 . . . 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 23 times, in assists 46 times . . . Team's leading scorer at 18.3 ppg, the assists leader (7.0 avg.) and tops in steals (1.94 avg.) . . . 27th in the NBA in scoring, 17th in assists, 10th in steals, 33rdd in minutes played (37.9), and 26th in 3-point shooting (.387 on 118-305) . . . One of 25 players in the league averaging at least 4 assists and 4 rebounds a game (7.0 and 4.5) . . . 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. STACEY AUGMON --- Tuesday vs. Kings: 7 pts (3-3 fgs, 1-2 fts), 4 rbs, 1 assist, 2 steals, 24 minutes in his sixth start of the season . . . Sunday at Clippers: Tied season-high with 13 pts, 3 rbs, 2 assists, 3 steals, 24 minutes . . . Friday vs. Cavs: 4 pts, 4 rbs, 1 assist, 1 steal, 21 minutes . . . Shot 7-of-11 from field and had six steals in last three games . . . 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 March 7 (strained left groin) . . . Last appearance Mar. 5 at Suns: 0 pts, 1 rb, 3 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. MITCHELL BUTLER --- Tuesday vs. Kings: 3 pts (3-4 fts), 1 assist, 9 minutes . . . Sunday at Clippers: 8 pts, 3 rbs, 3 assists, 30 minutes . . . Friday vs. Cavs: Season-high 17 pts (6-7 fgs, 2-3 3pt, 3-4 fts), 1 rb, 1 assist, 27 minutes . . . Activated March 7 and had 0 pts, 3 rbs, 4 minutes vs. Dallas . . . Placed on injured list Feb. 24 (effusion of the left knee) . . . Had season-high 8 rebounds in season-high 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. CHRIS DUDLEY --- Tuesday vs. Kings: 3 pts (1-2 fgs, 1-2 fts), 6 rbs, 1 steal, 2 blocks, 22 minutes . . . Sunday at Clippers: 10 pts, 7 rbs, 4 blocked shots, 28 minutes . . . Friday vs. Cavs: 3 pts, game-high 10 rbs, 2 steals, 1 block, 20 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 of Portland's last 227 games . . . Grabbed a season and game-high 15 rebounds in a season-high 43 minutes Feb. 4 vs. Chicago . . . Scored season-high 12 pts Jan. 28 at Toronto . . . Blocked a season-high five shots Dec. 1 at Golden State . . . Second on team in rebounding (7.2 rpg) and leader in blocked shots (1.32) despite starting just 12 games . . . Ranks 24th in the league in blocks and 36th 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. BUCKS LAST SEASON: Averaged 3.5 pts, 8.0 rbs, 1.0 blocks, 30.5 minutes in two starts. JERMAINE O'NEAL --- Tuesday vs. Kings: Not with team (viral infection) . . . Sunday at Clippers: 2 pts, 1 rb, 2 minutes . . . Friday vs. Cavs: 0 pts, 4 rbs, 12 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. ISAIAH RIDER --- Tuesday vs. Kings: 4 pts (1-4 fgs, 1-2 3pt, 1-2 fts), 2 assists, 1 rb, 19 minutes off the bench . . . Not with team (upper respiratory infection) for previous two games. . . Last Tuesday vs. Clippers: 15 pts, 3 rbs, 1 assist, 30 minutes . . . In first seven games of Blazers win streak, averaged 20.0 pts and made 59.8% (55-92) of his field goals and 52.0% (13-25) 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 . . . Ranks 40th in league in scoring (15.9 ppg) and 28th in 3pt accuracy (38.4% on 84-219) . . . 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. CLIFFORD ROBINSON --- Tuesday vs. Kings: 10 pts (4-10 fgs, 2-2 3pt), 1 rb, 1 assist, 2 steals, 1 block, 41 minutes . . . Sunday at Clippers: Game-high 26 pts, 5 rbs, 2 steals, 29 minutes . . . Friday vs. Cavs: 13 pts, 4 rbs, 4 assists, 3 steals, 3 blocks, 35 minutes . . . Played in his 628th game Sunday at L.A., moving him into fourth place on Blazers all-time list . . . now has 469 3-pointers and has moved into second place on Portland's career list ahead of Clyde Drexler . . . 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 . . . 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 28th in the NBA in minutes played (38.2) . . . Leading scorer the past two seasons . . . Averaged 21.1 points in 1995-96, league's 16th highest . . . Is in the top six in 15 of 17 Blazers career categories . . . vs. BUCKS LAST SEASON: Averaged a team-best 25.0 pts plus 5.5 rbs, 2.5 assists, 1.5 blocks and 42.5 minutes in two starts. RUMEAL ROBINSON --- Tuesday vs. Kings: 8 pts (3-4 fgs, 2-2 fts), 2 assists, 8 minutes . . . Sunday at Clippers: 7 pts, 2 assists, 18 minutes . . . Friday vs. Cavs: 3 pts. 1 assist, 10 minutes . . . Signed for the remainder of the season March 6 . . . 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 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 . . . 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 victory in the title game over P.J. Carlesimo's Seton Hall team. ARVYDAS SABONIS --- Tuesday vs. Kings: 13 pts (4-7 fgs, 5-6 fts), game-high 9 rbs, 2 steals, 1 block, 26 minutes . . . Sunday at Clippers: 6 pts, 5 rbs, game-high 5 assists, 1 steal, 4 blocked shots, 20 minutes . . . Friday vs. Cavs: Shared game-high honors with 20 pts, 7 rbs, 27 minutes . . . Has team-high 13 double-doubles . . . 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 9 occasions, in rebounding 26 times, and assists 4 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 (1.29) . . . 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. BUCKS LAST SEASON: 10 pts, 4 rbs, 1 steal, 19 minutes in Game 1. Did not dress (back injury) for Game 2. GARY TRENT --- Tuesday vs. Kings: 7 pts (3-7 fgs, 1-3 fts), 5 rbs, 16 minutes . . . Sunday at Clippers: 11 pts, 6 rbs, 27 minutes . . . Friday vs. Cavs: 4 pts, 4 rbs, 1 assist, 16 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 . . . Firing at a 54.7% clip from the field (305-558), 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. BUCKS LAST SEASON: Averaged 9.5 pts, 2.5 rbs, 0.5 assists, 0.5 blocks, 21.0 minutes in two games, including one start. RASHEED WALLACE --- Tuesday vs. Kings: 15 pts (6-11 fgs, 3-4 fts), 6 rbs, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 block, 35 minutes . . . Sunday at Clippers: 10 pts, 6 rbs, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 block, 28 minutes . . . Friday vs. Cavs: 12 pts, 9 rbs, 1 assist, 1 steal, 26 minutes . . .13th +20-pt games this season . . . 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 (56.3% on 282-501) . . . 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. DONTONIO WINGFIELD --- Tuesday vs. Kings: Did not play (coach's decision) . . . Sunday at Clippers: 5 pts, 1 assist, 4 minutes . . . Friday vs. Cavs: 0 pts, 2 rbs, 2 assists, 8 minutes . . . Grabbed a career-high 12 rbs and scored 14 points at Boston Jan. 31 . . . Scored season-high 16 points at Phoenix Jan. 24 . . . Played season-high 27 minutes vs. the Lakers Jan. 6 . . . Placed on injured list Dec. 13 (sprained left thumb suffered in Dec. 12 game with Vancouver) . . . Averaged 3.8 points and 2.4 rebounds in 44 games with Portland last season . . . Signed as a free agent in 1995 after playing the 1994-95 season with Seattle . . . Second round draft choice (37th overall) by Seattle in 1994 . . . Became an early entry draft candidate after one year of collegiate basketball at the University of Cincinnati . . . vs. BUCKS LAST SEASON: Did not play in either game (coach's decision). John Christensen Chuck Charnquist ************************************************************ Send subscribe/unsubscribe messages to majordomo@ripcity.com ************************************************************