PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS at CHARLOTTE HORNETS GAME NO. 72---WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 1997 Record: Overall---41-30, Home---25-10, Road---16-20 CHARLOTTE LAST STOP --- Portland, 41-30, will be looking to finish its current road trip with a 3-2 record when it takes on the Hornets tonight. The game in Charlotte Coliseum is the final stop on their five-game, seven-day Eastern trip and is the fourth game in five days for the young Blazers, who are 12-2 since February 28. After Charlotte, the Blazers have six of their remaining 10 games at home in the Rose Garden. Last night, Portland was assured of being in the playoffs for the 15th consecutive season, the NBA's longest current streak after Sacramento lost at Orlando. A win Wednesday would give the Blazers a sweep of their season series with the Hornets. Portland claimed a 96-93 decision back in December. With an 11-2 record in March, Portland is three wins away from posting its best record for the month in club history. The all-time best was 13-4 by the 1989-90 team that went on to the NBA Finals. The Blazers, the youngest team in the league in terms of both age and experience, have the Western Conference s fifth best record and are six games back of Houston and the Lakers, two teams locked in a battle for the third playoff spot. Portland also needs one more victory to assure itself of a winning record for the season for the 18th time in the last 21 campaigns. 15th IN A ROW --- Despite last night s loss at Atlanta, the Blazers locked up their their 15th consecutive playoff berth, the league's longest current streak, and their 20th in the last 21 years after Sacramento lost at Orlando. Only four times in NBA history have teams had more consecutive post-season appearances than the Blazers: 22--Syracuse/Philadelphia (1950-71); 19--Boston (1951-1969); 17--Los Angeles Lakers (1977-93), and 16--Minnapolis/Los Angeles (1959-1974). Portland, with 11 regular season games remaining, currently occupies the Western Conference s fifth spot, six games behind the Lakers and Houston and seven ahead of Minnesota. 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). THE BLAZERS-HORNETS SERIES --- Portland leads in its all-time series with Charlotte, 15-4, but has won only twice in the last five matchups, including a 97-93 victory in the Rose Garden back in December. The Trail Blazers won on their first seven visits to the Charlotte Coliseum before losing the next two, including last season s three-point setback, 102-99, on the Hornets floor. Portland s last win in Charlotte was by a 116-104 score on Jan. 6, 1994. At home, the Trail Blazers own an 8-2 series advantage. EARLIER THIS SEASON --- The Trail Blazers came from behind in the fourth quarter to down Charlotte, 97-93, in the Rose Garden on Dec. 6. The victory, Portland s second in a row and its eighth in 11 games, snapped a three-game series win streak by the Hornets. Arvydas Sabonis, who posted his second straight 22-point game and fifth double-double of the season, scored eight of his points in the final period. Kenny Anderson contributed 18 points, nine assists and seven rebounds and all five Blazers starters finished in double figures for the second straight game. Both teams shot 46 percent from the field for the game but Portland hit 7 of 12 three-pointers while limiting the Hornets, one of the league's best from beyond the arc, to a 2-for-9 evening. Vlade Divac, with 29 points, and Anthony Mason, with 23 points and 17 rebounds paced the Hornets. MARCH MADNESS, P.J. STYLE --- March is proving to be a great month for Blazers head man P.J. Carlesimo. His club is 11-2 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 22-5 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 is now the club s third winningest coach with a 129-107 record (54.9%) behind Jack Ramsay (453-367, 55.2%) and Rick Adelman (291-154, 65.4%). Mike Shuler posted a 127-84 record (60.2%) in his two plus years with the Blazers.. . . Last season, Carlesimo guided Portland to a 44-38 record for the second year in a row. FOR THE 22ND SEASON --- Portland recorded its 37th victory of the season last 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. BLAZING --- The Trail Blazers are firing at a 50.2% clip from the field in their last 14 games, and have topped the 50% mark in seven times. 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) Mar. 16 at the Clippers . . .The Blazers are now 18-3 in games when they shoot 50% or better . . . Portland s field goal percentage is 46.4%, the league's ninth best mark. THE LAST TWO GAMES HAWKS PREVAIL --- The Trail Blazers reduced a 14-point Hawks lead late in the fourth quarter to six but couldn t get over the hump and lost, 96-89, in Atlanta last night. It was the second setback in the last three games for the Blazers after winning 11 in a row. Portland kept it close at Atlanta, gaining a 49-49 tie early in the third quarter. But the Hawks then went on a 20-5 run and carried a 71-61 lead into the final period. Isaiah Rider paced Portland with 22 points; the Hawks Steve Smith topped all scorers in the game with 27 points. Portland shot 47% from the field (37-81), while the Hawks were making an even 50% (35-70). Chris Dudley had his second best rebounding game of the season, grabbing 14, to lead Portland to a 42-33 advantage on the boards. It was the Blazers fifth straight loss to Atlanta, which improved to 31-4 on their home floor. DOING NEW YORK --- Portland bounced back from a disappointing loss in the final seconds at Washington the night before to defeat the Knicks in Madison Square Garden Sunday, 94-88. The victory was the Blazers 12th in the last 13 games and upped their record on the current five-game Eastern trip to 2-1. After trailing 52-45 at the break, Portland turned on the defensive pressure and held New York to just eight field goals and 36 points in the second half. The Knicks had only 13 counters in the third quarter, giving them just 18 total in two third periods against the Blazers this season. (They were held to a record low 5 points in the first meeting a month ago.) Kenny Anderson (24 points) and Isaiah Rider (23) paced the Blazers as all five starters finished in double numbers. New York s Patrick Ewing led all scorers with 35 points. Portland was 49% from the field for the game (32-65) while limiting the Knicks to 36% (28-77). New York had a 47-36 rebounding edge. MAKING THE DIFFERENCE --- Portland s current run of 12-2 is a dramatic turnaround from the previous 14 outings when the Blazers were 4-10. In the last 14 contests, the Blazers have averaged 102.9 ppg and outscored their opponents by 9.5 a game, have grabbed a 5.1 rebounds per game edge and shot 50.2% from the field and 40.2% from long range. In the previous 14 games, they averaged 96.4 ppg, 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 eight of its last 14 games while topping the century mark only five times when going 4-10. On the opposite side, opponents have bettered 100 points just four times in the last 14 while doing better than 100 in 10 of the previous 14 contests. ON OFFENSE --- Portland has the ninth most productive offense in the league, averaging 99.0 points a contest . . . The Trail Blazers have a .464 field goal percentage after 71 games, the NBA's ninth best . . . In winning 41 games, the Blazers margin of victory is 12.0 ppg, with the cushion being 10 or more points in 22 games and 20 or more eight times . . . Portland s overall point margin of +3.0 is the league's 10th best . . . Of the Blazers 30 losses, 17 have been by six points or less, nine have been by three or under, and six have been one-pointers . . . Portland is 22-11 in games decided by 10 points or more but 10-13 when the margin is four points or under and 2-8 when its two or under. ON THE BOARDS --- The Blazers rank second in the NBA in total rebounding percentage---the share of total misses in a game a team rebounds---(.522), fourth in defensive rebounding percentage (.717) and fourth in offensive percentage (.327) . . . 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 52 of 71 opponents this season and 11 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 30. ON DEFENSE --- Portland has the NBA's eighth toughest defense to shoot against, holding foes to .439 field goal accuracy in 71 games, which is below the all-time club season defensive mark of .442 . . . Its defensive average of 96.0 ppg is the 12th best in the league and a full point below the team's record for a season . . . The Blazers have kept opponents below the 40 percent mark 18 times and 38 times below 45 percent . . . In winning 41 games, the Blazers have held 30 opponents under 100 points and overall have allowed only 25 of 70 to top the century mark. AMONG THE NBA LEADERS ---RASHEED WALLACE, 4th in field goal percentage, .557 (311-558) ---GARY TRENT, 8th in field goal percentage, .541 (317-586) ---ARVYDAS SABONIS, 29th in field goal percentage, .495 (282-570). His 7.9 rbs and 1.22 blocks per game are not ranked among the leaders because he does meet the established minimum for games played. ---KENNY ANDERSON , 16th in assists (7.1), is 13th in steals (1.86), 29th in scoring (18.0), 30th in minutes played (38.0) ---ISAIAH RIDER, 38th in scoring, (16.3), 22nd in three-point percentage, .384 (90-232) ---CHRIS DUDLEY, 24th in blocked shots (1.27), 37th in rebounding (7.2) ---CLIFFORD ROBINSON, 29th in minutes played (38.0) 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. 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 last night, Rasheed is the team's third leading scorer and rebounder, averaging 15.3 points and 6.8 rebounds and is shooting 55.7% from the field, the NBA's fourth best mark. 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 eight times this season, including an all-time best 38 at Saramento Dec. 21. BALANCED ACT --- Portland is ninth in the league in scoring and second in rebounding, yet no Trail Blazer shows up in the top 25 in either category . . . However, six Blazers, led by Kenny Anderson s 18.1 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 (6.8) are Portland s leaders but none of the three rank among the NBA's top 30 boardsmen . . . One reason for Portland s continued position as one of the league's rebounding elite is balance. No fewer than 10 different Blazers have grabbed game rebounding honors this season. ANDERSON'S ASSISTS COUNTING UP --- Kenny Anderson contributed 36 assists in his last four games and now has dished out 507 for the season (7.1 per game, 10th best in the league). That means $10,140 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, 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. 1,000th SINCE 77 --- The current edition of the Trail Blazers used their win at New York to put an exclamation point on the upcoming 20th anniversary celebration of Portland's 1977 NBA Championship. The victory over the Knicks was the team's 1,000th since the start of the 1976-77 season. Only Boston and the Lakers have recorded 1,000 wins in that same time span. The 1,000 victories is part of the 1977 team's legacy. Prior to 1976-77, the Blazers had not experienced a winning season nor had they been in the playoffs. Since the start of that season, Portland has won 58.5% of its games (1,000-711), has had only two losing years and this season will make its league-best 15th straight playoff appearance and the 20th in 21 years. The Blazers have been in four conference finals and in the NBA title round three times. Accomplishments of the 1977 team will be celebrated at a dinner gala Thursday, April 3, and at halftime and during post-game ceremonies at the April 4 Milwaukee game. Most of the 1977 players and coaches are planning to be on hand, including Bill Walton, Maurice Lucas, Bobby Gross, Dave Twardzik and Lionel Hollins and Coach Jack Ramsay. Award-winning author David Halberstam will be the featured speaker at the gala on April 3. GOING HOME --- After battling with the Hornets in Charlotte, the Blazers return home Friday to meet Vancouver (7 p.m., KEX Radio) in the opener of a four-game homestand. It continues next Tuesday against Golden State (7 p.m., KEX Radio, BlazerVision). Portland then goes back-to-back Friday and Saturday against Milwaukee and Phoenix respectively. The Blazers have six of their 10 remaining games in the Rose Garden. THE PLAYERS KENNY ANDERSON --- Tuesday at Atlanta: 15 pts (7-17 fgs, 0-5 3pt, 1-4 fts), 9 assists, 3 rbs, 42 minutes . . . Sunday at New York: Team-high 24 pts, team-high 7 assists, 1 steal, 43 minutes . . . Saturday at Washington: 14 pts, 6 rbs, team-high 9 assists, 38 minutes . . . Has 29 +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 24 times, in assists 50 times . . . Team's leading scorer at 18.1 ppg, the assists leader (7.1 avg.) and tops in steals (1.89 avg.) . . . 29th in the NBA in scoring, 16th in assists, 13th in steals, 30th in minutes played (38.0) . . . 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 . . . LAST GAME vs. HORNETS: 16 pts, 9 assists, 7 rbs, 36 minutes. STACEY AUGMON --- Tuesday at Atlanta: 6 pts (3-5 fgs), 8 minutes . . . Sunday at New York: 0 pts, 4 minutes . . . Saturday at Washington: 8 pts, 1 steal, 12 minutes . . . Tied season-high with 13 pts at the Clippers Mar. 16 . . . Shooting 15-of-24 from field and has had seven steals in last seven games and has averaged 6.3 ppg in his last six . . . 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 . . . LAST GAME vs. HORNETS: Not with team (injured list). MITCHELL BUTLER --- Did not play (coach's decision) in last two games . . . Saturday at Washington: 0 pts, 2 rbs, 1 assist, 3 minutes . . . Scored a season-high 17 points in 27 minutes March 14 vs. Clevleand . . . 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 . . . Activiated 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 . . . LAST GAME vs. HORNETS: Not with team (injured list). CHRIS DUDLEY --- Tuesday at Atlanta: 4 pts (2-8 fgs), game-high 14 rbs, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 24 minutes . . . Sunday at New York: 0 pts, 1 rb, 5 fouls, 12 minutes . . . Saturday at Washington: 5 pts, 7 rbs, 1 assist, 1 steal, 22 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 236 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 (1.27) despite starting just 12 games . . . Ranks 24th 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 . . . 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 . . . LAST GAME vs. HORNETS: 3 pts, 7 rbs, 1 steal, 3 blocks, 20 minutes. JERMAINE O'NEAL --- Did not play (coach's decision) in last three games . . . 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. . . . LAST GAME vs. HORNETS: 2 pts, 4 rbs, 9 minutes. ISAIAH RIDER --- Tuesday at Atlanta: Team-high 22 pts (9-13 fgs, 2-3 3pt, 2-2 fts), 5 rbs, 2 assists, 1 steal, 40 minutes . . . Sunday at New York: 23 points, 3 assists, 2 rbs, 2 steals, 44 minutes . . . Saturday at Washington: Game-high 28 pts, 6 rbs, 2 assists, 38 minutes . . . In last 14 games, is averaging 19.3 ppg and has made 60% (88-147) of his field goals and 50% (20-40) of his three-point attempts after averaging 15.6 ppg and shooting 43% from the floor and 37% from long range in his first 52 contests . . . 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 38th in league in scoring (16.3 ppg) and 22nd in 3pt accuracy . . . 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 . . . LAST GAME vs. HORNETS: 18 pts, 3 assists, 2 rbs, 1 steal, 40 minutes. CLIFFORD ROBINSON --- Tuesday at Atlanta: 0 pts (0-3 3pt), 5 rbs, 1 steal, 19 minutes . . . Sunday at New York: 17 pts, 5 rbs, 3 assists, 3 steals, 45 minutes . . . Saturday at Washington: Scoreless for the first time in 549 games, going back April 11, 1990 of his rookie season---0 pts (0-7 fgs, 0-3 3pt), 5 rbs, 2 assists, 41 minutes . . . He had 0 pts in this season s Jan. 6 win over the Lakers but played just one minute before leaving the game with a sprained ankle . . . 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 29th in the NBA in minutes played (38.0) . . . 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, including fourth in games played (632) and second in three-pointers made (474) . . . LAST GAME vs. HORNETS: 11 pts, 2 rbs, 4 assists, 39 minutes. RUMEAL ROBINSON --- Tuesday at Atlanta: 0 pts, 1 assist, 6 minutes . . . Sunday at New York: 0 pts, 1 rb, 5 minutes . . . Saturday at Washington: 2 pts, 1 rb, 1 assist, 2 steals, 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 at Atlanta: 10 pts (3-10 fgs, 2-4 3pt, 2-2 fts), 6 rbs, 5 assists, 2 steals, 24 minutes . . . Sunday at New York: 15 pts, shared team honors with 8 rbs, 1 assist, 3 steals, 28 minutes before fouling out for fourth time this season with 12.4 seconds remaining . . . Saturday at Washington: 20 pts, 9 rbs, 1 assist, 1 steal, 23 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 nine occasions, in rebounding 27 times, and assists four 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 (1.22) . . . 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 . . . LAST GAME vs. HORNETS:Team-high 22 pts and 10 rbs, 1 assist, 1 steal, 24 minutes (8-11 fgs, 4-4 fts). GARY TRENT --- Tuesday at Atlanta: 13 pts (5-7 fgs, 3-3 fts), 5 rbs, 1 assist, 2 steals, 30 minutes as a starter . . . Sunday at New York: 2 pts, 4 rbs, 1 assist, 1 steal, 21 minutes . . . Saturday at Washington: 2 pts, 2 rbs, 1 block, 10 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 54.1% clip from the field (317-586), the NBA's eighth 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 . . . LAST GAME vs. HORNETS: 3 pts, 8 rbs, 3 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, 19 minutes. RASHEED WALLACE --- Tuesday at Atlanta:13 pts (6-15 fgs, 1-2 fts), 4 assists, 1 block, 35 minutes . . . Sunday at New York: 13 pts, shared team honors with 8 rbs, 2 blocks, 38 minutes . . . Saturday at Washington: 25 pts, team-high 10 rbs, 1 block, 43 minutes . . . Has 14 20+ games . . . Played a career-high 45 minutes in the Feb. 26 OT loss to New York . . . 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 (55.7% on 311-558) . . . 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 . . . LAST GAME vs. HORNETS: 15 pts, 5 rbs, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 33 minutes. DONTONIO WINGFIELD --- Tuesday at Atlanta: 6 pts (2-3 fgs, 0-1 3pt, 2-2 fts), 12 minutes . . . Did not play (coach's decision) in previous two games . . . Grabbed a career-high 12 rbs and scored 14 points at Boston Jan. 31 . . . Scored season-high 16 points at Phoenix Jan. 24 . . . Played season-high 27 minutes vs. the Lakers Jan. 6 . . . Placed on injured list Dec. 13 (sprained left thumb suffered in Dec. 12 game with Vancouver) . . . Averaged 3.8 points and 2.4 rebounds in 44 games with Portland last season . . . Signed as a free agent in 1995 after playing the 1994-95 season with Seattle . . . Second round draft choice (37th overall) by Seattle in 1994 . . . Became an early entry draft candidate after one year of collegiate basketball at the University of Cincinnati . . . LAST GAME vs. HORNETS: Did not play (coach's decision). John Christensen Chuck Charnquist ************************************************************ Send subscribe/unsubscribe messages to majordomo@ripcity.com ************************************************************