PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS vs. PHOENIX SUNS GAME NO. 76---SATURDAY, APRIL 5, 1997 Record: Overall---44-31, Home---27-11, Road---17-20 FACING THE SUNS --- The Trail Blazers, 44-31, back in action 24 hours after thumping Milwaukee, 108-93, in the Rose Garden for their 15th victory in their last 18 outings, will be looking for a sweep when Phoenix comes to town tonight. The Blazers, 13-2 at home since the All-Star break, can make it 4-0 over the Suns this season with a win. It would be the first series sweep since 1987-88 when Portland won all six meetings and would be only the second in the 27-year history of competition between the two teams. Portland, 13-2 at home since the All-Star break, has clinched a berth in the Western Conference Playoffs for the 15th consecutive year---the NBA's longest current streak. One more Blazers victory, or a loss by Minnesota, currently in the sixth playoff slot, will assure Portland of no worse than the fifth seed when post-season action gets underway in three weeks. With a 44-31 record, Portland is assured of having its 18th winning season in the last 21 campaigns and has a shot at its first 50-win season in four years. Three of the Blazers remaining seven regular season games, including tonight s matchup with Phoenix, are at home. At 44-31, the Blazers are five games better than they were a year ago after 75 games. Portland finished March with a 13-2 record, the best record for the month in club history and equal to the second best percentage for any month since the franchise was established. 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). 15 STRAIGHT --- The Blazers have locked up their their 15th straight playoff berth, the NBA's longest current streak, and their 20th in the last 21 years. Only four times in league 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 seven regular season games remaining, currently occupies the West's fifth spot behind the Lakers and Houston. ANOTHER WINNING YEAR --- The Blazers, with 44 victories, have their 18th winning season in the last 21 years. That's the second best mark of any team in the NBA over the 21 seasons. Only the Los Angeles Lakers have done better, turning in 19 years with records over the 50% mark (41-41) during the same time span. Behind the Blazers are such teams as Boston and Houston, 15 each; Philadelphia and Seattle, 14 each; Milwaukee and San Antonio, 13 each, and Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, and New York, all with 12. 22 IN A ROW --- Portland has won 37 or more games for the 22nd consecutive season. The closest any NBA team can come to that consistency is Seattle which now has at least 31 victories in each of the 22 seasons. THE BLAZERS-SUNS SERIES --- The Blazers have won four straight and five of the last six over Phoenix, including all three meetings so far this season, but still trail in their all-time series with the Suns, 78-67. A victory Saturday would give Portland its first series sweep since the 1987-88 season and only the second in the 27 years of competition between the two teams. At home, the Blazers own a 46-25 series edge and won on the Suns last visit here, 111-108, on Feb. 11. Before that, Phoenix had four out of five, including its last series win, 96-84, on Feb. 15 of last season. In the Valley of the Sun, the Blazers have a 22-53 record but have won three straight, including 115-105 and 121-99 victories this season. SO FAR THIS SEASON --- The Blazers captured all three previous meetings with the Suns this season, winning 115-105 and 121-99 on their two visits to Phoenix, and 111-108 the last time the two teams collided in the Rose Garden. Gary Trent had the hot hand in the first victory, equalling his season-high with 24 points, while Kenny Anderson added 22 points and 15 assists. Back in Portland, Anderson tallied 19 of his game-high 33 points in the fourth quarter to help the Blazers overcome a 79-75 lead going into the final stanza. A record barrage of three-pointers by Portland buried the Suns in Game 3 in Phoenix. The Blazers ended up converting a team-record 16 treys on 24 attempts, including 11 in the second half and six in the third quarter alone. In the three matchups so far, the Blazers have outscored the Suns, 115.7-104.0, shot 51.1% from the field to the Suns 46.6%, and converted 50% of their attempts from beyond the arc (29-58) compared with 21.8% three-point shooting by Phoenix (12-55). Rebounding in the three games is virtually even. Anderson (27.0 ppg), Rasheed Wallace (20.5 ppg) and Clifford Robinson (18.7 ppg) are Portland's scoring leaders in the series. THE LAST TWO GAMES BLAZERS STOP BUCKS --- Ten players got into the scoring act, led by Isaiah Rider s game-high 27 points, and the Trail Blazers dominated the backboards, 52-30, enroute to a 108-93 victory over Milwaukee last night in the Rose Garden. It was Portland's 15th victory in its last 18 games and its 13th in 15 home games since the All-Star break. The Blazers, shooting 53% from the field in the first three quarters, built their biggest lead of 23 points early in the final stanza. Portland finished the game with a 48.8% shot chart (40-82) while holding the Bucks to a 43.6% (34-78). Gary Trent led Portland in controlling the boards with 10 rebounds. The victory gave Portland a sweep of its two-game season series with Milwaukee, the fourth such sweep in the last six years. HOME STREAK ENDS --- The Trail Blazers scored just 50 points after the first quarter, shot only 34.8% for the game and ended up losing, 91-82, to Golden State in the Rose Garden Tuesday. The loss was their first at home since Feb. 26, and it clipped a season-best nine-game Garden win streak. Rasheed Wallace and Isaiah Rider each scored 21 points to lead the Blazers. Golden State, which earned a 2-2 split in the season series with the win, was led by Mark Price with 24 points and Latrell Sprewell with 22. The Warriors, who won the boards battle, 43-37, turned in a 47% field goal game (3-166). Portland lost despite coming up with a season-high equalling 14 steals that forced a season opponent-high 25 Warrior turnovers. The loss was only the third for the Blazers in the last 17 games and only the third in the last 18 at home. MAKING THE DIFFERENCE --- Portland's current run of 15-3 is a dramatic turnaround from the previous 14 outings when the Blazers were 4-10. In the last 18 contests, the Blazers have averaged 101.9 ppg and outscored their opponents by 9.7 a game, have grabbed a 4.9 rebounds per game edge and shot 49.3% from the field. 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. Portland has gone over the 100-point mark in 10 of its last 18 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 18 while doing better than 100 in ten of the previous 14 contests. BLAZING --- The Trail Blazers have converted at a 50% or better field goal rate in eight of their last 17 games. In five of them, Portland did better than 54%, including a season-best 57.9% in the Utah win on Feb. 28 that launched the current 15-3 run. The Blazers, hitting at a 49.3% clip in the 18 outings, are 19-3 in games when they shoot 50% or better. Portland's field goal percentage is 46.4%, the league's ninth best mark. ON DEFENSE --- Portland has the NBA's sixth toughest defense to shoot against, holding foes to .439 field goal accuracy in 74 games, which is below the all-time club season defensive mark of .442 . . . Its defensive average of 95.6 ppg is the 11th 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 41 times below 45 percent . . . In winning 44 games, the Blazers have held 33 opponents under 100 points and overall have allowed only 25 of 75 to top the century mark. 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 75 games, the NBA's ninth best . . . In winning 44 games, the Blazers margin of victory is 12.4 ppg, with the cushion being 10 or more points in 24 games and 20 or more nine times . . . Portland's overall point margin of +3.4 is the league's 10th best . . . Of the Blazers 31 losses, 17 have been by six points or less, nine have been by three or under, and six have been one-pointers . . . Portland is 24-11 in games decided by 10 points or more but 11-13 when the margin is four points or under and 3-8 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---(.523), second in defensive rebounding percentage (.722) and fourth in offensive percentage (.323) . . . 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 54 of 75 opponents this season and 12 times has claimed 50 or more in a game . . . The Blazers are among the top five rebounding teams in the league for the 10th straight season despite not having an individual among the league's top 30. AMONG THE NBA LEADERS ---RASHEED WALLACE, 4th in field goal percentage, .558 (338-606) ---GARY TRENT, 8th in field goal percentage, .536 (328-612) ---ARVYDAS SABONIS, 31st in field goal percentage, .496 (303-611), 33rd in rebounding (7.8), and 24th in blocked shots (1.22) ---KENNY ANDERSON , 17th in assists (7.1), 11th in steals (1.93), 29th in scoring (17.8), 31st in minutes played (37.8) ---ISAIAH RIDER, 40th in scoring, (16.2), 40th in free throw percentage, .807 (201-249), 30th in three-point percentage, .374 (92-246) ---CHRIS DUDLEY, 23rd in blocked shots (1.24), 39th in rebounding (7.1) ---CLIFFORD ROBINSON, 26th in minutes played (38.0), 40th in blocked shots (0.82) 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 15.4 points and 6.8 rebounds and is shooting 55.8% from the field, the NBA's fourth best mark. That is up from 48.7% in 65 games with the Bullets last season which was not among the top 75 percentage shooters in the league. Of second-year players in the league, only one has had a better improvement in scoring average and none has improved more in rebounding. Rasheed has bettered his career high points scored in a game eight times this season, including an all-time best 38 at Saramento Dec. 21. BACK-TO-BACKS --- Tonight's game with the Suns closes out the 19th of 21 sets of back-to-back games (contests on consecutive nights) on Portland's 1996-97 schedule. Last night, Portland dumped Milwaukee, 108-93, in the Rose Garden. Overall, Portland is 21-16 in back-to-backs this season, is 10-8 in second games of the sets and 4-1 when the closer is at home. The Friday-Saturday combo against the Bucks and Suns marks the second of two home-home sets on this year's schedule. Portland swept Denver and Charlotte in the other double home stand back in December. 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 17.8 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 rpg) 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. A MARVELOUS MARCH --- Last Friday's 34-point win over Vancouver allowed the Blazers to finish March with the best record ever for the month and the second-best percentage mark for any month in franchise history. Portland finished with a 13-2 record, which bettered the mark of 13-4 by the 1989-90 Western Conference championship team. At 13-2 (86.7%), the current Blazers March finish is the same as the 1980-81 team's December record and just back of the all-time best of 12-1 (92.3%) posted by the 1990-91 team in November. March has proved to be a big month for Coach P.J. Carlesimo and his Blazers over the past two seasons. Last year Portland was 11-3 in March which makes the club 24-5 for the month over two seasons. ATTENDANCE IN TOP THREE --- Portland had its sixth sellout of the season last night for the Milwaukee game and has averaged 21,246 fans in its last 12 home games. Despite playing in the league's sixth smallest market, the Blazers rank behind only Charlotte and Chicago in home game attendance. All 38 Blazers home games thus far have been in the 20,000-plus category. Total attendance is 791,276 with an average through last night's Milwaukee game of 20,289. P.J. MOVES UP TO THIRD --- P.J. Carlesimo, whose team has won 15 of its last 18 games, is now the Blazers third winningest coach with a 132-107 record (55.2%). Ahead of him are 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. In his first two seasons, Carlesimo had identical records of 44-38. ON THE ROAD, ONE MORE TIME --- After tonight's battle with the Suns, the Blazers head out on their last multiple-game road trip, playing in Denver on Monday (6 p.m.), Dallas Tuesday (5:30 p.m.), and San Antonio Thursday (5:30 p.m.) All three road games will be carried on KEX Radio and KGW-TV. They return home on Wednesday (April 16) to take on the Nuggets, go to Vancouver the next night, then wind up their 1996-97 regular season schedule on Sunday, April 20, in the Rose Garden against the Los Angeles Lakers. THE BLAZERS KENNY ANDERSON --- Friday vs. Bucks: 17 pts (6-15 fgs, 2-6 3pt, 3-3 fts), 4 assists, 4 rbs, 2 steals, 1 block, 35 minutes . . . Tuesday vs. Warriors: 11 pts, 4 assists, 5 rbs, 5 steals, 41 minutes . . . Friday vs. Grizzlies: 10 pts, shared game honors with 7 assists, game-high 4 steals, 27 minutes . . . Has 29 +20 games and 11 double-doubles this season. . . 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 17.8 ppg, the assists leader (7.1 avg.) and tops in steals (1.93 avg.) . . . 29th in the NBA in scoring, 17th in assists, 11th in steals, 31st in minutes played (37.8) . . . One of 25 players in the league averaging at least 4 assists and 4 rebounds a game (7.1 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 . . . vs. SUNS THIS SEASON: Averaged team-best 27.0 pts, 9.0 assists, 4.7 rbs, 1.7 steals, 1.7 turnovers, 37.7 minutes in three starts and shot 54% from the floor (27-50). STACEY AUGMON --- Friday vs. Bucks: 6 pts (3-3 fgs), 3 assists, 2 rbs, 1 steal, 11 minutes . . . Tuesday vs. Warriors: 3 pts, 4 steals, 13 minutes. . . Friday vs. Grizzlies: 4 pts, 1 assist, 1 rb, 1 steal, 12 minutes . . . Tied season-high with 13 pts at the Clippers Mar. 16 . . . Shooting 21-of-32 from field (65.6%) and has had 13 steals in last ten games while averaging 5.3 pts and 14.3 minutes a game . . . 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 . . . vs. SUNS THIS SEASON: Averaged 9.0 pts, 1.5 assists, 5.0 rbs, 25.5 minutes in two games, including one start, and shot 78% from floor (7-9). 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 . . . vs. SUNS THIS SEASON: Averaged 3.0 pts, 1.0 assists, 0.7 rbs, 7.0 minutes in three games. MITCHELL BUTLER --- Friday vs. Bucks: DNP (coach's decision) . . . Tuesday vs. Warriors: 0 pts, 3 minutes . . . Friday vs. Grizzlies: 7 pts, 2 rbs, 1 assist, 1 steal, 12 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 . . . 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. SUNS THIS SEASON: 1 pt, 14 minutes in Game 1. DNP (coach's decision) in Game 2; injured list for Game 3. CHRIS DUDLEY --- Friday vs. Bucks: 2 pts (1-3 fgs), 8 rbs, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 block, 21 minutes . . . Tuesday vs. Warriors: 0 pts, 6 rbs, 1 steal, 17 minutes . . . Friday vs. Grizzlies: 8 pts, 6 rbs, 1 block, 17 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 (7.1 rpg) and leader in blocked shots (1.24) despite starting just 12 games . . . Ranks 23rd in the league in blocks and 39th 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. SUNS THIS SEASON: Averaged 5.7 pts, 9.0 rbs, 0.7 assists, 1.3 steals, 0.7 blocks, 28.0 minutes in three games including two starts. JERMAINE O'NEAL --- Friday vs. Bucks: 13 pts (5-10 fgs, 3-6 fts), 6 rbs, 1 block, 16 minutes---his second-highest point total and most since career-high 20 at Seattle Jan. 22 . . . Tuesday vs. Warriors: DNP (coach's decision). . . Friday vs. Grizzlies: 6 pts, 4 rbs, 14 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. SUNS THIS SEASON: Averaged 2.0 pts, 0.3 rbs, 0.3 blocks, 6.7 minutes in three games. ISAIAH RIDER --- Friday vs. Bucks: Game-high 27 pts (9-14 fgs, 1-2 3pt, 8-8 fts), 4 rbs, 2 assists, 1 steal, 37 minutes . . . Tuesday vs. Warriors: Tied for team-high honors with 21 pts, 4 rbs, 2 assists, 1 steal, 39 minutes---his 24 fg attempts tied his season high . . . Friday vs. Grizzlies: 8 pts, 3 assists, 24 minutes . . . Has averaged 18.1 pts and shot 55% from ther field, 41% from long range and 84% from the line during Portland's 15-3 run . . . 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 (16.0 ppg) and 33rd in 3pt accuracy and 40th in free throw percentage . . . 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. SUNS THIS SEASON: Averaged 14.7 pts, 3.7 rbs, 3.0 assists, 0.3 steals, 31.3 minutes in three games including two starts, and shot 57.1% from the field (16-28). CLIFFORD ROBINSON --- Friday vs. Bucks: 8 pts (2-10 fgs, 0-2 3pt, 4-4 fts), 4 rbs, team-high 5 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 38 minutes . . . Tuesday vs. Warriors: 9 pts, 2 rbs, game-high 7 assists, 1 steal, 39 minutes . . . Friday vs. Grizzlies: 26 points---22 of them in the second quarter (10-15 fgs, 6-8 3pt), 2 rbs, 2 assists, 29 minutes---Made all six of his treys in second quarter splurge, a Blazers all-time record for a quarter and a half, and equal to the NBA's second best effort ever . . . Held scoreless at Washington Mar. 22 for the first time in 549 games, going back April 11, 1990 of his rookie season---0 pts in 41 minutes . . . Registered a season and team-high 10 rbs, a team-high 6 assists, plus 15 points and 4 steals in 41 minutes Feb. 2 at Minnesota . . . Second on the team in assists with a 3.2 average . . .Has led club in assists 13 times, compared with 11 times 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 (38.0) . . . 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 scoring (10,302 pts), fourth in games played (636), second in three-pointers made (483), and second in blocked shots (721) . . . vs. SUNS THIS SEASON: Averaged 18.7 pts, 4.7 rbs, 4.3 assists, 1.3 steals, 0.7 blocks, 39.3 minutes in three starts. RUMEAL ROBINSON --- Friday vs. Bucks: 3 pts (1-2 fgs, 1-1 3pt), 3 assists, 1 rb, 2 steals, 13 minutes . . . Tuesday vs. Warriors: 0 pts, 1 rb, 7 minutes . . . Friday vs. Grizzlies: 6 pts, 4 rbs, equaled season highs with 5 assists and 4 rbs, season highs of 3 steals and 22 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 . . . Appeared in 43 games as a Blazer last season, averaging 5.7 pts 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 . . . vs. SUNS THIS SEASON: 2 pts, 5 assists, 4 rbs, 2 steals, 18 minutes in Game 3. Not with team previous two games. ARVYDAS SABONIS --- Friday vs. Bucks: 16 pts (6-10 fgs, 1-2 3pt, 3-3 fts), 8 rbs, 2 assists, 1 block, 25 minutes . . . Tuesday vs. Warriors: 9 pts, 6 rbs, 1 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 22 minutes . . . Friday vs. Grizzlies: 18 pts, 6 rbs, 1 assist, 3 steals, 2 blocks, 22 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 28 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 (7.8 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 . . . vs. SUNS THIS SEASON: 10 pts, 4 rbs, 2 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks, 16 minutes of Game 1. On injured list for Games 2 and 3. GARY TRENT --- Friday vs. Bucks: 8 pts (3-6 fgs, 2-6 fts), game-high 10 rbs, 3 assists, 1 block, 22 minutes---seventh double-digit rebounding game and 11th time he s led team on boards . . . Tuesday vs. Warriors: 8 pts, 6 rbs, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 block, 21 minutes . . . Friday vs. Grizzlies: 5 pts, 5 rbs, career-high 7 assists (previous high twice previously), 1 steal, 23 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 53.6% clip from the field (328-612), 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 . . . vs. SUNS THIS SEASON: Averaged 13.3 pts, 5.3 rbs, 2.3 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.7 blocks, 29.0 minutes in three games, including two starts. RASHEED WALLACE --- Friday vs. Bucks: 8 pts (4-8 fgs, 0-1 fts), 4 rbs, 1 steal, 17 minutes before being ejected (for the first time this season) after his second technical foul at 7:54 of the third period . . . Tuesday vs. Warriors: Tied for team-high honors with 21 pts, 7 rbs, 3 assists, 1 block, 38 minutes . . . Friday vs. Grizzlies: 13 pts, 6 rbs, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 block, 24 minutes---four of his six baskets were dunks . . . Has 15 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 (55.8% on 338-606) . . . 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. SUNS THIS SEASON: Averaged 20.5 pts, 5.0 rbs, 3.5 assists, 1.0 steals, 31.5 minutes in two games, including one start, and shot 56.5% from the field (13-23). On injured list for Game 1. DONTONIO WINGFIELD --- Friday vs. Bucks: 0 pts (0-1 3pt), 1 rb, 1 assist, 5 minutes . . . Tuesday vs. Warriors: DNP (coach's decision) . . . Friday vs. Grizzlies: 4 pts, 1 rb, 14 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 . . . An early entry draft candidate after one year of collegiate basketball at the University of Cincinnati . . . vs. SUNS THIS SEASON: Averaged 10.5 pts, 2.0 rbs, 0.5 assists, 10.5 minutes in two games and shot 80% from the floor (8-10). Missed game 2 because of the flu. John Christensen Chuck Charnquist ************************************************************ Send subscribe/unsubscribe messages to majordomo@ripcity.com ************************************************************