For Trail Blazers, Porterland Is Place to Be : Western finals: Point guard reduces his fouls, scores a game-high 26 points while keeping the team’s offense on track.

After getting two quick fouls in the opening game of the Western Conference finals, guard Terry Porter of the Portland Trail Blazers played only 26 minutes in a 111-106 loss to the Lakers Saturday.

Averaging a team-high 22.2 points as Portland ousted Utah in five games in the Western Conference semifinals, Porter had only nine points and six assists in the first game. He missed six of eight shots, including three three-point shots.

Well rested for Game 2 because he spent so much time on the bench in the series opener, Porter scored 26 points as the Trail Blazers evened the series with a 109-98 victory over the Lakers Tuesday night.

“I had a lot of energy stored up from Game 1,” Porter quipped.

Porter made 12 of 15 shots, including both three-point attempts. He also had eight assists and two steals in 41 minutes.

“The key was that he stayed on the court,” Portland Coach Rick Adelman said of Porter, who committed only two fouls.

“Anybody who’s watched Terry Porter knows what a performance he puts on in big games, so it didn’t surprise me to see him come out and really turn it up a notch tonight.”

Porter, who was called for several reaching fouls in the first game, made certain that he didn’t get into foul trouble.

“There was nothing I could do about the first game,” Porter said. “The important thing was that I just have to watch what I do as far as reaching in because the refs are going to call those. I didn’t get any touchy fouls tonight.”

After the Trail Blazers got off to a poor start, missing four of their first five shots as the Lakers took a 12-5 lead, Porter scored nine points during a 27-11 run that gave Portland a 32-23 lead at the end of the first quarter.

“It was good to see Terry out on the floor tonight,” said Portland guard Clyde Drexler, who scored 21 points.

“He threw his ax away and stayed in the game. I think Terry came out very aggressive tonight. That’s the Terry I like to see. He made some shots and forced the tempo.”

Trail Blazer forward Buck Williams said the Blazers missed Porter’s leadership during Game 1. With Porter constrained by foul trouble, the Trail Blazer offense never got untracked.

“Terry’s such a good offensive player for our team, and we missed his offense when he was on the bench,” Williams said. “I think Terry was a little more aggressive than he was in the first game in terms of pushing the ball up the floor and getting us into a good offensive set.”

Porter made four of his first five shots, including a three-point jumper, to spark the Trail Blazers.

“I wasn’t looking for my shot tonight,” Porter said. “I was just looking to push the ball up to make sure we were in a fast-tempo game.”

Although Porter suffered a strained left rotator cuff May 13 as Portland eliminated the Utah Jazz, 103-96, he didn’t seem bothered by the injury.

“It only bothers me when I go to the left, but I didn’t go to the left that much tonight because my shoulder’s been bothering me,” Porter said. “I don’t think the injury’s going to make a big difference.”

Porter, who had 15 points in the first half, making seven of eight shots, had six points in the second quarter, making all three shots he took as Portland took a 56-52 halftime lead. He added seven points in the third quarter.

“I don’t think we played with desperation,” Porter said. “We were just focused tonight.”

Matched against Laker guard Byron Scott, who had 20 points, Porter helped shut down Scott in the fourth quarter, holding him scoreless in the final period. Scott, who made eight of 11 shots in the first three quarters, missed the only shot he attempted in the fourth quarter.

“Porter’s the catalyst for Portland,” Scott said. “He gets everything going for them.”