Trail Blazers Lose Cool, Jazz Wins : West: Portland’s Drexler is ejected with 1:30 to play in Utah’s 121-112 victory. Series is tied, 2-2.

Proving the return of a reputation is always only a game away, the Portland Trail Blazers unraveled Sunday afternoon, losing their composure and a game.

This game was the fourth in the Western Conference finals, a chance for Portland to take a 3-1 lead heading home for a possible clincher Tuesday. Instead, Clyde Drexler got upset with a non-call and was ejected with 1:30 to play, and the Trail Blazers made several other mistakes, helping the Utah Jazz to a 121-112 victory at the Delta Center.

“You could see it in their faces,” Jazz guard Jeff Malone said. “They lost their composure. I’m not going to say they are not a smart team. They just lost their composure today.”

The Jazz was able to win despite getting only one field goal during the final 4:40 and at worst guarantee a return here for Game 6.

The Trail Blazers’ Jerome Kersey missed two free throws with 2:31 remaining. Four seconds later, Kersey compounded his problems, committing a senseless foul by leaning on Jeff Malone in the backcourt at a time when the Trail Blazers weren’t even pressing. Malone made both free throws to give the Jazz a 112-105 lead.

On the ensuing possession, Drexler committed an offensive foul away from the ball. That was followed by Jeff Malone being fouled while cutting through the lane without the ball. Two more free throws with 2:14 to play made the score 114-105.

The Trail Blazers moved back within seven when Danny Ainge went down the lane for a scoop shot with 2:04 remaining, but Jeff Malone scored from the right baseline with 1:47 to play.

The next possession should have been a boost for the Trail Blazers, but it turned out to be the beginning of the end. Drexler made a three-pointer from the right side, giving him 27 points and making the score 116-110 with 1:39 to play.

But Drexler thought he was tripped by Jeff Malone and wanted a free throw for a possible four-point play. He shouted at referee Hue Hollins while getting up in front of the Jazz bench.

“He fell down,” Jeff Malone said. “If I did (make contact), it was a brush touch.”

Nine seconds after the basket, referee Joe Crawford had heard enough from Drexler and ejected him. Drexler insisted afterward that he said nothing more than “I was tripped.”

“Maybe we expect too much,” Drexler said of the officiating. “Maybe we need to lower our expectations.”

The Trail Blazers made several similar comments after Friday’s Game 3 loss, indicating that Utah’s Karl Malone was given preferential treatment. The Jazz bench heard Crawford put Drexler on notice early during Sunday’s game.

Both Drexler technicals, the first coming with 4:59 to play in the second quarter, came courtesy of Crawford.

“I think they get uptight,” Drexler said. “They’re only human. But it’s not like I went up and got in his face, either.”

Portland still had a good chance to win, especially after Ainge’s layup with 1:12 remaining cut the deficit to 116-112. But when the Jazz got the ball back, Ainge was called for a flagrant foul against Mark Eaton, which he protested vehemently. Eaton made one free throw, Utah retained possession, then went to the line again when Ainge fouled Jeff Malone. This time, Ainge merely rolled his eyes.

Malone made both free throws with 32 seconds to play for a 119-112 lead, a fitting end because the clinching points came at the free-throw line. It seemed like everything else did--the Jazz were 13 of 15 on free throws during the last 3:35, 19 of 23 during the fourth quarter and 48 of 55 for the game.

For a Portland team that had already become referee-sensitive, those numbers don’t help. Someone asked Coach Rick Adelman at his postgame news conference if the Trail Blazers had already gone beyond sensitive and were heading to preoccupied.

“I’ll talk about the game,” he replied. “I knew that was going to come up, but I have nothing to say about that.”

Adelman was pressed. Isn’t the attitude that has developed among his players harmful?

“I’ll comment about the game,” was the response.

Isn’t it an important issue to address?

“What do you want me to say,” Adelman said. “Obviously we don’t want to get technical fouls, but there is nothing for me to say about it. I’m not blind or stupid, and neither is my team. I’ll let you make your own judgments and go from there.”

Terry Porter continued his playoff run with a game-high 34 points, including four of eight on three-pointers, and seven assists to lead the Trail Blazers. Karl Malone finished with 33 points and 12 rebounds for the Jazz. Jeff Malone went 14 of 15 from the line for half of his 28 points.