LAKERS TODAY

Opponent--Portland Trail Blazers.

Site--Rose Garden, Portland, Ore.

Time--12:30 p.m.

TV--Channel 4.

Radio--KLAC (570).

Records--Lakers 56-25, Trail Blazers 48-33.

Record vs. Trail Blazers--1-2.

Laker update--When Shaquille O’Neal went out, the Lakers were 10th in the league in shooting. When he came back, they were 17th. But in the four games since his return, they’ve shot 47.9%, 43.6% (against the Jazz, a good defensive team in this category), 51.3% and 59.7%. The latter was Friday against the Clippers and marked a season high. They even threatened the NBA best for 1996-97, the 64.9% by the Jazz on March 23, but with every starter sitting out the fourth quarter at the Sports Arena, the Lakers went 31.6% in the final period.

Trail Blazer update--Isaiah Rider, normally the starting shooting guard, had a reserve role Thursday at Vancouver, part of his discipline for being late for two consecutive practices and then refusing to enter the game before when told to come off the bench. He was back at practice Saturday--only a little late this time.