Portland Makes History in Worst Possible Way

The numbers were almost laughable: 12 points in the first quarter, 24 at halftime, 38 after three quarters.

After coming back from an 0-2 deficit to force a deciding fifth game, the Portland Trail Blazers responded with the worst offensive output in NBA playoff history Sunday at Salt Lake City in a 102-64 loss to the Jazz.

The 64 points broke the playoff-record low of 68 set by the New York Knicks on May 15, 1994, at Indiana. Portland also supplanted the Lakers’ record 28-point first half on April 7, 1974, at Milwaukee.

“The Jazz were that good, and we were that bad,” Portland Coach P.J. Carlesimo said. “They ran out on us and controlled the game. . . . They jumped on us and didn’t let us get back in the game.”

Utah advanced to the second round to play the San Antonio Spurs, who play host to Game 1 of the best-of-seven series Tuesday.

Karl Malone had 25 points and 10 rebounds and John Stockton added 21 points and 11 assists for the Jazz on Sunday.

“From tipoff to the buzzer, it was the best game we’ve played all season,” Malone said.

Portland’s Rod Strickland and Arvydas Sabonis, who scored 27 and 25 points, respectively, in Game 4, managed only 10 and 14.

Strickland was five for 16 and Sabonis was six for 16 as the Blazers shot 35%. Utah, which shot 46%, also outrebounded Portland for the first time in the series, 54-33.

The Jazz led, 14-6, with Malone scoring eight of those points. Utah scored 12 of the second quarter’s first 14 points, leading, 30-14, on Chris Morris’ three-point shot. A jumper by Malone and Stockton’s three-point basket with 2:52 left in the first half gave Utah a 20-point lead.

Atlanta 89, Indiana 87--Reggie Miller returned, and everything went right for the Pacers--until the final shot.

Miller, sidelined since April 13 because of a fractured eye socket, made a surprising comeback and had another spectacular fourth quarter. But he missed the game-winning shot at the final buzzer as Atlanta won the best-of-five series, 3-2, at Indianapolis.

Miller scored 16 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter, including Indiana’s final eight. He got the ball in the final seconds but was double-teamed by Mookie Blaylock and Matt Bullard. Miller still managed to shoot an off-balance three-point shot, but it glanced off the side of the rim as time expired.

The Pacers cut Atlanta’s lead to 89-87 with 31 seconds left after Miller was fouled by Stacey Augmon as he went up for a three-point shot. Miller made all three free throws.

Blaylock then threw the ball out of bounds on the next Atlanta possession, giving the ball back to the Pacers with 11 seconds left.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Fewest Points In Playoff Game

64--Portland at Utah (102), May 5, 1996

68--New York at Indiana (88), May 28, 1994

69--Indiana at Atlanta (92), May 12, 1994

70--Golden State at Lakers (126), April 21, 1973

70--Seattle at Houston (91), April 23, 1982

*

In Half of Playoff Game

24--Portland at Utah, May 5, 1996 (First half)

27--Philadelphia vs. Boston, May 21, 1982 (Second half)

28--Lakers at Milwaukee, April 7, 1974 (First half)

28--San Antonio vs. Portland, May 7, 1993 (Second half)