Jazz to Take on Portland Trail Blazers in Western Conference Semi-Finals

Game 1: Tues, May 18, 8:30pm in Utah
Game 2: Thur, May 20, 8:30pm in Utah
Game 3: Sat., May 22, 1:00pm at Portland
Game 4: Sun., May 23, 6:30pm at Portland
Game 5: Tues, May 25, TBD
Game 6: Thur, May 27, TBD
Game 7: Sat., May 29, TBD

SALT LAKE CITY (May 18, 1999) -- After staving off elimination in the first round, the defending two-time Western Conference champion Utah Jazz figure to run into an even tougher test when they face the Portland Trail Blazers in Game One of the seminfinals.

The Jazz lost to Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls in each of the last two NBA Finals but with the dismantling of the world champions prior to this lockout-compressed campaign, many figured that Karl Malone, John Stockton and company would be the team to beat for the league crown.

Although they displayed the poise, determination and resilence of a champion, Utah's five-game struggle to eliminate upstart Sacramento may have been an indication that the Jazz are at the end of their conference reign.

Bryon Russell hit the tying 3-pointer with 48 seconds left in regulation and Shandon Anderson scored seven of his 16 points in overtime as Utah went to an extra period for the fifth time this season against Sacramento before escaping with a 99-92 victory in Game Five on Sunday.

The Trail Blazers have been at rest since last Wednesday when they completed a three-game first-round sweep of the Phoenix Suns.

Brian Grant spearheaded the Portland attack, averaging 19.3 points and 9.0 rebounds over the three games. He made 72 percent of his shots and collected 20 points and 10 rebounds in the finale, a 103-93 win at Phoenix.

A team that features five players averaging in double figures, led by Isaiah Rider's 20.0 ppg, may be too much for the aging Jazz to overcome.

However, experience is often a factor in the postseason, especially in crunch time when Portland may be hard pressed to come up with the type of sharpshooting that Malone, Stockton, Russell and Anderson seem so adept at providing.

The Blazers are in the second round for the first time since 1992.

The Jazz took two of three regular-season meetings between the clubs, including a 96-85 win at Utah in the last meeting on April 23.

These clubs last met in the postseason in the first round in 1996 and the Jazz won that series in five games.

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