Portland

When: 7:30. Where: Rose Garden. On the air: TV: TNT; Radio: 980, 1330. Records: Clippers 18-9, Portland 16-14. Update: This will be the final game of a back-to-back-to-back set for Portland, which had lost four of five before its game Wednesday at Golden State. Trail Blazers All-Star forward LaMarcus Aldridge suffered a sprained left ankle early in his team's loss to Washington on Tuesday. The team said X-rays on the ankle were negative, but Aldridge did not play against Golden State.

Kylie Wright and Lauren Cheney scored goals about three minutes apart in the first half to lead the UCLA women's soccer team to a 2-1 win over Portland in an NCAA quarterfinal game Saturday night at Drake Stadium. The Bruins (21-2-1) advance to the College Cup for the seventh consecutive season and will play Stanford on Friday at College Station, Texas. The Cardinal won an earlier meeting, 2-0. Portland (21-2) had taken a 1-0 lead in the third minute on a goal by Danielle Foxhoven.

It's that time again — unfortunately, for the Lakers. Coach Mike Brown has no idea what awaits him Thursday at the Rose Garden, a misguided arena name if ever there was one for a Lakers opponent. The issues are much more than thorny up here. They've lasted almost a generation for the Lakers. Since acquiring Kobe Bryant in a draft-day trade in 1996, the Lakers are 6-23 in Portland in the regular season, falling to the Trail Blazers year after year, whether rain or hail or the occasional burst of sunshine as their bus pulls into the oversized garage.

I relocated to Portland, Ore., six years ago from San Francisco. My family lives in Los Angeles, and my dad just sent me your article on Portland ["Wired for Weird," May 6]. Anyway, your article is making the rounds here at work. Several of us enjoyed it and wanted to let you know we feel that you "get it" (Portland, that is). LAURIE HARQUAIL Portland