WASHINGTON -- Their constant scrapes with the law and general loutish behavior notwithstanding, the Portland Trail Blazers have been one of the NBA's biggest enigmas in recent seasons, with talent seemingly to burn, but nothing to show for it.

There was nothing mysterious in the 98-79 whipping the Trail Blazers administered to the Washington Wizards last night, as Portland was dominant in nearly every facet of the game.

t runM-W ning, they were able to get loose in the interior, rolling up an imM-W pressive 34-10 advantage on points scored in the paint for 3-point goals: 4-16, .250 (Stoudamire 2-6, Anderson 2-7, WalM-W lace 0-1, Wells 0-1, Patterson 0-1). Team reM-W bounds: 11. Team Turnovers: 13 (14 PTS). Blocked shots: 4 (Wallace 2, Pippen, Davis). Turnovers: 13 (Wells 3, Pippen 3, Wallace 2, Stoudamire, PatM-W terson, Anderson, Randolph, McInnis). Steals: 12 (Sabonis 3, Wells 2, Pippen 2, Patterson 2, StouM-W damire, Anderson, Davis). 0-1, Jeffries 0-1, Lue 0-2, Hughes 0-2, Russell 0-3, Stackhouse 0-3). Team rebounds: 7. Team Turnovers: 17 (18 PTS). Blocked shots: 7 (K.Brown 2, Haywood 2, Laettner, Jordan, Stackhouse). Turnovers: 16 (Hughes 4, Stackhouse 3, Haywood 2, Lue, K.Brown, Jordan, Cardinal, Jeffries, Russell, OakM-W ley). Steals: 7 (Hughes 3, Laettner, Jordan, Jeffries, Russell).