[8][9][10][11] After losing their season opener, the Trail Blazers went on a five-game winning streak, which ended with a 140–139 quadruple overtime home loss to the Phoenix Suns on November 14, 1997.
[12][13][14][15] The Trail Blazers continued to play above .500 for the remainder of the season, holding a 26–20 record at the All-Star break.
[16] At mid-season, the team traded Kenny Anderson along with Gary Trent, and rookie guard Alvin Williams to the Toronto Raptors in exchange for Damon Stoudamire, Carlos Rogers and Walt Williams;[17][18][19][20] Anderson never played for the Raptors, as he was soon traded to the Boston Celtics.
[30][31][32] For the second straight season, the Trail Blazers were pitted against the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference First Round of the NBA Playoffs, and the result was identical to that of the previous year, as Portland fell one game to three; it was also the sixth consecutive year that the Blazers lost in the opening round of the playoffs.
[33][34][35][36] The Trail Blazers also set an ignominious record during a road game against the Indiana Pacers.