[0] PORTLAND HAS LAKERS' HOME NUMBE : PORTLAND 102, LAKERS 98.

Byline: Marc Stein Daily News Staff Writer

So much for the streaks. Yup, both of them.

Twelve consecutive wins at home. Seven straight games of double-digit defense. Gone.

The only team to beat the Lakers this month did it again Thursday night, as the Portland Trail Blazers capitalized on early exits by Eddie Jones and Shaquille O'Neal to claim a 102-98 victory before 16,432 at the Forum.

The Blazers, four-point winners in the Jan. 6 meeting at Portland, are now responsible for the Lakers' only losses in the past 11 games.

``I don't think we were even thinking about (the streaks),'' Lakers co-captain Nick Van Exel said. ``We were just focused on beating Portland, because they're a team that gives us trouble every time we see them.''

This time, the Lakers (28-11) had difficulty with the Blazers and the officials.

Jones, who had 23 points, fouled out with 1:53 to go.

And O'Neal, who led L.A. with 33 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists, was ejected with 1:16 remaining when it was ruled that he elbowed Portland's Arvydas Sabonis while lowering himself from the rim after a dunk.

The slam off a Van Exel lob cut the Portland lead to 99-96, but the Lakers never got closer than two. Robert Horry's basket with 19.6 ticks left drew L.A. within 100-98, and Kenny Anderson gave the hosts a chance by missing a free throw, but Jerome Kersey's ensuing 3-pointer under pressure didn't come close.

O'Neal, dismissed from a game for the first time since joining the Lakers, left before talking with reporters. When Van Exel was asked to assess the elbow, he said: ``Real minor. I've seen a lot worse.''

Not since a Nov. 24 loss to Houston had Forum-goers seen a game end this way. In between, the Lakers strung together the 12 straight home wins and were bidding to hold their eighth straight opponent under 100 points, which would have been a franchise record.

During the streak, the Lakers held the opposition to an average of 87 points on 39.3 percent shooting. But the Blazers (21-16) shot 49.3 percent from the field and had all five starters in double figures, led by J.R. Rider's 30 points.

``We found a way to win against an excellent team in a tough place to play,'' Portland coach P.J. Carlesimo said.

If not that good Thursday, the Lakers were at least gutty, starting with O'Neal's pregame pedicure that allowed him to play.

Already slowed by nagging soreness in both ankles, O'Neal had to have most of two toenails removed because they had become infected.

``It's all mental,'' O'Neal said of the pain.

More concentration was required once the game started. Especially in the second half, which began with the Lakers down 16 after Rider and Clifford Robinson - who was making his return from a one-game suspension - combined for 33 points in the first two quarters.

That was just 11 points fewer than the Lakers managed as a team. L.A.'s 19-7 run got the deficit down to four, but it trailed 81-72 to start the fourth.

From there, the Lakers had only one chance to take the lead, only to see Van Exel miss a hurried 3-pointer after O'Neal's jumper made it 82-80.

The picture wasn't any prettier at the free-throw line. Coming off the worst single-game performance in franchise history - an 8-for-24 effort in Tuesday's win over Vancouver - they were still far from respectable, hitting just 28 of 45 attempts (62.2 percent).

``It's an aspect (of the game), and it's something I'd like to do better,'' said Lakers coach Del Harris, whose teams have historically done well at the stripe.

``We'd like to rebound better, too. I'd like to move the ball better. I'd like to fast break better. Those are all things I'd rather do better.''

Against the Blazers, anything would help.

Layups: All-Star balloting closes today, with O'Neal trailing Houston's Hakeem Olajuwon by more than 100,000 votes (693,564 to 563,631). If Olajuwon holds on, it will be the first time in O'Neal's five-year career that he isn't chosen by the fans to start. ``I never look at this stuff,'' said O'Neal, who is certain to be selected as a West reserve by the coaches. ``Accolades aren't that important to me anymore. I'm just glad to be there.'' O'Neal, however, doesn't plan to attend the mandatory Feb. 7 sitdown with the national media that kicks off All-Star Weekend. ``I'm not even going,'' Shaq said. ``I'm just going to take the fine.'' Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley have bypassed the interview session in the past and O'Neal walked out of last year's after just 15 minutes.

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2 Photos

Photo: (1--color) Eddie Jones falls to one knee while Portland's Gary Trent drives around him during the Trail Blazers' win at the Forum.

(2) Shaquille O'Neal attempts to rebound against Isaiah Rider during Lakers' loss.

Associated Press