JACKSON, LAKERS AT A LOSS BLAZERS DEAL L.A. ITS SIXTH DEFEAT IN A ROW PORT. 112, LAKERS 108.

Byline: ROSS SILER

Staff Writer

Even with the NBA trade deadline upon them today, the light at the end of the tunnel keeps looking farther away for the Lakers, who now are the first Phil Jackson-coached team in history to lose six consecutive games.

They suffered a dismal 112-108 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night at Staples Center, a game that turned on Jackson's decision to sit Bryant with eight minutes left in the fourth quarter and the Lakers continued indifferent defense.

What was a one-point game when Bryant went to the bench turned into an 11-point Portland lead in a matter of 3 1-2 minutes. The Lakers were booed off the court at Staples Center, where they lost their fifth straight home game as well.

The Blazers scored 18 more points than their season average and shot 59.7 percent from the field. The only team to shoot better against the Lakers this season was the Dallas Mavericks in a December loss.

All that was left was for the Lakers to work the phones and try to convince the New Jersey Nets that they were better off without the remaining $41 million on Jason Kidd's contract than they were with the All-Star guard.

But Jackson portrayed things in less than favorable terms before the game, saying that he didn't think the "momentum" was there to make a deal after spending the afternoon huddled with general manager Mitch Kupchak.

Bryant finished with 25 points, eight rebounds and six assists but the most telling stat came with the Lakers being outscored 25-11 with the superstar guard on the bench. Jarrett Jack led Portland with 30 points while Zach Randolph added 16.

As indication of how desperate the Lakers were to win, Jackson opted to bring Bryant back at the start of the fourth quarter when he normally would rest the superstar guard. It appeared Bryant would play to the final horn but Jackson sat him with 8:03 left.

The results were disastrous as Portland outscored the Lakers 10-2 to take a 98-89 lead. Jackson called one timeout with 7:37 remaining after Dan Dickau stripped Andrew Bynum in the post and the Blazers ran ahead for a basket at the other end.

LaMarcus Aldridge and Randolph sank jumpers for Portland. The Lakers then watched as Sasha Vujacic fell down on a drive and Lamar Odom couldn't connect on a 3-pointer, which led to an Aldridge basket at the other end.

Vujacic missed a 3-pointer and the Lakers couldn't grab the rebound after Dickau missed a 3-pointer for Portland. It went to Randolph and he floated in a shot to put the Blazers ahead 98-89. Jackson called timeout again and brought back Bryant.

The Blazers went ahead by 11 and finished off the 16-2 run on a Brandon Roy jumper. But the Lakers stormed back with Bryant on the floor, scoring seven unanswered points to close to 100-96 on Bryant's three-point play with 2:50 left.

They would get no closer as Jack and Randolph each got to the line for two free throws while Bryant missed a 3-pointer and a drive in the lane. Bryant scored nine straight points for the Lakers after returning but it wasn't enough.

The Lakers took a 69-63 lead in the third quarter as Odom saved a ball off Roy to keep possession. Odom then connected on a 3-pointer after Portland double-teamed Bryant and the Lakers rotated the ball to the open shooter.

But the Lakers couldn't create any more separation. Bryant uncharacteristically missed the first of two free throws on consecutive trips to the line and the Lakers went into the fourth quarter with just an 80-78 advantage.

Jackson had suffered two previous five-game losing streaks in his 16- year coaching career but never had tasted six consecutive losses.

The losing had taken enough of a toll that Jackson had to joke beforehand about his goals for the season's final 28 games.

"Undefeated," Jackson said.

He later added that the aim as always was to build momentum in the weeks before the playoffs. In addition, Jackson said the Lakers will still searching for a defining moment in the season "where they play for each other and with each other."

The Lakers were down to just 11 available players - - and only four forwards - - after losing Vladimir Radmanovic to a separated shoulder over the All-Star break. Radmanovic suffered the injured when he fell on an icy patch in Park City, Utah.

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2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) The Lakers' Smush Parker drives against Portland's LaMarcus Aldridge, left, and Zach Randolph.

(2) The Lakers' Kobe Bryant looks to pass Wednesday night. The Lakers were outscored 25-11 with Bryant on the bench.

Andy Holzman/Staff Photographer