Rider Plans To Plead Innocent

Asserting a police report was inaccurate, lawyers for Portland Trail Blazers guard Isaiah Rider say he will plead innocent to a marijuana possession accusation.

Rider was cited last week by Clackamas County sheriff’s deputies for having a small amount of marijuana in a Coca-Cola can that had been fashioned into a pipe. Possession of less than an ounce of marijuana is not a crime in Oregon, and Rider faces a fine of no more than $1,000.

Rider was an occupant of one of two cars approached by deputies whose suspicions were raised when the cars stopped in a dark spot along Oregon 43 and switched off their headlights.

A deputy said he found Rider with the pipe to his lips, lighter in hand, in the back seat of one of the two cars.

Attorneys Bob Weaver and Ken Wittenberg said Rider will request a trial date at his Nov. 18 appearance in Clackamas County District Court.

Lakers stopped

Matt Geiger provided an unlikely boost to Charlotte’s injury-depleted backcourt, lifting the Hornets to an 88-78 victory over Los Angeles Wednesday that halted the Lakers’ best start (three wins) since 1987.

Geiger, a 7-foot-1 center who had just three 3-pointers last season, stepped beyond the arc and made four against the Lakers. He finished with 22 points.

The Hornets were without injured starting guards Glen Rice and Muggsy Bogues.

Milwaukee, under new coach Chris Ford, is 3-0 for the first time since the 1970-71 championship season after downing winless Vancouver in Milwaukee.

Michael Jordan scored 50 points and the unbeaten Chicago Bulls rallied from a 15-point deficit to beat the Miami Heat 106-100 in Miami.

The Boston Celtics held the Indiana Pacers to eight points in the third quarter and overcame a 26-point deficit as they won their first game of the season, 94-84, in Boston.

The undefeated Detroit Pistons, despite playing without Grant Hill, easily defeated the Dallas Mavericks 103-84.

Detroit improved to 4-0, its best start since going 8-0 in 1988-89.

Hill sat out after aggravating his injured right wrist in Tuesday night’s win at Philadelphia. X-rays were negative and his status is day-to-day.

Chris Webber had 22 points and a career-high 21 rebounds and the Washington Bullets pulled away from the San Antonio Spurs in the fourth quarter for a 96-86 victory in Landover, Md.