In his NBA debut, 6-foot-3 guard Jerryd Bayless scored a game-high 28 points and hit a pair of free-throws with just 12.3 seconds left to give the Portland Trail Blazers a 78-73 win over the Wizards last night in Las Vegas.

Bayless, whom the Blazers acquired in a draft-day trade with Indiana, set the pace by scoring 10 of the team's 16 first quarter points. He continued his strong effort in the second quarter chipping in seven points in the quarter.

"It was a great win for us. I think I played well," said Bayless, who hit 18 of 23 free throws and 5 of 12 field goals. "It got a lot of kinks out I think and I'm still figuring out how to shoot at this level. I think I'll be fine and we've got to get ready for tomorrow."

Another Portland standout was Finland's Petteri Koponen, who scored 19 points.

Koponen, who just turned 20, hit 4 for 6 from behind the 3-point line. He's hoping the Trail Blazers decide to sign him, as they do have two roster spots available.

Another player the Blazers acquired in a draft-day trade last month, Nicolas Batum, was very active early in the game, but didn't do a lot offensively. He scored three points and left the game with bruised ribs.