CHICAGO (AP) -- Scottie Pippen's role in the Chicago Bulls' glorious past was there for all to see. A 2½-minute video tribute highlighting his 11-year career -- and six championships -- flashed across a huge scoreboard Monday night.

Once the welcome-home festivities were over and the warm ovation ended, it was time to play basketball.

	Damon Stoudamire, who led Portland with 16 points, drives past Ron Artest.

"It was very emotional for me, but I tried to handle it as well as possible, realizing I had a game to play," Pippen said as he made his return to Chicago with the Portland Trail Blazers.

"I'm just glad I didn't have to make a speech. I was able to sort of work my way out of that. It was something that brought back a lot of memories for me, a lot of things I miss about this city, playing in this arena."

Pippen had 11 points and six assists as the Trail Blazers did what nearly every team has done since he and Michael Jordan left -- they routed the overmatched Bulls 88-63, holding Chicago to the fewest points in the NBA this season.

"It's a tough situation for the Bulls," Pippen said. "They're playing hard, but nothing seems to be going in their favor and mistakes just compound. They have a lot of inexperienced players, players who haven't been in pressure situations or big games, and they don't know each other.

"You want to feel sorry for them, but you can't."

Damon Stoudamire led Portland with 16 points and Bonzi Wells added 15. Elton Brand paced the Bulls with 23 points and 10 rebounds.

The Bulls shot just 34 percent.

"I see a team with limitations now," Bulls coach Tim Floyd said. "I don't associate lack of shot making with being non-competitive."

After missing his first two shots, Pippen made three of his next four and also went high to block a layup attempt by former teammate Randy Brown, showing the skill that has long made him one of the game's best defensive players.

"I felt bad after I did it," Pippen said.

The Trail Blazers had little trouble in this mismatch. They shot 52 percent to 24 percent for the Bulls in the first quarter and raced to a 24-12 lead. Portland led 47-28 at the half, the Bulls' lowest scoring half of the season.

Pippen was cheered loudly as the lights were turned down and the video highlight played.

After it was over, he went to center court and biting his lip to hold his emotions, waved to the crowd.

"I'm moving on with my life in another city, although I still consider Chicago my home," Pippen said later. "It was a wonderful ride, but now my life's different. I'm on a different team and I'm trying to be successful there."

Before the game, Pippen remembered his days with the Bulls, when he teamed with Jordan to make Chicago the dominant team of the 1990s and often feuded with management. The winning was what made it so special, he said.

"Those are memories I can take to my grave with me," said Pippen, who went to Houston in a sign-and-trade deal after the NBA lockout ended last year. After the one shortened season, he was traded to Portland.

"Winning here and playing with the greatest player to ever play the game and in the greatest city in the NBA, you can't beat that," he said.

He said the Bulls have a real challenge to rebuild and questioned why any free agents could want to joint the current mix.

"From my standpoint I hate to see them lose," Pippen said.

"But it's kind of funny. It gives you a laugh to see how they (management) destroyed something that was great for the city of Chicago and very entertaining for a lot of people's lives. On the other hand, I'm in a great situation."

Notes
The previous low this season was 68 points by the Clippers against the Lakers. ... The Bulls are 2-26. ... At one point in the fourth quarter, four of Portland's players on the floor were sporting headbands. ... The Blazers got a technical foul for delay of game in the third quarter when a smiling Pippen carried the ball off the court after being called for an offensive foul.