Webster barrage buries Jazz

24-point third-quarter outburst lifts Blazers

By Kerry Eggers

LocalNewsDaily.com, Jan 5, 2008, Updated Oct 30, 2009 (6 Reader comments)

No Brandon Roy?

No problem.

At least not when Martell Webster shoots the ball in the type of zone he was in Saturday night at the Rose Garden.

With Roy limited to nine first-quarter minutes because of a bruised tailbone, Webster’s uncanny gunnery was the catalyst for the Trail Blazers’ 103-89 victory over the Utah Jazz.

Those in the sellout crowd of 20,451 can say they witnessed one of the great shooting displays in Portland history. Webster bombed in 24 of his game-high 26 points in the third quarter as the Blazers (21-13) came from behind to secure their third straight win and 16th in the last 17 games to move back into a virtual tie with Denver (20-12) atop the Northwest Division.

In a span of less than six minutes, Webster knocked down seven straight shots from the field – including three 3-pointers. The third-year small forward finished 7 of 9 from the field – 3 of 4 from 3-point range – and 7 of 7 from the line to finish one short of Terry Porter’s franchise single-quarter record of 25 points set in 1992.

“I’ve never seen a guy as hot as that,” Portland assistant coach Bill Bayno said. “And the two (shots) he missed, they were both in and out.”

Roy, who hurt his tailbone late in Thursday’s double-overtime victory at Chicago, tried to play but found it too sore to move on the court. Portland coach Nate McMillan removed the shooting guard from the game late in the first quarter, then made the decision at halftime to keep him out the rest of the way, leaving Portland without its top scorer and go-to guy.

LaMarcus Aldridge was the main reason the Blazers were within 42-39 at halftime, collecting 17 points and seven rebounds before intermission. McMillan challenged the other Blazers to step up in the second half.

“Losing Brandon, we had to find somewhere else to go,” the Portland coach said. “LaMarcus and Travis (Outlaw) were the guys we started off with. Then we gave Martell some touches, he got his rhythm and we rode him as long as we could.”

Roy said once he knew he was out of the game for good, he got in Webster’s ear.

“I said, ‘I may not be able to play anymore. Be aggressive, Martell,’ “ Roy said. “He went out and did it.”

None of Webster’s third-quarter baskets were layups. McMillan kept calling a “continuous pindown” play, where the Blazer big men set picks on both sides of the court and Webster rubs off them to the corner. The idea is for Webster to wind up with an open shot, at the 3-point line if possible. If a defender overcommits, Webster goes for the back door.

“It’s Martell’s play,” Bayno said.

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