Portland's Webster erupts against Jazz

PORTLAND, Ore. — Welcome to Jazz lore, Martell Webster.

The 21-year-old Portland swingman singlehandedly did in Utah on Saturday here, scoring 24 of his career-high 26 in the third quarter alone as the Trail Blazers rolled to a 103-89 victory.

"All I was doing was just chasing him," said Jazz swingman C.J. Miles, the first of Webster's third-period victims. "They did a good job setting screens, and he did a good job of just running me back and forth until somebody got a real good screen on me. Once he got hot, even if I got there or not, it didn't really matter."

"Basically their offense was just 'let him run around screens.' No one else was even looking to score," added swingman Kyle Korver, yet another on Webster's hit list. "They were just setting screens for him, and he was running guys back and forth, and when a shooter gets hot like that, and you're running an offense like that, that's a shooter's dream right there."

By the time Utah's nightmare had ended, Portland (21-13) had won for the 16th time in its last 17 games — a run that includes three victories over the Jazz and the lone loss in the streak to the Jazz as well, all during a 25-day period.

The 18-17 Jazz, meanwhile, had lost for the 12th time in their last 16 outings — none, arguably, in more memorable fashion than Webster provided.

"I've been around a long time, and I don't know if I've ever seen anybody get that open coming off the baseline," Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said. "I mean, that guy was terrific. He was red-hot. And we just couldn't get to him."

Boosted by 10 opening-half points and a couple first-half steals from starting shooting guard Ronnie Brewer, the Jazz did go into the break up 42-39.

With usual reserve swingman Miles starting at small forward in place of injured Andrei Kirilenko (lower-back inflammation), newcomer Korver — acquired just the previous Saturday from Philadelphia — was first off the bench behind Brewer.

That changed in the second half, however, when the Blazers found a matchup to exploit.

And exploit they did.

On four straight possessions and five out of six early in the third quarter, Portland took advantage of Miles trying to guard Webster.

The No. 6 overall pick in the 2005 NBA Draft answered each time, reeling off nine consecutive points and 12 of Portland's 14 during the aforementioned stretch.

It didn't stop there.

After Korver subbed in for Miles, Webster promptly was fouled on a 3-point attempt and hit each freebie that followed.