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PORTLAND, Oregon (Ticker) - Maybe some home cooking was all thatthe Portland Trail Blazers needed.
Martell Webster and Jarrett Jack scored 20 points each to liftthe Trail Blazers to their first win of the season, a 93-90triumph over the New Orleans Hornets on Wednesday.
After three straight road losses, the Blazers gave their fanssomething to cheer about in the first home game of the 2007-08campaign with injured No. 1 overall pick Greg Oden watching onthe sidelines.
"To get that first 'W,' especially in front of the home fans inthe home opener against an undefeated team, felt real good,"Jack said. "It's just something that he hopes can carry over."
The setback was the first of the season for New Orleans, makingthe Los Angeles Clippers the last undefeated Western Conferenceteam.
"I didn't think we'd go 82-0," Hornets guard Chris Paul said."It was nice to be 4-0, but now we realize we can lose. It's agame of emotions and, at the end, they got the best of us."
A third-year guard, Webster has gotten off to an impressivestart, finishing in double figures for the fourth consecutivegame. He averaged just 7.0 points last season.
"Martell is showing us what we wanted and waited for the lasttwo years," Blazers coach Nate McMillan said. "We went to himthree or four times in a row and he delivered for us each time."
Tyson Chandler's three-point play gave the Hornets a 60-56 edgewith 8:14 remaining in the third quarter. The 7-1 big man wasejected later in the period.
"It really hurt not having Tyson out there," said Paul, who had18 points and 12 assists. "He's one of the guys that makes thisteam go. He let his emotions get the best of him. Hopefully,he will learn because this year is all about no excuses."
"Tyson lost his cool," Hornets forward David West said. "I toldhim that he can't do that. That's not a smart play for us atthat point of the game."
However, the Blazers stormed ahead for good behind the effortsof Webster, who poured in 10 points during a game-changing 14-0run for a 72-60 advantage at the 3:35 mark.
"Martell has been great for us, man," Portland guard Brandon Roysaid. "He came out aggressive and got in a nice rhythm early.He's been doing that all season so far and he was thedifference for us."
The Hornets closed within 81-77 when Paul found West for an18-footer to cap an 11-0 burst with 3:47 remaining in thedecisive quarter.
But Roy, whose the reigning Rookie of the Year, kept New Orleansat bay - scoring seven of Portland's final 11 points.
Roy collected 17 points and seven assists and LaMarcus Aldridgehad 12 and eight rebounds for Portland, which plays the nextthree games at home.
"We just came out really nasty, and we wanted to play with someintensity and just come after it," Roy said. "That's what weare going to have to do all year is just play nasty. I think ifwe approach games like that, we will be tough to beat."
West had a career high-tying 34 points and 18 boards.
"It's a shame we wasted such a great effort by David," Hornetscoach Byron Scott said. "They were more physical, moreaggressive. I thought they played harder than we did."
Martell Webster and Jarrett Jack scored 20 points each to liftthe Trail Blazers to their first win of the season, a 93-90triumph over the New Orleans Hornets on Wednesday.
After three straight road losses, the Blazers gave their fanssomething to cheer about in the first home game of the 2007-08campaign with injured No. 1 overall pick Greg Oden watching onthe sidelines.
"To get that first 'W,' especially in front of the home fans inthe home opener against an undefeated team, felt real good,"Jack said. "It's just something that he hopes can carry over."
The setback was the first of the season for New Orleans, makingthe Los Angeles Clippers the last undefeated Western Conferenceteam.
"I didn't think we'd go 82-0," Hornets guard Chris Paul said."It was nice to be 4-0, but now we realize we can lose. It's agame of emotions and, at the end, they got the best of us."
A third-year guard, Webster has gotten off to an impressivestart, finishing in double figures for the fourth consecutivegame. He averaged just 7.0 points last season.
"Martell is showing us what we wanted and waited for the lasttwo years," Blazers coach Nate McMillan said. "We went to himthree or four times in a row and he delivered for us each time."
Tyson Chandler's three-point play gave the Hornets a 60-56 edgewith 8:14 remaining in the third quarter. The 7-1 big man wasejected later in the period.
"It really hurt not having Tyson out there," said Paul, who had18 points and 12 assists. "He's one of the guys that makes thisteam go. He let his emotions get the best of him. Hopefully,he will learn because this year is all about no excuses."
"Tyson lost his cool," Hornets forward David West said. "I toldhim that he can't do that. That's not a smart play for us atthat point of the game."
However, the Blazers stormed ahead for good behind the effortsof Webster, who poured in 10 points during a game-changing 14-0run for a 72-60 advantage at the 3:35 mark.
"Martell has been great for us, man," Portland guard Brandon Roysaid. "He came out aggressive and got in a nice rhythm early.He's been doing that all season so far and he was thedifference for us."
The Hornets closed within 81-77 when Paul found West for an18-footer to cap an 11-0 burst with 3:47 remaining in thedecisive quarter.
But Roy, whose the reigning Rookie of the Year, kept New Orleansat bay - scoring seven of Portland's final 11 points.
Roy collected 17 points and seven assists and LaMarcus Aldridgehad 12 and eight rebounds for Portland, which plays the nextthree games at home.
"We just came out really nasty, and we wanted to play with someintensity and just come after it," Roy said. "That's what weare going to have to do all year is just play nasty. I think ifwe approach games like that, we will be tough to beat."
West had a career high-tying 34 points and 18 boards.
"It's a shame we wasted such a great effort by David," Hornetscoach Byron Scott said. "They were more physical, moreaggressive. I thought they played harder than we did."