Portland Trail Blazers

Ready or not, here come the New Jersey Nets.

While that may seem to be just short of the Washington Generals making a visit, there's a certain danger when the Trail Blazers play host to the Nets on Wednesday night at the Rose Garden.

New Jersey is 0-13 and making a run at the worst start in NBA history. If the Nets lose Tuesday night at Denver, they'll come into Portland winless.

"We don't want to give them their first win," Blazers forward Martell Webster said. "There have been times in the past where it may have seemed that we play to the level of our competition. But we know we have to go out there and take care of business against whomever the opponent."

Forward LaMarcus Aldridge said the Blazers won't be looking past New Jersey.

"Right now, we're just focused on trying to get better every game," Aldridge said. "We're going to have the same focus when (the Nets) come in here as we would if it were the Lakers."

TRAIL BLAZERS 122, BULLS 98: The Blazers established season highs for points and field-goal percentage (.575) while moving into sole possession of first place in the Northwest Division.

The Blazers out-rebounded Chicago 47-27 and won the points-in-the-paint battle 50-32. The Blazers (11-5) are off to the fastest 16-game start for the franchise since they opened 13-3 in 1999-2000.

:

• C Greg Oden had his most productive game of the season, matching his career high with 24 points to go with 12 rebounds—six off the offensive glass—in 27 minutes.

  "Greg was really patient in the post," coach Nate McMillan said. "He did a nice job taking his time and reading the defense. When the defense played him with single coverage, he was able to score because he was getting deep post position to start with. When they double-teamed, he made good decisions out of the post."

  Oden was 7-for-8 from the field and 10-for-12 from the foul line in a dominant 27-minute performance. The second-year center got rolling late with four second-half dunks, three in a ferocious three-minute span in the fourth quarter. He outplayed Chicago center Joakim Noah, who entered the game leading the NBA in rebounding at 12.3 per game. Noah finished with seven points and eight rebounds to go with five fouls trying to slow down Oden.

• Blazers assistant coach Maurice Lucas has been hospitalized with a recurrence of bladder cancer, a week after owner Paul Allen revealed he has suffered a recurrence of non-Hodgkins Lymphoma.

  "He's trying to recover, trying to fight off this thing," McMillan said. "It's similar to Mr. Allen. Our thoughts and prayers are with him. We're praying for his recovery with hopes he can get back as soon as possible."

Quote To Note:

"I don't talk about those Gators. … always hurts my feelings."

—Greg Oden, joking about gaining personal motivation from facing Chicago's Joakim Noah. Noah and his Florida teammates beat Oden's Ohio State team in the 2007 NCAA championship game.

Rotation:

Starters—Point guard Steve Blake, Shooting guard Brandon Roy, Small forward Martell Webster, Power forward LaMarcus Aldridge, Center Greg Oden. Bench—Guard Andre Miller, Guard Rudy Fernandez, Center Joel Przybilla, Guard Jerryd Bayless.

Player Notes:

• F LaMarcus Aldridge collected 24 points and 13 rebounds, sinking 10-of-16 shots and scoring from both the perimeter and the paint. Aldridge was the biggest reason the Blazers held a 66-51 lead at the half, going for 17 points and nine boards to that point.\

• G Andre Miller, who had 16 points and five assists off the bench, drew fouls with an array of moves to the hoop and tumbles to the floor, making 10-of-11 from the line. He also had two of the showiest passes of the night—a pass to G Rudy Fernandez off a baseline cut for a reverse lay-up in the third quarter and a lob to C Greg Oden for a dunk in the fourth period.

• G Rudy Fernandez was sensational with 13 points on 5-of-7 from the field and 3-of-5 from 3-point range. He also had three rebounds and three assists in just 19 minutes. Fernandez put up the lob for a SportsCenter-worthy one-hand jam by F Martell Webster in the game's final minute.

Medical Watch:

• F Travis Outlaw will be lost for 3-to-5 months with a broken fifth metatarsal bone in his left foot.

• F Nicolas Batum will be lost until at least the All-Star break after undergoing late-October surgery to repair a torn right labrum.

• F Jeff Pendergraph underwent hip surgery in September. The rookie won't be available until early January.

• G Patty Mills underwent surgery to repair a broken leg in July. His return won't come until at least Christmas.