Pacers try to put Portland loss behind them in Utah

(SportsNetwork.com) - The Indiana Pacers will do something they've only done once before this season: play a game after a loss.

The Pacers will resume a five-game western road trip Wednesday against the Utah Jazz and are coming off Monday's 106-102 loss at Portland. Paul George finished with a career-high 43 points on 16-of-30 shooting, including 7-of-15 from 3-point range, George tried to will his team to victory by scoring Indiana's last 15 points, but it wasn't enough to overthrow the Blazers.

Roy Hibbert posted his sixth double-double of the season with 16 points and 14 rebounds, while David West, who surpassed 11,000 points in his career, had 12 for the Pacers, who are 16-2 on the season and had a seven-game win streak stopped.

Blazers stars LaMarcus Aldridge and Damian Lillard scored 28 and 26 points, respectively. Aldridge also grabbed 10 rebounds.

"They're a great offensive team and they made big shots all game long," Pacers head coach Frank Vogel said of Portland.

Vogel was just named NBA Eastern Conference Coach of the Month and George was tabbed Eastern Conference Player of the Month.

"It's nice recognition for our team and what we have accomplished so far this season," George told the team's website. "While this is an individual honor, I share it with my teammates, the coaches and our franchise because we are all in this together."

Indiana, which had won four in a row as the guest and is winless in five straight at the Blazers, is 7-2 away from home and will also visit San Antonio and Oklahoma City.

Utah has won two in a row and three of four games since its 1-14 start and is in the midst of playing six of eight games in Salt Lake City.

The Jazz posted an improbable 109-103 victory over the Houston Rockets Monday, as Gordon Hayward pumped in 29 points on 12-of-18 shooting and both Trey Burke and Alec Burks scored 21 points for Utah, which shot 54.4 percent and sank 10- of-17 3-pointers. Burke and Burks each had a trio of 3-pointers.

"We came out with a lot of energy," said Utah head coach Tyrone Corbin. "We had the little lull in the end of the first, beginning of the second quarter. But after we got the guys back on the floor and got our composure. I thought they executed very well."

Utah, which had a 36-23 lead after the first quarter, was able to survive James Harden's 37 points.

Jazz forward Marvin Williams had 10 points and is questionable Wednesday with a sore right heel. Center Derrick Favors delivered 14 points and 13 rebounds versus the Rockets.

The Jazz are 3-6 as the host and split two meetings with Indiana last season. They are 7-3 in the past 10 matchups with the Pacers and will visit them on March 2 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

Indiana has lost six straight in Salt Lake City.