Pacers-Jazz Preview

By KEVIN MASSOTH
Posted Dec 05 2015 12:45AM

After their early-season identity crisis ended with a lopsided loss to the Utah Jazz, the Indiana Pacers would welcome a return to the team they've since become in the rematch.

The Pacers have been showcasing one of the NBA's most dynamic offenses and will try to keep a hiccup from becoming a trend Saturday night against the slumping Jazz.

A 97-76 home loss to Utah on Halloween night left Indiana (12-6) with a head-scratching 0-3 start. The promise of a faster-paced style of play was empty even with the return of Paul George from a broken leg.

The Pacers, however, became on one of the league's hottest teams once November began, winning 12 of their next 14 games - a run that was guided by George but also derailed this week by his worst game of the season.

George, who averaged 30.7 points in his previous 13 games, was held to a season-low 11 in Thursday's 123-111 loss at Portland on the same day he earned Eastern Conference Player of the Month honors. He made just 4 of 17 shots and missed all nine of his 3-point attempts as Indiana's six-game winning streak was snapped.

The Pacers opened a four-game trip with wins over the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday and Clippers on Wednesday, but fell short in the second of a back-to-back set.

"Coming in I felt a little sluggish," George said. "It's just rough coming in late and trying to get your sleeping schedule right, but that's not an excuse.

"I've got to do better."

C.J. Miles, who spent his first seven seasons with Utah, picked up the slack with 27 points while making 8 of 11 shots from 3-point range.

The blame, though, didn't fall on Indiana's offense, which ranks toward the top of the league with 102.4 points per game, but more on a defense that allowed a season-high point total, including 41 in the third quarter.

The Pacers had won four consecutive meetings against Utah and six of seven before their late-October loss. They have won two straight at EnergySolutions Arena, but the Jazz won the previous six.

The win over Indiana was part of Utah's 4-2 start, but the Jazz (8-9) are 4-7 since.

After opening a four-game homestand with a 101-87 win over New Orleans, Utah fell 106-103 to Golden State on Monday and 103-94 to Orlando on Thursday.

Defense has been Utah's backbone, but the Jazz played their first game without defensive anchor Rudy Gobert against the Magic and allowed at least 100 points in consecutive games for just the second time all season.

Gobert sprained the MCL in his left knee during practice Wednesday, and coach Quin Snyder says he could be out "the next couple months."

Utah, which has lost three of four at home, started Derrick Favors at center in place of Gobert, who was averaging 9.2 points, 10.9 rebounds and 2.6 blocks, while Trevor Booker shifted to fill Favors' typical power forward spot.

"Adversity is opportunity in disguise," Snyder said. "Hopefully we'll un-disguise it. It's unfortunate, obviously, mostly for Rudy. I felt like our team had really started to play well."

While the Jazz rank toward the top of the NBA with 94.5 points allowed, the offense is barely better at 95.9, and Snyder used a small lineup late against the Magic to try and improve the offensive flow to no avail.

Pacers guard Monta Ellis is questionable after getting kneed in the back at Portland.

Favors scores 35 as Jazz beat Pacers 122-119 in OT

By KAREEM COPELAND
Posted Dec 06 2015 11:29AM

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) Utah coach Quin Snyder asked for more from Derrick Favors and Gordon Hayward, and they responded.

Favors scored a career-high 35 points, and the Jazz rallied for a 122-119 overtime win against Paul George and the Indiana Pacers on Saturday night.

Snyder challenged Favors and Hayward during practice on Friday. The Jazz were coming off consecutive losses and trying to find their way without 7-foot-1 center Rudy Gobert, who is out with a left knee injury.

Favors went 14 for 24 from the field against Indiana, and also had 13 rebounds. Hayward had 22 points, five rebounds and five assists.

"Terrific, terrific job by both of them," Snyder said. "I asked them for that. We needed those two guys to step up. Our two best players.

"We'll figure some of the other stuff out. It may not look pretty all the time. It may not be successful all of the time. But we'll keep grinding."

Favors converted a three-point play to help send the game to overtime, and then added six more points in the extra period. Favors had a layup off a pick-and-roll with Trey Burke with 17.1 seconds left, and George Hill missed a potential tying 3-pointer at the buzzer.

"I work on my craft so much, I had that feeling the whole game," Favors said. "Last game against Orlando I was kind of pressing a little bit. This game I calmed down and let the game come to me.

"(It was) one of those emotional-type games. ... Everybody stepped up."

Indiana wasted career-high 48 points from George, who carried the offensive load for much of the night. But two missed jumpers down the stretch of regulation helped Utah come back.

"No question this one really stings," Pacers coach Frank Vogel said. "We played well enough to win. A couple of break downs late, couple of rebounds we just didn't do enough to finish it. So it hurts."

The Jazz jumped to a 24-12 lead in the first quarter thanks to a 10-0 run and some cold shooting from the Pacers. They started the game shooting 27 percent from the field and 1 for 6 from behind the arc.

Indiana chipped away thanks to 20 first-half points from George, but a turnover and a Burke layup seconds before halftime lifted the Jazz to a 57-52 lead at the break.

The Jazz started the third quarter with a 14-2 run, but George continued to hit shot after shot. The teams were tied at 84 heading into the fourth quarter.

"It really hurts, especially to be up and winning and not taking care of business to close this one out," George said.

TIP-INS

Pacers: Monta Ellis started despite being questionable with a right shoulder contusion. ... C.J. Miles scored 12 points on 2-for-10 shooting from the field. ... Indiana was outrebounded 54-44.

Jazz: Burke had 19 points and seven assists. ... Utah fouled a 3-point shooter four times in the first half. ... Rookie Trey Lyles made his third start of the season and played just under 20 minutes. ... Rodney Hood fouled out in the fourth quarter with six points.

RUNNING THIN

The Jazz are running short on big bodies. Gobert is out for the foreseeable future. Trevor Booker has been sick, so Lyles started in his place. Booker held up well, but the Jazz have a thin rotation of big men.

"There are no clear answers for our team right now as far as rotations and substitutions go," Snyder said. "It's all uncharted waters."

BRAZILIAN DELIGHT

Jazz rookie Raul Neto scored a career-high 13 points. He was feeling it immediately after halftime, scoring 10 quick points, including a spinning, flick-of-the-wrist shot while being fouled and facing the other direction.

QUOTABLE

"Grit, man, it was unbelievable," Hayward said. "I think this is a game you look back and kind of scratch your head at how we clawed our way back into it. Just a game with perseverance, fight, tenacity."

UP NEXT

Pacers: Host Golden State on Tuesday.

Jazz: Visit Sacramento on Tuesday.

• Pacers: Christmas, Whittington
• Jazz: Exum, Pleiss

• Pacers: --
• Jazz: --

• Lead Changes: 12
• Times Tied: 8

• Arena: Vivint Smart Home Arena, Salt Lake City, UT
• Officials: #71 Rodney Mott, #73 Tre Maddox, #59 Gary Zielinski
• Attendance: 19500
• Duration: 2:50