The Indiana Pacers are vying to match the longest road winning streak in franchise history, but Portland isn’t the ideal place to attempt this feat.
Not just because the red-hot Trail Blazers have won four straight games and eight of nine entering Tuesday’s matchup, but also because the Pacers have lost in 14 of their past 15 visits to Portland.
That lone victory during the span came on Jan. 14, 2021 when there were no fans in the stands due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
So it could be a challenge for the Pacers to match the franchise record of seven straight road wins, set at the outset of the 2003-04 season when Reggie Miller’s stellar career was nearing the finish line in Indy. It was also during Rick Carlisle’s first stint as Indiana’s coach.
The Pacers are only in position to match the mark due to a frantic comeback for a 112-111 road win over the Utah Jazz on Monday.
“It’s one of the best wins of the year considering the circumstances and how we shot the ball,” Carlisle said afterward.
Indiana trailed by 12 midway through the fourth quarter before going on a 14-1 spurt en route to overtaking the Jazz on a night the Pacers were outrebounded 60-37 and were just 10 of 42 from 3-point range.
“This speaks to the maturity and growth of our group,” said Indiana star Tyrese Haliburton, “because the last couple years, we don’t make shots, we get blown out.”
Pascal Siakam scored 10 of his 22 points in the final stanza, including a dunk with 5.1 seconds left to make it a two-possession game.
And suddenly, the Pacers had an unlikely victory.
“It was just hard to get to the hump throughout the game let alone get over the hump,” Carlisle said. “… If you’re watching the game as a Pacers fan you’re saying, ‘It’s not going to happen tonight.’ But our guys kept saying let’s hang around and give ourselves a chance.”
Indiana has won four straight games and 12 of its last 14 as it again tries to solve its troubles in Portland. The Pacers haven’t won in front of Trail Blazers fans since Nov. 28, 2007.
Portland also happens to be home to one of the hottest teams in the NBA. A squad that was 15 games below .500 two-plus weeks ago has registered five double-digit wins since that time.
On Monday, Portland delivered a 121-119 overtime victory over Phoenix to finish off a two-game sweep of the Suns. The Trail Blazers routed Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and the rest of the Suns 127-108 on Saturday.
Nobody was happier to beat the Suns than Deandre Ayton, the No. 1 overall pick by Phoenix in 2018. Ayton averaged 24.5 points in the two games and collected a season-high 20 rebounds on Monday. Nine were on the offensive boards.
“When the shot goes up on our end, I had the chance to really chase these boards,” Ayton said after topping 20 points for the fifth straight game. “And let us have daggers and put us in position to win.”
Ayton made five of six free throws in the final 7.8 seconds of overtime.
“I think this might have been D.A.’s best all-around game,” Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups said. “Everything, all across the board, and being able to close it out with the clutch free throws.”
Indiana center Myles Turner (ankle) sat out against Utah and the team said he is questionable for Portland.
The Pacers beat the visiting Trail Blazers 121-114 on Nov. 27. Siakam had 29 points for Indiana and Anfernee Simons had 30 for Portland.
–Field Level Media
