HOUSTON -- In the never-ending search for early-season trends that might serve as an indicator of long-term behavior, the Houston Rockets followed their fifth loss of the season on Wednesday night with a victory over the Portland Trail Blazers one evening later to avoid suffering their first losing skid on the season.The Rockets (7-5), with a new coach and reconfigured roster, remain in search of consistency. Yet, their ability to rebound from setbacks offers optimism, particularly this week given the disappointment that resonated after their come-from-ahead loss against Oklahoma City. Houston led by as many as 11 points before falling 105-103.Were still fairly new as a team, said Rockets guard James Harden, who followed a season-worst 13-point performance against the Thunder with his third triple-double of the season against Portland. Were still trying to figure each other out. As long as we can bounce back and continue to get better, continue to grow and learn from our mistakes, well be all right.Through victory and defeat the Rockets, who host the Utah Jazz (7-6) on Saturday at Toyota Center, are working to establish their identity. They fancy themselves as a space-and-pace outfit yet they rank a modest 14th in the NBA in pace at 97.2 possessions per 48 minutes. They are fifth in offensive rating and are coming off back-to-back games where seven and six players reached double figures in scoring.With the return of guard Patrick Beverley, Houston aims to improve defensively. What theyve shown through a dozen games is a willingness to work at everything.Were going to make some mistakes and we still have some improving to do, Rockets coach Mike DAntoni said. As long as they come with that attitude every day and work at it and fix their mistakes, then good things will happen.Injuries continue to undermine the Jazz, who followed a successful five-game swing through the Eastern Conference with consecutive home losses. Utah went 4-1 before returning home and dropping games against the Memphis Grizzlies and Chicago Bulls, with the absences of guard George Hill (thumb) and forward Derrick Favors (knee) looming large.Weve had a lot of guys adjusting to injury, Jazz coach Quin Snyder said. Theres a lot of that going on.I dont want to overreact to one player playing poorly or our team playing poorly. That doesnt get you where you want to go.Without Hill, who has missed six games, the Jazz can appear rudderless. Utah was emboldened by the return of forward Gordon Hayward to open their road trip but Hill provides a veteran touch orchestrating the offense that isnt easily replaced.Second-year guard Dante Exum has started the last four games in place of Hill and over the previous six games is averaging nine points and two assists while shooting just 40.8 percent. Prior to his injury, Hill was averaging 20.4 points and five assists.Incidentally, Utah ranks dead last in the NBA in pace at 90.6 possessions per 48. Hill is questionable for a return against the Rockets, but with or without him Utah must find the rhythm it established on the road only to lose it back in Salt Lake City.Were going to go on this two-game road trip and hopefully get the best of that, Exum said. 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The Chinese star won in 2013 at Tiburon Golf Club.Somehow, the course is playing longer compared to three years ago, Feng said. I dont know, maybe because Im getting older Im hitting shorter.Ha Na Jang, Sei Young Kim, In Gee Chun, Amy Yang, Lizette Salas, Beatriz Recari, Ryann OToole and Mo Martin all shot 68.Top-ranked Lydia Ko had a 70. She needs a win this week to secure player of the year honors,Ariya Jutanugarn and Brooke Henderson, who like Ko are guaranteed the points crown if they prevail this week, each shot 72.Feng has finished no worse than a tie for fourth in her last seven events. She started the run with the Olympic bronze medal in Rio, tied for fourth at Evian in France, opened the Asia trip at home in China with a fourth-place tie, was second in Taiwan and tied for third in South Korea before winning in Malaysia and Japan. She took last week off, practicing only three days in Orlando.I think after the Asian wave, were just so tired. I think I needed the rest, Feng said. I feel actually pretty fresh coming into this week. ... Ive been playing well, so just wanted to keep up with the good playing.Feng birdied four of the last six holes -- the par-4 13th, par-5 14th, par-3 16th and par-5 17th -- in her bogey-free rouund.dddddddddddd She made a 30-foot birdie putt on the par-5 first hole and also birdied the par-3 eighth.Ryu won the last of her three LPGA Tour titles in 2014.What I learned through this year, having like swing change this year, sometimes I just think about swing too much, Ryu said. So what I learned through that is I just rather more focus to like imagination. Just keep imagine how the ball is going to fly and what shot I am going to hit instead of where is my hand going to be, my wrist.Hull birdied the final four holes on the front nine and also birdied the 14th. She also was off last week after being delayed getting out of Japan.I was only home for four days, the 20-year-old English player said. I didnt touch a golf club. Hung out with my friends. I think I only touched a golf club once or twice last week.Carlota Ciganda had a 75. She won her first LPGA Tour title last month in South Korea and won the event in Mexico City on Sunday.Ko and Jutanugarn are fighting for the big year-end honors.Only a win would be enough to give Ko her second straight player-of-the-year award; any other result, and that title goes to Jutanugarn. They came in separated by $17,305 in the money standings, and Ko (69.611) enters with a minuscule edge over Chun (69.632) for the Vare Trophy presented to the player with the lowest scoring average.The points in the CME Globe standings reset for the finale, so Jutanugarn, Ko and Henderson all truly control their destinies when it comes to the $1 million bonus that goes to the points champion. ' ' '