"By the time the Indiana Pacers return home in eight days, they will have traveled more than 4,000 miles, played four playoff-caliber teams and perhaps seen the return of Mike Dunleavy. They also should have a better feel for where they stand in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

Let the challenges begin.

The Pacers, who have endured their share of agonizing losses, start a five-game trip -- their longest of the season -- tonight at Denver.

"Going on the road is something we've struggled with early on," Pacers point guard T.J. Ford said. "I think we have confidence because we've played a few of these teams already. I think for us, let's get the first one. The first team is Denver. We have to go in there and set the tempo from the beginning and make sure we get a first hit."

The Pacers also face Phoenix, the Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State and Utah.

Indiana remains in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff race despite its 12-21 record. The Pacers are three games behind Milwaukee for the eighth seed, but a rough trip could put them farther behind.

"We had this one stretch where we should have made up some ground, but we didn't do it for different reasons, like guys being sick," forward Danny Granger said. "Who knows how it can go on the West Coast. We're confident that we can play with the best when we put it all together. We've already shown that this season."

Four of the five teams -- all but Golden State -- have a winning record, and the Pacers haven't beaten a team with a winning record on the road this season. They're 3-10 away from Conseco Fieldhouse and haven't defeated the Lakers in Los Angeles since Feb. 14, 1999.

"Learning how to win on the road is something good teams develop," point guard Jarrett Jack said. "We're in every ballgame regardless if it's home or away. We just have to have a strong showing and keep playing the way we've been playing."

Coach Jim O'Brien, who gave his team Sunday off, was in no mood to talk about anything other than the Nuggets after Saturday's victory over Sacramento.

"Let's worry about Denver, nothing more than Denver," he said.

What has the Pacers optimistic is that they've already beaten the Lakers and the Warriors this season, they won at Denver last season and their last three games against Phoenix, all Indiana losses, have been decided by a total of 14 points at the end of regulation.

"We've been right there with all those teams," Granger said. "We match up well with those teams. We'll be on their home court, but anything is possible. We can make some things happen. We just have to go out and do it.""