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Spurs Deadlock Series; Jazz Edge Lakers In OT

The Associated Press

Published: May 12, 2008

SAN ANTONIO - Tim Duncan had 22 points and 15 rebounds, and the San Antonio Spurs beat the New Orleans Hornets 100-80 on Sunday night in Game 4 to even the Western Conference semifinals at 2.

Tony Parker added 21 points for the Spurs, who led nearly the entire game and are assured of a Game 6 in San Antonio. Chris Paul scored 23 for the Hornets.

Game 5 is Tuesday in New Orleans.

The Spurs led by as many as 27 and were ahead nearly the entire game. They shot 51 percent, while the Hornets were cold when it counted. They shot 37 percent through three quarters and finished 24 of 65 from the field.

The Spurs scored 40 points in the paint. New Orleans' plan to keep Parker out of the lane didn't work, as he knifed his way through heavy traffic or found openings to get to the rim, and also hit jumpers.

Manu Ginobili, who also got to the rim at will in Game 3, wasn't as successful in Game 4. But he hit jumpers and 3-pointers, finishing with 15 points. Duncan also had four blocks.

The Spurs outrebounded the Hornets 45-36 and outscored them 30-19 in the decisive third quarter.

The Hornets' David West had three blocks but was held to 10 points on four of 15 shooting and was visibly frustrated. Reserve Jannero Pargo scored 11 for the Hornets.

The Hornets were hoping to return to New Orleans with a 3-1 series lead, but allowed Duncan and Parker to shoot a combined 18 of 25 from the field.

The Spurs were ahead for all but 3:24 in the first half, taking the lead for good after Parker's layup with 8:36 to play in the first quarter broke a 4-4 tie.

NEW ORLEANS (80) - Stojakovic 3-9 0-0 6, West 4-15 2-2 10, Chandler 0-0 2-2 2, Paul 10-16 3-4 23, Peterson 2-8 1-2 7, Pargo 4-14 0-0 11, Wells 3-5 0-0 6, Wright 2-4 0-0 4, Ely 0-0 0-0 0, James 1-5 0-0 2, Armstrong 4-5 1-2 9, R.Bowen 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 33-82 9-12 80.

SAN ANTONIO (100) - B.Bowen 3-9 2-2 9, Duncan 10-13 2-5 22, Thomas 0-0 0-0 0, Parker 8-12 5-8 21, Ginobili 5-13 3-3 15, Oberto 2-3 0-0 4, Finley 5-7 0-0 12, Udoka 5-8 2-2 15, Vaughn 0-4 0-0 0, Horry 1-5 0-0 2, Barry 0-1 0-0 0, Stoudamire 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 39-76 14-20 100.

3-Point Goals-New Orleans 5-15 (Pargo 3-8, Peterson 2-4, Paul 0-1, Stojakovic 0-1, James 0-1), San Antonio 8-26 (Udoka 3-5, Finley 2-4, Ginobili 2-7, B.Bowen 1-7, Duncan 0-1, Horry 0-1, Barry 0-1). Fouled Out-None. Rebounds-New Orleans 41 (Paul, Armstrong 6), San Antonio 54 (Duncan 15). Assists-New Orleans 12 (Paul 5), San Antonio 27 (Ginobili, Parker 8). Total Fouls-New Orleans 17, San Antonio 18. A-18,797 (18,797).

Jazz Even Series At 2

SALT LAKE CITY - The Utah Jazz had plenty of chances to crumble and nearly did.

They let a 12-point slip away in the last four minutes and faced overtime against league MVP Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers. Instead of wilting, Utah played its toughest defense of the playoffs and pulled out a 123-115 victory, tying the Western Conference semifinals 2-2.

The Jazz held the Lakers to two field goals in overtime and went 9-for-9 from the foul line while outscoring the Lakers 15-7.

"We never have any doubts in our confidence," said Utah's Andrei Kirilenko, who blocked Bryant twice in overtime and converted a three-point play with 35 seconds remaining to help the Jazz pull away.

After opening the series with two losses in Los Angeles, the Jazz came home and answered with two wins to make it a best-of-three series, starting Wednesday at the Staples Center. Game 6 will be Friday back in Salt Lake City, where the Jazz are 4-1 in the playoffs.

L.A. LAKERS (115) - Radmanovic 1-6 0-0 2, Odom 10-18 5-10 26, Gasol 11-16 1-2 23, Fisher 5-8 1-1 15, Bryant 13-33 6-10 33, Farmar 0-2 0-0 0, Walton 2-6 1-2 5, Turiaf 0-2 0-0 0, Vujacic 4-6 0-0 11, Mbenga 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 46-97 14-25 115.

UTAH (123) - Kirilenko 4-4 7-9 15, Boozer 5-15 4-5 14, Okur 6-13 5-6 18, Williams 9-13 8-8 29, Brewer 3-5 2-2 8, Millsap 4-7 1-4 9, Harpring 4-6 4-4 12, Price 1-3 2-3 4, Korver 4-10 4-4 14. Totals 40-76 37-45 123.

3-Point Goals-L.A. Lakers 9-26 (Fisher 4-5, Vujacic 3-5, Odom 1-2, Bryant 1-10, Walton 0-1, Radmanovic 0-3), Utah 6-17 (Williams 3-4, Korver 2-6, Okur 1-4, Brewer 0-1, Millsap 0-1, Price 0-1). Fouled Out-Fisher. Rebounds-L.A. Lakers 53 (Odom 13), Utah 53 (Boozer 12). Assists-L.A. Lakers 20 (Bryant 10), Utah 32 (Williams 14). Total Fouls-L.A. Lakers 33, Utah 27. Technical-Okur. Flagrant Foul-Turiaf. Ejected-Turiaf. A-19,911 (19,911).