Jazz tie series with 123-115 overtime win

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 on Sunday, 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.


Duncan scores 22, Spurs win to even series 100-80

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 2-2.

Tony Parker added 21 points for the Spurs, who led nearly the entire game and are assured of a Game 6 back 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 (39-of-76), while the Hornets were cold when it counted.

They shot 37 percent through three quarters and finished 24-of-65 (40 percent) 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.