San Antonio matched its lowest point total in franchise history, set in a loss to Cleveland in March 1997. The Jazz held the defending NBA champion Spurs without a point for almost the first 4 minutes of the fourth quarter.
Utah dominated the Spurs the same way San Antonio controlled the Jazz in the Western Conference finals last spring, winning easily in five games.
Deron Williams had his 50th double-double of the season with 16 points and 11 assists, opening the fourth quarter with a high alley-oop to Andrei Kirilenko to start a 13-0 run for the Jazz. Kirilenko finished with 10 points and six assists, and Carlos Boozer added 16 points and flustered Spurs star Tim Duncan all night.
Duncan finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds, but sat most of the fourth quarter as the Jazz ran away with it.
Tony Parker had 17 points for San Antonio, but only four assists.
Unlike last year's playoffs, the Jazz never let the Spurs get too far ahead. San Antonio never led by more than eight and Utah easily overcame that deficit and took command in the third quarter.
Kirilenko, who has missed 10 games this season with injuries, went hard to the floor while going after loose balls in the third quarter. He tied up Michael Finley on one play early in the third quarter and forced a jump ball, which Utah won. Boozer broke the tie on two free throws, starting a 6-0 run for the Jazz.
Later in the period, Kirilenko hit the floor again in almost the same spot when he stripped the ball from Manu Ginobili to start a fast break for the Jazz. Kyle Korver, who scored 11, was fouled on the layup attempt and made both free throws to give Utah a 64-53 lead. Fabricio Oberto got the two points back for San Antonio when he took a forearm from Boozer in the lane and made both free throws, but Utah still led by nine entering the fourth quarter and had the Spurs scrambling.
