Spurs Get Played by This Jazz Ensemble

The series between the Utah Jazz and San Antonio Spurs was marked by blowout after blowout. The only thing different about Game 6 was the finality of it--and David Robinson’s disgust with the officals.

Utah got 25 points from Karl Malone and a 51-point effort from its bench to return to the Western Conference finals for the third time in five years with a 108-81 rout Thursday night to win the best-of-seven Western Conference semifinal series, 4-2.

The Jazz open its next series Saturday at Seattle against the SuperSonics.

Game 6, just like Games 3 and 4 at the Delta Center, was marked by another struggle by Robinson, who was scoreless in the first half. He picked up his third foul only 14 seconds into the second quarter, and Utah was ahead by 13 when he returned in the second half.

Robinson, ordinarily the league’s poster boy for sportsmanship, could not hide his disdain for the officiating.

“That third foul was garbage, and I think it was personal,” Robinson said of a questionable charging call by referee Steve Javie. “Every time I’ve seen him, things have been the same--not good. I don’t appreciate him bringing that onto the floor.”

Robinson scored 14 points and grabbed six rebounds in the third quarter, but Malone wouldn’t let the Spurs gather any momentum as he led Utah to a 17-point lead after three and a 20-point edge early in the fourth quarter.

“It actually shocked me when I looked up at the scoreboard and we were up 20 and the crowd was going crazy,” said Adam Keefe, who led Utah’s reserves with 18 points and seven rebounds.

Utah’s advantage grew to 32 with 1:36 left, and the final score gave the Jazz victories by 20, 30, 15 and 27 points in the series.

Robinson, who had scored only 11 points in each of Game 3 and 4 at the Delta Center, finished with 17--all in the second half.

NBA Notes

Norm Sonju, who joined the Dallas Mavericks before they were even awarded a franchise, resigned as president and general manager amid controversy over his handling of the team’s coaching search. Indiana Coach Larry Brown reportedly was on a list of potential candidates to replace the fired Dick Motta, but the Mavericks never asked the Pacers’ permission to interview Brown. That led to Sonju saying “we never had Larry Brown on our coaching list.” Former Phoenix coach Paul Westphal and Maverick assistant Brad Davis have been interviewed for the job. . . . Toni Kukoc, who sat out the last three games of the Chicago-New York series because of back problems, practiced Thursday and should be ready for Sunday’s Eastern Conference championship opener against the Orlando Magic. . . . Rookie of the year Damon Stoudamire of the Toronto Raptors, Joe Smith of the Golden State Warriors, Jerry Stackhouse of the Philadelphia 76ers, Antonio McDyess of the Denver Nuggets, Arvydas Sabonis of the Portland Trail Blazers and Michael Finley of the Phoenix Suns were named to the NBA’s all-rookie team. Sabonis and Finley tied for fifth in votes. . . . The Mavericks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Phoenix Suns and Utah Jazz will play Oct. 26-27 in a preseason tournament at the Palacio de los Deportes in Mexico City.