Spurs’ Homecoming Becomes Low Point in History of Jazz

This time, the San Antonio Spurs didn’t let it come down to the last shot.

After losing two close games in Utah that were decided in the final seconds, the Spurs routed the Jazz, 86-64, Saturday in Game 3 of their Western Conference semifinal series.

“We can enjoy it for an hour or so,” said Spur Coach Gregg Popovich, whose team plays the Jazz again tonight in the Alamodome. “It’s never simple against Utah.”

The 64 points by Utah tied the NBA record for fewest points in a playoff game, most recently matched by Charlotte against Atlanta last Tuesday. The Jazz also set a host of franchise playoff records for offensive futility.

David Robinson had 21 points, nine rebounds and seven blocks for the Spurs, who capitalized on Utah’s dismal third quarter to cut the Jazz’s lead to 2-1 in the best-of-seven series.

“We were in a must-win situation and the guys were focused,” Robinson said. “We wanted to set the tone defensively. We had some of the energy we were lacking in Utah.”

Karl Malone was the only Utah player who scored in double figures with 18 points, but he made only six of 21 shots and was limited to five rebounds. John Stockton missed his only two shots and finished with two points and two assists.

“We have 24 hours to bounce back. Nothing positive came out of this game,” Malone said. “If anything, we have to be more patient.”

The Jazz missed its first 12 shots in the third quarter and didn’t score in the period until Malone made two free throws with 5:07 remaining. By then, the Spurs led, 61-37.

San Antonio outscored Utah, 18-9, in the quarter, when the Jazz missed 15 of 17 shots and set a franchise playoff-low by shooting 12%.

For the game, the Jazz shot only 29%. The Spurs made 40% of their shots.

“‘We can’t beat anybody if we don’t start playing from the team concept,” Jazz Coach Jerry Sloan said. “Any time you go out there to the floor and look so unorganized . . . I don’t feel good about that. We have to have some semblance of order on the offensive end.”

Sloan said he’s concerned about how his team will respond tonight.

“I’m always worried about carryover,” he said. “In the coaching business you’re always worried.”

The Spurs lost the series opener, 83-82, after Tim Duncan missed a shot in the closing seconds. San Antonio lost Game 2, 109-106, in overtime.

Duncan, the Spurs’ leading scorer in the first two games, had only 10 points and 10 rebounds in Game 3 while playing on a sore left ankle.

“It was great to have Tim out there. He showed a lot of guts,” Popovich said. “He’s a competitor. And there’s no way he was not going to be on the floor.”

Robinson played a big game in only 29 minutes. He had 16 points, eight rebounds and four blocks in the first half as the Spurs built an 18-point lead at the break before ending all suspense in the third quarter.

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Low Point

Fewest points scored by a team in NBA playoff game:

* 64--Utah at San Antonio, May 9, 1998

* 64--Charlotte at Atlanta, April 28, 1998

* 64--Orlando at Miami, April 24, 1997

* 64--Portland at Utah, May 5, 1996

* 67--Orlando vs. Chicago, May 25, 1996

* 68--New York at Indiana, May 28, 1994

* 68--Miami at Chicago, May 22, 1997