Spurs enjoy their Jazz

With three NBA championship flags high above the court, and many of the key players from those title teams in the lineup, the San Antonio Spurs opened the Western Conference finals like a team ready to add to its collection.

Well, for most of Game 1.

Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker were terrific for three quarters, then good enough at the end to carry San Antonio to a 108-100 victory over the upstart Utah Jazz on Sunday.

Playing only 39 hours after ending a rough and tumble series with the Phoenix Suns, the Spurs took a 19-point lead before halftime and were still ahead by 18 early in the fourth quarter. Then a combination of fatigue and Utah’s Deron Williams made it interesting in the final minutes.

Although the Jazz never got closer than seven points, and lost for the 17th straight time at San Antonio, Utah’s late rally certainly got the Spurs’ attention, as did Williams’ career-high 34 points.

“In Game 2, they’re going to be ready,” Parker said. “The way they played in the second half, that’s what we will see the whole series. We need to make sure we match that.”

Duncan had 27 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, and Ginobili had 23 points and 10 assists. Parker added 21 points and six assists, including one through the legs of Utah’s Mehmet Okur that started a fastbreak.

“They’ve been named the ‘Big Three’ for a reason,” said teammate Michael Finley, who scored 14 points. “When they come out and offensively put up numbers like that, we’re a pretty tough team to beat.”

Robert Horry received a long, loud standing ovation when he entered for the first time after being suspended the two previous games because of his hard foul on Phoenix’s Steve Nash. He drew another big cheer the first time he went in after halftime, but didn’t score -- or take a shot -- in 15 minutes.

Horry, however, helped contain Utah forward Carlos Boozer, who had only one basket in the first half and three through three quarters. He made seven of 17 shots and finished with 20 points with 12 rebounds.

“My first half was terrible,” Boozer said. “They did a great job taking me out a little bit. Got a couple fouls and the second quarter, they really took it to us.”

Williams had 16 points through three quarters, then scored 18 in the final period, something the Jazz certainly hopes to build on.

Actually, the main thing Coach Jerry Sloan will be looking for is effort. He made sure the players knew it at halftime, telling them, “If you are intimidated and you don’t want to go out there and compete, then stay in the locker room.”

“I didn’t like what I saw out there with the guys shaking their heads at each other,” Sloan said. “We’ve got to stay together. We were looking for excuses.”