Spurs Roll Past Jazz, into NBA Finals

Utah's memorable playoff run ended quietly, with Andrei Kirilenko scoring a team-high 13 points.

Salem-News.com SPORTS

SAN ANTONIO, TX - The Spurs wasted no time in securing their spot in the 2007 NBA Finals, outscoring the visiting Jazz by 19 points in the first quarter en route to a convincing 109-84 series-clinching Game 5 victory on Wednesday night.

Tim Duncan and Tony Parker scored 21 points apiece despite sitting out the bulk of the fourth quarter, when San Antonio's lead ballooned to as large as 29.

Manu Ginobili added 12 points.

The trip to The Finals will be the team's third in five years, and the fourth of Duncan's 10-year career.

The Spurs went on to win the championship in all three previous appearances, with Duncan earning Finals MVP honors each time.

Utah's memorable playoff run ended quietly, with Andrei Kirilenko scoring a team-high 13 points.

A hobbled Deron Williams added 11, and Carlos Boozer tallied nine with 12 rebounds.

Derek Fisher arrived at halftime after again flying from New York, where his infant daughter underwent further treatment for a rare eye disease. He finished with two points.

San Antonio will host the winner of the Detroit-Cleveland series in Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday, June 7 at 9 p.m. ET on ABC.

Adding comments to these stories has been disabled. View the current sports stories Salem-News Sports