THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
SALT LAKE CITY — Deron Williams had 11 points and 14 assists and the Utah Jazz won their fifth straight game, beating the San Antonio Spurs 97-91 on Monday night.
Carlos Boozer and Andrei Kirilenko scored 23 points each for the Jazz, who controlled the team that dominated them in the Western Conference finals last season. The Spurs, who won the playoff series in five games, never led Monday night.
Tim Duncan had 26 points and 11 rebounds and Manu Ginobili scored 29 points for the Spurs, who were knocked around by Utah’s physical play. San Antonio committed 20 turnovers.
Duncan was the only Spurs starter to score more than five points. Williams shut down Tony Parker most of the game, holding him to five points and three assists while dishing the ball off for half of Utah’s 28 assists.
Boozer had seven assists and Kirilenko added four steals for the Jazz, who played a much rougher game than they did in the one-sided playoff series.
Ginobili was trying to lead the Spurs to a late rally and drove for the basket, only to get knocked to the court in a collision with Boozer. Ginobili slowly got up and made both free throws to cut Utah’s lead to 85-79, then Duncan scored again to get the Spurs within four.
Ginobili converted a three-point play after getting knocked to the court again. Ime Udoka had some words for Boozer as the two were separated and given technicals with 2:04 left in the game.
Udoka wasn’t through complaining and got another technical with 1:27 remaining as he said something as he passed referee Jim Clark. Kyle Korver made the free throw to put Utah ahead 92-89, then Matt Harpring grabbed a crucial offensive rebound with 1:11 left to keep the ball in Utah’s hands.
The Jazz kept passing as the shot clock wound down and finally got it out to Korver, who hit a 3-pointer with 48 seconds left to put Utah up 95-89.
The Spurs never recovered after a 13-2 run by Utah late in the third quarter as the Spurs got frustrated with some of the officiating and their own sloppy play. San Antonio turned it over six times in the third and was just 6-for-19 in the period.
Ronnie Brewer drove for a layup that somehow made it through several Spurs’ hands before dropping through the net. Ginobili lost the ball under the Spurs’ basket and the call went to the Jazz. Williams took it in for a layup that bounced out of the hoop, but Brewer was already in the air above everyone else to dunk the rebound.
The Spurs continued to come unravelled on the next possession when Kirilenko sneaked behind Ginobili, stole the ball and took it in for a reverse dunk. Boozer followed that with a layup, capping an 8-0 run.
Notes: The Jazz have won nine straight at home. … Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona, in town for a fundraiser, attended the game and sat in the third row. … Duncan was called for a technical for complaining after Utah’s Jarron Collins was called for a loose-ball foul with 5:45 left in the third.
