Spurs take commanding 3-1 lead over Jazz

Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili led San Antonio to a 91-79 win over the Jazz.

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Foul after foul, free throw after free throw, the San Antonio Spurs won Game 3 of the Western Conference finals the hard way.

Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili took the brunt of the blows and made enough foul shots in the fourth quarter to lift San Antonio past a valiant Deron Williams and the Utah Jazz 91-79 Monday night, giving the Spurs a 3-1 series lead.

This was the first game of the best-of-seven series still in doubt in the fourth quarter, causing tempers to flare and bodies to fly. The Jazz got four technical fouls down the stretch, including the ejection of coach Jerry Sloan and usually mild-mannered Derek Fisher. Utah fans — seeing their team lose at home for the first time in eight games this postseason — showed their disgust by hurling things toward the court, appearing to hit San Antonio’s Bruce Bowen with something small.

The biggest blow, though, is to the Jazz’s comeback hopes. After a 26-point win in Game 3, Utah felt good about its chances to pull off a historic comeback but now will have to win Game 5 in San Antonio on Wednesday night just to bring the series back to Salt Lake City. The Jazz have lost 18 straight games in San Antonio dating to 1999.

Stomach flu

Williams started Game 4 after battling a stomach bug for the last two days.

Williams missed practice Sunday and did not participate in the team’s shootaround Monday morning. He arrived at EnergySolutions Arena about 90 minutes before tipoff and was listed as a game-time decision until the starting lineups were released.

Williams, who had 31 points and eight assists Saturday in Utah’s 109-83 victory in Game 3, said he was feeling “all right” as he walked toward the court to warm up with some jump shots.

Utah coach Jerry Sloan said he expected Williams to play if he was well enough to dress.

Sloan also knows well how quickly players can overcome an illness in the playoffs. Michael Jordan overcame a stomach virus before Game 5 of the 1997 NBA finals, scoring 15 of his 38 points in the Chicago Bulls’ 90-88 victory in Salt Lake City.

“We played some against some guys over the years that were sick and killed us, so I hope that works to our side this time,” Sloan said with a wry smile.

Williams, who averaged 30.3 points in the first three games, showed up at the team’s practice gym Sunday complaining of stomach problems. He was given medication and sent home. On Monday, Williams received treatment while his teammates practiced.