Ginobili ends slump as Spurs sweep Jazz

Associated Press

SALT LAKE CITY

Manu Ginobili broke out of his shooting slump with 17 points to lead the San Antonio Spurs to an 87-81 victory over the Utah Jazz on Monday night and a sweep of their first-round Western Conference series.

Ginobili was 0 for 8 from beyond the arc in the first three games. But after Utah pulled within 61-58 with 3:18 left in the third, he hit consecutive 3-pointers then added another as the Spurs regained control, taking a 76-58 lead early in the fourth.

The Jazz went scoreless for more than eight minutes during a 15-0 Spurs run. Utah made a furious charge late and was within 83-79 on Al Jefferson’s putback with 49 seconds left.

But Ginobili’s fastbreak layup after a steal by Tony Parker sealed it.

Utah’s Big 3 lineup with Derrick Favors at power forward kept the Jazz close, but San Antonio’s bench made the difference, outscoring the Jazz’s reserves 47-10.

Top-seeded San Antonio advanced to the second round and awaits the winner of the Memphis-Los Angeles Clippers series, which may not be settled until Sunday.

The Spurs are on a 14-game winning streak and looking to make amends for a first-round upset by Memphis last year.

The Jazz have lost eight straight playoff games as they were swept by the Lakers in the second round two years ago. It was only the second first-round sweep in Jazz history, the other coming in 1989.