Spurs will rely on experience in Game 4 vs. Jazz

Playing in front of their fans certainly made a difference for the Jazz on Saturday night.

They had their worst first quarter of the series, but followed it with their best second quarter to go into halftime down only four. They came out for the third quarter determined to play even better and the Spurs couldn’t match their effort, especially with Duncan struggling. Once Utah got ahead by more than a basket, San Antonio kept falling further and further behind.

Williams led the Jazz with 31 points, but may have worn himself out in the process. He showed up for practice Sunday with a stomach illness, was given medicine and sent home without working out. He’s listed as probable for Game 4.

Williams is averaging over 30 points this series and fellow Team USA pick Carlos Boozer is averaging 26.7. In Game 3, Fisher, Gordan Giricek, Jarron Collins and Paul Millsap helped with some timely contributions on offense and Mehmet Okur made up for a scoreless game by constantly pestering Duncan.

“It was great to see our team step up like that,” Boozer said. “That’s what we have to do if we’re going to have a chance against them.”

Boozer insisted after each of the first two games Utah was oh-so-close to a breakthrough. It seemed like wishful thinking considering the Jazz’s best spurts came after San Antonio was far ahead, but that’s no longer the case now that they’ve pulled off a convincing victory.

Now they are thinking back to the first round, when they overcame a 2-0 deficit to beat Houston. No team has ever dug out of such a hole twice in the same postseason — at least, not yet.

“We’re just trying to get the second one so we can tie the series up,” Boozer said.