Spurs Heading Back to NBA Finals

May 31, 01:15 AM

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San Antonio, TX (Sports Network) - The San Antonio Spurs are headed back to the NBA Finals for the fourth time in nine seasons, as Tony Parker and Tim Duncan each recorded 21 points in just three quarters during San Antonio's 109-84 trouncing of Utah in Game 5 of the Western Conference finals.

Both stars, along with the supporting cast of Michael Finley, Bruce Bowen and Manu Ginobili basked in the glory of another NBA Finals appearance from the bench throughout the fourth stanza.

Ginobili scored 12 points off the bench and the Spurs jumped on the unseasoned Jazz to the tune of 34-15 in the first quarter.

"Tony was very focused to start the game and was very aggressive offensively, both for himself and finding other people," said San Antonio head coach Gregg Popovich. "He pushed the pace after makes as much as after misses, and everybody followed suit."

San Antonio is advancing to the NBA championship series for the third time in five seasons, while Utah is left with an offseason to reflect. The Jazz pushed their losing streak in San Antonio to 19 games.

"There is never a happy ending if you don't win it all," Utah head coach Jerry Sloan said. "You end up the season as a loser and that's never exciting."

With still over eight minutes remaining in the game, all that was left for Spurs fans was the beginning of another celebration, joining in a rendition of the wave as Utah star guard Deron Williams sat on the bench with head in hand.

Williams scored a game-high 27 points with 10 assists while fighting through a stomach flu during the Game 4 defeat, but a sprained ankle and mounting fatigue sapped all energy from the Illinois product, who finished with only 11 points and two assists to two turnovers.

Andrei Kirilenko led the Jazz with 13 points, Matt Harpring added 11 and Carlos Boozer totaled nine points and 12 boards.

Derek Fisher, much like he did during a pivotal contest of the Western Conference semifinal series against Golden State, raced to the gym at halftime after being with his daughter as she underwent a procedure for a rare eye condition, but by that point his heroics were no longer an option.

San Antonio pounced to a 55-39 lead at the half.

Duncan and Parker were key contributors during the third period, as the Spurs entered the final frame with an 83-56 advantage.

Game 1 of the NBA Finals is scheduled for June 7. The Spurs will face either Detroit or Cleveland as the best-of-seven Eastern Conference Finals series is squared at 2-2.

Bowen's three capped an early 8-0 spurt to post the Spurs to a 12-4 lead, and a 14-0 run later in the quarter was a signal of the game-long onslaught. Parker tallied nine of the points, including a driving layup for a 30-11 lead late in the period.

"We just took control and we kept control," said Duncan. "It was a good game all around and just a great way to start."

Ginobili's layup opened a 44-21 lead with 9:51 remaining in the half, but Utah scrapped back into the game and pulled within 55-39 at intermission.

The third quarter all but made the final 12 minutes a coronation.

Six in a row capped by a Francisco Elson free throw gave the Spurs a 77-51 lead with 2:50 to play and Elson's dunk at the end of the period pushed the lead to 83-56.

San Antonio outscored Utah 28-17 in the quarter, rolling to victory from there.

Game Notes

The Spurs shot 65 percent in the first quarter and 51.3 percent on the game...San Antonio committed just seven turnovers...The game featured one tie and zero lead changes...Utah dropped a postseason series to San Antonio for the first time...Fabricio Oberto totaled seven points with 10 rebounds in the win.

05/31 01:14:53 ET