While Ginobili seemed to adopt some of the theatrics his footballing countrymen use on a regular basis as the Jazz continued a heavy handed approach to defence and wound up losing their temper as the foul calls mounted.
Utah drew four technicals fouls down the stretch, leading to the ejection
of coach Jerry Sloan and usually mild-mannered Derek Fisher.
Fans rage
Jazz fans, irate at seeing their team lose at home for the first time in eight games this post-season in such a fashion, showed their disgust by hurling things toward the court, appearing to hit San Antonio's Bruce Bowen with some lip balm.
"They threw Carmex at me," Bowen said. "I like Carmex, but not getting it thrown at me."
But in the end the most severe blow was to Utah's playoff hopes.
After a 26-point win in Game 3, the Jazz were confident about their 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.
Utah has lost 18 straight games in San Antonio dating to 1999.
"I'm sure a lot of people are counting us out in the series," said Jazz
forward Carlos Boozer, who had 18 points and nine rebounds.
"We have a much better feel for this team after playing them four times. All we can do is toughen up ... see if we can get one in San Antonio."
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Manu Ginobili takes another foul in
Game 4 [GALLO/GETTY] |
Tim Duncan had 19 points, nine rebounds, five blocks and five turnovers.
He was 5 of 8 from the line in the fourth quarter, part of San Antonio going 19 of 25 from the stripe.
Winning ugly
While the victory wasn't much of a spectacle with more free throws (30) than field goals (28) it put the Spurs within a victory of reaching the NBA finals for the third time in five years, and the fourth time since 1999.
San Antonio has won the title each time.
"It could've been a tied series and a whole new ballgame," Duncan said.
"It's a great position to be in."
Utah's Deron Williams had 27 points and 10 assists in 38 minutes despite
having lost eight pounds the last two days while fighting a stomach ailment.
But Williams didn't get enough help. Boozer was the only player to score
more than nine points, and he didn't even make it to the foul line. Neither did center Mehmet Okur.
Tough third quarter
After three lopsided games, this one got tight midway through the third
quarter, starting with Boozer stuffing Duncan on a drive to the rim.
Duncan went down and lingered on the court while Boozer made a jumper on the other end, this time leaving Ginobili on the ground. Parker missed a layup, then Williams dribbled up the court and nailed a jumper at the foul line with Duncan backing up, daring him to shoot.
Utah went into the fourth quarter down 63-62 and was within 67-66 a few minutes later.
Then Ginobili hit a 3-pointer, Williams went miss-turnover-miss on the Jazz's next three possessions and the Spurs soon were up by six points.
San Antonio was up 79-72 when Ginobili got fouled attempting a 3-pointer with 3:57 left.
He made all three, and Utah's hopes were flickering out.
"We just couldn't keep them off the free-throw line," Sloan said.
Asked about all the technicals, he said, "I don't want to talk about those because all that does is give me more trouble."