SALT LAKE CITY (AFP) - Manu Ginobili scored 22 points and San Antonio defeated Utah 91-79 here Monday, putting the Spurs on the brink of advancing to the National Basketball Association Finals.
The Spurs took a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven Western Conference finals and can clinch a berth in the championships series by winning game five at home Wednesday. The Spurs seek their fourth crown in a run that began in 1999.
The Jazz-Spurs winner will face either Cleveland or Detroit in next month's NBA Finals. Detroit has a 2-1 lead over the Cavaliers, who host game four on Tuesday with Cleveland standout Larry Hughes questionable with a heal injury.
Utah had won all seven prior home starts in this year's playoffs and had been 9-0 all-time at home in playoff games against the Spurs.