Jazz Top Spurs, Move On

The Jazz-Spurs series was marked by blowout after blowout. The only thing different about Game 6 was the finality of it - and David Robinson’s disgust with the referees.

Utah made it back to the Western Conference finals for the third time in five years with a 108-81 rout Thursday night of San Antonio in Game 6 of the best-of-seven series.

The Jazz open their next series Saturday against the SuperSonics at Seattle.

Game 6, just like Games 3 and 4 at the Delta Center, was marked by another struggle by Robinson. The All-Star center picked up his third foul 14 seconds into the second quarter, and Utah was ahead by 13 by the time he came back on the floor for the second half.

Robinson, ordinarily the league’s poster boy for sportsmanship, could not hide his disdain for the way the game was officiated.

“That third foul was garbage, and I think it was personal,” Robinson said of a questionable charging call by referee Steve Javie. “Every time I’ve seen (Javie), things have been the same - not good. I don’t appreciate him bringing that onto the floor.”

Robinson scored 14 points and grabbed six rebounds in the third quarter, but Karl Malone wouldn’t let the Spurs gather any momentum as he led Utah to a 17-point lead after three.

By the time 8 minutes remained, the outcome had become clear and the crowd was on its feet for a standing ovation.

“It actually shocked me when I looked up at the scoreboard and we were up 20 and the crowd was going crazy,” said Adam Keefe, who came off the bench to score 18 of Utah’s 51 bench points. Keefe shot 8 for 11 and grabbed seven rebounds.

Utah’s advantage grew to 32 with 1:36 left and the final score gave the Jazz victories by 20, 30, 15 and 27 points in the series.

“I never would have guessed we’d lose by these margins,” Robinson said. “It’s a crazy deal.”

Malone led the Jazz with 25 points. Bryon Russell scored 15 and Jeff Hornacek 12.

Robinson, who scored 11 points in both Game 3 and 4 at the Delta Center, finished with 17 - all in the second half. Utah will have slightly more than 36 hours to get ready and travel to the next series against the Sonics. The Jazz lost 4-1 to Houston in 1994 and 4-2 to Portland in 1992 in the conference finals.

Robinson went to the bench 5:13 into the first quarter with two fouls, but San Antonio still led 14-13 with 3:04 left in the period. Utah closed the quarter with a 9-3 run to lead 22-17 entering the second quarter.

That’s when Robinson returned, but he picked up his third foul 14 seconds into the quarter on a drive to the basket on which Malone stepped in front of him. Utah responded with an 11-3 run to lead 33-20, and San Antonio got no closer than six after that.

Robinson said Javie had been going after him ever since the referee ejected him during a game against Philadelphia earlier this season.

“He said I charged him and thought I was going to hit him,” Robinson said.

Jazz 108, Spurs 81

San Antonio (81) - Elliott 5-13 5-7 16, Perdue 1-4 4-4 6, Robinson 7-14 3-7 17, Del Negro 6-12 0-1 17, Johnson 3-13 3-4 9, Smith 1-1 0-0 2, Person 1-5 0-0 3, Herrera 0-0 2-2 2, Alexander 2-6 1-1 6, Anderson 0-1 1-2 1, Williams 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 27-70 19-28 81.

Utah (108) - Morris 3-5 2-2 9, Malone 9-24 7-10 25, Spencer 1-3 0-0 2, Hornacek 4-9 2-2 12, Stockton 4-6 0-0 9, Eisley 2-4 3-4 7, Russell 5-7 3-3 15, Keefe 8-11 2-4 18, Carr 2-3 0-0 4, Benoit 3-5 0-0 7, Ostertag 0-1 0-0 0, Foster 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 41-79 19-25 108.

San Antonio 17 21 23 20 - 81

Utah 22 29 27 30 - 108

3-Point goals-San Antonio 8-20 (Del Negro 5-7, Alexander 1-3, Elliott 1-4, Person 1-4, Johnson 0-2), Utah 7-13 (Hornacek 2-3, Russell 2-3, Benoit 1-1, Morris 1-2, Stockton 1-3, Keefe 0-1). Fouled out-None. Rebounds-San Antonio 42 (Robinson 8), Utah 54 (Malone 13). Assists-San Antonio 13 (Johnson 8), Utah 29 (Stockton 13). Total fouls-San Antonio 27, Utah 26. Technical fouls-Utah illegal defense. Flagrant fouls-Alexander. A-19,911 (19,911).

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: JAZZ VS. SONICS Sat.: At Seattle, 12:30 p.m. (NBC) Monday: At Seattle, 6 p.m. (TNT) May 24: At Utah, 5:30 p.m. (TNT) May 26: At Utah, 12:30 p.m. (NBC) May 28: At Seattle, 6 p.m. (NBC)* May 30: At Utah, 6 p.m. (NBC)* June 1: At Seattle, TBD (NBC)* *-if necessary