Spurs

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - The New Jersey Nets needed to reap a victory in last night's Game 4 of the NBA Finals to stay in the series, and their coach, Byron Scott planted the seeds the day before. Scott complained loudly about the disparity in foul shooting between the Nets and the San Antonio Spurs in the first three games. It seemed to work last night as the Nets fouled out David Robinson and got four fouls on Tim Duncan. The result was a 77-76 win for New Jersey, tying the series at 2-2. Game 5 will be tomorrow night in New Jersey.

LOS ANGELES - If it seems the Los Angeles Lakers just left the floor after losing to the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference semifinals, it is only because some of them kept the strain of the past year to themselves. It is again May and these are again the Spurs, with a best-of-seven series beginning today in San Antonio. On the edges, the Lakers are fixed up and the Spurs are redone. But it is again the series of Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant, of Tim Duncan and Tony Parker.

PORTLAND, Ore. -- No contest.Then again, it's been all one-sided for the San Antonio Spurs in the playoffs. They're clearly the best team in the NBA right now. And they're making a strong case that they're one of the best in recent years, too. With relative ease, they recorded their second straight sweep, blowing out the Portland Trail Blazers, 94-80, last night at the Rose Garden to make their first trip to the NBA Finals."

NEW YORK -- It was Allan Houston's game-winning shot in the first round that made the New York Knicks' dramatic playoff run possible. And it was Houston's offensive aggression last night that gave the Knicks new life in the NBA Finals.New York's most consistent scorer during the Finals, Houston scored 34 points last night to help the Knicks defeat the San Antonio Spurs, 89-81, in Game 3 of the NBA Finals before 19,763 at Madison Square Garden.And while the Knicks still trail the best-of-seven series 2-1, the victory gives life to a team whose offense was nonexistent during two losses in San Antonio.

SAN ANTONIO - New Jersey Nets coach Byron Scott complained Thursday about the Texas weather, but his players did a nice job of taking the heat off him last night in Game 2 of the NBA Finals. Criticized for not making better use of reserve center Dikembe Mutombo to clog the middle in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, Scott defiantly told anyone who would listen that he knew what was best for his team and it was not to give Mutombo extensive minutes against the San Antonio Spurs and Tim Duncan. But Scott got the hint and gave Mutombo 20 critical minutes.

SAN ANTONIO -- Going into last night's Game 1 of the NBA Finals, the New York Knicks appeared to have the advantage on the perimeter. But the big question was whether the Knicks could contain San Antonio's front line, particularly Tim Duncan.That's a question New York must try to find an answer to by tomorrow night's Game 2, as Duncan dominated play in the post with 33 points, 16 rebounds and two blocks in an 89-77 San Antonio win before a crowd of more than 40,000 at the Alamodome.Duncan did it all, from scoring in the low post to hitting jumpers to passing out to teammates for easy baskets.

SAN ANTONIO - There is no bigger stage in the world of basketball than Game 7 of the NBA Finals. The lights don't shine any brighter than this. After 82 regular-season games, three rounds of playoffs and six more games in the Finals, the Detroit Pistons and San Antonio Spurs finally will decide who wins the NBA title. Game 7 stands alone. "You either win it all, or you go back home with nothing," San Antonio guard Manu Ginobili said yesterday. "The whole season becomes one final game."