If there was any silver lining as the Jazz's season-high losing streak reached four games Tuesday night, it came with the knowledge that the San Antonio Spurs will be visiting EnergySolutions Arena only once this season.
The Jazz were able to withstand a barrage of Matt Bonner three-pointers, a tough call that sent them into halftime trailing and had them at an 11-point deficit in the third quarter. What did them in ultimately was a fourth quarter that could only be described as textbook Spurs. With the Jazz coming up empty on seven consecutive possessions early in the quarter, San Antonio clawed to an eight-point lead and left the Jazz playing catch-up over the final eight minutes before falling 106-100.
"That was patented San Antonio," Matt Harpring said. "Every possession down the fourth quarter, they went in to Tim Duncan, they were methodical, and if Tim Duncan got doubled, he kicked it out for an open shot or he went one-on-one."
Not only did they lose for the sixth time at home this season, the Jazz (25-21) dropped a full game out of playoff position and now trail Denver, which beat Memphis, by 5 ? games in the Northwest Division.
They are 17-17 since Carlos Boozer went down with an injured left knee Nov. 19 and 0-4 since Andrei Kirilenko's right ankle flared up last week. Jazz coach Jerry Sloan described his team afterward as being "stretched out as far as we can go."
That the Jazz's losses have come to Houston, Cleveland, Denver and San Antonio provided little consolation to Ronnie Brewer. "We feel like if we're going to be one of the top teams, we've got to win some of them games," Brewer said.
Duncan totaled 24 points, nine rebounds and eight assists and could have had an even bigger night had he not missed 6 of 10 free throws. Bonner hit six three-pointers on the way to scoring 20 points. Yet it was Manu Ginobili who came through in the end.
The Jazz had closed to 94-93 with 1:26 left as C.J. Miles ripped the ball away from Ginobili for a steal and Paul Millsap ran for a layup on the fast break. But Ginobili answered by cutting for a layup off a Duncan pass at the other end.
It was Ginobili's first -- and only -- basket all night. He then stripped Brewer, was fouled and converted two free throws to put San Antonio ahead 98-93. Ginobili scored 10 of the Spurs' final 12 points and had 13 for the game.
The Jazz went into the fourth quarter tied 80-80 but quickly found themselves down by eight. The Spurs came out of a timeout with 8:46 remaining and took a 90-82 lead as Roger Mason hit a jumper and Duncan banked in a shot over Mehmet Okur.
Williams played 44 minutes and went the distance in the second half as the Jazz tried to end their losing streak. All five starters played at least 38 minutes -- including a career-high 43 for C.J. Miles -- and the Jazz got only six points total from their bench.
The Jazz had a chance to take a lead into halftime, but Williams was forced out of bounds by Tony Parker with no foul called. The Spurs got back the ball and Bonner nailed a three-pointer with 0.5 seconds left for a 50-49 lead.
"I just jumped out of bounds because I felt like sitting on the [scorer's table]," Williams said, sarcastically. "Somebody should have thrown a beer at me."
The Jazz had been 12-0 against Western Conference teams at home before Tuesday's loss. The next chance to end their losing streak will come Friday at home against 10-35 Oklahoma City, who drilled the Jazz 114-93 on Jan. 14.
"They beat the mess out of us last time," Brewer said. "People always say you can pencil a win in. It's the NBA. I don't think they let any bums in the NBA, last I checked."
rsiler@sltrib.com Spurs 106, Jazz 100
In short ? The Spurs build an eight-point lead in the fourth quarter in sending the Jazz to a fourth-straight loss.
Key moment ? Manu Ginobili cuts for a layup off a Tim Duncan pass with 1:08 left after the Jazz had made it 94-93.
