Season series: Tied, 2-2, with the Spurs extending their home winning streak against Utah to 16 games by winning both meetings in San Antonio.

Tim Duncan and Tony Parker each averaged 21.5 points, with Duncan adding 11.3 rebounds per game.

The Jazz held Manu Ginobili to 25 percent shooting. The Jazz limited the Spurs to 85.5 points per game in their two victories, but San Antonio averaged 104 at home.

Storyline: With the top two winners in the West gone, the longtime conference powers meet for a spot in the NBA finals.

The Spurs are looking to reach the finals for the third time in five years, while the Jazz haven’t been this far since 1998. Utah has won 11 of the 15 playoff series between the teams.

Key Matchup I: Duncan vs. Carlos Boozer. Duncan remains as good as it gets at power forward, but Boozer isn’t far behind. However, Boozer managed only 16.7 points on 49 percent shooting in three games against San Antonio this season, well below the regular-season numbers that landed him on the All-Star team.

Key Matchup II: Bruce Bowen vs. Andrei Kirilenko. Bowen was at his best against Phoenix in the second round, annoying the Suns with his in-your-face defense and hitting some timely three-pointers when left open. If the confused-looking Kirilenko from the first round shows up in this series, Utah is in trouble. But if he plays the way he did against Golden State, when he scored in double figures in every game while playing his terrific all-around defense, the Jazz will be in much better shape. Bad news for Utah fans: He averaged only 8.8 points and shot under 30 percent against the Spurs this season.

X-Factor: Derek Fisher. His return to the team after attending to his daughter’s serious illness was an inspiration to the Jazz, and he added some timely three-pointers and strong defense on Baron Davis. He’ll probably be asked to slow Parker, and Spurs fans don’t need to be reminded that he’s a clutch playoff performer: His game-winning jumper for the Lakers in Game 5 of the 2004 West semifinals at San Antonio was perhaps the decisive blow in the Spurs’ hopes to repeat that season.

Prediction: Spurs in 6.