Mutombo predicts Nets win in Game 5

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (Ticker) -- After sitting out most of the playoffs, Dikembe Mutombo is making an impact in the NBA Finals. Now, the 7-foot-2 center of the New Jersey Nets is even making guarantees.

The Nets host the favored San Antonio Spurs Friday in Game 5 with the series even at 2-2.

Neither side has engaged in a war of words, but Mutombo may have gotten it started.

"We are going to win," Mutombo said after practice Thursday. "We are going to win [Friday], and then we are going to San Antonio and we are going to steal one and come back and have a parade."

Those are brave words considering the series will finish in San Antonio. Game 6 is Sunday night and, if necessary, Game 7 is Wednesday.

Only five of the 19 series that have been played under the current 2-3-2 Finals format have been tied going into Game 5.

"I think everybody expected this series to be over or [that] it wouldn't go back to San Antonio," Nets coach Byron Scott said. "The longer it goes, the better chance we have because we were such underdogs, nobody gave us a chance to win except ourselves."

But the Spurs do not expect to shoot 29 percent from the field as they did in Wednesday's 77-76 loss here. Starting guards Tony Parker and Stephen Jackson shot a combined 2-of-21, and forwards Bruce Bowen and Malik Rose combined to shoot 2-of-18.

"Shooting was a little bit of a problem," understated Spurs coach Gregg Popovich. "Four of our top six guys were 3-for-30-something, and that's going to be tough to win a game if you perform that way."

The star of Game 3 with 26 points, Parker missed 11-of-12 shots Wednesday. Scott had Kerry Kittles defend Parker at times and it clearly disrupted his game. Meanwhile, Nets point guard Jason Kidd had 16 points.

Spurs star Tim Duncan shot 10-of-23 and finished with 23 points and 17 rebounds, but again was made to work for his production by several defenders, including Kenyon Martin, Aaron Williams and Mutombo.

Martin collected 20 points and 13 rebounds and Richard Jefferson added 18 and 10.

San Antonio scored 101 points in the series opener, but neither team has cracked 90 since.

"We've been slugging it out defensively and defense wins championships," Kidd said.

 

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