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By ELIZABETH WHITE Associated Press Writer
SAN ANTONIO (AP) -- Another dramatic midgame arrival from Derek Fisher wasn't enough for the Utah Jazz on Wednesday night.
With Deron Williams struggling because of a sore foot, it was already too late for the Jazz.
By the time Fisher arrived during halftime of Game 5 of Western Conference finals, the Spurs were well on their way to a 109-84 victory that sent them to the NBA finals.
Without much help from their starting backcourt, the Jazz never led and trailed by as many as 29.
Fisher was returning from New York, where his infant daughter underwent a procedure for a rare eye condition. He was expected to arrive before tip-off, but wasn't on the court or the bench in time. Gordan Giricek started in his place, with Dee Brown prepared to come off the bench.
Williams started despite a sprained right foot, but had only seven points in the first half. He finished with just 11, well below his average from the first four games, and was visibly hobbled.
Without the team-best 29.5 points Williams was scoring in the series heading into Wednesday's game, the Jazz fell apart. They were outscored 34-15 in the first quarter and trailed 55-39 at the half.
Fisher had two points. Andrei Kirilenko led the Jazz with 13 points and Matt Harpring had 11. Carlos Boozer had 12 rebounds for Utah.
Fisher's infant daughter, Tatum, is receiving treatment for her left eye. Fisher left the team in the second round of the playoffs for an operation in New York, then returned to the team during the third quarter of Game 2 of a second-round series against Golden State. His dramatic arrival, and his five points in overtime, helped the Jazz win that game.
The club announced after Game 4 in Salt Lake City on Monday night that Fisher was leaving the team to be with Tatum during further treatment. Team spokeswoman Cindy Edman said the Fishers had a doctor's appointment Tuesday and a procedure Wednesday morning.
Williams hurt his foot in the fourth quarter of Game 4. He received treatment instead of practicing Tuesday, then wore a large walking boot at the shootaround Wednesday morning. The team initially reported the injury as a sprained ankle, but corrected the diagnosis Wednesday.
Williams was a game-time decision Monday night, too, but played 38 minutes and scored a team-best 27 points.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APTV-05-30-07 2204MDT
