San Antonio Spurs' Tim Duncan (left) is challenged by Utah Jazz' Mehmet Okur during Game Two of their NBA Western Conference Final play-off game in San Antonio on Tuesday night. The Spurs won 105-96 to take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. - Reuters

NEW YORK (Reuters):

THE SPURS took a commanding 2-0 lead in the Western Conference finals on Tuesday night, leading from start to finish to beat the Utah Jazz 105-96 in San Antonio.

Tim Duncan scored 26 points, grabbed 14 rebounds and added five blocked shots and four assists as the Spurs overcame a 33-point/15-rebound effort by Utah's Carlos Boozer and took control of the best-of-seven series.

The series shifts to Utah for Games Three and Four on Saturday and Monday.

The Jazz, 31-10 at home during the regular season, have won all six play-off games on their home floor in Salt Lake City, and also won both games against the Spurs in Utah this season.

But Utah, who did rally from 0-2 to beat Houston in the first round, still fight long odds to come back this time. Only two of the previous 57 teams who went down 0-2 in a conference final have managed to come back and win.

Still, the Spurs, who have now beaten Utah 18 straight times in San Antonio, know they have to be ready.

"They are a much better home team. They really are," said Duncan. "They use that crowd, use that energy."

Pair of runs

The Spurs, seeking their fourth NBA championship with Duncan in the middle, led by as many as 22 points in the second half before Utah did what it did in the first game - came back. The Jazz had a pair of runs, the second cutting the San Antonio lead to seven points, 83-76, with 8:45 left.

But Bruce Bowen hit the first two of his three fourth-quarter three-pointers to keep the visitors at bay.

The Eastern Conference final resumes tonight in Auburn Hills, Michigan, with the Pistons leading the Cleveland Cavaliers 1-0 after victory on Monday.