SPORTSTICKER NBA PLAYOFF RECAP (SAN ANTONIO-LA LAKERS) INGLEWOOD, California (Ticker) -- Tim Duncan was the lone tower but he had plenty of help from the "Twin Tinies." Duncan collected 37 points and 14 rebounds and Jaren Jackson and Avery Johnson had huge fourth quarters as the San Antonio Spurs pushed the Los Angeles Lakers to the brink of elimination with a 103-91 victory in Game Three of the Western Conference semifinal series. Even with fellow "Twin Tower" David Robinson limited to 24 minutes by foul trouble, Duncan simply was unstoppable. He was 19-of-23 from the line as he matched the 1999 individual playoff high. "I expected them to double-team a lot more but they don't want to get into that double-team rotation," Duncan said. "I expect more double-teaming tomorrow." In the first three quarters, Duncan carried the offense. In the final period, he effectively passed out of double-teams to the perimeter, where Jackson and Johnson were burying open jumpers. "Our plan was to double Duncan," Lakers center Shaquille O'Neal said. "When we doubled him, he kicked it out and their guys stepped up and hit the open shot." The 6-4 Jackson scored a playoff career-high 22 points off the bench, making 9-of-15 shots. He scored 13 points in the fourth quarter and helped hold Kobe Bryant scoreless for the final six-plus minutes. "You know Tim gets so much attention they're going to double him," Jackson said. "One of us is going to spot up and get the shot when it gets kicked out to us. Everyone believes in each other on the perimeter." "Jaren gave us a great lift because we haven't been shooting very well from the perimeter," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "To have somebody step up and do that really made a difference." The 5-11 Johnson was held to two points through the first 3 1/2 quarters but made three clutch jumpers in the final six minutes. He is shooting 55 percent from the field in the postseason. "Tim and those guys have so much confidence in me now, more than they had in me last year," Johnson said. "When I was open, they got me the ball. And I know when I shoot it, they all feel it has a good chance to go in." "He is a unique character," Popovich said. "He has found a home here because I am in love with him. I love his character and his heart. Everybody's maligned him since he has been in the league, but in this league character and heart go an awfully long way. Too many people diminish the value of that." The Spurs scored the last 13 points as they again outplayed the Lakers down the stretch. They remained unbeaten on the road in the postseason and can advance to the conference finals for the fifth time in franchise history with a win Sunday. "I want to finish the series tomorrow," said Duncan, who made 9-of-19 shots. The Lakers did not score in the final 1:55. Glen Rice scored 24 points and Bryant added 20 but the duo combined to miss Los Angeles' final five shots. "The quick shots hurt us throughout the game," Lakers coach Kurt Rambis said. "When you're in the playoffs, each possession is ultra-important, especially when you're in a game situation where you basically have to win. "There can't be any time for, you know, not executing the game plan effectively, not running plays right, not getting open people, not moving the basketball. Those things just can't happen." O'Neal had 22 points and 15 rebounds but did not have a basket in the final nine-plus minutes. He was 6-of-14 from the line and is on the verge of being swept out of the playoffs for the fifth time in six years. "Personally, I'm not going to mail it in," O'Neal said. "We just have to come in and play with a lot of dignity, play with a lot of pride, just play. I don't want to mail it in." Bryant's 3-pointer gave the Lakers an 81-77 lead with 6:52 to go but he never scored again. Robinson made two free throws after he was punched in the chest by Lakers forward Robert Horry and added a dunk to tie the game. After O'Neal made a free throw, Johnson and Jackson sank jumpers around a layup by Rice, who never scored again. O'Neal made another foul shot to give Los Angeles an 85-85 tie with 4:31 remaining. Duncan made a foul shot before committing his fifth foul on a three-point play by Derek Fisher that gave Los Angeles an 88-86 lead. Johnson responded with a 19-footer and Duncan added a transition layup before Horry made a 3-pointer with 1:55 left, giving the Lakers a 91-90 lead. Duncan passed out of a double-team to Jackson, whose 3-pointer gave the Spurs the lead for good. Fisher missed a 3-pointer and Johnson sank a corner jumper for a 95-91 advantage with 1:10 to go. "The guys made good passes to me and I was able to make shots that really put a dagger in them," Johnson said. Rice missed a shot and Duncan and Bryant traded turnovers before Johnson was fouled. He missed both free throws but the Spurs got the rebound and Sean Elliott made a pair from the line with 28 seconds to go. Duncan and Jackson each made two free throws and Jackson added a hoop as the Lakers kept missing and fouling. "We've played three games where we've had to give it out to the end," Duncan said. "We're finding ways to get it done because we keep playing defense." Elliott scored 12 points and Robinson added 10 for the Spurs, who shot 46 percent (36-of-78) from the field and held the Lakers to 41 percent (31-of-75). San Antonio held a 48-38 edge on the glass. Fisher had 13 points and nine assists for Los Angeles, which again received a poor performance from its bench. The reserves were outscored 28-10 and have been trounced by a 59-22 count in the series. Duncan scored 11 points in the first quarter as San Antonio grabbed a 22-20 lead. He added seven more in an early burst in the second quarter, including a three-point play that gave the Spurs a 35-22 bulge with 7:16 remaining. "We didn't play like we wanted to play," Bryant said. "We didn't come out with a lot of energy and passion that we should have had at home." However, Robinson was on the bench with his third foul and the Lakers rallied, closing to 43-39 at halftime. A 3-pointer by Elliott opened the third quarter, but Rice scored seven points in a 17-4 burst and Bryant's dunk gave the Lakers a 56-50 lead midway through the period. Back came the Spurs as Jackson made two long jumpers in a 13-2 run that opened a 63-58 lead. Fisher's 3-pointer closed the quarter and cut the deficit to 67-66. "I hit a 3 and I was trying to determine how they were going to defend me," Jackson said. "That set the tone for me. Eventually, I knew if I fed the post, they were leaving me alone this particular night. I just had to be sure I took my shot with confidence."  