"Obviously we've lost two (regular-season) games there — and they haven't lost a game in the playoffs there (this year)," said Tim Duncan, the two-time NBA MVP who had a 26-point, 14-rebound double-double Tuesday. "So we have to understand that they are going to use that crowd's energy. They will be a lot more confident playing in that building."

"Utah," swingman Manu Ginobili added, "is one of the toughest teams to beat on the road. ... So we've got to stay humble, because we just got what was ours."

If the Jazz are buying any of it, it's tough to tell.

Some do seem to remain confident, even in the aftermath of a second straight outing in which San Antonio's second-half lead rose to at least 19.

"We can beat this team," forward Andrei Kirilenko said. "We know that."

But do they truly believe it?

That's another matter.

"I hope our players feel like they can come back," said Sloan, not sounding sure if they do.

"That's the most important thing — and gain a little confidence, and hopefully play better, and try to gain a little knowledge about how to play better and not do things that (are) going to hurt you every time."

Various Jazz players seemed similarly uncertain.

"We proved we can score against this team," said Boozer, whose 33 points Tuesday were a game-high. "We haven't proved we can stop them yet. That's a little discouraging."

"It will be tough for us to get these two victories," added Williams, who is averaging 30 points in the series. "But that's what we have to do to even things back up."

The Jazz, of course, do have some degree of familiarity with rebounding from a postseason deficit.

They were down 0-2 to Houston after the first two games, both played on the road, in their opening-round series with the Rockets.

And they won that one.

Still, several in the Jazz locker room Tuesday weren't buying the notion that the feeling should be the same.

"That's definitely a positive thing that we can take back, and we still have a chance," Williams said. "The series is not over."

But, the Jazz point guard added, "It is a lot worse to be down 2-0 to the Spurs than it is to the Rockets, because they are a better team — offensively, defensively. They have championships (three since 1999), and the guys know how to win."

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E-MAIL: tbuckley@desnews.com