Gannett News Service

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - They are playing a game of alternating possession in the grinding and grungy NBA Finals. First, it's one team with just enough answers. The next night, it's the other. And none of it is pretty.

It was New Jersey's turn Wednesday night in Game 4, somehow winning without scoring a basket in the last four minutes. The shots that had clanged away were suddenly bouncing in - or at least the free throws did. The players who had been missing suddenly showed up. The calls that had been whistled against them were suddenly going their way.

And for San Antonio, vice versa. In the end it meant a 77-76 Nets victory, and a 2-2 tie in the best-of-seven series.

Game 5 is here Friday night, then the matter goes back to San Antonio for final resolution.

So far, each team has won every other game, and the temperature is rising. Wednesday was a bitter defensive struggle that included 23 blocked shots and five technical fouls.

"It ties the series, a series a lot of people thought wasn't going to be a series," said New Jersey coach Byron Scott.

"This series is going to be played like this pretty much the whole series," Scott said. "Might as well get used to it."

The Nets won by taking a 73-72 lead on two Kenyon Martin free throws with 1:12 left, and preserving it with four Jason Kidd free throws in the last 10 seconds.

They won despite going nine minutes of the third and fourth periods without a point.

They won despite scoring only 11 points in the third period, blowing all of a 15-point lead.

They won despite giving up 22 offensive rebounds.

They won with 20 points from Martin, and 18 from Richard Jefferson, whose lack of production had been roundly panned for the past three days.

They won by outfighting San Antonio for two offensive rebounds in the final minute while clinging to a 73-72 lead.

"It took a lot of heart," Scott said. "The heart of a champion."

The Spurs? They nearly won despite shooting only 28.9 percent.

They nearly won despite Tony Parker, the hero of the earlier games, going 1 for 12, looking every bit 21 years old. And guard Stephen Jackson, going 1 for 9. And forward Bruce Bowen going 2 for 9. And reserve Malik Rose going 0 for 9.

Four main Spurs ... 4 for 39.

The Spurs nearly won with 23 points and 17 rebounds from Tin Duncan, and four steals off the bench from Manu Ginobili, whose 3-pointer over a stretching Kenyon Martin at the end to tie was short off the front of the rim.

"He had a great shot and he missed it," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "At this point in the season, you're not interested in any sort of moral victory or silver lining. It's a 'W' or it's an 'L.' "

"This was a must game for us. We knew that coming in," Martin said. "We sustained, we staggered a little bit. We didn't fall. That's the makeup of our team, each and every game."