European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - May 15, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Friday. May 15.1987 the stars and stripes Page 21 pistons oust Hawks Bucks stay in running Atlanta a coach Chuckray was t so sure Bui Isiah Thomas was. Isiah kept saying we re going to win this , and he was right Daly said. His Detroit pistons overcame a 13 Point deficit Laic in the third period fora104-96 Victory Over Atlanta wednesday night to eliminate the Hawks 4-1 in the by Stop Scvell Aba Eastern conference semifinal. The pistons will face the Winner of the Boston Milwaukee series. Nha playoffs finnic Johnson scored is of his 17points in the final period and Thomas connected on 12 of his 19. The two guards combined for 27 Points As the pistons oils cored Atlanta 39-19 in thelast 11 minutes. We were Down by 11 Points in the fourth Quarter but 1 jus Felt it. I knew we were going so win the basketball game said Thomas who had a Brilliant series scoring 30 or More Points in three games. Laic in the game they the Hawks had no motion no zip nothing else to give he said. They came Oul in she beginning very emotional but As the game wore on you could see it slowly dying. 1 knew if we stayed close we d get them in the end and win. I d do some thing to make us  the pistons Point guard hit on Only six of 23 shots but had 12 assists. John son who comes off he Bench 10 spell starter Joe Dumars got his line drive jumper going in the final period to key the Victory. Dumars led five pistons in double figures i h 21 Points. Finnic just exploded Daly said. He had struggled it bit this series but when he finally go hot in came at inc right t inc. He gave us a big big  after i hit my first two shots 1 knew i was on Johnson said of his fourth Quarter Sharp shooting. Finnic Johnson finally Hii a Streak for really the first time in the series in the final period said Atlanta coach Mike Fratello. Whose squad was led by Dominique Wilkins with 26 Points and i1 rebounds. Randy Wittman added 21 and John Bailie came off the Bench to contribute sea Aba on Page 23 sports Atlanta s Doc Rivers left Gas up against Detroit s Rick m Ahorn acty in game 5. Bad Streak puts 80 on the Bench Kansas City to. Apr Bajackson after starting 19 games As a Rookie outfielder for he Kansas cily Koy ils is joing to spend 3few Days watching from the Bench going o-Faf-4 tuesday in he roynls1 .1-1 Victory at Toronto put a Dickson s average at ,264, inc Taw esl since april 10. The 1985 Heisman trophy win Ner who played Only a half season in inc minor leagues after tuning Down a More Han $7 million Gua Rantee from he Tampa Bay burs of the National football league has 43 strikeouts in 106 at bats Jackson started the year in left Field but mom to Center Fiel when Willie Wilson went Down with an injury. Now that Wilson is ready to return Jackson will be Given a few Days off. I hink he s started swinging Al a lot of bad balls thai he was when he was going Good Sard manager Billy Gardner i think maybe a couple of Days off will get him Back in the Groove. I la Lake him out for a couple of Days an put him Buck in he lineup and see if he can regroup when 1 Pul him Back in there. I la talk to to an explain it to  Jackson began the season spectacularly tying a team record by driving in seven runs with two Home runs on april 4against Detroit. Royals activate Brett Send Pecota to aaa Baltimore a the Kansas City royals on wednesday reactivated third baseman George Brett from the disabled Lis. Bred had been on the disabled list since april 20 with a separated cartilage in his right rib Cage to make room for Brett the royals optioned infielder Bill pc Cota to their class aaa affiliate at Omaha of the american association. Pecota had his first four hit game tuesday nigh and was Hii Ting .556 with id Nils in 18 trips when he was demoted. Oilers defeat wings to gain final Edmonton Alberta a entering their Stan Ley cup semifinal series with the Edmonton oilers the Detroit red wings were willing Loicl the magnificent Wayne Gretzky get his goals. The game plan was to shut Down the rest of inc , Deit Oit kept Grezky from scoring a goal. But the red wings but still lost the Besl of seven Campbell conference series 4-1 because the rest of the oilers most notably Marl Messier were too Tough Edmonton s 6-3 Victory wednesday night in which Messier fuelled a five goal outburst by scoring twice clinched the series. They have the greatest player in the world Greti by and the second a Realess player in the world Mes sier red wings coach Jacques demurs said. What can you do there was t much Detroit could do with Messier who scored four goals and physically dominated the series to help Edmonton return to the Stanley cup final for the fourth time in five years. Nil playoffs Edmonton trying to win the nil championship for the third time in tour years will play either Phila Delphia or Montreal for the title. Philadelphia leads he Wales conference final 3-2 in a series that resumed thursday night in Montreal. Gretzky the nil scoring Champion for seven straight years who was limited to no goals and two assist by Detroit May indeed be the deciding Factor before these playoffs Are Over. But wednesday. I think that probably Messier sums it up Edmon ton coach Glen Salher said. He s got that unbeatable spirit. He s like a galloping thoroughbred in the wind. When of gets tha look in is eyes it spills Over Loeve Ryone else. There Aren t Many athletes that have that look. I played against the rocket former Montreal great Mauncy Richard and he had that look. But Messier has it As much if not More. He gives everybody else in thai dressing room a great lift. When things were going bad he jus decided that thai was enough and away he  Sieve Yzerman s goal put Detroit up 3-1 Early in the second period and the red wings would have been up by four or five goals had it not been for several missed opportunities and Grant Fuhr s standout Gaa lending. After Kevin Mcclelland pulled the oilers within 3 2, Messier took Over. He lied the game with 1 37 left in inc second period slamming Glenn Anderson s perfect entering pass be Hind Detroit goaltender Greg Stefan. Then Messier scored the winning goal by kicking Anderson s pass onto his stick working free of Shawn Burr and putting the puck Pas Stefan for his id Ltd playoff goal this year. Hey Shawn Burr s 6-1, Iso pounds but Messier just brushes him off Demers said. Grezky s a finesse player and you can Knock him off stride a Little but Messier jus overpowers  or us a Struan did Messier will take that puck and he s simply not worried about people hiding him. Hell Jjo right through