European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 02, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Tuesday May 2.1989 the stars and stripes Page 21 pistons go 2-up on celtics by the associate we press Auburn Hills. Mich. Isiah Thomas celebrated his 28th birthday sunday by scoring 2d Points to Lead the Detroit pistons to a 102-95 Victory Over the Boston celtics and a 2-0 Lead in their first round Aba playoff series. Thomas scored 14 of his Points in the third Quarter As the pistons overcame a nine Point deficit. Isiah really came to life in the second  Detroit coach Chuck Daly  a 4.1 big  it was Thomas Best performance since he broke a Bone in his left hand in a fight with Chicago s Bill Cartwright on Aba a layoffs april 7. That incident Cost him a two game suspension and a $5,000 Fine. I sensed that Chuck did t have the Confidence in me that he normally docs Thomas said. So 1 wanted to show him that i could still play and be effective. This is. I m sure the Best i be played since the injury. It s a Gratifying  Isiah Thomas was it today Boston coach Jimmy Rodgers said Isiah was the one who really put together the string of some great plays. We had things going our Way and he got them Back in it. He was a Thorn in our Jdc All  the Detroit defense which tied a play olt record by holding Boston to 10 Points in the  Quarter of game i Friday kept Boston from scoring a Bas Ket enc the final seven minutes sunday. They played defense very  Rodg ers said. Al that Pom in the game our team s Energy level was t what we would have liked. They forced us to take some outside stuff we did t want to  game 3 of the Bcst-of-5 series will be played tuesday night at Boston  celtics were 32-9 at Home this sea son but Only 10-31 on the Road. The pistons who have won 23 straight at Home were the Aba s Best travelling Loam going 26-15 on the Road Includingl-for-2 in Boston. As far As i know you be got to win three of a five game series to win it Rodgers said. Now we go Back to the Garden where we be played very Well. We were competitive Here so i d expect us to have Good  Boston started the fourth Quarter with an 82-81 Lead but a 3-Pointer by Mark Aguirre gave Detroit an 88-86 Lead with 9 50 remaining and the pistons never relinquished it. Kevin Gamble who averaged 22.8 Points subbing for the injured Dennis Johnson in. The celtics final six regular season games suffered a Groin pull in the opener leaving Boston with Only 10 players for game 2. Larry Bird who missed the final 76 Boston games after foot surgery nov. 19, is the 12th Man on the celtics roster but did t make the trip. He May see action in game 3 the celtics w to have won a Aba championships Haven t lost an opening round playoff series since 1956 when Syracuse beat them 2-1 in division semifinal. Linkers j12, Trail Bla cars Jos Inglewood Calif. Magic John Boston s Robert Parish blocks a shot by Murk Aguirre of Detroit in first Quarter. Son scored 35 Points. 20 As los Angeles took control in the first half and had 12 assists As the two time defending Aba Champion takers beat Portland for a 2-0 Lead in their playoff series. The takers will Advance to the second round wish a Victory wednesday night a Portland. Clyde Drexler led the Trail Hla cars with 2x Points despite missing most of the first Quarter after he quickly Drew three fouls. Terry Porter and Jerome Kersey had 21 Points each As they had in the first game of the series a 128-108 Victory thursday night Ai the forum the lakers opened a sub Stantial Early Lead then pulled away whenever the Trail Bla ers narrowed the margin. After the takers led by 10 at halftime the Trail Bla cars closed the Gap to 69-t 2 with 6 42 left in the third period but the lakers went on to take an 86-76 advantage into the final period. The takers quickly stretched their Lead to 9k-78, then coasted. Supersonics 109, rm-kels97 Seattle Alton Lister and Xavier Mcdaniel each scored 20 Points and Seattle broke open a close game in the final Quarter to beat Houston and take a 2-0 Lead in their first round playoff series. The sonics can Clinch the Best-of-5 series wednesday night in Houston. With Lister scoring eight Points in the last Quarter Seattle finished broke away after leading 75-73 going into the period. The Somes win came despite a 30-Point. 12-rebound, 10-Dunk performance by the rockets Ala pm olo Suwon. Sedate threat came off the Bench i Relief of Nate Mcmillan to spark the sonics at Point guard in the fourth  had four free throws and three assists in the period and finished with 16points. Michael Cage benched in the last 10games of the regular season when the sonics went to Mcdaniel As a starting Forward added 16 Points on 7-for-8shooting. Threat i the shot that put Seattle ahead 10 stay a 20-Footcr with four seconds left in the third Quarter for a 75-73lead. Seattle opened the fourth Quarter with its second team but scored the first six Points of the period for an 81-73 Lead. Threat made two free throws with 11 26 to go. Olden polynice dunked with 11 13 left and Artiss Schoene hit a 15-foot jump shot with 10 09 on the clock. Dale Ellis. Seattle s top scorer with a 27.5 regular season scoring average made a pair of 3-Point baskets in the fourth Quarter after being held to Ninepoints in the first three periods. Seattle led k"-x4 when Ellis made his first 3-Pointer with 5 45 left,.after Olajuwon s i oth Dunk of the game with 5 19 to go. Ellis Sank his second straight 3 Pointer with 4 54 remaining for a 95-86 Seattle Lead. Game 4 will be played if necessary in Houston Friday night with game 5, if necessary set for next sunday in the Seattle coliseum. The sonics now have won 10 of their last 11 games since Mcdaniel was elevated to the starting lineup. Suns 132, nuggets 114 Phoenix Kevin Johnson scored 34 Points Lorn Chambers 24 and both triggered decisive first half runs As Phoe Nix beat injury plagued Denver for a 2-0 Lead in their Aba playoff series. Phoenix can wrap up the Best-of-5 first round series with a Victory in game 3 tuesday night at Denver s Mcnichols Arena. Only two teams in Aba history have come Back from a 2-0 deficit to Wina five game playoff series. The suns who blew a 14-Ppinl fourth Quarter Lead before winning Friday night s opener 104-103, went ahead to slay in game 2 with an 8-0 run late in the first period. Phoenix stayed safely in front Al though Denver got 36 Points from Alex English and a record lying six 3-Point goals by Michael Adams. Eddie Johnson the league s lop scor ing sixth Man this season hit a jumper and a 3-Poini goal before Chambers Layup capped the flurry for a 30-22 Lea with 1 07 left. Phoenix up 30-24 entering the second Quarter stretched the Lead to 42-27 with a 10-0 run behind Chambers six Points. Kevin Johnson had five Points and Eddie Johnson four in a 15-4 spurt that gave the suns a 65-41 Lead 2 15 before halftime. Ryan beats Clemens in fastball Battle Page 23 Hoch wins playoff at Las vegas Page 26