European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 15, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Tuesday May 15,1990 the stars and stripes a a Page 21 i a Fittipaldi pistons suns join bulls with 3-1 Lead sets Pace at indy Indianapolis apr Emerson Fittipaldi outshine teammate Rick Mears with a record shattering qualifying run sunday but the defending Indianapolis 500 Champion will have to wait six Days to find out if he will Start from the pole in the May 27 race. Fittipaldi took the provisional pole in the rain delayed opening round of time trials. Fifteen Drivers earned berths in the tentative starting lineup for the 74th indy classic. Qualifications were rained out on saturday. Fittipaldi 43, who Drew the first position in the qualifying line Friday night had his Penske Chevrolet ready when trials finally began on sunday just 86 minutes before the track was scheduled to close for the Day. The brazilian Driver showed his hand immediately getting around the 2�?~/2-mile Indianapolis motor Speedway Oval at 225.006 Mph breaking Mears year old one Lap record of 224.254. Each of Fittipaldi a next three qualifying laps was progressively quicker �?225.259, 225.366 and 225.575. With most of a crowd estimated at 150,000 on its feet and cheering it was announced that the two time formula one champions 10-mile average of 225.301 Mph had buried Mears four Lap Mark of 223.885. Mears a three time indy Winner who had won the last two poles Here and owns the Speedway record with five was considered the Man to beat through most of the week of practice leading to the opening of time trials. But both Fittipaldi and a1 Unser or. Surpassed him late in fridays practice and again in a practice session earlier sunday. Unser who on Friday reached 228.502 Mph for the fastest unofficial Lap Ever run at the historic Speedway is one of 12 Drivers still in the qualifying line. Anyone who Drew a spot in the line during the Blind draw on Friday is guaranteed a shot at the pole if he remains in line. Expectations were High when Mears drove onto the track but his first Lap of 223.625 brought a Buzz of disappointment from the huge crowd. He followed with laps of 224.433, 224.361 and 224.444 for a four Lap average of 224.215. Both his fast single Lap and his average were better than his 10-mile average of a year ago but Mears found himself next to Fittipaldi in the Middle of the tentative front Row. A you never know what a going to happen until you get out there said a disappointed Mears. 1 knew right away we did no to have see indy on Page 23 by the associated press the Detroit pistons and the Phoenix suns joined the Chicago bulls with 3-1 Marks and Are one win away from their conference finals. The new York kicks los Angeles lakers and Philadelphia 76ers Are one loss away from summer vacation. The pistons beat the kicks 102-90 and the suns downed the lakers 114-101 sunday to take 3-1 leads in their Best-of-7 Aba playoff series. Earlier the Chicago bulls dropped the new York kicks 111-101 to Lead the 3-1 pack. Detroit and Chicago can Clinch at Home in their next game a tuesday for the pistons and wednesday for the bulls. Then a playoffs suns will try to wrap up their series tuesday at the forum where they had a 21-game losing Streak before beating the lakers in game 1. At Philadelphia Michael Jordan scored 18 of his 45 Points in the final period As the bulls rallied to beat the 76ers. The bulls trailing 86-77 after three quarters opened the final period with a 226 spurt. That put them up 99-92 and they led the rest of the Way. As Jordan was outstanding Charles Barkley struggled. The Philadelphia Star had 22 Points and 13 rebounds but missed 9 of 15 free throws. A my free throw shooting blew the game a Barkley said. A when i play bad. Its very  at Madison Square Garden the Detroit pistons took advantage of Patrick Ewing a first half foul trouble and their second half defense blanketed new York. Ewing who scored 45 Points in saturdays Victory Over the pistons and averaged 30.3 Points in his first eight playoff games was scoreless in the first half while playing Only six minutes because of foul trouble. He came Back to score 30 Points in the second half but it Wasny to enough to deny the pistons who Are seeking to become the third franchise a after the los Angeles lakers and Boston a to repeat As Aba champions. Detroit allowing less than 90 Points per game in the playoffs before losing 111-103 on saturday forced the kicks into missing 16 of their first 21 shots in the second half. The pistons who were led by James Edwards with 19 Points took the Lead for Good in the second Quarter led by nine at halftime and opened a 59-45 advantage in the third period. Ewing and Charles Oakley who finished with 18 Points and 14 rebounds helped the kicks Cut the deficit to 65-58 before the pistons opened their largest Lead 78-63, with 9 25 left in the game. The kicks then started a frantic rally As Ewing scored 12 Points in less than five minutes helping new York close to 87-82 with 3 39 left. But a jumper by Edwards and two free throws by Joe do Mars ended the threat. Dumars scored 13 of his 17 Points in the last three minutes of the fourth Quarter and Dennis Rodman finished with 14 Points and 14 rebounds. A Nicks Kenny Walker Sticks up a hand As pistons Vinnie Johnson drives for Basket. Ewing took one shot and sat out nearly seven minutes with two fouls in the first Quarter but the kicks trailed Only 2723 behind Oakley a 10 Points. Ewing returned to the game at the Start of the second Quarter but quickly returned to the Bench when he was whistled for his third foul just nine seconds later. The pistons closed the second Quarter with a 10-2 run for their largest Lead of the half 51-42. At Phoenix Kevin Johnson scored 11 of his 30 Points in the final 10 14 and the Phoenix suns survived a late los Angeles rally to beat the lakers. Tom Chambers added 27 Points and Jeff Komacek had 16 of his 23 in the first period for the suns who can win the Best-of-7 Western conference semifinal with a Victory tuesday night at the forum. The suns who snapped a 21-game losing Streak at the forum in game 1, have never beaten the lakers in six previous playoff series. Phoenix led by 14 Points Midway through the third period before the lakers rallied and pulled to 94-90 with 4 39 remaining in the game. But that s As close As the lakers could get. Magic Johnson led los Angeles with a career playoff High 43 Points a one More than he had As a Rookie in game 6 against Philadelphia to give the lakers the 1980 world championship. James worthy scored 16 Points Tor the lakers but made Only five of his 21 Field goal attempts. . Green added 14 Points and a playoff career High 18 rebounds. Mark West had 15 Points. 15 rebounds and six blocked shots for Phoenix while Kevin Johnson had 16 assists and came within four Points of tying his career playoff Best set last year. Riley named coach of year Page 27