European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 29, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse Tuesday May 29, 1990 the stars and stripes Page 21 suns race by blazers to tie series by Clifton Brown Phoenix not the suns May have difficulty winning in Portland but they sure did t have much trouble with the Trail blazers at Home. Sunday afternoon with six players reaching double figures the suns raced to a 119-107 Victory at Veter Aba playoffs ans memorial coliseum to tie the Best-of-7 Western conference championship series at two games apiece. On Friday night in game 3, Phoenix beat Portland 123-89. The fifth game will be played tuesday night in Portland. Phoenix is trying to become the first Aba team since 1977 to win a seven game series after trailing by two games to none. The suns have lost 22 consecutive games in pod land but they now have significant momentum and believe their futility in Portland is bound to end. We re confident because we re a Road team said Cotton Fitzsimmons Phoenix s coach. We won two games in Utah during the playoffs and we beat the lakers twice on their Home court. We Don t have the Home court advantage so if we re going to win any thing Well have to win on the Road. The buildings Don t bother us. The people Don t bother us. We just have to go out and take care of sunday Phoenix took control of the game in the third Quarter outscoring Portland by 33-26 to take an 89-76 Lead into the final period. The Trail blazers Likely spent sunday night and monday thinking about their terrible free throw shoot ing. They missed seven free throws in the third Quarter including five straight at one time. The situation got worse for Portland when Clyde Droxler committed his fifth personal foul with 4 07 left in the third Quarter with Portland trailing 77-70. He left the game and by the time he returned with 10 34 left the Trail blazers were losing 93-76. Port land never got closer than 10 Points thereafter. Kevin Johnson 28 Points 17 assists and Tom Chambers 27 Points provided the one two punch that kept Portland backpedal ing All afternoon. In the first two games of this series Johnson was out played by his Point guard counterpart Terry Porter of Portland. But Here Johnson was Able to penetrate port land s defense making creative shots and passing to open teammates for easy baskets. He vowed to continue his Strong play when the series returns to Portland. It s just a matter of being consistent and not losing composure Johnson said. Portland has an advantage in their eyes because they have the Home court. But i feel Good about our Portland s Jerome Kersey led All scorers with 29 Points. Porter had 21 Points and 12 assists. Drazen Petrovic Portland s backup shooting guard injured a thumb in the sports suns Kurt Rambis goes up to defend against shot by Trail Bla ers Terry Porter in Aba playoff game sunday. First half left the game and did not return. The Trail blazers have lost their last five Road playoff games but they Are unbeaten 8-0 at Home in the Post season. An sports radio Aba playoffs Western conference finals came 5, Phoenix at Portland 3 . Wednesday. Indy 500 s fastest Man can keep his locks by Mike Harris Indianapolis a for at least year Arie Luyendyk will be known As the last St Indianapolis 500 Winner of them All. For years longer he May be remembered As the one with the flowing hair. So does that mean he can keep it that Way no sir a smiling team owner Doug so arson shot Back. I d like him to get Luyendyk Cut his Long Brown Mil Uon Dollar locks the ones that flew so luxuriantly in the wind As he and Shier son posed for the traditional Victory Pic Tures monday at the Start finish line of the Indianapolis motor Speedway Well maybe. Shierson you Sec ordered everyone on the Crew to get a haircut before Sun Day s race. Had to look Good for the Cam eras and the sponsors. Luyendyk though ignored the order and now Shierson May be having second thoughts. As Long As he does t have to braid it i guess it s of Shierson said. His Moon like face broke into a smile. Aric is really a handsome Guy who looks like a race Driver. And he s As Nice As he looks. I considered Aric a Winner. He races for the right reasons. It was just a matter of getting the Monkey off his Back. Hell win some More races. The Man is a race the race Driver now is an indy 500 Champion. The Victory Luyendyk s first As an indy car Driver after 75 starts was also vindication for Shierson who has had other winners but never in the big one. The team s last Victory by Al Unser or came in the finale of the 1986 season at Miami. Since then times have been hard for Shierson struggling to run competitively with less than state of the Art equipment. It was discouraging Shierson said. You know that you can do the Job but Don t have the tools. This sport is a very competitive business. It s like Waves on the Ocean. It goes up and it comes Down and it goes up again. You can t give up because the second Lime it s that much easier to give the wave is at its Crest now. The acquisition of the Chevrolet engine pro Gram and the arrival of Luyendyk have turned it around. I be been saying it All along. Chevrolet is the heartbeat of Shierson racing Shierson said. You have to have All the parts on your race team. I feel this team deserved to win this race. They were ready All month. But i m also a realist about this. When it s your Day. It s your Day but you get a lol of things in motion to make sure it s your Day. You have to take a disciplined a Luyendyk could t get the smile off of his face monday. The thrill of winning any race but Par Licul arh this race had begun to sink in for the 36-year-old flying dutchman. "1 can see Why Guys like . Foyil and Al Unser keep coming he said. It s an incredible High. I led like going Back out there and racing again today. I want to win tins race his Victory was certified Morula morning with Luyendyk s record win Ning Speed lowered by .003 Mph to i 85.98 i. That also changed his margin of Victory from 10.7 second to 10.878. The Only major change in the official standings was the flip flopping of the an see indy on Page 23
