European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 19, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Pistons grind on to face Chicago Detroit s Joe do Mars goes to the Basket. As Bill Laimbeer awaits rebound by Harry Atkins the associated press Auburn Hills Mich. With the awesome weight of a possible three peat hanging in the balance the Detroit pistons got a lift from their most fragile player. Isiah Thomas scored eight of his 17 Points in overtime As the pistons beat the Boston celtics 117-113 in game 6 on Friday night to Advance to the Eastern con Fere Nee finals for the fifth consecutive year. The pistons attempting to become Only the third team to win three straight Aba championships will Start the conference finals in Chicago on sunday. Its the third straight year the pistons and bulls will meet in the conference finals. A i did no to feel i had to take Over but i sensed everybody on the team was waiting for me to do something a Thomas said. A i did no to even know what i was going to do until i did it. You can to think. You just  Thomas missed the second and fourth games of the series with a  foot the result of a collision with Boston Rookie dec Brown in game 1. He also was playing with a sore wrist and hamstring. He missed 32 regular season games with the broken wrist which required surgery to  Isiah made some important shots a Detroit coach Chuck Daly said. A but what he did on the other end is what i really like. One of his most important contributions came against Dee Brown in the last four  the game was tied at 105 after regulation and Boston which was playing without injured starting Center Robert Parish and had overcome a 17-Point deficit in the third Quarter took a Quick 109-105 Lead on baskets by Reggie Lewis and de Pinckney. A but the pistons chipped away. Thomas see pistons on Page 18 the stars and stripes ports May 19,1991 Page 24 Aba playoffs on an to. A Central european time game 1,. Eastern conference finals Detroit at Chicago 9 35 . , Pittsburgh apr give Mario Lemieux the puck and he produces. Give him a showcase and lie shines Lemieux. Who spent his first six seasons watching inferior players sip Stanley clip Champagne made Brilliant plays to score and to set up Kevin Stevens first of two goals Friday night As the Pittsburgh penguins evened the championship series with a 4-1 Victory Oyer the Minnesota North stars. A. Quot a a a a a Quot Quot i be scored some big goals in live past Quot Lemieux said a shut any t Ime you re playing in the Stanley cup finals and you score a big goal its got to be Neof the  the penguins must win in Minnesota to regain the Home ice advantage in the Bestol seven series. Games 3 and 4 arc sunday and tuesday at met Center where the North stars have won seven straight in the playoffs. The North stars won game. I in each of their four series but Are 0-4 a and have been outscored 21-7 a in the Sec Oil games. Despite the loss Minnesota coach Bob Gainey said he even series Stanley cup finals on an to a a a. A a a. Central european time a. A a a game 3, Pittsburgh at Minnesota 2 . Monday. Wasny to disappointed. A a we re never satisfied after a loss a lie said. A but we needed to win a game in Here and we accomplished that in the first game. We re in with Good teams. We wont win  spurred by a sellout crowd of 16,164 that was much More vocal than the game 1 audience the penguins took a 2-0 first period Lead. One reason for the fans excitement was the return of All Star defens Eman Paul Coffey playing for the first time in 11 games after sustaining a broken jaw another reason was Pittsburgh a Early physical play and Hustle. A f a a it a a a a a. A / a Paulie was certainly a big lift for us tonight a Lemieux said. A any time you get a player Back like Paul Coffey he a not Only going to help on the ice he a going to help in the dressing  despite the return of Coffey who helped Edmonton to three Stanley cups in the 1980s, the penguins again went 1 for 8 on the Power play. The penguins did no to break open a one goal game until Lemieux and Stevens scored in a 1 28 Span late in  period. While Stevens goal came on a routine rebound Lemieux Swash thing of Beauty. After penguins goalie Tom Barrasso who made 39 saves stopped Perry Brezan from in close Phil Bourque pushed the puck to Lemieux. He skated Down the Middle of the ice split defens Emen Shawn Chambers and Neil Wilkinson by putting the puck Between Chambers legs faked helpless goalie Jon Gasey to the ice and Slid the puck into the open net at 15 04. A whatever i did 1 wont do again. I fell for the fake. 1 did no to take the body and he went right around me a Chambers said a the gave me the puck and i went to poke Cheek it. Its embarrassing any time someone beats you one on one. Its embarrassing no matter who it  sail into first place new York a the Streaky Seattle mariners moved into first place Friday night when Randy Johnson and Bill Swift shut out the new York Yankees 1-0 for their 11th Victory in 12 games. This is the latest in any season the mariners have held first place in the american league West. Seattle which other Al games on Page 22 has never had a winning season since be ginning play in 1977, also moved seven games Over .500 for just the second Lime in its history. The mariners started the Day one half game behind Oakland. The athletics lost 11-6 to Cleveland and Seattle took advantage by winning its fifth straight. Pete of Brien singled Home the Only run in the second inning off Tim Leary 2-3. Leary lost despite allowing just three hits in 8% innings a Johnson 3-3 gave up three hits in seven innings striking out 10 and walking  left with stiffness in his lower Back and Swift finished with one hit Relief for his fifth save. Johnson and Swift extended the Yankees scoreless Streak to inside sport Saba lottery goes today Page 18prep track soccer gymnastics a Page 20augsburg s Sandefur a Bowling Champ a Page 21austrian world ski a Champ killed a Page 23 24 innings. Ken Griffey or. Drew a Lead off walk in the second and scored on singles by Edgar Martinez and of Brien. Leary retired the next 17 batters. Johnson struck out 10 for the second time this season. He fanned the Side in the seventh before being relieved by Swift. New York got Lead off doubles by Roberto Kelly in the first and Alvaro Espinoza in the third but neither runner advanced beyond second. Few v 1, v flying High at second base a Decuf the cabs shorts nne the is air Orff Over Philadelphia a Ricky Jordan who in his teammates Friday night in a 1 0� if  play. Jordan succeeded As did a it Renaay night in a 1-0,16-inning Victory. No Roundup on Page 22.