“Magic, Big Game James, & Kareem vs Isaiah Thomas & The Bad Boy Pistons” Finals G6 6.19.88

“Magic, Big Game James, & Kareem vs Isaiah Thomas & The Bad Boy Pistons” Finals G6 6.19.88

good afternoon everybody welcome I’m BR Musburger this is the Larry O’Brien trophy next to me and of course that’s what it’s all about the Pistons would like to wrap it up this afternoon the Lakers have to win the next two to keep alive that dream the last team in the NBA to repeat as a champion the Boston Celtics back in 1969 it’s somewhat interesting that they fac the same situation that the Lakers did today they were down 3-2 they won of the Boston Garden they came out here and captured it in a dramatic seventh game pressure who’s it on today squarely on the Lakers shoulders and I had an opportunity to ask Magic Johnson how Los Angeles would respond today when you come this far um you kind of get some energy that maybe you thought you didn’t have because uh the stakes are a lot higher than before I mean we’re playing for everything now so I think the guys will be ready for the challenge we just got to come out I think like we did in game five right at the top of the show but carry it out throughout the game the coach Pat Riley saying almost it becomes insignificant for this team if you don’t win this Championship does that put too much burden on the athletes well you know it puts pressure on us but we have pressure on us all season long um but you know sometimes you need challenges sometimes you need something to motivate will go for and I think he just want to throw a challenge out there for us and see if we can respond to it now as for the Pistons there is a prevailing attitude on the part of many that their best chance is today not to wait for a seventh game let’s get on and find out how dick Stockon and Billy Cunningham feel about that dick all right Brent that may be so but as far as the Lakers are concerned they’re on their own from the moment that Pat Riley guaranteed a repeat Champion to the many times he has had to deliver the motivational pleas during these playoffs the coach seems to have said the right things to keep the dream going but maybe by now the players have heard enough and today their actions will have to speak louder than Pat Riley’s words and Billy I’ve got to ask you how these two clubs have approached this series your thoughts on that well I think number one the coaches analyzed what type of team they have Pat Riley feels that his Club the Lakers need challenges and that’s what he’s offered to them all through this year now you look at the Pistons Chuck Dy says hey I got a young team in this situation let’s make sure it’s nice and loose and that’s the way they’ve been approaching it but on the court there’s a few areas that the Lakers must do a better job to beat the Pistons today of course the tough assignment for the Pistons is having to win the title on the road but they could be called The Road Warriors Brent because they won two games at Chicago Stadium two at Boston Garden and they’re going to have to win a pair at The Forum to capture the title this time yeah deck and I think one of the reasons why they’ve played so well on the road we’ve talked about it is that late season acquisition in fact let’s go back in history the last 3 years in 887 when the Celtics won Bill Walton was productive last year Michael Thompson coming from San Antonio did the job this year Detroit acquired James Edwards from the Phoenix Suns he’s been part of that bench rotation look at the difference in production if there’s one thing that has to change for the Lakers they must get some production Off the Bench be at points or rebounding because this ninan rotation of the Pistons has absolutely killed them so far Chuck Dy doing a superb job of rotating game six at The Forum about to begin and right now for the introduction of the starting lineups let’s go to the public address announcer Lawrence Tanner good afternoon ladies and gentlemen and welcome to the Forum in Englewood California for game six of the 1988 NBA Finals between the detoit Pistons and the defending world champion Los Angeles Lakers and now for the starting lineups first for the Eastern Conference Champion Detroit Pistons at forward in his 12th year out of Notre Dame at 65 number 45 Adrien dley head forward in his 12th campaign out of Hampton Institute at 610 number 44 Rick mahor at Center man his eighth year out of Notre Dame at 611 number 40 Bill lame beer edar Y and his third year out of mcne state at 63 number four Joe Dumars and at guard in his seventh year out of Indiana University at 61 number 11 Isaiah Thomas the head coach for the Detroit Pistons Chuck Daly and now for the Western Conference Champion Los Angeles Lakers Edgard in his ninth year out of Michigan State at 69 number 32 Irvin Magic Johnson Edgard in his fifth campaign out of Arizona State at 64 number four Byron Scott at four and his third season out of Oregon State at 69 number 45 a [Music] green at four and his six year out of North Carolina at 69 number 42 James Worthy and at Center the captain in his 19th here out of UCLA at 72 number 33 kareim Abdul Jabar and the head coach for the Los Angeles Lakers Pat Riley the officials working today’s sixth game Ed rush and Hugh Evans Rush on the left Evans on the right Jack Madden is the alternate it has been 10 years since a team has rallied from a 3-2 deficit to win an NBA championship the Washington Bullets in 1978 meet Seattle but this crowd is behind the Lakers full force and you can see we have not had a game decided by less than 10 points in the series The pist with the biggest margin of victory in game four at the Silverdome the team split the first two games here at the Forum Lakers need to win both of their home games here and the Pistons need just one if you look at the Lakers side you have to feel that James Worthy is going to be a key in this ball game coming out cuz he is known to come with the big games getting them started offensively and that’s going to be a concern for for the uh Pistons to stop him he’s been in foul trouble the last two games and he normally busts out when he’s had problems after one game so we’ll see what he shows today lame beer and Kareem will jump it up game six about to start pons one game away from their first title in the 31e history Lakers want some history of their own controlled by dley of Detroit Kareem is on Mahorn Magic Johnson is guarding Lan beer no difference match up changes in this one SC on Thomas Isaiah Thomas hits the first shot of the ball game on the other side Dumars is on Magic Thomas on Scott they go to Kareem against Mahorn and we’re tied you see no match up changes both teams are playing the same way as they did in game five the Pistons have held the opposition under 100 points in 15 of 21 playoff games amazingly consistent defense their job is to score points against the Lakers Mahorn gets his own rebound that’s the killer for the Lakers in the last game the lack of rebounding and they’re just not reacting to the ball when it goes up off the glass [Applause] they bounce it inside off of green and here comes Pistons two onon break and Dumar is on the return from Thomas and it is six to2 in favor of the Pistons now that was just excellent rotation defensively from the weak side for the Pistons in the last game the Lakers came out leading 12 to nothing but that lead evaporated before the first quarter was history different start this time around James Worthy short on his first attempt rebound by Lane beer Pistons are pushing it up on offense Thomas not that time magic and no one’s running with magic it’s just a one on four fast break AC Green worthy Byron Scott and getting a hand on it was Isaiah Thomas he released to the other end but it’s overthrown and it’ll be Lakers ball now here’s the double team and look at the weak side Dantley steps in get a hand on it and it’s a fast break basket for the Pistons off the first two minutes plus the Pistons have been the team that’s been alert out there but it’s only six to2 in favor of Detroit Lan beer on Magic nine on the shot clock and there is Mahorn and Kareem banging and it’s going to be Rick Mahorn with the personal foul and the reason Detroit moved Mahorn onto Kareem all early in ball games and not lambir is that Daily doesn’t want lambir to pick up early foul trouble magic posting up D Mars worthy travels worthy had the shot but decided to penetrate he was open he was open and that’s a lack of confidence right there from the Lakers and we’re seeing what what are the Pistons doing cutting down the lane area not allowing any penetration early in this game two and A2 minutes gone by in game six crowd has not had much to cheer about dley working against Green magic ready to double and Adrien dley in and out the rebound by Abdul Jabar he has rebounded strongly in the last three games for the Lakers magic off the Glass Lane beer clears Detroit is running they’re coming out running perhaps for the first time in this series and Dumars hits and it’s 8 to2 Detroit well it was the defense by Joe Dumar stop at forcing uh Magic Johnson to throw up an off balance one handed little under 9 minutes to go in the first Mahorn already has a personal that’s not critical to the pist and they’re going to call M horn for a second but keep in mind that he plays limited minutes and it’s John Sally who sees most of the action at that position now both teams are very strange in one regard we know that the Lakers is so much more efficient offensively in their own building averaging 15 more points a game in the Forum than on the road and and the Pistons dick you know they’re a team that shoots better on the road that’s phenomenal J’s John Sally who’s making an early entrance as Rick Mahorn goes out that’s not a good sign for the Lakers when the Pistons go to their bench that upgrades their game and it just adds another dimension in the open court because they are running well now and John Sally can really get up and down the court and he is a shot blocker that can generate some fast break opportunities eight to four pistons and Kareem has all four La points Lakers 10-2 at home in the playoffs they have been awfully strong in postseason play 20 in their last 22 Danley low post good defense by La and coming down with it is green and he steep he traveled and dley made it [Applause] happen and what AC Green should do is maybe take a dribble after that rebound and then find Magic Johnson he was wide open on his right the Lakers have hit only one of four shots have turned it over three times Pistons by four boy you just see the poison confidence right now in this piston ball Club Thomas too hard off the glass green lost it Lan beer is open Thomas will tip it out to Scott but Detroit is back defensively three on three break and the Lakers score anyway they didn’t have an advantage and it’s now 8 to six they don’t need an advantage because when you have wory and Byron Scott filling those Lanes they’re the best in the game doing that nothing for dley kareim is on him now and he goes right around Abdul Jabar and his foul going to the hoop Adrien dley uncanny ability of drawing fouls and then making them and Lan beer is upset and they have to separate the players and there was Kareem leaving his feet defensively the penetration and the Lakers were not going to allow him to get get a three-point play AC Green with the first Laker foul of the [Applause] game worthy and Dantley they carry the burden when their teams win that’s been the story Here and Now Adrien dley who has led the Pistons in scoring in four of the five games when he has scored 20 or more points in any game Detroit has won in the series well he just put so much pressure on a defense he has that ability to drive to the basket sh the fade away one-hander and if he’s double teed he’s moving the basketball beautifully finding the open man 744 to go in the first the Lakers have yet to taste the lead bantley 85% from the line in the series and Detroit is up by four Once [Applause] More worthy from Magic Johnson reminiscent of game number four in series or three I should say well that’s that’s Magic Johnson at his best because he has that ability being 69 to look right over the top of the defense and he found worthy wide open the worthy and Kareem four a piece have accounted for the Laker eight points lead is two for Detroit Sally goes around Kareem and a reverse layup the basket pounce in a foul and he left Kareem standing in the mud exactly right he he was standing in the mud and he just froze Kareem Kareem was expecting him to make a pass and John Sally you can see this man just gaining more confidence in his playing ability he just drives right by the Baseline and another point is we didn’t see one Laker come over and give any health defensively kareim with the foul Sally with the free throw and the lead is five for Detroit Dum Mar’s at 63 against magic 69 that’s why magic can get the ball over him so easily worthy in the paint where he’s off tough Sally The Rebound now Thomas throws it away and now Lan beer is claiming that AC Green had touched the ball and now Hugh Evans and Ed Rush confer and I think it’s going to Detroit well what happened is Michael Cooper sitting on the bench touched the ball as Dantley was trying to go for it and it wasn’t out of bounds we’ll see it right here and the officials have ruled that Dantley still had a chance for it you see Cooper grabbing hold of it that’s like that Alabama Rice football game when Dicky Mel was tackled by Lewis Off the Bench not as dramatic I might add in the cotton bow in the 50s though we see them double teaming now now they’ll swing it to the corner D Mars has worthy in front of him in trouble for the moment two seconds on the clock Thomas with a desperation shot but Dumars gets the long rebound well this is just a carryover from the fourth period in game five they miss it they get too many opport opportunities for the world championship you can’t do [Applause] it nine on the clock six and a half to go in the period Dumars finds some penetration and Magic Johnson knocks it away and here’s where the easy just great Hands by Magic Johnson deflecting that ball Detroit by three nearly halfway through this opening period dick Stockton and Bill Cunningham at the Forman Englewood game number six the Pistons need one to capture the title Sally and the pass goes right through danley’s legs for another Detroit turnover and they look a little impatient out there yeah the Lakers need a couple plays like that steal by Magic this will bring the emotion to this ball Club the Lakers are an emotional basketball team and when they get out and run and get the easy baskets that’s when you see it and here’s the easiest the Laker fast break has been practically invisible the last two games and when they run well you see what happens in games two and three Bill well they the best in the business at running and right here we see even Detroit is back defensively but they don’t have the ability to stop the penetration of magic who forces lambir to help and there’s worthy filling the lane fast break points are even the Lakers had Kareem score the first four and James Worthy has CED the last six they have been the only two Lakers to score and and Lan beer has been the only Detroit Piston not to score and that includes Sally the sixthman 13- 10 Detroit the other Laker that’s got to get going is Byron Scott they’re going to need his offensive fire power from the perimeter worthy against Sally Sally got a hand on it and he’s got the rebound Sally was tremendous defense against worthy and on the break Dumars comes back with the basket Dumars has hit his first three shots two of them layups and it’s a five-point piston lead oh right there James Worthy is a little intimidated out there by John Sally what he’s got to do is just take it strong to the basket don’t don’t worry about it getting blocked Kareem against lame beer each team with two team fouls and a bad pass thrown into the hands of Dantley here’s another two-on-one break Isaiah Thomas scores this time and now it’s a seven-point lead and the p have open up their largest margin now tell me if you switched uniforms you would think that the Pistons with the Lakers creating those opportunities at the other end from their defense are you surprised at uh how cold the Lakers have come out I don’t mean just shooting Cold not handling the basketball well and they just let Magic Sail in for the layup now that’s an advantage the Pistons have when Rodman comes into the game he kind of cuts that play off so Magic’s got to go to town with this alignment nearly four and a half to play in the opening period Sally has Kareem now 4 seconds on the shot clock and Lan beer has his shot blocked by Scott out of bounds and it’s turned over to the Lakers great Hustle by Scott with the clock running down to zero and that’s what Pat Riley wants he wants every jump shot to be contested but to make sure that they don’t allow any penetration Scott hasn’t scored but he’s contesting everything out there and now the Pistons called for an illegal defense that’s a warning next time is a technical and it’s John S who was in old man’s land Pistons by five as we wind down to four minutes remaining in the opening period double on Magic leaves Worthy open worthy sticks the jumper he has eight points leads the Lakers and that’s the problem when Magic Johnson posts up first thing he looks to do is make that pass and he finds the open man every time green all over dley Dumar in and out the rebound by Green so Dumars has to go against the taller man Johnson when he’s on defense and on offense he has to look at a big man and worthy and there’s the the bench the big key Edwards on the left and Rodman on the right now the thing that the Lakers are doing is stopping the penetration they forc that perimeter jump shot here’s Vinnie Johnson who has outscored the entire Laker bench in this series and maybe more than any piston he’s the true barometer when he scores and shoots well they win when he does it they lose it’s as simple as [Applause] that Dumars goes out of the game having scored six kareim with a long sky hook and Sally position for the defensive board three-point piston lead 315 to go in the [Applause] first Sally setting a screen Scott fights through looking to post up Adrien Dantley magic helps Lan beer and worthy knocks it out with three seconds and so the Pistons will have five seconds to try a shot the Lakers will go to their bench for the first time Michael Thompson who got his wake up call in game five with a series High 14 points replaces Kareem Abdul far Thomas Fires for three and hits Isaiah Thomas who is now four for 14 from three-point range and it’s a 20-4 lead traveling against magic you have to compliment Isaiah Thomas he was over playing the pass caused that walking violation on Magic Johnson Lakers have turned it over six times already and back inside the Forum where Detroit is up by six here I’m Pat O’Brien good afternoon everybody this is a little story of why Adrien Dantley likes the mailman and I’m not talking about Carl Malone Adrien was born with one leg shorter than the other one and so he has to wear a corrective shoe with some orthotics in it let’s cut the game five now after the game and the excitement of the game the shoe was stolen they put out an APB on this shoe because this is the only shoe he can wear newspapers radios policeman the Hawaii 5 everybody was looking for the shoe this morning at 6:00 the guy who stole the shoe called him and said I’ve got the shoe yesterday morning at 6:00 he sent the shoe to him it arrived late last night Adrian says keep the shoe send the Orthotics but I got to tell you the guy put his return address on the package I don’t think you’ll get a thank you though let’s go back to dick I think the name of that show was Cinderella bill at least that’s what the Pistons are hoping right now there’s no spark on the Lakers and the Pistons have taken the crowd out of this game but that’s with 240 to go in the first period Sally out of bounds knocked by knocked out of there by Michael Thompson the the Lakers have to feel fortunate turning the ball over six times getting hurt on their own defensive boards to even be this close Isaiah Thomas and the offensive rebound by Vinnie Johnson another loose ball and Scott over to Magic six-point lead for Detroit 20 to4 Byron Scott hits his first basket of the game homeing away has been like night and day for Byron Scott in this series 10-point difference in scoring here at the Forum compared to the Dome ry’s going to go to Kurt Ramis early in this one he’s ready to come in Thomas left-handed shot over a lot of yellow shirts and Isaiah has nine points including a three to lead all [Music] scorers worthy goes swooping in laner tips it out magic wins the battle worthy Lan beer they are scrapping as if this were the seventh game Thomas behind a Sally and traveling call against Isaiah just a little out of control that time for Isaiah Thomas but you see what the Pistons are doing they’re really soon as someone penetrates to the basket they’re all converging on it there’s Isaiah trying to beat AC Green good call by the official he took one too many steps basically Isaiah has been in control pretty much in the series they Kurt rampus who’s coming in the ball game for the Lakers he replaced AC Green who did not score and had three rebound well if Isaiah wasn’t in under control they wouldn’t be up 3-2 good play by the Lakers inside with Rambis from worthy now Kurt rers is the kind of guy that can really give this team a spark because he’ll be diving into the stands he’ll get to the offensive boards and he’ll really lay a body on somebody on the on the def Defensive class they’ve got eight on the shot clock and the Lakers are pushing the Pistons offense way out dley driving in into Michael Thompson and the push against the Lakers the Lakers defense nearly held the full clock on that one that was outstanding defense but right here we’ll see James Worthy spotting Rambis underneath there was Dantley coming up to give some help there’s the easy two but the thing that’s impressive that last time down if you’re a Detroit fan is that the defense was outstanding by the Lakers but they showed great Poise and patience and now we see dentley on the foul line Michael Thompson with the foul 14 fouls against the Lakers Michael Cooper has come in for the Lakers and for the Pistons Rick Mahorn returns and Dennis Rodman ready to come in he’ll be coming in for Dantley at the next break [Music] [Applause] all four of danley’s points have come from the free throw line 24 to 18 under a minute to go in the first period the Pistons have led all the way in this game six Cooper guarded by Vinnie Johnson he’s trying to get underway in a miserable shooting slot Scott penetrates that’s his play he is so quick getting to that middle and once he gets in there he’s going to [Applause] score shot clock shows 14 seconds worthy now on Dantley and danley’s fallway is good and Adrien with his first basket has six Thomas leads Detroit with nine worthy the leading score for the Lakers has eight points playing for the last shot of the period the Lakers who are down by [Applause] six Cooper swings it Scott falls down and the p with 3 seconds to go Thomas sees the clock and fires it up short well the shooting statistics are deceptive as the Lakers are at 53% but they Trail they’ve committed a lot of turnovers defense has been the story without question of the first 12 minutes Billy well not only the defense in this period but the Detroit defense all through this playoffs and one of the things that you have to do is you have to have great heart and desire and work at it defensively we’re going to see Isaiah Thomas trying to recover defensively to to the weak side he doesn’t succeed in stopping Byron Scott but still the effort’s there we start the second period and Dennis Rodman has replaced Adrien dley who has six points and goes to the bench Cooper and Scott magic is on the bench for the Lakers along with kareim Thompson setting a screen Lan beer follows Scott into Michael Thompson good position and a fine Laker play inside [Applause] Thomas Thomas over Byron Scott Off the Mark and Rodman gets another offensive rebound what a tremendous job he’s done off the glass and every time the Lakers seem to be getting something going defensively they get hurt on the defensive glass James Edward who Brent talked about at the top of our program and what an impact he has had down the stretch the acquisition from the Phoenix Suns is in along with Joe Dumars rambus committing the foul Edwards had two of his most productive scoring games in the last two efforts rebound by Edwards short on the Baseline and here’s worthy Worthy and that’s what the Lakers love to do get out there fill the lanes but they’re going to have to do a better job on the defensive boards 2624 the Lakers Trail by two Rodman is guarding worthy and worthy posting them up D Mars no shot Vinnie Johnson off the screen and the Laker [Applause] foul and the foul is on Michael Cooper right now let’s let’s go to Pat O’Brien all right dick thank you I feel like the shoe reporter here John Sally changed his shoes because the other ones didn’t fit correctly so he just put another pair round but I noticed inside the shoe he gave me there was a worn out $5 bill I asked him about he’s got a five in one and a $1 bill in the other six six games let’s go back to dick all right P that’s a fascinating one well he always wants to make sure he has cab money one out of two for Vinnie Johnson 27 to 24 Detroit Lakers have come within two well they could use a three from Cooper couldn’t they he is a top three-point shooter in his grown ice cold Pistons foul at the other end I think Michael Cooper has got to find an easy basket maybe not the jump shot but get out on a fast break get an easy layup there or an offensive rebound and put it back to get a little confidence that there is a basket up there with a hole in it Sally replaces Mahorn Rodman commits the foul little more than a minute and a half elapsed in the second period Pistons by three open man is Michael Thompson rebound by Rodman Dennis Rodman has more rebounds than everyone but two players in this series only green and Lan beer have more here’s the Laker break Cooper is fouled smart foul by the piston smart foul and that’s what Michael Cooper needs as well as the Lakers to get on the foul line make a couple foul shots get a get a little confidence here are the woses that Michael Cooper has faced he’s always come up big in the playoffs in his career but not this time Cooper is shooting three for 28 that’s 11% amazingly enough has totally lost his shooting touch it’s been a major story in the series considering how well the Pistons bench has played worthy sits down he goes out with 10 to lead his team and Magic Johnson back in there one thing though during this little spurt here we’re seeing that the Lakers bench is being productive today with Kurt Ramis Cooper and Michael Thompson on the court they were able to get right back in this ball game now they only Trail by one they were down by seven at one time 17- 10 little more than two minutes gone by Sally setting a screen for Dumar and an offensive foul away from the ball make it a loose ball foul that foul was on James Edwards timeout Detroit this is the scene at the Forum in Englewood California game six of the NBA finals on CBS Sports Lakers are trying to do it the hard way win an NBA championship coming from back after trailing three games to two there’s Academy Award winner Michael Douglas his Dad Kirk is also here you know that guy he’s won an Academy Award or two a lot of Oscars for these people and there is Kirk Douglas one of the greats Father’s Day and we want to wish everyone Billy a father’s Happy Father’s Day wherever you [Applause] are pons are up by one and the Lakers can take their first lead and Rodman is going to be guarding Magic Johnson to see what he can do he has sty magic to a great extent yeah what he has the ability to do is take away the inside game what the alyo the law pass back door calling what you will to Byron Scott and the Lakers lead for the first time that has to be just absolutely perfect that pass just a great play by Magic and Scott Lakers have overcome a seven-point deficit and Vinnie Johnson with his second shot of the game now has three and it’s 2928 Detroit pons LED 2620 after one magic goes up Rodman fouls him now watch Byron Scott he’s going to come off that screen set by Michael Thompson James Edwards has got to give some defensive help oh what a play those are the prettiest plays to see in basketball and it’s a play that can get this crowd into the ball game 30 to 29 the Lakers with three minutes gone by in the second have their second lead of this contest Thompson trying to body James Edwards Twan game and Joe Dumars clicks from outside Dumars has eight points he’s hit four of five and that was excellent defense by the Lakers Scott got free inside and the Lakers beating the Pistons a little La aicle getting back down Court defensively but that’s the Lakers style of play they want to push it up either after misses or makes looking to see if they can get the quick good opportunity shot Dumars four for five Scott the same thing returned pass from Vinnie Johnson and Dumars is hit two in a row he finally broke out of his big shooting slump but a big effort in game five had 19 Cooper still struggles and Ramis will be called for the loose ball foul now dley wants to gather the team over on the sideline wanted to tell Vinnie Johnson and Dumar something I couldn’t see what he was trying to tell probably tell him hey get me the ball this time down the court Kareem comes in and Rambis goes out Rambis scored two points and had a rebound and he was very active getting to the defensive boards you saw that the Pistons were not able to get any offensive rebounds while he was on the court Pistons by one just under 8 minutes to go in this first half Edwards with his familiar fallway looping shot how valuable well that man has been not only in this series but the previous one against Boston he gives them that inside threat offensively something they don’t have get from anyone else on this court magic post up pretty strongly and Sally knocks it away James Worthy who has scored 10 points to lead the Lakers gives Byron Scott his first breather of the [Applause] game team fouls are three a piece in the second period Kareem against Edwards miss the sky hook Dantley clear the Pistons up by three trying to widen it up seven was their biggest lead and the Lakers have had a one-point lead on a couple of occasions on the switch Michael Thompson picks up Dumar Cooper knocks the ball away from Vinnie Johnson to worthy and Michael Thompson on the break and they get the basket not the way it was designed on the Blackboard by Pat Riley credited to Tom let’s see Thompson well what we’re seeing is now that the Lakers are getting more people out on the break we’re seeing worthy we’re seeing Michael Thompson Cooper Byron Scott and that’s the way they have to do it Joe Dumar missing outside tipped into the hands of Michael Thompson and it’ll be a piston foul against John M well if the Lakers don’t get their running game going in this one they never have a chance when they come home it seems to turn them on in that style you’re looking at downtown Hollywood and some of the cars on the freeway not too much traffic right now everyone’s either watching the game here or at home as we bring you game six Billy you know Michael Cooper right in this picture can do so many things besides score points and right here we see his defensive ability getting that steal and what does it lead to an easy two points not too easy but a two points for the Lakers in this breaking situation and good Hustle by Mike Michael Thompson Will Chamberlain would have loved that volleyball action inside wouldn’t he and he’ll be here at halftime and Bob lanir will be with him your old teammate Will Chamberlain great 67 Philadelphia 76 here’s a piston trap I had a carry Chamberlain for about three years that’s you keep telling me Kareem Dantley finally snares the rebound Kareem had Dumars on him and he settled for the jump shot instead of looking to take it to the basket bons lead the Lakers by one 615 remaining in the first half Thomas back in the game tries to force the pass and now the foul is called against Detroit and it was John Sally with two so Sally Mahorn and Rodman have two fouls for Detroit Michael Thompson the only Laker with two fouls but what we’re seeing now is that the Lakers are doing the job defensively Joe Dumars has hit a few perimeter jump shots but that’s what they’ll give up look at Cooper fighting through the screen Magic Johnson helping and cutting off the passing Lane Cooper can do so many things and of course he may be the most emotional of all the Lakers and he has that relationship with Magic Johnson you know guys have played together now for nine years and he go over and tell magic hey it’s your time to get things rolling and he’s the one player Magic Johnson responds to under six minutes remaining James Edwards with a fallway hits again and the Pistons regain the lead after the Lakers went ahead on the free throws 37- 36 Detroit 545 remain we have had eight lead changes already in this one illegal defense and that’ll be a technical foul against the Detroit Pistons that’s their second [Applause] violation talked about the fast break and fast break points were even after one but the Lakers have a six to nothing run in the running game against Detroit this quarter and that has all been sparked by their defensive play and in the last few games the only time the Lakers have been able to run is in the first period then it just seems to evaporate and they end up playing Detroit style of play in that set offense worthy gets inside and a Beed from Magic worthy with 12 is the top man for the Lakers and now the leading score in the game and LA with a two-point lead that’s biggest one they’ve enjoyed another thing is we’re seeing the execution at the offensive end of the court so much better for the Lakers they’re setting the screens and opening people up Bill L beer will replace John Sally who goes out with two fouls James Worthy chalks up his first foul La has four team fouls Pistons already in the penalty so Detroit will not shoot this one right now Detroit has Lan beer at Center or forward they use Edwards and Lane beer in there along with Dantley and Thomas and Joe Dumar then it just seems to evaporate and they end up playing Detroit style of play in that set offense worthy gets inside and a Beed from Magic worthy with 12 is the top man for the Lakers and now the leading score in the game and LA with a two-point lead that’s biggest one they’ve enjoyed another thing is we’re seeing the execution at the offensive end of the court so much better for the Lakers they’re setting the screens and opening people up Bill Lan beer will replace John Sally who goes out with two fouls James Worthy chalks up his first foul La has four team fouls Pistons already in the penalty so Detroit will not shoot this one right now Detroit has Lane beer at Center or forward they use Edwards and Lane beer in there along with Dantley and Thomas and Joe Dumar so they’ve got a big team in there Detroit as big as they can [Applause] get Thomas on the Baseline lame beer top of the key green the rebound as he out scrapped James Edwards Lakers lead by two five minutes to go in the first half they were down by six at the period and here’s Magic Johnson posting up worthy with a hesitation and that hits and La is up by four this has been their quarter and again you see Magic Johnson if you don’t double team him he’s going to shoot the hook shot you do it he finds the open man worthy has six and Magic has five in this quarter for the Lakers 4137 Dumar strong to the hoop rebound green Cooper did you see Michael Cooper’s face when he hit that jump shot it was like oh my goodness what a great Father’s Day present for me and here it is when he hit the jumper and what a world of confidence this will give to Michael Cooper and what they’re doing is setting a screen across the Baseline for worthy coming for the ball and he’s had they’ve had great success with it Thomas hard off the glass rebound by Green Lakers can establish their biggest lead of the game Scott from the corner and a foul against Detroit loose ball foul and the Lakers can do it on the line now well this is what Pat Riley has been waiting for to see this team explode and the man going to the foul line got it this got this play started with the defensive rebound and now he’s getting the reward because he was on the offensive glass John Sally and Dennis Rodman will both come in replacing James Edwards who picked up his second foul and Adrien dley so now Chuck Dy has decided that he wants to have the quicking quicker running team in there to see what they can do against this Lakers Club that’s been hard to stop well he’s going to have to do something to get his team back defensively and I’m sure he feels that with this quicker team they might be able to get back and try to contain this Laker fast break commissioner David Stern who is going to preside at the Larry O’Brien Trophy presentation either today or Tuesday night Lakers hope they don’t see nor hide nor hair of David Stern today in the dressing room area huh Tuesday would be fine for them absolutely green gets his first point of the game here’s the Laker trap it’s been successful but a reaching foul boils that and the Pistons will go to the line with 211 to go in the first period first half now now here’s the play that’s been getting jamesw worthy free right here Byron Scott is going to set the screen right over here for James Worthy and we’ll see him get wide open and this is execution in sacrificing your body as Byron Scott does right there you can’t let worthy get the ball a foot from the basket magic smou is first and Isaiah Thomas misses the first free throw I didn’t see whether the two of them Kissed before the game started today they did no comment oh I guess it’s an ongoing thing in this series between two friends who had a little scrap going in one of those games but that’s been long for Lakers by five winding down to two minutes to go in the half Lan beer and Kareem going at it a bit inside worthy gets the offensive rebound he’s playing the game of the series right now and Jabar has not been a force or helping this Laker team at all at the offensive end he’s missed five straight shots he’s over for five but he’s certainly was strong the last three gam Worthy hard pass magic is open Scot Baseline good ball Movement by the Lakers they’re moving the basketball so crisply big turnaround in this period for the Lakers what they’ll do is go to a pick and roll with lambir 5 Seconds To Go Thomas with a wild shot off the side of the board and that’ll do it so the Lakers outscored the Pistons by a whopping 33-2 margin in the second period to take a healthy lead right here Byron Scott appears to be all right he’s in the Laker huddle and right near the Laker huddle is Pat O’Brien Pat all right dick thank you very much Bill Cunningham was right actually it’s a very medical term called bumped knee it hurts for a little while he’s going to be okay no ice or anything else to be back in the game back to you all right Pat [Applause] wory too far under the basket that was a great pass from Magic here come the Pistons they can cut it to two Isaiah Thomas with a hot hand not that time loose ball Sally oh Sally and Rodman You’ve Got To Have Eyes in back of your head to watch out for those guys coming in I’ll tell you when the shot goes up you have to put a body on both of those players because they’re so quick and active getting to the offensive boards Lan beer looking inside five minutes G by here in the third quarter Cooper all over Thomas four on the shot clock and Sally with a short jumper rebound Michael Thompson that was a tough sequence because the Lakers play gritty defense against the Pistons there and there was Isaiah Thomas just grabbing a hold of Cooper didn’t get C for the foul he have a chance to spot up for a three and Cooper misses rebound by Worthy they’re getting all the loose balls it seems and that’s a good sign for the Lakers because they that means they’re really be playing quick out on the court speaking of quick how’s that strip by the Pistons three on two break and the lay up by Isaiah Thomas who has scored 14 points the last 14 points for the Pistons in this third quarter rally only Mahorn with a basket and Thomas have scored for Detroit they Trail by two magic is hit the basket counts and a foul Lan beer hit him hard and it’s amazing that magic kept the balance enough to get the basket on the fine pass well what he was able to do is maintain his concentration and right there you see the screen set by Worthy that’s why he was free lambard tried to come from the weak side and it was too late so magical L we go on the line for a three-point opportunity misses that opportunity and the Pistons come back down nearly halfway through this third period trailing by four blame beer long rebound Worthy Cooper has to go through Thomas and [Applause] Dumars Lakers open up an eight-point lead this quarter it’s been cut in half and green poers his way inside and draws the foul and that will be the 15 foul against the Pistons there in the penalty with 542 to go in the third dley out to Dumar two-man game right now Adrien dley goes up and gets the hoop Pistons are going to need someone other than Isaiah Thomas to get some offense dley in double figures now has taken only five shots Isaiah had scored 14 in a row Michael Thompson hard off the glass Thomas the rebound he’s got Dantley and Dumars goes to Dumars who lays it in and quickly the pistol have cut the Laker lead to four Isaiah Thomas is hurt down on the court underneath the basket I couldn’t tell what happened mikee abau the trainer is with him and now Thomas goes back down Uncle Thompson hit the basket and the Pistons are going to have to call a timeout and this one is a tough one because Isaiah started to get up he got up and then went down on the floor and this is a tough one holding his right ankle Billy well I couldn’t tell he made that pass to Dumars he might have come down on somebody’s foot and twisted that ankle now here we’ll take a look see what happens to Isaiah yep he steps right on Michael Cooper’s foot and that’s how he twisted that ankle so two guards in this game have gone down Byron Scott banging knees with Isaiah Thomas has ice on the bench and right now Isaiah Thomas is down and here’s another look on Isaiah stepping on Cooper right [Applause] there he has hurt his back he was he kind of reinjured his back earlier in the playoff it has been kind of a rough and tumble series for Isaiah Lord Thomas and uh the Pistons needless to say are going to need his contributions one way or another oh sure all right now what this means is that Vinnie Johnson who struggled in that first period has got to come in here and pick up where Isaiah Thomas is left off so the pressure Vinnie Johnson is handled in Detroit wins when he has been hot Detroit has won when he hasn’t been they have lost and now he must come in he has played only 9 Minutes in the game he is one for three from the field as he replaces Thomas who remains on the bench 72 to 66 the Lakers a kick ball and a new 24 second clock for the Pistons [Applause] yeah look how that ankle is turned on the right side of your picture Dum Mar’s double teamed in trouble gets it to Danley dley fired away he had a lot more time on the clock he had 10 seconds absolutely I he must have thought that it was down to two or 3 seconds under 4 minutes to go in the third 72-66 Lakers green fouled inside and it may be Sally John Sally with his third personal Pistons have been in the penalty the Lakers have only one team foul to show for their efforts in this period this whole series every game has been decided on which team is able to have that aggressive play at the defensive end of the court and also go to the basket strong when they have possession the ball and we see right now that Isaiah is coming back in the ball game Dumars goes out Thomas is back AC Green who leads all the rebounders with 10 he has had a marvelous series off the glass thanks the free throws another Home and Away story AC has averaged 13 rebounds at home and only eight at the silver Dome so they like the home cooking although the home team hasn’t won every game [Applause] here eight-point lead for the Lakers 74 to 6 six three and a half remaining in this period Thomas with the Looper scores Isaiah shooting eyes still on he has 16 points in the quarter 28 in the game yeah but he’s limping noticeably right now guarding Michael [Applause] Cooper getting banged in there couple of bodies banging and another piston foul now here’s I say a beating worthy going up with that floating one-hander just steps right over AC Green Dennis Rodman will check in for the Detroit Pistons and Sally leaves the game Sally has three points and three fouls Rodman is in so what kind of a team youve got a a shorter you got to still have a quick team in there but they lose some height without Sally well what it means is Dennis Rodman will go to the power forward position probably play against well he proba mooved to play Magic Johnson we might see a Joe uh Vinnie Johnson matched up against AC Green you know there there’s a lot of things that Chuck KY might try defensively to get his team going Thomas had committed the foul his third so a bunch of Pistons have three personal fouls 7668 Lakers their biggest lead has been eight they’ve matched it a couple of times Thomas off balance basket counts and a foul as he goes into the first throw and he is still limping he is a game performer he’s got to be hurting and limping and he continues to put the points on the board for Detroit well he just doesn’t want to be out of this ball game he knows that hey I can rest this ankle and heal it by the time we get ready for training camp and here’s that off-balance shot you know Michael Cooper does a good job defensively stopping the penetration Thomas showed up the other day misses the free throw he has 30 points he has hit eight of 10 baskets here in the third Peri perod trying to keep the Pistons close only three Pistons have scored in this quarter Steel by Thomas three Steel by Worthy two alert plays inside that’ll get a rise out of the crowd Worthy’s finger rolls rebound dley Pistons down by six now I just wonder with Isaiah limping so much if they do get the opportunity to the Pistons to run will they be able to with him handling the basketball and favoring that ankle nine on the shot clock for Dantley in the Pistons quick double team Dantley with a great spin move what great abilities he has there and it’s 76- 72 the Lakers lead is four as we get to the two-minute Mark of the third period double on Magic good swing to Cooper double worthy now single with lame beard lost the ball Vinnie Johnson three on two Pistons Rodman Banks it off the glass and it’s a four-point game with 145 remaining or two-point game make it with a 140 now left timeout Lakers 22nd timeout called by Pat Riley and now it’s time for the Lakers to regroup because they are not playing anywhere close to the at the level they did in that second period they’re shooting 41% here in this per per Michael Thompson is hit hard and fouled by Rodman advantage of that switch on that pick and roll when Magic Johnson either has the big man on him or the small guard is playing their Center Michael Thompson in that case either penetrating or getting the ball inside Barbara stran arasmus Hall High School Billy same as yours y y huh I thought you would have come out with that real fast I know busy looking at the Laker trap watching the Trap Thomas goes for three and hits it what a third quarter for Isaiah Thomas he has scored 21 points here in the third to bring the Pistons all even at 77 nearly a minute to go in the period it’s been the Isaiah Thomas Show plus an injury to Thomas here in the third and Byron Scott sitting on the bench for the Lakers worthy against Rodman left-handed shot and the Lakers now the Pistons with Rodman two onone Thomas goes up and Isaiah Thomas having an incredible period he has 35 in the game 23 in this period and the Pistons have regained the lead 79 to 77 after trailing by eight and the thing about Isaiah Thomas he’s limping on every play he is just showing so much heart and determin determination for the piston AC Green in the corner hits the shot to break the spell and tie the game but now the Pistons will play for the last shot of an all even game Isaiah Thomas has put on a brilliant exhibition of shooting despite an ankle injury in this third quarter he has been a oneman gang 23 points and the shot is by Thomas it is 81 79 the period is over can you imagine the great performance maybe one of the best we’ve ever seen in one quarter in NBA finals [Applause] history now watch this basket by Isaiah Thomas but the thing watch him trying to get back at the other end of the Court he is hurting out there watch him limping on that right foot what a gutty courageous performance 25 points in the quarter by Isaiah Thomas into Kareem who’s back in there has the ball taken away by Isaiah Thomas and Vinnie Johnson will get an easy two Thomas on the steel he is limping he is noticeably limping for Detroit Lakers have Kareem and Michael Thompson with worthy Scott and Magic Johnson 8379 Pistons by four and now we’re seeing a Pistons team that is more aggressive Magic Johnson all the way with the basket and the foul who else would bring him back like this well they’re really going to have to rely on Magic Johnson right now because a couple reasons number one we don’t know how Byron Scott’s knee is James Worthy is now not as aggressive getting the ball in the low post and that means and Kareem has not been an offensive threat at all in this ball game so everything falls on Magic’s shoulders he brings the Lakers to within one Thomas had 25 the rest of the team had 10 points in that quarter but it’s a new quarter dley double team has the ball slapped away and a foul against the Pistons no foul it was out of bounds check it it’ll be Laker ball Pistons have five players with three fouls in this contest magic misses a hook kareim and he’s fouled Bill Lan beer I think picked up his fourth foul no make it Vinnie Johnson and that is only his second 8382 the Pistons in front right now Vinnie Johnson is matched up against Jabar and there’s a foul Kim will go to the line B Lan beard does pick up his fourth on that play he is the only player right now with four personal now one play of play the Lakers have been able to hurt the Pistons is that pick and roll when there’s a switch they’ve been able to capitalize on the mismatches Kareem has not had a good series from the line as James Edwards replaces Lane beer Kareem was 60% from the line coming in but he’s five for five this afternoon in game six Lan beer went out he had missed all four of his shots it’s 8483 the Lakers regain the lead they have been up by eight Detroit took a four-point lead and now La in front again Rodman in the game setting a screen Thomas on the return not that time and here is Magic to Scott Scott with a Looper and the Lakers match Michael Thompson battling for the loose ball but it’ll be Detroit’s possession with two minutes exactly gone by in the fourth period of a game the Lakers must win if they are to keep alive their season long quest for back-to-back championships and perhaps history for Domination in the decade Vinnie Johnson misses in the corner and a loose ball foul against the Pistons James Edwards pushing Jabar picking up the foul rayon Edwards 14 te fouls on the Pistons that will hurt him the Lakers have yet to pick up a foul La by one a lot of action left six on the shot clock Kareem setting a screen Edwards picks up worthy two on the clock and worthy hits a big one 27 for James Worthy he is the leading scorer for the Lakers and again we see the switch the big man on the quicker player of the Lakers and they’ve been able to burn them 8683 La they’ve run off seven straight since Detroit had the lead James Edwards an 11-year veteran Vinny Johnson against magic four on the clock Rodman gets inside and a foul Kareem was there and I believe he’s been called for it and that will be number three on Abdul Jabar no one on the Lakers has four fouls that is the first team foul against the Lakers all the words that Pat Riley has delivered to his team throughout these tense playoffs Rodman three for six in the line coming into this game misses the first you have to understand what Pat Riley’s done what a commitment on his part of pushing this team to get him to this point it’s not easy and it’s very draining on him and there’s Dennis Rodman missing that shot and called for a violation going over the foul line so Rodman misses the free throws he was only 33% coming in Scott not running full out it seems although no noticeable limp 8683 La they’ve got the ball with 845 remaining in the fourth kareim goes inside on Edwards and fights his way to the basket that’s a big time move by Jabar taking the ball to the Baseline that’s where they want to force him when he gets the ball posted up he’s got 12 and he’s 41 years old inside Edwards breaks a n nothing leaker run and it’s 8885 game seven would be Tuesday night 9:00 Eastern here at the Forum if the Lakers maintain their slim margin magic Peaks inside for the basket if he doesn’t find the man for the assist and you play him straight up that’s what he’ll do just take it to the basket all five Lakers starters are in double figures that’s the same balance they showed in game number three when they took a 2-1 lead at the silverd Vinnie Johnson misses the line drive shot he’s two for six in this game nothing like the shooting of the last two for Vinnie now magic has Isaiah Thomas posted up gives it up when Edwards doubles Michael Thompson to Kareem blocked by Rodman block again by Rodman and Scott takes it out but Dennis Rodman stopped two great baskets inside attempts well there’s that quickness inside that Rodman brings to this defense of the [Applause] Pistons now watch watch this play Dennis Rodman will come from nowhere to block Kareem Abdul jabbar’s shot I think he surprises him with the first one but not on the second one that’s some play you know you look at Jabar 7 three Rodman maybe around 67 blocking that shot I think he’s going to be a great player in the NBA with some of the skills that he has he is the thing that Ryman will have to do is to develop his offensive [Applause] skills I wonder whether a foul was called and when it was called because H Evans and Ed Rush talked things over with Jack Madden who’s now on the floor he’s the alternate Lakers lead 90 to 85 with 720 to go in the fourth [Applause] quarter everyone watching and [Applause] waiting think the question is concerning the 24 second clock and I’m not sure exactly what it is but maybe the the officials are not sure that the Lakers hit the backboard on with their shot attempt similar thing happened in game two here with Kareem here’s Kareem going up for the shot block but it hits the board number game two Magic Johnson will be on the free throw line M horn picked up the foul or was that dley dley is foul 91 to 85 the Lakers they were down by six at the quarter they were up by seven at the half and after three quarters Trail by two after a marvelous performance by Isaiah Thomas when he scored 25 points to set an NBA Finals record for scoring in one quarter seven-point Laker lead eight on the clock Thomas hits the jumper outside 39 points for Isaiah Thomas remember he scored 42 against the Lakers at The Forum in the regular season and they almost beat the Lakers here and that was without Adrien dentley Thomas on Scott eight on the clock again they go to that pick and roll to create the mismatch open his magic he’ll have to put it up and dley The Rebound with 636 to go and 9287 Lakers now what’s going on offensively is Joe Dumars is now taking the lead guard position Isaiah Thomas they’re looking for him to be the shooting guard hosting up Dantley and they can’t do it as magic is collapsing in the middle now they isolate Danley and worthy dley goes up Rodman gets the rebound and draws the foul but the problem for Rodman is making the free throw yeah Dennis Rodman really has a mental block when he gets to that foul line I’ve watched him in practice shoot it not a bad foul shooter but in the games there is where he has his problem Kareem has picked up his fourth foul first Laker to do so Dumars on Magic Johnson they’re isolating magic a whole bunch of Pistons have four fouls and a non- shooting foul but it’s since it’s the penalty it’ll send got to the free throw line Isaiah Thomas now has four [Applause] fouls we’ve got Lan beer and Thomas with four Sally Rodman Edwards and Mahorn with three there’s Cooper giving Michael Thompson a rest Lakers basically using seven men today and substituting those two bench men Thompson and Cooper yeah not see usually we see more of them on the court together and not in this second half you know Pat Riley has been going with uh at least four of his starters at all times just under 6 minutes remaining and what Chuck Daly and the Pistons hope will be their last 559 of the Season Captain a championship the Lakers want to keep the beat going they need a win to send it to game seven Tuesday night fivepoint Laker lead it’ll all be dictated this last five almost six minutes of this ball game and which team does the better job defense L somebody missed Adrien dley and it’s blocked by Kareem out of bounds Lakers ball what a play by Jabar they were out of position defensively what reaction those kind of plays can turn a game sometime in many ways not only the play but emot an emotional lift for a ball Club magic pulls up worthy the rebound tips it to Scott in a new clock Kareem lingering on the outside now taking low post against Lan beer they have seven on the shot clock sky hook kareim short Lan beer goes after the ball worthy gets it and Worthy’s shot no basket a foul before the shot against the Pistons but the Lakers will get a chance to shoot a pair and James Worthy going to the offensive boards two possessions they two extra possessions because of Worthy on the offensive glass and this is the second one watch him hustling in there and he’s able to pick draw that foul it’s on Rodman his fourth no basket now watch Jabar come out of nowhere to block that shot not only block it but the Lakers are able to regain possession so James Worthy on the line he has scored 26 and 24 points in the two Laker victories he has 27 right now he has connected on three of five from the [Applause] line he’ll settle for one 9589 nearly five minutes remaining oh the Pistons have got to find somebody besides Isaiah Thomas offensively Thomas Banks it in again and 41 points for Thomas maybe they don’t I was going to say but I just can’t imagine one player being able to carry a team for a whole half offensively in a game that means so much Scott into the paint Ked Away by Dumars out of bounds and now they say it was last Touch by a Laker Pat Riley doesn’t believe it Pistons have it despite Riley’s protests and they can cut the lead to two Thomas foul before the shot it did not look like it went off worthy from this from our angle sitting over here it looked like it was Dumars who who couldn’t stop it in time and Dumars did a good selling job to convince the official that it did go off scott now let’s take a look Joe Dumars will get a piece of it it didn’t look like worthy got got a finger on it he ought to be an attorney or cell use Cars one of the two Michael Cooper with four personal fouls and three team fouls on La less than 4 and A2 minutes remaining in the fourth period 9591 Thomas is Shen up again I think he got a finger in the eye from Michael Cooper coming off the screen what’s next for Isaiah Thomas what he has endured in this series well he’s here for one reason now if this was a regular season game Chuck da wouldn’t let him play any longer but the meaning of this ball game is the chance for Detroit in 31 years that franchise being in Detroit to have a ring have a parade in Detroit that’s why he’s out here if there were ever any doubts about Isaiah Thomas win or lose in this Championship they are erased about Mr Thomas now Isaiah Thomas was poked in the eye what more can this man take Mike abden hour and Ron rodstein talking with him but here we’ll see him coming off the screen and as he came off the screen he’s already been scratched in the eye by Michael Cooper trying to fight through that screen his 41 points is his playoff career high he scored 42 earlier this year in the Forum and he had 25 in the third quarter to set a record 10 of those points Billy happen after he went down with that ankle injury the last 424 the defense is going to be the answer is it going to go one more game for the Lakers to have a chance to repeat or are the Pistons going to Dethrone the world champion Lakers because whoever does the job there is going to win this ball game Lakers are shooting 39% in the second half after 53 in the opening Lane beer wide open for three misses and Cooper has the rebound leading by four the Lakers with the ball I don’t think lamb beer has hit a jump shot all day hasn’t hit anything for Five magic is foul going in and Magic Johnson will go to the free throw line and lir has picked up his fifth five personal fouls one more and he’s out of there Magic Johnson on the line 10 for 10 this afternoon make it 11 and the Lakers up by 97 to 91 as we have now 4 minutes remaining Cooper blanketing Isaiah Thomas here Dumar with a big shot remember game seven against the the Celtics last year yeah he scored 36 points in that ball game that was a career high for him so he’s done it in the big games 9793 La there’s the time remaining in the fourth [Applause] quarter 10 on the shot clock Lakers spread their offense lot of room for Kareem with 4 seconds on the clock in and out for the die hook Rodman clears it pons can try to come within a pair what they’ll do right now offensively they’re going to look for Isaiah Thomas coming off the screens on the Baseline they don’t execute it at all eight on the clock for Dumars high off the glass Rodman goes up and gets the basket and draws the foul and Dennis Rodman makes Pat Riley ever the more anxious and brings Detroit to within two and can make it one if he can hit a free throw and again we see Dennis there’s the penetration maybe they don’t score the Pistons but it breaks down the defense of the Lakers and Rodman able to knock in that field goal than a chance for a three-point play the foul is on Michael Cooper and that’s his fifth foul one more and he’s out of there 3 minutes to go and it’s 9796 LA and now we’ll see the the Lakers go to that pick and roll 11 on the shot clock you said it defense will decide it worthy has it knocked Away by Dantley a two-on one Rodman behind Thomas dley gets the rebound and a foul called against the Lakers inside it’s the fifth foul the penalty and the Pistons will shoot two Magic Johnson committing the foul his second and the Pistons can take the lead with 239 left now there’s the strip good hands by Joe Dumars stripping the ball from jamesworthy [Applause] Bley on the line AC Green comes in for Michael Cooper who goes out with five fouls Lakers are going to need the boards down the stretch he does and it’s 9897 Detroit 239 left how many times in this game have you got the feeling that the Lakers were going to deliver that knockout blow to this piston ball Club but they just keep hanging in there finding a way to stay in this ball game been the story of their playoff light seven on the shot clock Magic Johnson behind the back not going to get it off in time and they won’t have it as the Pistons with a one-point lead have the [Applause] ball as we get close to the two-minute Mark 16 on the shot clock for Detroit they have the lead and that’s how close they are to winning their first world title and preventing the Lakers from getting it back to back now they’re going to double team Dantley Dantley bway shot rebound Kareem with under two minutes to go and the Lakers looking to regain the lead with a basket here magic Loops it up and gives the Lakers the lead well no one stopped Magic Johnson from penetrating he said hey I’ll just take it all away and score it myself 22 for urvan Johnson well this by far is the best of best game of this six game playoff so far and you’d expect it to be and the Pistons call a timeout tension is everywhere here at the Forum with 137 to go in game six the the Lakers cling to a one-point Advantage it has been the most dramatic most exciting game of the series the Lakers have a onepoint lead they need to win to send it to the seventh game and we see that no one stops Magic’s penetration so he just says hey we need to two points I might as well get it both teams are in the penalty each team has no 20s Detroit has two timeouts the Lakers three 137 remaining in this game mat Johnson has 19 assists in the game his series High 22 points worthy with 28 for the Pistons it’s been the Isaiah Thomas Show 41 points 25 of them coming in the third quarter well you think of that Magic’s been responsible for 60 points out here for this Laker ball Club not a bad day’s work for that young man Thomas Dumars lamee beer dley and Rodman for Detroit m magic Byron Scott worthy Kareem and green for the Lakers they have 16 seconds on the shot clock Thomas hits one over Magic Johnson from the Baseline I was just going to say a bad shot by Isaiah because lambir was wide open but he’s got the feeling that he’s going to have to carry this ball club and he’s doing a great job of it out here 43 points to 99 and a defensive play by Rodman there on the Block Detroit with 113 to go leading by one critical possession right here for the Pistons even more critical for the Lakers they’ve got to stop them at the defensive end Dumar sees an opening goes up and draws the foul with one minute remaining and Joe Dumars will go in look at Rodman’s defense now Dennis Rodman has done such a job defensively and on the offensive boards for this piston team in the second half John Sally is going to replace Adrien dley who goes out with 14 points and the reason for that substitution is Chuck D’s going with his defense and Ryman and Sally are the two best defensive forwards D Mars has not been on the line today foul was on Kareem his fifth five on Kareem and the Piston’s lead 101 to 99 exactly 1 minute left and Pat Riley will will likely call a timeout after the free throw Lakers have three left D Mars makes them both it’s 102 to 99 and timeout Lakers could you imagine if you’re the Pistons and if you’re Chuck Dy 57 years old you’re one minute away from winning a world championship Walker D Russell says one minute and it’s history the Lakers with back-to-back World Championships they’re looking for their fifth title of the decade first team to win back-to-back titles in 19 years and standing in their way of the Detroit Pistons who lead by three with a minute to go Cooper will inbound for the Lakers he’s in for AC Green [Applause] almost stolen by Isaiah Thomas worthy against Sally Scott pulls up hits a big one and it’s 102 to 101 now Scott with a basket with 52 seconds to go and now if you’re the Pistons well chck D’s going to call a timeout and try to make sure they get a good shot at the offensive end of the court that will leave the Pistons with only one timeout so if they fall behind that could be a critical situation for them but right now Chuck Deli has got to make sure number one that they get the ball in bounds and he’ll remind whoever is taking the ball making the pass inbounds that they still have one timeout left so if you have a problem call the timeout and that’ll be Dantley I would expect them to go to Isaiah Thomas and in some way and try and have him shoot the basketball so dley come in in the offensive defensive substitution that Chuck will use he’s got Rodman for the defense Rodman is out there actually interesting to see if the Lakers they have a problem will foul him considering his abilities at the line inbounds to lay beer Dumar they’ve got 13 on the shot clock AC Green has come in for kareim similarly for the Lakers lame beer in the corner to Thomas six on the clock Cooper won’t let him away Thomas looking for room with a away shot no good Ry has the rebound and the timeout with 27 seconds to go and the Lakers with an opportunity down by I want to take the lead and now Pat Riley has to make the decision who do we go to this is the money time this is what it really is all about Billy did the Pistons get the shot they wanted no they didn’t but at that point it’s you know it’s going to be the best defensive effort the Lakers can put forward and we’ll be back each team has one timeout remaining so as Billy mentioned earlier if the Lakers are having a problem they can use that timeout though it would be their last 27 seconds to go 23 on the shot clock so there is a 4 second differential as the Lakers trailing by one try to set up the play that they hope will give them the lead and game six Sally and Rodman talking things over and worthy with 28 points has been in the middle of everything today for the Lakers you know but when you look at the Lakers there’s so many different options that Pat Riley can go to whereas you looked at Detroit you just knew that they would go to Isaiah Thomas they could go to worthy Kareem or to Magic Johnson and Kareem is in for AC Green for his offense 4sec differential between the clock you see and the shot clock Rodman is guarding magic worthy setting a screen picked up by Sally on a switch kareim the old man goes up and misses the shot but goes to the line with 14 seconds to go and a chance to give the Lakers the lead m l beer has fouled out of the game that’s number six Kim Abdul Jabar fouled on this play how many times have they gone to him down the stretch in the big money time and there was the foul lambir bumping his left shoulder AC Green replaces Cooper for the defense and the boards so Lan beer has fouled out having scored only two points but he collected nine rebounds Kareem perfect from the line today after struggling coming in from the free throw strike now I just wonder what Chuck D’s going to do is he going to call a timeout or not if Jabar Miss makes both foul shots because they might want to look to attack them right away and not allow the Lakers to set up their defense [Applause] the game is tied you think there’s any pressure standing at that foul line now he’s seen it all hasn’t he and he’s done it all timeout Detroit they’ve used their last timeout here they have 14 seconds to set it up a chance to win the title or for the Lakers a chance to stop the Pistons and last defensive stand and send this to a seventh game back to the Forum in a moment 14 seconds remaining in game six the Lakers who need to win to send it to a deciding game have a one-point lead 41 Point 43o Isaiah Thomas on the bench Detroit has used its last timeout the Lakers still have a very important timeout you know both of these teams have showed such great heart out here today the Pistons being down now it seems like the Lakers are going to blow him out they fight back with a minute to play we’ve seen the Lakers down three points able to come back now and be leading this ball game by a point this game has had as much drama as the five previous absolutely [Applause] combined dley will inbound they have no timeouts left 13 you watch the clock Dumars misses loose ball Lakers have it with 6 seconds to go and the Pistons are forced to foul with five left Cooper was going after Rodman he was upset in fact Scott was excuse me Scott was the Pistons had a foul and they had a foul in a hurry because the Lakers had the ball in the corner time was running out they had no choice I couldn’t see what happened between Scott and Rodman but obviously Byron Scott took exception to whatever Rodman did five on Rodman now Dennis what we’ll see Dumars penetrate get to the basket it looked like he had a good chance for that shot but it was AC Green coming out defensively that forced him to change that shot now here’s Rodman going after Scott and I guess he banged him pretty hard that’s what upset him and here just take a look here’s Rodman coming over to take the foul but he just said well why don’t you sit down for a minute here’s the story Scott is on the line the Pistons are out of timeouts if he makes both free throws Detroit has to get it up in a hurry and try a three to tie the game now that could change Detroit’s plan a little bit because the free throw would give them a two-point lead now one thing is if you can get the ball to Isaiah Thomas he has plenty of time to get down the court and get a decent shot for the Pistons 5 Seconds To Go the key no timeout for Detroit missed them both three seconds they won’t have time it’s over we go to game seven what an effort by the world champions a sensational individual effort by Isaiah Thomas who scored 43 in the game and 25 in the third quarter and only the second time in these playoffs the Detroit Pistons have lost a game after leading after three quarters well you know anytime that you’re in the championship series it’s not going to be easy uh you know you know going in against them it wasn’t going to be easy but uh this is what it’s all about you know when you can come down to seven games and let’s see who the best team is what did Riley say to you guys in the last 14 seconds here the last timeout well only thing we wanted to do is play good defense and not foul and I thought we did that we made him take a off balance shot and got to got the rebound and won the game you guys like seven games this year seven game series this year I think uh I guess so you know it’s kind of tough though uh but you know what I’m happy to be playing Seven it’s it’s what it’s all about I should pay the NBA or CBS for letting me play seven games all right there magic he’s happy let’s go to Brent all right B thank you Isaiah Thomas turned in one of the clutch perform moment is here but it was not to be in game six Isaiah your reaction to what happened at the end of the game um you know we missed a couple of key blockouts uh you know a little things hurt us tonight but we got another game Tuesday uh just come back and play hard again uh try to keep him under 100 and win a basketball game Isaiah which of your many injuries almost kept you out of the game we had uh an ankle we had an eye problem I’m playing all right Isaiah congratulations let’s go back outside now to Dick stock to all right Brent thank you very much so for Cunningham Brent musberger and Pad O’Brien I’m dick Stockton saying so long from The Forum

Lakers vs. Pistons Finals Game 6 (June 19, 1988)

The 1988 NBA Finals Game 6 between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Detroit Pistons remains one of the most thrilling contests in basketball history. Packed with memorable moments, legendary performances, and high-stakes drama, it encapsulates the heart and soul of NBA Finals basketball. The Lakers narrowly defeated the Pistons 103-102, forcing a decisive Game 7 and keeping their championship hopes alive.

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Key Highlights and Best Moments

Isiah Thomas’ Heroic Performance

Incredible Third Quarter: The standout highlight of the game was Isiah Thomas’ phenomenal third-quarter performance. Despite suffering a severe ankle injury, Thomas scored an NBA Finals record 25 points in a single quarter, showcasing his skill and determination.

Scoring Outburst: At one point in the third quarter, Thomas scored 14 consecutive points for the Pistons, keeping them in the game. His array of jump shots, layups, and even a three-pointer solidified his performance as one of the most iconic in NBA history.

Playing Through Injury: Thomas’ ability to continue playing at an elite level despite visibly limping and favoring his injured ankle became a symbol of grit and toughness. His performance remains one of the most legendary moments in the Finals.

Magic Johnson’s Leadership

Magic Johnson delivered a brilliant all-around game, finishing with 22 points and 19 assists. His ability to control the game’s tempo and create opportunities for his teammates was crucial in the Lakers’ victory.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s Vintage Dominance

At 41 years old, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar showed why he was still a dominant force. Scoring 30 points and grabbing 8 rebounds, Kareem’s iconic skyhook and clutch free throws late in the game helped secure the Lakers’ narrow victory.

James Worthy’s Clutch Performance

Known as “Big Game James,” James Worthy stepped up with 28 points, making key plays when it mattered most. His scoring in transition and in the half-court was critical, setting the tone for the Lakers’ offensive attack.

Byron Scott’s Timely Contributions

Byron Scott chipped in with key jumpers throughout the game, providing much-needed scoring support for the Lakers’ stars.

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Close Finish and Controversial Calls

Tight Fourth Quarter: The game remained tightly contested in the final moments, with both teams trading leads and executing critical plays.

Controversial Foul Call: With 14 seconds left and the Pistons leading 102-101, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was awarded two free throws on a controversial foul call against Bill Laimbeer. Many Pistons players and fans believed it was a “phantom foul.” Kareem hit both free throws, putting the Lakers ahead 103-102.

Final Possession Drama: In the closing seconds, the Pistons had one last chance to win. Joe Dumars’ shot was altered by A.C. Green, and the Lakers secured the narrow victory.

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Game Impact and Legacy

This thrilling Game 6 allowed the Lakers to force a Game 7, which they ultimately won to claim their second consecutive NBA championship and solidify their status as one of the greatest teams in NBA history.

For the Pistons, the heartbreaking loss delayed their first title, but they used the experience as motivation, capturing the championship the following year.

Isiah Thomas’ performance became one of the defining moments in Finals history, representing courage and determination in the face of adversity.

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Conclusion

The 1988 NBA Finals Game 6 is remembered for its exciting finish, controversial calls, and unforgettable individual performances. It epitomized the intensity, drama, and brilliance of basketball at the highest level, cementing its place as one of the most iconic games in NBA history.

This game remains a timeless example of why fans revere the NBA Finals—where legends are made, and every moment counts.