NBA Roundup : Pistons Defeat Hawks as Thomas Takes Charge

Ever since he threw the dreadful pass to Larry Bird that cost the Detroit Pistons the chance to knock the Boston Celtics out of the playoffs last spring, Isiah Thomas has had to live with the stigma.

It has been said that the splendid guard doesn’t have it in the clutch. That he can’t be depended upon for the big play with the game on the line.

Thomas removed at least a portion of that rap Saturday night at Atlanta when he took charge in the fourth quarter to lead the Pistons to a 115-102 victory over the Hawks.

It was the most important win since the 1987 playoffs for the Pistons. They were faced with the prospect of falling into a tie for first place in the Central Division race. After three quarters, the game was tied, 85-85, and the hot Hawks, winners of seven in a row, had been potent in the last quarter.

And Thomas had been quiet. He had only seven points.

But he came out flying in the final quarter, scoring 13 points in the first nine minutes to give the Pistons a 108-96 lead. They went on to increase their division lead to two games with eight to play.

The Hawks had the upper hand until Thomas took charge. They were led by Dominique Wilkins, who had 12 points in the first quarter and 36 in the game.

“It was a little disappointing to pick up a fourth foul in the third quarter,” Thomas said. “I made up my mind that when I got back in I would try to supply the punch to win.”

Tempers flared twice in the first quarter. First, Detroit’s Rick Mahorn and Randy Wittman had a shoving match. Then, seconds later, it was Mahorn and Cliff Levingston of the Hawks.

“We’re not out of it yet,” Wilkins said. “Detroit didn’t beat us, we beat ourselves. We were flat in the fourth quarter.”

Dallas 135, Denver 109--Derek Harper found the range with some second-half bombs at Dallas to break open a close game, and the Mavericks strengthened their grip on first place in the Midwest Division.

After both teams scored 34 points in the first quarter and 26 in the second, Harper ended the Nuggets bid for their 11th win in a row.

The veteran guard sank five of six three-point shots after intermission and matched his career-high of 35 points. Besides going 12 for 16 from the field, Harper had 11 assists.

The Mavericks lead the Nuggets by 1 1/2 games, but they still must play the Nuggets in Denver before claiming the division title.

Although both teams scored 15 points in the first 5:35 of the third quarter, the Nuggets soon fell apart, and were outscored, 25-8, the rest of the period.

Milwaukee 105, Indiana 100--Despite 19 points in the fourth quarter by Wayman Tisdale at Milwaukee, the Pacers lost for the eighth time in the last 11 games and incurred another blow to their playoff hopes.

The Pacers are tied with Washington for seventh place in the East.

Phoenix 95, Sacramento 92--Walter Davis made four free throws in the last 12 seconds at Phoenix to give the Suns the victory. It was the 10th loss in a row on the road for the Kings.

Houston 108, Seattle 104--Akeem Olajuwon had 23 points and 15 rebounds at Seattle to lead the Rockets to the victory.