NBA Roundup : Pistons Win Division Title, Draw Million Fans

There was a double celebration Saturday night at the Silverdome in Pontiac, Mich.

To begin with, the Detroit Pistons became the first National Basketball Assn. team to draw a million fans. But even more cause for cheering, the Pistons clinched their first division title since moving to Detroit in 1957.

A crowd of 22,767 sent the season’s attendance to 1,010,770, and the fans roared with approval as Isiah Thomas scored 20 points and had 8 assists to lead the Pistons to an easy 114-96 victory over New Jersey. They shook the building a few minutes later when it was learned that New York had beaten Atlanta.

With four games left, the Pistons lead Atlanta by four games in the Central Division. By virtue of winning their Hawk series, 4-2, the Pistons are the champions.

New Jersey, which has lost 13 in a row, made it a game for about six minutes. Halfway through the first quarter, Thomas sank a running jumper to give Detroit a 13-11 lead, and the Pistons were never headed.

It was a happy moment for Thomas, a seven-year pro.

“Throughout my career, it’s been said the little man has never won a championship,” he said. “Well, now he has.”

But Coach Chuck Daly figures the Pistons have a long way to go before they can cheer.

“It will sink in later,” he said, “but all is forgotten if you don’t win in the playoffs. That has to be our goal.”

Indiana 126, Philadelphia 92--Former Bruin star Reggie Miller picked a good time to set a career-high scoring mark.

Miller scored 18 of his 31 points in the second quarter at Indianapolis to lead the Pacers to their biggest victory of the season. Miller, who made four three-pointers, broke the rookie record for three-pointers set by Larry Bird in the 1979-80 season and kept the Pacers in the battle for a playoff berth in the East. Bird had 58; Miller has 61.

Despite 28 points and 11 rebounds for Charles Barkley, the loss all but eliminated the 76ers from the playoffs.

In the five-team fight for three playoff spots, Cleveland leads with a 39-40 record. Then come New York (37-42), Washington and Indiana (both 36-42) and Philadelphia (34-44).

New York 95, Atlanta 93--Talented rookie Mark Jackson wasn’t afraid to take charge with the game on the line at Atlanta.

Jackson drove the middle and tossed in a short jumper with just three seconds left, and the Knicks ended the Hawks’ chances of winning the Central Division.

The hard-earned victory put the Knicks in seventh place in the battle for playoff positions. If they win their last three--at home against Chicago and on the road against Milwaukee and Indiana--they qualify for postseason play no matter what other clubs do.

“I’m fortunate to be in a situation where my teammates and coach have confidence in me,” Jackson said.

Utah 107, San Antonio 82--Karl Malone scored 38 points at Salt Lake City, the fourth game in a row in which he had scored at least 36, and the Jazz humiliated the Spurs.

The Spurs, with four games remaining, still need a victory or a Phoenix loss to qualify for the playoffs.

Phoenix 121, Seattle 119--The Suns, trailing by 12 points early in the game at Phoenix, fought back to score an overtime victory and keep their slim playoff hopes alive.

The Suns would have to win all four games while the Spurs lose all four of theirs to make the playoffs.