Lakers Go From a Deep 6 to a Game 7 : Abdul-Jabbar Makes Decisive Free Throws

A minute away from summer and down to their last few heartbeats as champions, the Lakers showed that while time waits for no man, it will have to keep the meter running for a certain basketball team.

The Lakers, despite a game for the ages by Detroit guard Isiah Thomas that had the Pistons ahead by three with a minute left Sunday afternoon in the Forum, turned the National Basketball Assn. calendar to one last Game 7 by beating the Pistons, 103-102, on Abdul-Jabbar’s two free throws with 14 seconds left.

The Laker center may seem older than some petrified forests, but on an afternoon in which he made just 3-of-14 shots, the 41-year-old Abdul-Jabbar once again reasserted the skyhook’s place in eternity when he was fouled by Detroit center Bill Laimbeer.

“Kareem’s the best in the world in that situation--the best,” said Magic Johnson, who had 22 points and 19 assists Sunday. “I don’t care if he was 0 for 20, he’ll still make those free throws or hit that shot. He could miss all day, but he’s still the man.”

Abdul-Jabbar swished both free throws, Piston guard Joe Dumars’ driving shot at the other end came back hard off the glass, through the hands of Dennis Rodman and into the hands of Laker guard Byron Scott with 5 seconds left. And though Scott missed both free throws, the Pistons were out of timeouts, assuring that the clock will be reset for Game 7 Tuesday night at the Forum.

“I don’t care who’s in trouble,” said Magic Johnson after the game, still mindful that the Lakers trailed, 102-99, with 1:00 showing on the Forum scoreboard. “Please, everybody show up and we’ll have a good time. Let’s have a party.”

The Pistons, of course, would have preferred to do their boogieing Sunday, especially because Thomas--who scored 43 points, including a championship series record 25 in the third quarter, when he made 11 of 13 shots--left the Forum on crutches after injuring his right ankle when he stepped on Michael Cooper’s foot.

Thomas, who already has a bad back and also was poked in the eye by Cooper on another play, was taken to Centinela Hospital Medical Center, and though X-rays were negative, the injury was diagnosed as a severe sprain. He is listed as doubtful for Game 7.

There was almost as much doubt about the fate of the Lakers when the Pistons--down 6, 97-91, with 4:05 to play--took off on an 11-2 run that caused CBS to set up a victory platform in the visitors’ dressing room.

Not so fast, said the Lakers, who preempted that network programming when Scott--who missed 7 1/2 minutes of the third quarter after bumping knees with Thomas--scored an 15-footer from the right side.

The Pistons worked the ball into the hands of Thomas, isolated on the left wing against Cooper, who was having about as much success trying to stop the Piston point guard as he has had making his own shot (4 of 31) in this series.

“He was red hot,” Magic Johnson said of his buddy. “When a man starts hitting fallaways like that, he’s unconscious.

“It’s like he said, ‘OK, I’ll take the game over.’ When he starts hopping and skipping like that, you know he’s in his rhythm. And he was hopping and skipping and shooting.”

This time, however, Cooper forced Thomas to the baseline, where his high-arching shot caromed off the rim.

“He had made a shot like that, real high, over me at the end of the third quarter,” Cooper said, “but you want to make him have to do it again.

“I attribute (the miss) to some pretty good defense and maybe, because of the ankle, he wasn’t as mobile.”

The rebound wound up in the hands of James Worthy, who had risen far above the madding crowd to grab it.

Worthy, who had 28 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists, was asked if he’d ever had a bigger rebound.

“I remember tipping in a shot against Denver to win a game my rookie season,” Worthy said. “But that wasn’t the playoffs.”

There were 27 seconds when the Lakers called time out. Thirteen seconds later, Abdul-Jabbar put them ahead to stay.

“The most breathtaking game I’ve ever played in,” Magic Johnson said.

But even when they appeared down to their last gasp, Johnson said the Lakers weren’t holding their breath.

“We stayed calm and cool and said ‘Let’s get a basket,’ ” he said. “And we played good defense down the stretch. Their lead wasn’t big enough. Three points are nothing.”

Neither were 7 points to the Pistons, who trailed, 53-46, at halftime. They claimed the lead by 2 after Thomas’ third-quarter spurt, 81-79, then fell back again with 7 minutes left.

Thomas started the Pistons back with a 14-foot bank shot to make it 95-91. Then, a critical call went Detroit’s way, as referee Hugh Evans ruled that Dumars had deflected a pass by Scott off Worthy and out of bounds.

“I didn’t touch it,” Worthy said. “Not even close.”

Laimbeer, who had six more fouls than baskets Sunday, missed an open three-pointer, Cooper rebounded, and Magic Johnson was fouled by Laimbeer on the other end. His free throws made it 97-91.

The Lakers double-teamed Thomas, but that left Dumars open for a 20-footer that made it a four-point game. Rodman rebounded a missed skyhook by Abdul-Jabbar, then followed up a miss by Dumars, scored the basket and was fouled by Cooper. His free throw made it 97-96 with 3:04 to go.

Thomas, who had six steals--which tied another championship series record--stripped the ball from Worthy--and went down for a short jumper, which he missed. Adrian Dantley, who otherwise had a quiet 14 points (3-of-10 shooting), was there for the rebound and was fouled by Magic, and his free throws gave Detroit a 98-97 lead.

Rodman made another Detroit steal, intercepting a pass by Magic, but Dantley missed a 10-footer from the baseline, Abdul-Jabbar rebounded, and Johnson went coast-to-coast for a layup that put the Lakers ahead, 99-98.

Thomas had one basket left in him, however, a baseline jumper over Johnson, and Worthy then got caught in a Laimbeer-Rodman sandwich. He said he was bumped by Laimbeer, but it was ruled a block, Dumars drove the lane at the other end, and drew the foul from Abdul-Jabbar. Detroit by three, 60 seconds to its first NBA title.

Instead, one last date Tuesday night--when it will, indeed, be summer.

Had Detroit taken its best shot and come up wanting?

“I thought we took their best shot,” Detroit Coach Chuck Daly said defiantly.

Said Laker Coach Pat Riley: “If the seventh game is anything like today’s, win, lose or draw, I’ll be proud of this team.”

Let the countdown begin.