“One of the Best We’ve Ever Seen in One-Quarter”: How Isiah Thomas Almost Pulled Off a Miracle of a Lifetime Against Lakers
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INGLEWOOD, CA – 1987: Isiah Thomas #11 of the Detroit Pistons drives to the basket for a layup against the Los Angeles Lakers during an NBA game in 1987 at the Great Western Forum in Inglewood, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1987 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Isiah Thomas
Getting more than 40 points in an NBA Finals is a noteworthy achievement. But when you accomplish that with a sprained ankle, the feat is more commendable. This was achieved by Detroit Pistons legend Isiah Thomas back in 1988.
After the first five games, the Pistons were leading 3-2 against the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1988 NBA finals. After a strong start in the first quarter, the Pistons gave up their six-point lead, as the Lakers scored 33 in the second quarter to be up by seven at half time. The back and forth continued as Pistons roared back, led by Thomas who put up 14 points in the third quarter alone.
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Injury scare? Isiah Thomas didn’t care
With less than five minutes left to play, Thomas had a bad landing and sprained his ankle. He tried to get up but couldn’t even walk. While reflecting later at the injury, Thomas said in his mind he was thinking, “I gotta find a way to play, just to do something.”
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The Pistons called a timeout. But Thomas was back on the court after just 35 seconds. Trailing by eight, he hobbled on the hardwood and still put 11 more points as he put up 25 total points in the third quarter. During the broadcast, commentator Dick Stockton referred to Thomas’ performance as, “maybe one of the best we’ve ever seen in one-quarter, in NBA Finals history.”
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After his return, the Pistons had a two-point lead going into the fourth quarter. But the Pistons could not carry this momentum as they ended up losing by one point. The Lakers were able to force a Game 7 despite Thomas’ heroics. He finished with 43 points, eight assists, and six steals.
32 years ago today, @IsiahThomas had one of the greatest NBA Finals performances ever.
Hobbling on a sprained ankle, he scored 25 points in a quarter, including 14 straight!
He finished with 43 PTS (18-32 FG, 2-3 3PT) 8 ASTS & 6 STLSpic.twitter.com/2hTmfHA6VE
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) June 19, 2020
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Going into Game 7 with a bad ankle, Thomas wasn’t able to contribute a lot. Despite their best player struggling, the Pistons came close but couldn’t stop the Lakers as they won by three. If Thomas was never injured, the Bad Boy Pistons would probably have sealed in Game 6 and it would have been their first ring. However, they came back strong next year, as they swept the Lakers in the 1989 NBA finals and won the first-ever title in franchise history.
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