Game 1 - Pistons 109, Lakers 97
The Lakers played without Byron Scott, who pulled a hamstring in practice before Game 1, and were unable to slow down the Pistons' backcourt. Isiah Thomas scored 16 points in the first half to take the Pistons to an 11-point lead. Already shorthanded without Scott, the Lakers had to go deep into their bench when Michael Cooper, A.C. Green, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Orlando Woolridge all got into foul trouble. Detroit opened the second half on an 11-3 run and never looked back, cruising to a 12-point victory.
The Pistons were led by Thomas, who finished with 24 points and nine assists. His backcourt mate, Joe Dumars, added 22 points, and guard Vinnie Johnson scored 19 in 21 minutes off the bench. Magic Johnson and James Worthy each scored 17 points for the Lakers, who lost for the first time in the 1989 Playoffs.
