1974 ABA playoffs

Notable events

A one-game playoff was held to determine the fourth-place finisher in the Western Division because the San Diego Conquistadors and Denver Rockets had both tied for fourth place during the regular season. The game was played on March 29, 1974, with the Conquistadors posting a 131–111 win at Denver.

The Carolina Cougars played their final game on April 8, 1974, losing at home to the Kentucky Colonels 128–119 in the last game of their Eastern Division semifinal series, which the Colonels swept 4 games to none. The Cougars played in the remaining two seasons of the ABA as the Spirits of St. Louis and were one of only two teams (the Colonels being the other) remaining during the ABA-NBA merger to not enter the NBA.

The New York Nets and Utah Stars won the Eastern Division and Western Division, respectively, in both the regular season and the playoffs.

The New York Nets became the first team since the 1969-1970 Indiana Pacers to win the ABA championship after posting the league's best regular season record.

Julius Erving of the New York Nets was the Most Valuable Player of the ABA playoffs. He won that distinction again in 1976 and became the only player in ABA history to repeat as the MVP of the league playoffs.

Bracket

| RD1-group1=Western Division | RD1-group2=Eastern Division | RD1-seed1=1 | RD1-team1=Utah Stars | RD1-score1=4 | RD1-seed2=4 | RD1-team2=San Diego Conquistadors | RD1-score2=2 | RD1-seed3=3 | RD1-team3=San Antonio Spurs | RD1-score3=3 | RD1-seed4=2 | RD1-team4=Indiana Pacers | RD1-score4=4 | RD1-seed5=1 | RD1-team5=New York Nets | RD1-score5=4 | RD1-seed6=4 | RD1-team6=Virginia Squires | RD1-score6=1 | RD1-seed7=3 | RD1-team7=Carolina Cougars | RD1-score7=0 | RD1-seed8=2 | RD1-team8=Kentucky Colonels | RD1-score8=4 | RD2-seed1=1 | RD2-team1=Utah Stars | RD2-score1=4 | RD2-seed2=2 | RD2-team2=Indiana Pacers | RD2-score2=3 | RD2-seed3=1 | RD2-team3=New York Nets | RD2-score3=4 | RD2-seed4=2 | RD2-team4=Kentucky Colonels | RD2-score4=0 | RD3-seed1=W1 | RD3-team1=Utah Stars | RD3-score1=1 | RD3-seed2=E1 | RD3-team2=New York Nets | RD3-score2=4

Western Division Tiebreaker Game

With a barrage of shots that saw San Diego shoot 60% from the field and rookie Bo Lamar score 40 points, the Conquistadors vanquished the Rockets to get the fourth spot. They connected from 15 of their first 20 shots to get a 37-29 lead after one quarter and never looked back, as Denver could only narrow it to eight points in the second quarter before San Diego rolled to a 19-point lead at halftime, with Lamar scoring 17 points in the first half to go with Stu Johnson's 22 (with six more in the second half). Denver had the dubious distinction of having lost both ABA Tiebreaker Games ever played on the court to determine a playoff team.

Division Semifinals

Western Division Semifinals

(1) Utah Stars vs. (4) San Diego Conquistadors

(2) Indiana Pacers vs. (3) San Antonio Spurs

The Pacers trailed 42-29 at halftime, earning a record for least points in a half that they did with 8-of-33 shooting. Late in the third quarter, George McGinnis scored ten points to go along with 12 by Roger Brown to get the Pacers close as the final quarter loomed. The two teams were tied at 64 with 9:47 to go in a tight defensive battle that saw Indiana outshot in total field goals (27-of-78 to San Antonio's 31-of-74). With the score 72-69 and under six minutes to go, Brown sunk a three-pointer to give the Pacers a six-point lead that they managed to pull away for the remaining minutes. The Pacers received plenty of free throws, scoring 30 from 43 shots while San Antonio went 17-of-25.

Eastern Division Semifinals

(1) New York Nets vs. (4) Virginia Squires

(2) Kentucky Colonels vs. (3) Carolina Cougars

With high winds blowing outside Freedom Hall, the Colonels beat the Cougars handily.

Game 2 was delayed from the original date of April 3 due to a tornado that had caused damage to Freedom Hall that meant that the two teams had to play in Greensboro rather than in Kentucky. Billy Cunningham played for seventeen minutes despite having recently undergone a kidney operation. Carolina was outrebounded (58-43) and out fouled (committing 33 to Kentucky's 24, with team coach Larry Brown even garnering a technical foul). With six minutes remaining, Louie Dampier hit a bank shot to give Kentucky an 85-84 lead with 6:23 remaining. The Colonels led by five with 1:32 to go, but the Cougars managed to get it down to one with layups by Marv Roberts with 0:19 remaining. Dampier was quickly fouled and only made one free throw while Carolina managed to get a chance to inbound for the potential tie/win with 15 seconds to go. But on the play, it fell to Jim Chones to have to take a shot from 12 feet out that missed for Kentucky to recover and then add another free throw to ice the game.

Division Finals

Western Division Finals

(1) Utah Stars vs. (2) Indiana Pacers

Eastern Division Finals

(1) New York Nets vs. (2) Kentucky Colonels

Kentucky led for most of the game, even leading at nine at halftime and four to start the final quarter before Larry Kenon made a shot to give New York an 87-85 lead late in the game on the cusp of a 20-12 run. Jim Bradley then sunk a shot in to tie the game at 87 before Julius Erving went up with the ball, moved around Artis Gilmore at the top of the key before moving to the foul line to shoot a one-handed 15-foot shot as the buzzer sounded. It is believed to be the first ABA buzzer-beater playoff shot in history.

ABA Finals: (E1) New York Nets vs. (W1) Utah Stars

Julius Erving scored 47 points (26 in the first half) as the Nets went on a 15-6 run that saw him and Larry Kenon (who combined for 65 points lift the Nets over the Stars. Utah was outshot and outrebounded while battling injuries to Zelmo Beaty (out since Game 5 of the last round with an infection and fever) and Gerald Govan, who tweaked his knee late in the game.

A battered Utah team with no Beaty and a diminished Govan shot under 30 percent in the first half and could not recover from there as Julius Erving scored 32 points to give the Nets their eight straight playoff win.

Utah (now with Beaty playing) had managed to overcome a 15-point deficit to pull ahead late 94-91 with under 15 seconds to go. Wendell Ladner missed the shot but rebounded it and passed it to Brian Taylor, who successfully made it from the three-line to send the game into overtime. The Nets took control from there and won the game to get one win away from a sweep.

New York managed to lead by two after the third quarter, but the Stars took control with tough defense that allowed just 13 points in the fourth quarter while Jimmy Jones scored 24 points.

The Nets completed their dominant run (winning 12 of their 14 playoff games, a record for most dominant run for an ABA champion) with 23 points by Larry Kenon.

Statistical leaders

Total leaders

Points

1. Willie Wise - 420
2. Julius Erving - 390
3. Jimmy Jones - 374
4. George McGinnis - 336
5. Ron Boone - 308

Rebounds

1. Gerald Govan - 246
2. George McGinnis - 166
3. Larry Kenon - 163
4. Mel Daniels - 160
5. Willie Wise - 149
6. Artis Gilmore - 149

Assists

1. Ron Boone - 109
2. Jimmy Jones - 98
3. Gerald Govan - 73
4. Julius Erving - 67
5. Freddie Lewis - 62
6. Brian Taylor - 62

Minutes

1. Willie Wise - 792
2. Ron Boone - 747
3. Jimmy Jones - 742
4. Gerald Govan - 714
5. George McGinnis - 585

References

References

1. [http://www.remembertheaba.com/PlayoffPages/1974Playoffs.html Remember the ABA: 1973-74 Regular Season Standings and Playoff Results]
2. (March 30, 1974). "Hot San Diego in, Denver Out in ABA West Playoffs". Colorado Springs Gazette.
3. Chappell, Mike. (April 13, 1974). "Pacers survive miserable first half to down Spurs". Anderson Herald Bulletin.
4. Watson, Bob. (April 2, 1974). "Colonels Roll Over Carolina Cougars". The Corbin Times Tribune.
5. (April 4, 1974). "Playoff Contest Delayed". Statesville Record & Landmark.
6. Hunter, Bill. (April 6, 1974). "Nightmarish Night - Defeat For Cougars". Burlington Daily Times.
7. "Game-Winning Buzzer-Beaters".
8. (April 18, 1974). "Dr. J Buzzes Colonels". Red Bank Register.
9. Rudman, Steve. (May 1, 1974). "Dr. J Masterminds Net Win Over Stars". Salt Lake Tribune.
10. (May 1, 1974). "Erving tosses in 47 to lead Nets, 89-85". The Times Herald Record.
11. Rudman, Steve. (May 5, 1974). "Nets blister Utah Stars, 118-94". Salt Lake Tribune.
12. (May 5, 1974). "Nets trounce Stars, 118-94, to take 2-0 lead". The Times Herald Record.
13. Rudman, Steve. (May 7, 1974). "Time Running Out-Stars Fall, 103-100". Salt Lake Tribune.
14. (May 7, 1974). "Nets Three-Point Stars". Kingston Daily Freeman.
15. (May 9, 1974). "Nets Fail To Sweep Series". Syracuse Post Standard.
16. Rudman, Steve. (May 9, 1974). "Stars Finally Cut Down Nets". Salt Lake Tribune.
17. (May 11, 1974). "Erving, Kenon pace New York to victory". Auburn Citizen Advertiser.
18. Dowd, Tom. (July 22, 2019). "1974 ABA Champions". NBA.com.
19. (May 11, 1974). "Nets Whip Utah To Take Title". Syracuse Post Standard.