On This Date in Sports May 13, 1976: Nets Reign at ABA's End
In collaboration with the Sportecyclopedia.com
The New York Nets win their second ABA Championship in three years, beating the Denver Nuggets 112-106 in Game 6 of the ABA Finals at the Nassau Coliseum. The Nets rallied from a 22-point deficit in the third quarter as Julius Erving scores 31 points, while John Williamson scored 28 points, and Brian Taylor scored 24. David Thompson had 42 points in a losing effort. Dr. J. is named ABA Playoff MVP for the second time. It would be the final game for the rival league as the ABA folds with the Nets and Nuggets among four teams to move on to the NBA.
Coming off a disappointing first-round ouster in the 1975 ABA Playoffs, the New York Nets coached by Kevin Loughery sought to regain the crown they won in 1974, as the ABA entered what would be its final season. The American Basketball Association was born in 1967 and brought a more colorful game, with the red, white, and blue basketball. The ABA had a three-point shot, and it had Julius Erving, who won three straight MVP Awards with the Nets. The league had just seven teams for the 1975/76 season; four would survive and move to the NBA, three would get buyouts. The Nets posted a record of 55-29, finished second in the ABA standings. In the playoffs, New York slipped past the San Antonio Spurs, needing seven games. In the finale, the Nets won 121-114 to return to the ABA Finals.
The Denver Nuggets had their finest season in the ABA's swan song, posting a record of 60-22 for Larry Brown. They benefited greatly from the acquisition of Dan Issel and the drafting of Bobby Jones. Along with Rookie of the Year, David Thompson, the Nuggets posted a record of 60-24 to post the best record in the ABA. Thompson and Julius Erving staged a show at the All-Star Game in Denver, becoming the first dunk contest. The Nuggets also needed seven games in the semifinals to reach the ABA Finals, beating the reigning champion Kentucky Colonels.
The last ABA series began at Denver's McNichols Arena on May 1st. A tight game throughout, the Nets edged the Nuggets 120-118 as Julius Erving had a monster performance with 45 points, adding 12 rebounds. Dr. J was making house calls again in Game 2, scoring 48 points. However, the Nuggets recorded a 127-121 win to even the series. Ralph Simpson had 25 points to lead the Nuggets, while Thompson, Issel, and Jones each scored 24 points.
As the series shifted to New York, the Nets got 28 points from John Williamson, while Julius Erving scored 31 in Game 3. The Nets would win the game 117-111 to take the series lead. The Nets would extend that lead to 3-1, with a 121-112 win in Game 4. Dr. J continued to operate, scoring 34 points as Williamson scored 24 points and Brian Taylor scored 23. Back in Denver for Game 5, the Nuggets stayed alive with a 118-110, despite another big night from Erving.
David Thompson came out strong in Game 6 at the Nassau Coliseum, scoring a game-high 42 points. Dan Issel had 30 points as the Nuggets looking to force a seventh game, held a 22-point lead in the third quarter. However, Julius Erving took over, scoring 31 points as the Nets roared back and won 112-106, outscoring Denver 34-14 in the fourth quarter to claim the ABA's last championship in the ABA's final game.