The 1970 ABA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the American Basketball Association's 1969-1970 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Division champion Indiana Pacers defeating the Western Division champion Los Angeles Stars, four games to two in the ABA Finals.
The Indiana Pacers finished the season with the league's best regular season record (59–25, .702) before going on to win the ABA championship. This same feat was accomplished by the Oakland Oaks during the prior season and by the Pittsburgh Pipers in the year before that.
The Pacers became the first ABA champions to return in the same form for the following season. The Oakland Oaks became the Washington Caps for the 1969–1970 ABA season; the Pittsburgh Pipers had become the Minnesota Pipers after winning the ABA championship the prior season.
Roger Brown of Indiana was the Most Valuable Player of the ABA playoffs. Brown averaged 28.5 points, 3rd best among all postseason players to go along with playing 46.2 minutes per game (2nd) while going 151-of-318 in field goal attempts (3rd best in each category).
Bracket
| Division Semifinals | Division Finals | ABA Finals | ||||||||||||
| 1 | Denver Rockets | 4 | ||||||||||||
| 3 | Washington Caps | 3 | ||||||||||||
| 1 | Denver Rockets | 1 | ||||||||||||
| Western Division | ||||||||||||||
| 4 | Los Angeles Stars | 4 | ||||||||||||
| 4 | Los Angeles Stars | 4 | ||||||||||||
| 2 | Dallas Chaparrals | 2 | ||||||||||||
| W4 | Los Angeles Stars | 2 | ||||||||||||
| E1 | Indiana Pacers | 4 | ||||||||||||
| 1 | Indiana Pacers | 4 | ||||||||||||
| 3 | Carolina Cougars | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 1 | Indiana Pacers | 4 | ||||||||||||
| Eastern Division | ||||||||||||||
| 2 | Kentucky Colonels | 1 | ||||||||||||
| 4 | New York Nets | 3 | ||||||||||||
| 2 | Kentucky Colonels | 4 | ||||||||||||
Division Semifinals
Western Division Semifinals
(1) Denver Rockets vs. (3) Washington Caps
April 17
|
| Washington Caps 111, Denver Rockets 130 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 33–25, 32–42, 28–32, 18–31 | ||
| Pts: Rick Barry 40 Rebs: George Carter 10 |
Pts: Larry Jones 33 Rebs: Spencer Haywood 15 | |
| Denver leads series, 1–0 | ||
April 18
|
| Washington Caps 133, Denver Rockets 143 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 32–26, 33–44, 30–37, 38–36 | ||
| Pts: Rick Barry 36 Rebs: Fatty Taylor 9 |
Pts: Larry Jones 32 Rebs: Spencer Haywood 17 | |
| Denver leads series, 2–0 | ||
April 19
|
| Denver Rockets 120, Washington Caps 125 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 24–36, 33–25, 28–32, 35–32 | ||
| Pts: Spencer Haywood 45 Rebs: Spencer Haywood 26 |
Pts: Rick Barry 45 Rebs: Ira Harge 17 | |
| Denver leads series, 2–1 | ||
April 22
|
| Denver Rockets 114, Washington Caps 131 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 27–34, 24–32, 34–27, 29–38 | ||
| Pts: Spencer Haywood 41 Rebs: Spencer Haywood 21 |
Pts: Barry, Barrett 30 each Rebs: Ira Harge 13 | |
| Series tied, 2–2 | ||
April 23
|
| Washington Caps 110, Denver Rockets 132 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 28–33, 28–34, 22–26, 32–39 | ||
| Pts: Rick Barry 38 Rebs: Rick Barry 17 |
Pts: Spencer Haywood 38 Rebs: Spencer Haywood 20 | |
| Denver leads series, 3–2 | ||
April 25
|
| Denver Rockets 111, Washington Caps 116 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 26–31, 29–24, 32–27, 24–34 | ||
| Pts: Larry Jones 30 Rebs: Spencer Haywood 21 |
Pts: Rick Barry 40 Rebs: Ira Harge 24 | |
| Series tied, 3–3 | ||
April 28
|
| Washington Caps 119, Denver Rockets 143 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 31–37, 28–30, 27–38, 33–38 | ||
| Pts: Rick Barry 52 Rebs: Ira Harge 19 |
Pts: Spencer Haywood 42 Rebs: Spencer Haywood 18 | |
| Denver wins series, 4–3 | ||
(2) Dallas Chaparrals vs. (4) Los Angeles Stars
April 17
|
| Los Angeles Stars 115, Dallas Chaparrals 103 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 27–19, 29–25, 30–31, 29–28 | ||
| Pts: Bob Warren 21 Rebs: Craig Raymond 18 Asts: Bob Warren 6 |
Pts: Glen Combs 33 Rebs: Manny Leaks 21 Asts: Maurice McHartley 5 | |
| Los Angeles leads series, 1–0 | ||
April 18
|
| Los Angeles Stars 121, Dallas Chaparrals 129 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 28–38, 30–32, 29–25, 34–34 | ||
| Pts: Mack Calvin 29 Rebs: Trooper Washington 13 Asts: Mack Calvin 6 |
Pts: Glen Combs 24 Rebs: Cincy Powell 14 Asts: Cincy Powell 7 | |
| Series tied, 1–1 | ||
April 20
|
| Dallas Chaparrals 116, Los Angeles Stars 104 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 21–28, 32–20, 37–23, 26–33 | ||
| Pts: Ron Boone 22 Rebs: Cincy Powell 18 Asts: Glen Combs 7 |
Pts: Mack Calvin 28 Rebs: Stone, Raymond 12 each Asts: Mack Calvin 7 | |
| Dallas leads series, 2–1 | ||
April 22
|
| Dallas Chaparrals 138, Los Angeles Stars 144 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 23–32, 33–37, 38–41, 44–34 | ||
| Pts: John Beasley 28 Rebs: Cincy Powell 13 Asts: Combs, McHartley 6 each |
Pts: Mack Calvin 44 Rebs: Craig Raymond 28 Asts: Mack Calvin 16 | |
| Series tied, 2–2 | ||
April 24
|
| Los Angeles Stars 146, Dallas Chaparrals 139 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 33–37, 27–33, 39–21, 47–48 | ||
| Pts: Mack Calvin 38 Rebs: Craig Raymond 18 Asts: Mack Calvin 11 |
Pts: Glen Combs 32 Rebs: Cincy Powell 15 Asts: Charlie Beasley 8 | |
| Los Angeles leads series, 3–2 | ||
April 26
|
| Dallas Chaparrals 123, Los Angeles Stars 124 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 33–30, 32–33, 34–36, 24–25 | ||
| Pts: Manny Leaks 32 Rebs: Manny Leaks 20 Asts: Combs, Boone 6 each |
Pts: Mack Calvin 27 Rebs: Craig Raymond 19 Asts: Mack Calvin 7 | |
| Los Angeles wins series, 4–2 | ||
Eastern Division Semifinals
(1) Indiana Pacers vs. (3) Carolina Cougars
April 18
|
| Carolina Cougars 105, Indiana Pacers 123 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 22–27, 24–36, 27–31, 32–29 | ||
| Pts: Bob Verga 19 Rebs: Randy Mahaffey 9 Asts: Doug Moe 6 |
Pts: Freddie Lewis 29 Rebs: Mel Daniels 17 Asts: Roger Brown 7 | |
| Indiana leads series, 1–0 | ||
April 19
|
| Carolina Cougars 98, Indiana Pacers 103 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 14–20, 26–31, 26–27, 32–25 | ||
| Pts: Bob Verga 35 Rebs: Hank Whitney 11 Asts: Calvin Fowler 4 |
Pts: Freddie Lewis 26 Rebs: Mel Daniels 21 Asts: Freddie Lewis 6 | |
| Indiana leads series, 2–0 | ||
April 22
|
| Indiana Pacers 115, Carolina Cougars 106 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 19–26, 34–27, 24–29, 38–24 | ||
| Pts: John Barnhill 25 Rebs: Mel Daniels 16 Asts: Roger Brown 6 |
Pts: Bob Verga 24 Rebs: George Peeples 22 Asts: Doug Moe 8 | |
| Indiana leads series, 3–0 | ||
April 24
|
| Indiana Pacers 110, Carolina Cougars 106 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 30–28, 26–29, 30–29, 24–20 | ||
| Pts: Freddie Lewis 31 Rebs: Mel Daniels 15 Asts: Freddie Lewis 6 |
Pts: Bob Verga 30 Rebs: George Peeples 18 Asts: Doug Moe 8 | |
| Indiana wins series, 4–0 | ||
(2) Kentucky Colonels vs. (4) New York Nets
April 17
|
| New York Nets 122, Kentucky Colonels 118 (OT) | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 22–29, 25–19, 36–29, 26–32, Overtime: 13–9 | ||
| Pts: Levern Tart 46 Rebs: Simon, Dove 13 each |
Pts: Louie Dampier 25 Rebs: Gene Moore 13 | |
| New York leads series, 1–0 | ||
April 18
|
| New York Nets 111, Kentucky Colonels 113 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 25–32, 32–28, 21–28, 33–25 | ||
| Pts: Levern Tart 31 Rebs: Sonny Dove 10 |
Pts: Jim Ligon 23 Rebs: Jim Ligon 17 | |
| Series tied, 1–1 | ||
April 19
|
| Kentucky Colonels 99, New York Nets 107 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 18–31, 24–29, 25–23, 32–24 | ||
| Pts: Louie Dampier 19 Rebs: Jim Ligon 9 |
Pts: Sonny Dove 25 Rebs: Dove, Simon, Johnson 11 each | |
| New York leads series, 2–1 | ||
April 22
|
| Kentucky Colonels 128, New York Nets 101 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 34–21, 23–19, 34–27, 37–34 | ||
| Pts: Darel Carrier 29 Rebs: Gene Moore 15 |
Pts: Levern Tart 21 Rebs: Johnson, Dove 9 each | |
| Series tied, 2–2 | ||
April 26
|
| New York Nets 127, Kentucky Colonels 112 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 26–21, 28–28, 36–27, 37–36 | ||
| Pts: Bill Melchionni 39 Rebs: Les Hunter 12 |
Pts: Gene Moore 28 Rebs: Gene Moore 14 | |
| New York leads series, 3–2 | ||
April 28
|
| Kentucky Colonels 116, New York Nets 113 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 30–23, 27–30, 29–23, 30–37 | ||
| Pts: Louie Dampier 26 Rebs: Jim Ligon 13 |
Pts: Les Hunter 28 Rebs: Ed Johnson 12 | |
| Series tied, 3–3 | ||
April 29
|
| New York Nets 101, Kentucky Colonels 112 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 31–25, 17–21, 24–34, 29–32 | ||
| Pts: Sonny Dove 24 Rebs: Sonny Dove 13 |
Pts: Louie Dampier 22 Rebs: Jim Ligon 11 | |
| Kentucky wins series, 4–3 | ||
Division Finals
Western Division Finals
(1) Denver Rockets vs. (4) Los Angeles Stars
April 30
|
| Los Angeles Stars 113, Denver Rockets 123 (OT) | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 30–23, 26–30, 22–32, 27–20, Overtime: 8–18 | ||
| Pts: Calvin, Stone 33 each Rebs: Trooper Washington 20 |
Pts: Spencer Haywood 39 Rebs: Spencer Haywood 31 Asts: Larry Jones 10 | |
| Denver leads series, 1–0 | ||
May 1
|
| Los Angeles Stars 114, Denver Rockets 105 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 31–29, 22–35, 28–17, 33–24 | ||
| Pts: Mack Calvin 25 Rebs: Raymond, Warren 13 each |
Pts: Spencer Haywood 40 Rebs: Haywood, Beck 18 each | |
| Series tied, 1–1 | ||
May 4
|
| Denver Rockets 113, Los Angeles Stars 119 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 35–32, 26–29, 25–27, 27–31 | ||
| Pts: Spencer Haywood 37 Rebs: Spencer Haywood 22 Asts: Larry Jones 7 |
Pts: Mack Calvin 31 Rebs: Trooper Washington 18 Asts: Calvin, Washington 7 each | |
| Los Angeles leads series, 2–1 | ||
May 5
|
| Denver Rockets 110, Los Angeles Stars 114 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 27–31, 30–26, 28–36, 25–21 | ||
| Pts: Spencer Haywood 32 Rebs: Haywood, Beck 13 each Asts: Jeff Congdon 12 |
Pts: Mervin Jackson 25 Rebs: Craig Raymond 17 Asts: Mervin Jackson 8 | |
| Los Angeles leads series, 3–1 | ||
May 9
|
| Los Angeles Stars 109, Denver Rockets 107 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 24–32, 32–20, 25–32, 28–23 | ||
| Pts: George Stone 22 Rebs: Trooper Washington 17 |
Pts: Spencer Haywood 37 Rebs: Byron Beck 17 | |
| Los Angeles wins series, 4–1 | ||
Eastern Division Finals
(1) Indiana Pacers vs. (2) Kentucky Colonels
May 1
|
| Kentucky Colonels 114, Indiana Pacers 110 (OT) | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 21–24, 24–17, 30–30, 27–31, Overtime: 12–8 | ||
| Pts: Jim Ligon 34 Rebs: Jim Ligon 24 Asts: Louie Dampier 6 |
Pts: Roger Brown 29 Rebs: Mel Daniels 21 Asts: Brown Keller 6 each | |
| Kentucky leads series, 1–0 | ||
May 2
|
| Kentucky Colonels 110, Indiana Pacers 121 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 23–31, 26–20, 28–36, 33–34 | ||
| Pts: Darel Carrier 31 Rebs: Gene Moore 16 Asts: Darel Carrier 5 |
Pts: Roger Brown 33 Rebs: Bob Netolicky 22 Asts: Brown, Keller 5 each | |
| Series tied 1–1 | ||
May 3
|
| Indiana Pacers 114, Kentucky Colonels 110 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 26–28, 27–21, 30–36, 31–25 | ||
| Pts: Freddie Lewis 31 Rebs: Mel Daniels 17 Asts: Billy Keller 7 |
Pts: Dampier, Chapman 22 each Rebs: Jim Ligon 15 Asts: Louie Dampier 8 | |
| Indiana leads series, 2–1 | ||
May 5
|
| Indiana Pacers 111, Kentucky Colonels 103 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 21–26, 34–21, 29–28, 27–28 | ||
| Pts: Roger Brown 33 Rebs: Netolicky, Daniels 13 each Asts: Roger Brown 10 |
Pts: Gene Moore 26 Rebs: Gene Moore 28 Asts: Gene Moore 6 | |
| Indiana leads series, 3–1 | ||
May 6
|
| Kentucky Colonels 103, Indiana Pacers 117 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 30–26, 21–29, 22–25, 30–37 | ||
| Pts: Gene Moore 25 Rebs: Gene Moore 14 Asts: Ligon, Dampier 5 each |
Pts: Roger Brown 28 Rebs: Mel Daniels 22 Asts: Roger Brown 8 | |
| Indiana wins series, 4–1 | ||
ABA Finals: (W4) Los Angeles Stars vs. (E1) Indiana Pacers
May 15
|
| Los Angeles Stars 93, Indiana Pacers 109 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 24–21, 20–28, 27–24, 22–36 | ||
| Pts: Bob Warren 20 Rebs: Craig Raymond 23 Asts: Mack Calvin 5 |
Pts: Freddie Lewis 22 Rebs: Bob Netolicky 14 Asts: Billy Keller 10 | |
| Indiana leads series, 1–0 | ||
May 17
|
| Los Angeles Stars 111, Indiana Pacers 114 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 27–21, 31–31, 26–30, 27–32 | ||
| Pts: George Stone 29 Rebs: Willie Wise 11 Asts: Trooper Washington 5 |
Pts: Bob Netolicky 32 Rebs: Mel Daniels 27 Asts: Billy Keller 8 | |
| Indiana leads series, 2–0 | ||
May 18
|
| Indiana Pacers 106, Los Angeles Stars 109 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 38–17, 22–30, 28–31, 18–31 | ||
| Pts: Freddie Lewis 24 Rebs: Mel Daniels 20 Asts: Roger Brown 6 |
Pts: George Stone 34 Rebs: Craig Raymond 18 Asts: Merv Jackson 8 | |
| Indiana leads series, 2–1 | ||
May 19
|
| Indiana Pacers 142, Los Angeles Stars 120 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 35–25, 28–37, 45–32, 34–26 | ||
| Pts: Roger Brown 53 Rebs: Roger Brown 13 Asts: Brown, Thacker 6 each |
Pts: Andrew Anderson 20 Rebs: George Stone 14 Asts: Trooper Washington 8 | |
| Indiana leads series, 3–1 | ||
Roger Brown scored 53 points, which is still a franchise record.
May 23
|
| Los Angeles Stars 117, Indiana Pacers 113 (OT) | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 27–27, 22–30, 29–27, 29–23, Overtime: 10–6 | ||
| Pts: Mack Calvin 33 Rebs: George Stone 15 Asts: Mack Calvin 7 |
Pts: Roger Brown 39 Rebs: Bob Netolicky 18 Asts: Roger Brown 8 | |
| Indiana leads series, 3–2 | ||
May 25
|
| Indiana Pacers 111, Los Angeles Stars 107 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 34–27, 20–26, 24–27, 33–27 | ||
| Pts: Roger Brown 45 Rebs: Mel Daniels 27 Asts: Tom Thacker 7 |
Pts: George Stone 28 Rebs: Trooper Washington 15 Asts: Mack Calvin 9 | |
| Indiana wins series, 4–2 | ||
The victory was the first professional sports championship for Indiana.[1] On June 11, less than a month after Game 6, the Stars (sold to Bill Daniels) elected to move to Utah.[2] Two members of the Pacers eventually made the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame: Mel Daniels (2012) and Roger Brown (2013), while both head coaches from the series in Bill Sharman (2004) and Bobby Leonard (2014) also were later inducted.
Statistical leaders
| Category | Total | Average | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Team | Total | Player | Team | Avg. | Games played | |
| Points | Spencer Haywood | Denver Rockets | 440 | Rick Barry | Washington Caps | 40.1 | 7 |
| Rebounds | Mel Daniels | Indiana Pacers | 265 | Spencer Haywood | Denver Rockets | 19.8 | 12 |
| Assists | Mack Calvin | Los Angeles Stars | 101 | Larry Brown | Washington Caps | 9.7 | 7 |
Total leaders
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Points
Rebounds
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Assists
Minutes
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