# 1976 ABA Playoffs

The 1976 ABA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the American Basketball Association's 1975–76 season. The tournament concluded with the New York Nets defeating the Denver Nuggets four games to two in the ABA Finals.
This was the final year of the ABA. The ABA-NBA merger took place on June 17, 1976. Thus the final game in ABA history was played on May 13, 1976, when the New York Nets defeated the Denver Nuggets 112–106 at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York.
As there were no divisions in the regular season, the playoffs involved five teams, with a first-round best-of-three series played between the fourth-place Kentucky Colonels and fifth-place Indiana Pacers; Kentucky won the series, 2 games to 1.

## Notable events

Julius Erving of the New York Nets was the Most Valuable Player of the ABA playoffs. He won that distinction previously in 1974 and became the only player in ABA history to repeat as the MVP of the league playoffs.
On April 28, 1976, the Kentucky Colonels lost the seventh game of their series with the Denver Nuggets. The loss marked the final game for the Colonels and the final game for any ABA team that did not proceed into the NBA with the ABA-NBA merger.
The Nuggets and the Nets met in the championship series after posting the two best regular season records in the league. The Nets' victory over the Nuggets marked the last time that a professional basketball team from the New York area won a championship title until the 2024 WNBA Finals, when the New York Liberty defeated the Minnesota Lynx in five games to win their first title.
With their 4–3 loss in their opening round matchup with the New York Nets, the San Antonio Spurs concluded their ABA tenure without ever winning a single ABA playoff series. Since joining the NBA, the Spurs have won 5 NBA championships total (starting with their 1999 victory over the #8 seed New York Knicks during lockout season before winning three more in the 2000s decade and their most recent one in 2014 against the Miami Heat), making them the first ABA team to win a championship in the NBA. In 2023, the Nuggets became the last former ABA team to make an NBA Finals (the Pacers made one Finals in 2000, and the then-New Jersey Nets made two in 2002 and 2003, with all three championship series match-ups ending in a loss by the Los Angeles Lakers twice and the Spurs once), though the Nuggets ultimately became the second ABA team to win an NBA title with their 5-game series win over the #8 seed Miami Heat in the 2023 NBA Finals.

## Bracket

| Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semi-Finals | Semi-Finals | Semi-Finals | Championship Series | Championship Series | Championship Series |
| | | | # 1 | Denver Nuggets | 4 | | | |
| | | | # 4 | Kentucky Colonels | 3 | | | |
| # 4 | Kentucky Colonels | 2 | # 4 | Kentucky Colonels | 3 | | | |
| # 5 | Indiana Pacers | 1 | | | | | | |
| # 5 | Indiana Pacers | 1 | | | | # 1 | Denver Nuggets | 2 |
| | | | | | | # 2 | New York Nets | 4 |
| | | | # 2 | New York Nets | 4 | | | |
| | | | # 3 | San Antonio Spurs | 3 | | | |

## First Round: Kentucky Colonels vs. Indiana Pacers

(1) Denver Nuggets, (2) New York Nets, (3) San Antonio Spurs have division Quarterfinals byes.
* April 8
* Box score
Indiana Pacers 109, Kentucky Colonels 120 :
| Scoring by quarter: 20–41, 26–21, 31–31, 32–27 |||
| Pts: Billy Knight 43 Rebs: Darnell Hillman 13 Asts: Darnell Hillman 5 | Pts: Artis Gilmore 25 Rebs: Artis Gilmore 17 Asts: Averitt, Dampier 10 each |
| Kentucky leads series, 1–0 |||
* Freedom Hall, Louisville, Kentucky Attendance: 3,288
* April 10
* Box score
Kentucky Colonels 95, Indiana Pacers 109 :
| Scoring by quarter: 25–23, 18–24, 29–30, 23–32 |||
| Pts: Artis Gilmore 26 Rebs: Maurice Lucas 14 Asts: Bird Averitt 6 | Pts: Billy Knight 28 Rebs: Knight, Hillman 11 each Asts: Don Buse 12 |
| Series tied, 1–1 |||
* Market Square Arena, Indianapolis, Indiana Attendance: 5,850
* April 12
* Box score
Indiana Pacers 99, Kentucky Colonels 100 :
| Scoring by quarter: 11–26, 25–22, 35–22, 28–30 |||
| Pts: Billy Knight 30 Rebs: Knight, Robisch 9 each Asts: Don Buse 9 | Pts: Artis Gilmore 27 Rebs: Artis Gilmore 16 Asts: Jan van Breda Kolff 6 |
| Kentucky wins series, 2–1 |||
* Freedom Hall, Louisville, Kentucky Attendance: 5,267

## Semifinals
### (1) Denver Nuggets vs. (4) Kentucky Colonels

* April 15
* Box score
Kentucky Colonels 107, Denver Nuggets 110 :
| Scoring by quarter: 27–28, 31–30, 21–25, 28–27 |||
| Pts: Lucas, Gilmore 26 each Rebs: Artis Gilmore 19 Asts: Louie Dampier 8 | Pts: Ralph Simpson 24 Rebs: Bobby Jones 9 Asts: Dan Issel 7 |
| Denver leads series, 1–0 |||
* McNichols Sports Arena, Denver, Colorado Attendance: 15,234
* April 17
* Box score
Kentucky Colonels 138, Denver Nuggets 110 :
| Scoring by quarter: 35–39, 34–28, 33–26, 36–26 |||
| Pts: Louie Dampier 26 Rebs: Artis Gilmore 12 Asts: Bird Averitt 9 | Pts: Dan Issel 24 Rebs: Dan Issel 13 Asts: Chuck Williams 5 |
| Series tied, 1–1 |||
* McNichols Sports Arena, Denver, Colorado Attendance: 16,384
* April 19
* Box score
Denver Nuggets 114, Kentucky Colonels 126 :
| Scoring by quarter: 27–26, 25–29, 34–33, 28–38 |||
| Pts: David Thompson 29 Rebs: Bobby Jones 10 Asts: David Thompson 5 | Pts: Bird Averitt 40 Rebs: Artis Gilmore 16 Asts: Bird Averitt 7 |
| Kentucky leads series, 2–1 |||
* Freedom Hall, Louisville, Kentucky Attendance: 9,644
* April 21
* Box score
Denver Nuggets 108, Kentucky Colonels 106 :
| Scoring by quarter: 26–35, 23–16, 29–25, 30–30 |||
| Pts: Ralph Simpson 26 Rebs: Bobby Jones 18 Asts: Bobby Jones 5 | Pts: Artis Gilmore 22 Rebs: Maurice Lucas 19 Asts: Louie Dampier 6 |
| Series tied, 2–2 |||
* Freedom Hall, Louisville, Kentucky Attendance: 11,444
* April 22
* Box score
Kentucky Colonels 117, Denver Nuggets 127 :
| Scoring by quarter: 32–25, 26–29, 23–39, 36–34 |||
| Pts: Artis Gilmore 26 Rebs: Artis Gilmore 12 Asts: Louie Dampier 14 | Pts: David Thompson 34 Rebs: Dan Issel 13 Asts: Ralph Simpson 6 |
| Denver leads series 3–2 |||
* McNichols Sports Arena, Denver, Colorado Attendance: 17,068
* April 25
* Box score
Denver Nuggets 115, Kentucky Colonels 119 (2OT) :
| Scoring by quarter: 24–24, 27–31, 19–23, 27–19, Overtime: 10–10, 8–12 |||
| Pts: Ralph Simpson 35 Rebs: Dan Issel 18 Asts: Ralph Simpson 6 | Pts: Bird Averitt 34 Rebs: Artis Gilmore 26 Asts: Louie Dampier 11 |
| Series tied, 3–3 |||
* Freedom Hall, Louisville, Kentucky Attendance: 6,312
This was the only ABA postseason game to last two overtimes. It was also the last Colonels game played in Kentucky.
* April 28
* Box score
Kentucky Colonels 110, Denver Nuggets 133 :
| Scoring by quarter: 26–27, 30–30, 26–37, 28–39 |||
| Pts: Maurice Lucas 23 Rebs: Maurice Lucas 15 Asts: Louie Dampier 11 | Pts: David Thompson 40 Rebs: Dan Issel 12 Asts: Ralph Simpson 14 |
| Denver wins series 4–3 |||
* McNichols Sports Arena, Denver, Colorado Attendance: 18,821

### (2) New York Nets vs. (3) San Antonio Spurs

* April 9
* Box score
San Antonio Spurs 101, New York Nets 116 :
| Scoring by quarter: 18–33, 32–37, 28–27, 23–19 |||
| Pts: George Gervin 30 Rebs: Paultz, Gale 7 each Asts: George Karl 4 | Pts: Julius Erving 31 Rebs: Tim Bassett 14 Asts: Brian Taylor 4 |
| New York leads series, 1–0 |||
* Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Uniondale, New York Attendance: 8,221
* April 11
* Box score
San Antonio Spurs 105, New York Nets 79 :
| Scoring by quarter: 20–23, 29–16, 26–21, 30–19 |||
| Pts: Larry Kenon 30 Rebs: Billy Paultz 18 Asts: Mike Gale 13 | Pts: Julius Erving 27 Rebs: Skinner, Bassett, Hughes 10 each Asts: Erving, Jones, Skinner 3 each |
| Series tied, 1–1 |||
* Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Uniondale, New York Attendance: 5,769
* April 14
* Box score
New York Nets 103, San Antonio Spurs 111 :
| Scoring by quarter: 31–21, 22–27, 20–27, 30–36 |||
| Pts: Julius Erving 31 Rebs: Julius Erving 10 Asts: Julius Erving 8 | Pts: Larry Kenon 28 Rebs: Larry Kenon 16 Asts: Mike Gale 11 |
| San Antonio leads series, 2–1 |||
* HemisFair Arena, San Antonio, Texas Attendance: 10,009
* April 18
* Box score
New York Nets 110, San Antonio Spurs 108 :
| Scoring by quarter: 24–25, 28–35, 28–28, 30–20 |||
| Pts: Julius Erving 35 Rebs: Julius Erving 14 Asts: Kim Hughes 7 | Pts: Paultz, Gervin 28 each Rebs: Billy Paultz 12 Asts: Billy Paultz 5 |
| Series tied, 2–2 |||
* HemisFair Arena, San Antonio, Texas Attendance: 9,277
* April 19
* Box score
San Antonio Spurs 108, New York Nets 110 :
| Scoring by quarter: 33–27, 24–30, 26–28, 25–25 |||
| Pts: Larry Kenon 27 Rebs: Larry Kenon 12 Asts: Mike Gale 8 | Pts: Julius Erving 32 Rebs: Tim Bassett 12 Asts: Julius Erving 6 |
| New York leads series 3–2 |||
* Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Uniondale, New York Attendance: 11,321
* April 21
* Box score
New York Nets 105, San Antonio Spurs 106 :
| Scoring by quarter: 27–29, 21–23, 27–29, 30–25 |||
| Pts: Julius Erving 41 Rebs: Tim Bassett 15 Asts: Brian Taylor 6 | Pts: George Gervin 37 Rebs: Larry Kenon 18 Asts: Gale, Paultz 5 each |
| Series tied, 3–3 |||
* HemisFair Arena, San Antonio, Texas Attendance: 10,484
* April 24
* Box score
San Antonio Spurs 114, New York Nets 121 :
| Scoring by quarter: 22–24, 31–31, 28–29, 33–37 |||
| Pts: George Gervin 31 Rebs: Larry Kenon 11 Asts: Mike Gale 6 | Pts: Julius Erving 28 Rebs: Julius Erving 18 Asts: Julius Erving 8 |
| New York wins series 4–3 |||
* Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Uniondale, New York Attendance: 15,934

## ABA Finals: New York Nets vs. Denver Nuggets

* May 1
* Box score
New York Nets 120, Denver Nuggets 118 :
| Scoring by quarter: 32–31, 26–27, 32–26, 30–34 |||
| Pts: Julius Erving 45 Rebs: Julius Erving 12 Asts: Brian Taylor 5 | Pts: David Thompson 30 Rebs: Marvin Webster 18 Asts: Ralph Simpson 9 |
| New York leads series, 1–0 |||
* McNichols Sports Arena, Denver, Colorado Attendance: 19,034
Julius Erving hit a 24-foot shot at the buzzer to give New York the win in the last ever buzzer-beater shot ever recorded in the ABA.
* May 4
* Box score
New York Nets 121, Denver Nuggets 127 :
| Scoring by quarter: 25–29, 25–22, 31–34, 40–42 |||
| Pts: Julius Erving 48 Rebs: Julius Erving 14 Asts: Julius Erving 8 | Pts: Ralph Simpson 25 Rebs: Dan Issel 14 Asts: Ralph Simpson 9 |
| Series tied, 1–1 |||
* McNichols Sports Arena, Denver, Colorado Attendance: 19,107
* May 6
* Box score
Denver Nuggets 111, New York Nets 117 :
| Scoring by quarter: 26–25, 21–25, 32–29, 32–38 |||
| Pts: David Thompson 32 Rebs: Dan Issel 13 Asts: Chuck Williams 5 | Pts: Julius Erving 31 Rebs: Tim Bassett 12 Asts: Julius Erving 4 |
| New York leads series, 2–1 |||
* Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Uniondale, New York Attendance: 12,243
* May 8
* Box score
Denver Nuggets 112, New York Nets 121 :
| Scoring by quarter: 34–29, 23–32, 25–28, 30–32 |||
| Pts: Dan Issel 26 Rebs: Dan Issel 15 Asts: David Thompson 5 | Pts: Julius Erving 34 Rebs: Julius Erving 15 Asts: Julius Erving 6 |
| New York leads series, 3–1 |||
* Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Uniondale, New York Attendance: 15,934
* May 11
* Box score
New York Nets 110, Denver Nuggets 118 :
| Scoring by quarter: 31–27, 22–20, 20–42, 37–29 |||
| Pts: Julius Erving 37 Rebs: Julius Erving 15 Asts: Julius Erving 5 | Pts: Ralph Simpson 21 Rebs: Dan Issel 11 Asts: Chuck Williams 5 |
| New York leads series, 3–2 |||
* McNichols Sports Arena, Denver, Colorado Attendance: 18,881
* May 13
* Box score
Denver Nuggets 106, New York Nets 112 :
| Scoring by quarter: 28–23, 30–22, 34–33, 14–34 |||
| Pts: David Thompson 42 Rebs: Dan Issel 20 Asts: Towe, Jones 5 each | Pts: Julius Erving 31 Rebs: Julius Erving 19 Asts: Julius Erving 5 |
| New York wins series, 4–2 |||
* Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Uniondale, New York Attendance: 15,934
New York trailed by 22 points late in the third quarter before mounting a run by blitzing full‐court press called "Yellow" by head coach Kevin Loughery. The Nets rallied back to win, with John Williamson's jump shot with less than three minutes remaining giving New York a 106–104 lead that they held on to win the last ABA game ever played. As of 2024, it is the last championship for the franchise. The Nets would not reach another championship final of any kind until 2002 while the Nuggets did not reach a final until 2023. With his prior championship in 1974, Kevin Loughery became the second ABA coach to win multiple championships as a coach, joining Bobby Leonard.
New York received $95,000 ($25,000 for their 2nd place finish and $70,000 for the playoffs) while Denver received $81,000. The championship trophy awarded to the Nets was the same silver trophy they won in 1974, as the new $800 silver bowl planned to be presented to the champion was stolen from league commissioner Dave DeBusschere the previous week.
Denver had three members of its team make the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame: Dan Issel (1993), David Thompson (1996),and Bobby Jones (2019), along with their head coach Larry Brown (2002), while New York saw Julius Erving inducted (1993).

## Statistical leaders

| Category | Total | Total | Total | Average | Average | Average | Average |
| Category | Player | Team | Total | Player | Team | Avg. | Games played |
| Points | Julius Erving | New York Nets | 451 | Julius Erving | New York Nets | 34.7 | 13 |
| Rebounds | George McGinnis | Indiana Pacers | 164 | Artis Gilmore | Kentucky Colonels | 15.2 | 10 |
| Assists | Louie Dampier | Kentucky Colonels | 77 | Don Buse | Indiana Pacers | 8.7 | 3 |
| Steals | Brian Taylor | New York Nets | 26 | Mike Gale | San Antonio Spurs | 3.4 | 7 |
| Blocks | Artis Gilmore | Kentucky Colonels | 36 | Artis Gilmore | Kentucky Colonels | 3.6 | 10 |