ABA vs. NBA Exhibition Game Results (original) (raw)
In the summer of 1971, a merger between the NBA and ABA appeared imminent. Basketball Weekly reported that: "The American basketball public is clamoring for a merger. So are the NBA and ABA owners, the two commissioners and every college coach. The war is over. The Armistice will be signed soon."
In this short-lived congenial atmosphere, the two leagues agreed to play pre-season interleague exhibition games for the first time. Even though the merger talks fell apart before the 1971-72 season, the ABA vs. NBA exhibition games stayed alive. In the very first NBA vs. ABA game on September 21, 1971 (photo above left), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (#33) and the NBA Milwaukee Bucks barely squeaked past John Beasley (#44) and the ABA Dallas Chaparrals, 106-103.
However, in the later years of the rivalry, the tide began to turn. Buoyed by younger, better talent and (in many cases) the home court advantage, ABA teams began winning most of the games. Over the last three seasons of the rivalry, the ABA steadily pulled ahead: 15-10 (in 1973), 16-7 (in 1974), and 31-17 (in 1975). The ABA won the overall interleague rivalry, 79 games to 76.
ABA vs. NBA exhibition games were always intense, due to the bad blood between the leagues. Ultra-competitive superstars like Rick Barry (Nets and Warriors), Dave Cowens (Celtics), and Charlie Scott (Squires, Suns and Celtics) were thrown out of interleague games with multiple technical fouls (see details below). Coaches like Larry Brown (Cougars and Nuggets) and Tommy Heinsohn (Celtics) often ended up listening to interleague games in the locker room, after being ejected.
Occasionally, the interleague games highlighted some bizarre situations. In the fall of 1972, budding ABA superstar Julius "Dr. J" Erving decided to switch leagues. He left his ABA team, the Virginia Squires, and reported to the training camp of an NBA team, the Atlanta Hawks. The Hawks actually used Erving in two exhibition games against ABA opponents: the Kentucky Colonels and the Carolina Cougars (see details below). After those two games, the courts ruled that Erving had to honor his prior contract with the Squires, and Erving returned to the ABA.
In most ABA vs. NBA games, the rules were as follows:
The ABA won the overall rivalry 79 games to 76. Only two NBA teams refused to schedule exhibition games vs. ABA teams: the Los Angeles Lakers and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
1971-72 ABA vs. NBA Contests | 1972-73 ABA vs. NBA Contests
1973-74 ABA vs. NBA Contests | 1974-75 ABA vs. NBA Contests
1975-76 ABA vs. NBA Contests
| 1971-72 ABA vs. NBA Contests (ABA Wins in White) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Date | Game | Score |
| September 21, 1971 | Milwaukee Bucks (NBA) vs. Dallas Chaparrals (ABA) at Dallas, TX First ever ABA vs. NBA game, Abdul-Jabbar 32 points (12 in 3rd quarter); McLemore (Bucks) 15 ft. jumper with 11 seconds left in game | BUCKS 106 Chaps 103 |
| September 22, 1971 | Baltimore Bullets (NBA) vs. Kentucky Colonels (ABA) at Louisville, KY 13,821 in attendance at Freedom Hall; Gilmore 16 pts & 16 rebounds, Issel 24 pts; Monroe DNP | COLONELS 111 Bullets 85 |
| September 23, 1971 | Baltimore Bullets (NBA) vs. Floridians (ABA) at Miami, FL 4,487 in attendance at Miami Beach Convention Hall; Calvin 33 pts; Loughery 23 pts | FLORIDIANS 96 Bullets 88 |
| September 25, 1971 | Baltimore Bullets (NBA) vs. Carolina Cougars (ABA) at Winston-Salem, NC McDaniels 18 pts; Littles 18 pts | COUGARS 108 Bullets 98 |
| September 27, 1971 | Detroit Pistons (NBA) vs. Denver Rockets (ABA) at Denver, CO J. Walker (Pistons) 25 pts; Simpson 21 pts | PISTONS 123 Rockets 119 |
| September 28, 1971 | Indiana Pacers (ABA) vs. Seattle Supersonics (NBA) at Seattle, WA Only ABA/NBA game booked in an NBA arena in 1971; B. Rule (Sonics) 27 pts | SONICS 117 Pacers 93 |
| New York Knicks (NBA) vs. Utah Stars (ABA) at Salt Lake City, UT Attendance at Salt Palace 12,201; Frazier 19 pts | KNICKS 96 Stars 89 | |
| September 30, 1971 | New York Knicks (NBA) vs. Indiana Pacers (ABA) at Indianapolis, IN Attendance 9,457; Reed 22 pts; Sidle 17 pts; Mount 16 pts; Frazier 15 pts | KNICKS 98 Pacers 96 |
| October 1, 1971 | Detroit Pistons (NBA) vs. Virginia Squires (ABA) at Richmond, VA J. Walker (Pistons) 36 pts; Bing 29 pts; Erving 20 pts; Lanier 20 pts; Eakins 19 pts | PISTONS 128 Squires 123 |
| October 2, 1971 | Pittsburgh Condors (ABA) vs. Chicago Bulls (NBA) at Sarasota, FL G. Thompson (Condors) 43 pts; Love (Bulls) 23 pts | CONDORS 123 Bulls 121 |
| October 3, 1971 | Boston Celtics (NBA) vs. New York Nets (ABA) at West Hempstead, NY Barry 24 pts; J. White 21 pts; Havlicek 18 pts but misses two shots in final seconds | NETS 116 Celtics 115 |
| Baltimore Bullets (NBA) vs. Virginia Squires (ABA) at Hampton, VA Erving 30 pts; C. Scott 27 pts; Loughery 18 pts | SQUIRES 112 Bullets 107 | |
| October 5, 1971 | Milwaukee Bucks (NBA) vs. Utah Stars (ABA) at Salt Lake City, UT Attendance 12,654 for matchup of previous season's ABA & NBA Champions -- dubbed the "Super Bowl of Basketball"; Bucks ahead only 107-106 with 5 minutes left in game; Abdul-Jabbar 36 pts; Wise 33 pts; Beaty 29 pts; O. Robertson 24 pts | BUCKS 122 Stars 114 |
| Boston Celtics (NBA) vs. Carolina Cougars (ABA) at Charlotte, NC Cowens 27 pts & 19 rebounds; J. White 20 pts; Havlicek 19 pts; McDaniels 25 pts | CELTICS 107 Cougars 100 | |
| October 6, 1971 | Baltimore Bullets (NBA) vs. Indiana Pacers (ABA) at Indianapolis, IN | BULLETS 126 Pacers 114 |
| Boston Celtics (NBA) vs. Memphis Pros (ABA) at Memphis, TN | CELTICS 115 Pros 94 | |
| October 7, 1971 | Pittsburgh Condors (ABA) vs. Baltimore Bullets (NBA) at Johnson City, TN | Canceled |
| October 8, 1971 | Milwaukee Bucks (NBA) vs. Kentucky Colonels (ABA) at Louisville, KY Over 18,000 in attendance at Freedom Hall; Abdul-Jabbar 30 pts, 20 rebounds & 3 blocked shots; Dandridge 26 pts; Issel 34 pts; Gilmore 18 pts, 16 rebounds & 5 blocked shots | BUCKS 99 Colonels 93 |
| October 9, 1971 | Seattle Supersonics (NBA) vs. Indiana Pacers (ABA) at Indianapolis, IN Pacers' first win in four games against NBA teams; Netolicky 24 pts; Haywood 19 pts | PACERS 93 Sonics 88 |
| Chicago Bulls (NBA) vs. Dallas Chaparrals (ABA) at Dallas, TX S. Jones 30 pts; Freeman 29 pts; Love 24 pts; C. Walker 19 pts | BULLS 124 Chaps 113 | |
| New York Knicks (NBA) vs. Kentucky Colonels (ABA) at Louisville, KY 12,238 in attendance at Freedom Hall; Gilmore 24 pts; Issel 19 pts; Frazier 21 pts; Reed 11 pts | KNICKS 112 Colonels 100 | |
| Baltimore Bullets (NBA) vs. New York Nets (ABA) at New York, NY (Commack Arena) Game postponed due to water seeping onto floor from ice melting below court | Postponed to October 10, 1971 | |
| October 10, 1971 | Milwaukee Bucks (NBA) vs. Pittsburgh Condors (ABA) at Pittsburgh, PA Abdul-Jabbar sits out due to eye injury; O. Robertson 27 pts; Dandridge 24 pts; Brisker 24 pts | BUCKS 129 Condors 115 |
| Baltimore Bullets (NBA) vs. New York Nets (ABA) at West Hempstead, NY Barry 40 pts; Monroe 26 pts | NETS 121 Bullets 107 |
| 1972-73 ABA vs. NBA Contests (ABA Wins in White) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Date | Game | Score |
| September 21, 1972 | Utah Stars (ABA) vs. Chicago Bulls (NBA) at Honolulu, HI Wise 22 pts; McIntosh (Bulls) 16 pts | BULLS 90 Stars 86 |
| September 22, 1972 | Virginia Squires (ABA) vs. Buffalo Braves (NBA) at Buffalo, NY Frankin 18 pts; Twardzik 13 pts; Warner (Braves) 16 pts | BRAVES 85 Squires 77 |
| September 23, 1972 | Atlanta Hawks (NBA) vs. Kentucky Colonels (ABA) at Frankfort, KY Julius Erving plays for Hawks (42 minutes, 28 pts & 18 rebounds), NBA responds by fining Atlanta $25,000 because the Milwaukee Bucks own Erving's NBA rights | HAWKS 112 Colonels 99 |
| Utah Stars (ABA) vs. Portland Trailblazers (NBA) at Honolulu, HI Petrie 30 pts; Wise 27 pts; Wicks 26 pts; Beaty 23 pts | BLAZERS 106 Stars 102 | |
| September 24, 1972 | Utah Stars (ABA) vs. Seattle Supersonics (NBA) at Honolulu, HI | STARS 115 Sonics 111 |
| New York Knicks (NBA) vs. Carolina Cougars (ABA) at Durham, NC Calvin 30 pts; Cunningham 24 pts; Frazier 15 pts | COUGARS 105 Knicks 89 | |
| September 26, 1972 | Kansas City-Omaha Kings (NBA) vs. Virginia Squires (ABA) at Richmond, VA Archibald 32 pts; T. Van Arsdale 20 pts; Twardzik 16 pts | KINGS 120 Squires 111 |
| Baltimore Bullets (NBA) vs. Carolina Cougars (ABA) at Ft. Bragg, NC Riordan 33 pts; Chenier 22 pts; Calvin 22 pts | BULLETS 126 Cougars 111 | |
| September 27, 1972 | Kansas City-Omaha Kings (NBA) vs. Carolina Cougars (ABA) at Greenville, NC Mengelt 24 pts; Littles 17 pts; Calvin 17 pts | COUGARS 118 Kings 102 |
| Baltimore Bullets (NBA) vs. Indiana Pacers (ABA) at Indianapolis, IN McGinnis 23 pts | Bullets 131 Pacers 109 | |
| Boston Celtics (NBA) vs. Virginia Squires (ABA) at Norfolk, VA J. White 23 pts; Barr 20 pts; Cowens 18 pts | Celtics 127 Squires 111 | |
| Phoenix Suns (NBA) vs. Utah Stars (ABA) at Salt Lake City, UT C. Scott 20 pts; D. Van Arsdale 20 pts; Wise 17 pts | Suns 128 Stars 102 | |
| September 28, 1972 | Buffalo Braves (NBA) vs. Carolina Cougars (ABA) at High Point, NC Kauffman (Braves) 20 pts; McAdoo 19 pts; Caldwell 19 pts; Warren 19 pts | COUGARS 122 Braves 111 |
| September 29, 1972 | Houston Rockets (NBA) vs. Kentucky Colonels (ABA) at Phoenix, AZ Murphy 30 pts; Issel 26 pts; D. Smith (Rockets) 24 pts | ROCKETS 125 Colonels 108 |
| Utah Stars (ABA) vs. Phoenix Suns (NBA) at Phoenix, AZ | SUNS 129 Stars 122 | |
| September 30, 1972 | Boston Celtics (NBA) vs. New York Nets (ABA) at Uniondale, NY Havlicek 25 pts; Paultz 20 pts; Chones 15 pts & 15 rebounds | Celtics 118 Nets 94 |
| Buffalo Braves (NBA) vs. Virginia Squires (ABA) at Hampton, VA McAdoo 22 pts; Eakins 21 pts; Franklin 19 pts | BRAVES 98 Squires 95 | |
| Houston Rockets (NBA) vs. Utah Stars (ABA) at Phoenix, AZ J. Walker (Rockets) 34 pts; Marin 21 pts; Beaty 19 pts; Boone 19 pts | ROCKETS 127 Stars 115 | |
| Kentucky Colonels (ABA) vs. Phoenix Suns (NBA) at Phoenix, AZ | COLONELS 120 Suns 118 | |
| Kansas City-Omaha Kings (NBA) vs. Indiana Pacers (ABA) at Indianapolis, IN Mengelt (Kings) 22 pts; Keller 18 pts | PACERS 116 Kings 94 | |
| Atlanta Hawks (NBA) vs. Carolina Cougars (ABA) at Raleigh, NC Julius Erving plays for Hawks (32 pts); Hudson 33 pts; Caldwell 24 pts | HAWKS 120 Cougars 106 | |
| October 1, 1972 | Milwaukee Bucks (NBA) vs. Kentucky Colonels (ABA) at Louisville, KY O. Robertson 20 pts; Abdul-Jabbar 20 pts & 10 rebounds; Gilmore 20 pts & 15 rebounds | BUCKS 131 Colonels 100 |
| October 4, 1972 | Detroit Pistons (NBA) vs. Indiana Pacers (ABA) at Fort Wayne, IN Daniels 26 pts & 24 rebounds; Lanier 31 pts; McGinnis 25 pts; Bing 21 pts | PISTONS 138 Pacers 136 (2OT) |
| Boston Celtics (NBA) vs. Carolina Cougars (ABA) at Greensboro, NC J. White 31 pts; Havlicek 19 pts; Lewis 19 pts | COUGARS 124 Celtics 104 | |
| Houston Rockets (NBA) vs. Dallas Chaparrals (ABA) at Nacogdoches, TX Marin 21 pts; Netolicky 15 pts | ROCKETS 111 Chaps 98 | |
| October 5, 1972 | Indiana Pacers (ABA) vs. Detroit Pistons (NBA) at Flint, MI Lanier 34 pts & 15 rebounds; F. Lewis 20 pts | PISTONS 106 Pacers 101 |
| New York Knicks (NBA) vs. New York Nets (ABA) at New Haven, CT Roche 26 pts; J. Lucas 25 pts; DeBusschere 15 pts | KNICKS 117 Nets 88 | |
| Milwaukee Bucks (NBA) vs. Denver Rockets (ABA) at Denver, CO 7,390 in attendance at Denver Auditorium Arena; Abdul-Jabbar 29 pts | BUCKS 130 Rockets 92 | |
| Houston Rockets (NBA) vs. Dallas Chaparrals (ABA) at Tyler, TX Tomjanovich 31 pts; S. Jones 23 pts | ROCKETS 93 Chaps 90 | |
| October 6, 1972 | Baltimore Bullets (NBA) vs. Indiana Pacers (ABA) at Louisville, KY Unseld 22 pts & 21 rebounds; McGinnis 21 pts; Hayes 17 pts | BULLETS 113 Pacers 101 |
| Phoenix Suns (NBA) vs. Kentucky Colonels (ABA) at Louisville, KY Issel 27 pts; C. Scott 20 pts | SUNS 103 Colonels 91 | |
| New York Knicks (NBA) vs. New York Nets (ABA) at Uniondale, NY DeBusschere 19 pts; Frazier 19 pts; J. Baum 19 pts; Melchionni 18 pts | KNICKS 100 Nets 91 | |
| Atlanta Hawks (NBA) vs. Carolina Cougars (ABA) at Charlotte, NC Maravich 27 pts; Bellamy 19 pts; M. Lewis 19 pts | COUGARS 115 Hawks 108 | |
| October 7, 1972 | Phoenix Suns (NBA) vs. Indiana Pacers (ABA) at Louisville, KY Daniels 28 pts & 22 rebounds; N. Walk 26 pts & 17 rebounds | SUNS 121 Pacers 98 |
| Baltimore Bullets (NBA) vs. Kentucky Colonels (ABA) at Louisville, KY Rinaldi (Bullets) 24 pts; Chenier 21 pts; Issel 20 pts; C. Virden 17 pts | BULLETS 95 Colonels 93 |
| 1973-74 ABA vs. NBA Contests (ABA Wins in White) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Date | Game | Score |
| September 18, 1973 | Philadelphia 76ers (NBA) vs. New York Nets (ABA) at Binghamton, NY | NETS 94 76ers 88 |
| September 19, 1973 | Capital Bullets (NBA) vs. Virginia Squires (ABA) at Richmond, VA Eakins 24 pts; Weatherspoon (Bullets) 24 pts; Riordan 24 pts | SQUIRES 107 Bullets 101 |
| September 20, 1973 | Phoenix Suns (NBA) vs. Virginia Squires (ABA) at Norfolk, VA C. Scott 22 pts; G. Carter 21 pts; Gervin 21 pts | SQUIRES 101 Suns 95 |
| September 21, 1973 | Chicago Bulls (NBA) vs. Indiana Pacers (ABA) at Indianapolis, IN Keller 27 pts; Van Lier 20 pts; McGinnis 19 pts | BULLS 107 Pacers 94 |
| Houston Rockets (NBA) vs. Kentucky Colonels (ABA) at Louisville, KY Gilmore 22 pts & 18 rebounds; Tomjanovich 32 pts; Issel 20 pts | COLONELS 110 Rockets 102 | |
| September 22, 1973 | Atlanta Hawks (NBA) vs. Carolina Cougars (ABA) at Greensboro, NC Maravich 29 pts; McClain 20 pts; T. Owens 17 pts | COUGARS 120 Hawks 111 |
| Kansas City-Omaha Kings (NBA) vs. Kentucky Colonels (ABA) at Louisville, KY Dampier 22 pts; Mount 21 pts; Block (Kings) 20 pts; Archibald 19 pts | COLONELS 110 Kings 99 | |
| September 25, 1973 | Phoenix Suns (NBA) vs. Carolina Cougars (ABA) at Durham (Duke University), NC Wesley (Suns) 19 pts; Chones 18 pts | SUNS 108 Cougars 91 |
| Milwaukee Bucks (NBA) vs. Indiana Pacers (ABA) at Indianapolis, IN Daniels 31 pts; Dandridge 20 pts; Abdul-Jabbar 19 pts | BUCKS 123 Pacers 102 | |
| September 26, 1973 | Indiana Pacers (ABA) vs. Detroit Pistons (NBA) at Detroit (Detroit University), MI Hillman 17 pts; Trapp (Pistons) 15 pts; Lanier 15 pts | PISTONS 122 Pacers 91 |
| September 27, 1973 | Atlanta Hawks (NBA) vs. Carolina Cougars (ABA) at Raleigh, NC Hudson 27 pts; Maravich 19 pts; T. Owens 18 pts | HAWKS 134 Cougars 109 |
| Detroit Pistons (NBA) vs. Indiana Pacers (ABA) at Fort Wayne, IN Keller 25 pts; Lanier 19 pts | PISTONS 121 Pacers 98 | |
| September 28, 1973 | New York Nets (ABA) vs. Philadelphia 76ers (NBA) at Trenton, NJ | NETS 118 76ers 100 |
| Capital Bullets (NBA) vs. Carolina Cougars (ABA) at Wilmington, NC | COUGARS 126 Bullets 108 | |
| September 29, 1973 | Capital Bullets (NBA) vs. New York Nets (ABA) at White Plains, NY Erving 42 pts; Weatherspoon (Bullets) 31 pts; Paultz 23 pts | NETS 127 Bullets 121 |
| Boston Celtics (NBA) vs. Carolina Cougars (ABA) at Greensboro, NC | COUGARS 93 Celtics 86 | |
| October 2, 1973 | Boston Celtics (NBA) vs. Indiana Pacers (ABA) at Indianapolis, IN J. White 26 pts; Havlicek 24 pts; McGinnis 21 pts; Daniels 21 pts | CELTICS 110 Pacers 100 |
| New York Knicks (NBA) vs. New York Nets (ABA) at New York, NY (Madison Square Garden) Attendance at MSG 17,226; Erving 27 pts (12 in 3rd quarter); Frazier 25 pts | NETS 97 Knicks 87 | |
| October 4, 1973 | Phoenix Suns (NBA) vs. Denver Rockets (ABA) at Salt Lake City, UT SRO crowd of 12,431 for ABA/NBA doubleheader; Bantom (Suns) 24 pts; Dick Van Arsdale (Suns) 21 pts; Willie Long (Rockets) whistled for 7 fouls but hits 2 free throws with 3 seconds remaining to break 111-111 tie | ROCKETS 113 Suns 111 |
| Boston Celtics (NBA) vs. Utah Stars (ABA) at Salt Lake City, UT Boone 22 pts; Chaney 21 pts | STARS 105 Celtics 94 | |
| October 6, 1973 | Milwaukee Bucks (NBA) vs. Carolina Cougars (ABA) at Charlotte, NC Cunningham 24 pts; McGlocklin 17 pts; Abdul-Jabbar 16 pts | COUGARS 102 Bucks 98 |
| Atlanta Hawks (NBA) vs. Virginia Squires (ABA) at Hampton, VA Gervin 28 pts; Bellamy 18 pts; G. Carter 16 pts; Maravich 15 pts | HAWKS 116 Squires 108 | |
| Houston Rockets (NBA) vs. San Antonio Spurs (ABA) at San Antonio, TX Spurs' first home game ever; Tomjanovich 29 pts; J. Chambers (Spurs) 20 pts; Swift 18 pts; Newlin 18 pts | SPURS 91 Rockets 89 | |
| October 7, 1973 | Boston Celtics (NBA) vs. New York Nets (ABA) at Uniondale, NY Havlicek 37 pts; Erving 23 pts; Paultz 20 pts | CELTICS 121 Nets 102 |
| 1974-75 ABA vs. NBA Contests (ABA Wins in White) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Date | Game | Score |
| September 27, 1974 | Detroit Pistons (NBA) vs. New York Nets (ABA) at Uniondale, NY Erving 17 pts; Kenon 17 pts; Lanier 15 pts | NETS 97 Pistons 80 |
| September 28, 1974 | New York Nets (ABA) vs. Washington Bullets (NBA) at Landover, MD Attendance 19,302 at Capital Centre; five Nets players (including Erving) wear Bullets road uniforms due to luggage mix-up; Chenier 26 pts; Erving 20 pts | NETS 101 Bullets 98 (OT) |
| Boston Celtics (NBA) vs. Denver Nuggets (ABA) at Asheville, NC Bobby Jones 23 pts & 12 rebounds in first pro game; Chaney 16 pts; Havlicek 14 pts | NUGGETS 106 Celtics 98 | |
| Milwaukee Bucks (NBA) vs. Indiana Pacers (ABA) at Indianapolis, IN Pacers' first game in Market Square Arena; ABA record crowd of 17,287 (SRO); Dandridge 46 pts; Abdul-Jabbar 26 pts; McGinnis 24 pts | PACERS 118 Bucks 115 | |
| September 29, 1974 | Boston Celtics (NBA) vs. Denver Nuggets (ABA) at Greensboro, NC Simpson 18 pts; Nelson 18 pts | NUGGETS 122 Celtics 100 |
| Kentucky Colonels (ABA) vs. Kansas City-Omaha Kings (NBA) at Lincoln, NE J. Walker (Kings) 29 pts; Issel 26 pts | KINGS 102 Colonels 91 | |
| October 1, 1974 | Atlanta Hawks (NBA) vs. Denver Nuggets (ABA) at Nashville, TN D. Jones (Hawks) 21 pts; Calvin 19 pts | NUGGETS 105 Hawks 98 |
| Washington Bullets (NBA) vs. Kentucky Colonels (ABA) at Louisville, KY Gilmore 26 pts & 16 rebounds; K. Porter (Bullets) 19 pts | COLONELS 118 Bullets 95 | |
| Philadelphia 76ers (NBA) vs. New York Nets (ABA) at Binghamton, NY Erving 21 pts; Mix 21 pts | NETS 106 76ers 98 | |
| October 2, 1974 | Philadelphia 76ers (NBA) vs. New York Nets (ABA) at Allentown, PA Erving (sprained ankle) & Cunningham (pinched nerve) do not play | 76ERS 109 Nets 89 |
| October 3, 1974 | Atlanta Hawks (NBA) vs. Indiana Pacers (ABA) at Terre Haute, IN D. Jones (Hawks) 22 pts & 23 rebounds; Hudson 20 pts; Keller 16 pts | PACERS 95 Hawks 91 |
| October 4, 1974 | Chicago Bulls (NBA) vs. New York Knicks (ABA) at Uniondale, NY Due to separate off-court contract disputes, Love, Walker & Van Lier do not play for Bulls at Nassau Coliseum; Erving 20 pts; R. Garrett (Bulls) 17 pts | NETS 96 Bulls 78 |
| October 5, 1974 | Kentucky Colonels (ABA) vs. Houston Rockets (NBA) at Pasadena, TX Murphy 32 pts; Gilmore 22 pts | ROCKETS 96 Colonels 95 |
| Seattle Supersonics (NBA) vs. San Antonio Spurs (ABA) at San Antonio, TX Gervin 40 pts; Fox (Sonics) 20 pts; Nater 29 rebounds | SPURS 112 Sonics 83 | |
| Chicago Bulls (NBA) vs. Indiana Pacers (ABA) at Evansville, IN Knight 20 pts; McGinnis 19 pts & 15 rebounds | PACERS 95 Bulls 86 | |
| October 7, 1974 | New York Nets (ABA) vs. Detroit Pistons (NBA) at Detroit, MI Lanier 23 pts & 21 rebounds; W. Norwood (Pistons) 20 pts; Kenon 19 pts | PISTONS 112 Nets 94 |
| October 8, 1974 | Detroit Pistons (NBA) vs. Kentucky Colonels (ABA) at Louisville, KY E. Money (Pistons) 22 pts; Issel 22 pts; Gilmore 18 pts & 11 rebounds | COLONELS 109 Pistons 100 |
| Kansas City-Omaha Kings (NBA) vs. Utah Stars (ABA) at Salt Lake City, UT Boone 17 pts; Wise 17 pts | STARS 82 Kings 78 | |
| October 10, 1974 | Houston Rockets (NBA) vs. Denver Nuggets (ABA) at Denver, CO Tomjanovich 35 pts & 13 rebounds; Murphy 22 pts, 7 rebounds & 1 technical foul; Simpson 24 pts | ROCKETS 130 Nuggets 117 |
| October 11, 1974 | Washington Bullets (NBA) vs. New York Nets (ABA) at Uniondale, NY Hayes 30 pts; Kenon 24 pts; Riordan 19 pts | BULLETS 110 Nets 94 |
| October 12, 1974 | Houston Rockets (NBA) vs. San Antonio Spurs (ABA) at San Antonio, TX Tomjanovich 32 pts; R. Jones 26 pts | SPURS 124 Rockets 119 |
| Chicago Bulls (NBA) vs. Kentucky Colonels (ABA) at Louisville, KY Gilmore 24 pts; B. Wilson (Bulls) 20 pts; Issel 15 pts | COLONELS 93 Bulls 75 | |
| Milwaukee Bucks (NBA) vs. Virginia Squires (ABA) at Norfolk, VA Dandridge 30 pts; Twardzik 16 pts | BUCKS 110 Squires 96 |
| 1975-76 ABA vs. NBA Contests (ABA Wins in White) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Date | Game | Score |
| October 1, 1975 | Chicago Bulls (NBA) vs. Kentucky Colonels (ABA) at Cincinnati, OH | COLONELS 95 Bulls 86 |
| Utah Stars (ABA) vs. Philadelphia 76ers (NBA) at Philadelphia, PA (The Palestra) | 76ERS 116 Stars 111 | |
| Houston Rockets (NBA) vs. Virginia Squires (ABA) at Norfolk, VA | ROCKETS 117 Squires 112 | |
| October 4, 1975 | New Orleans Jazz (NBA) vs. Denver Nuggets (ABA) at Charlotte, NC Maravich 33 pts; Thompson 19 pts | NUGGETS 94 Jazz 79 |
| Buffalo Braves (NBA) vs. Indiana Pacers (ABA) at Indianapolis, IN McAdoo 29 pts; Elmore 22 pts | PACERS 106 Braves 105 | |
| Kentucky Colonels (ABA) vs. New York Knicks (NBA) at Landover, MD (Capital Centre) Monroe 26 pts; Dampier 23 pts | KNICKS 107 Colonels 102 | |
| Atlanta Hawks (NBA) vs. San Antonio Spurs (ABA) at San Antonio, TX Silas 33 pts; Gervin 27 pts; Drew (Hawks) 25 pts; Kenon 22 pts | SPURS 115 Hawks 111 | |
| New York Nets (ABA) vs. Washington Bullets (NBA) at Landover, MD (Capital Centre) Erving 36 pts; Hayes 25 pts; Chenier 24 pts | BULLETS 109 Nets 108 | |
| Philadelphia 76ers (NBA) vs. Virginia Squires (ABA) at Hampton, VA McGinnis 25 pts; Norman (76ers) 25 pts; D. Collins 20 pts; Mack Calvin (Squires) tears knee tendon, out two months | 76ERS 130 Squires 113 | |
| October 5, 1975 | New Orleans Jazz (NBA) vs. Denver Nuggets (ABA) at Raleigh, NC Attendance 12,400; Thompson 30 pts; Bibby (Jazz) 22 pts; Maravich 18 pts; R. Kelley 14 pts | JAZZ 115 Nuggets 101 |
| Detroit Pistons (NBA) vs. Kentucky Colonels (ABA) at Cincinnati, OH Gilmore 22 pts; Lanier 17 pts; Travis Grant 17 pts & winning jumper with 4 seconds left in game | COLONELS 114 Pistons 113 | |
| Atlanta Hawks (NBA) vs. San Antonio Spurs (ABA) at San Antonio, TX Silas 35 pts; Drew (Hawks) 22 pts; Kenon 20 pts | SPURS 129 Hawks 118 | |
| October 7, 1975 | San Antonio Spurs (ABA) vs. Kansas City-Omaha Kings (NBA) at Kansas City, MO | SPURS 101 Kings 97 |
| Seattle Supersonics (NBA) vs. Utah Stars (ABA) at Salt Lake City, UT Two teams combine for 119 shots from free-throw line; Boone 23 points; Leonard Gray (Sonics) ejected for punching Steve Green (Stars) | STARS 122 Sonics 119 | |
| October 8, 1975 | Seattle Supersonics (NBA) vs. Denver Nuggets (ABA) at Denver, CO First basketball game at Denver's McNichols Arena; Haywood 41 pts; Thompson 31 pts | NUGGETS 115 Sonics 110 |
| Golden State Warriors (NBA) vs. Kentucky Colonels (ABA) at Louisville, KY Matchup of previous season's NBA & ABA Champions; Attendance 8,806; Marv Roberts 20 pts; Gilmore 14 pts & 11 rebounds; Barry 9 pts (3 for 11 from the field) & 3 pt. air ball with 31 seconds left in game | COLONELS 93 Warriors 90 | |
| New York Knicks (NBA) vs. New York Nets (ABA) at Uniondale, NY | NETS 110 Knicks 104 | |
| San Antonio Spurs (ABA) vs. Atlanta Hawks (NBA) at New Orleans, LA | SPURS 109 Hawks 107 | |
| October 9, 1975 | Kansas City-Omaha Kings (NBA) vs. Spirits of St. Louis (ABA) at Columbia, MO Barnes 24 pts & 14 rebounds; Archibald 24 pts | SPIRITS 95 Kings 90 |
| October 10, 1975 | Denver Nuggets (ABA) vs. Golden State Warriors (NBA) at Oakland, CA Issel 26 pts including basket & two free throws to break 105-105 tie in final minute; B. Jones (Nuggets) 14 pts & 15 rebounds; Wilkes 27 pts; Barry 16 pts; C. Ray (Warriors) 17 pts & 22 rebounds | NUGGETS 111 Warriors 107 |
| Milwaukee Bucks (NBA) vs. Kentucky Colonels (ABA) at Louisville, KY | COLONELS 96 Bucks 91 | |
| October 11, 1975 | Kansas City-Omaha Kings (NBA) vs. Utah Stars (ABA) at Denver, CO Wedman 30 pts; Boone 40 pts (18 in 1st quarter) | STARS 114 Kings 111 |
| Golden State Warriors (NBA) vs. Denver Nuggets (ABA) at Denver, CO Attendance 17,018 (at the time, a record crowd for a basketball game in Colorado); Wilkes 28 pts & 12 rebounds; P. Smith 27 pts; Thompson 22 pts; Barry 4 pts, 4 personal fouls, 3 technical fouls in second period (ejected from game by referee Ed Middleton) | WARRIORS 115 Nuggets 100 | |
| Milwaukee Bucks (NBA) vs. Indiana Pacers (ABA) at Indianapolis, IN Flynn 22 pts; Winters 21 pts; McGlocklin 21 pts | PACERS 92 Bucks 87 | |
| New York Nets (ABA) vs. Buffalo Braves (NBA) at Buffalo, NY Attendance 15,000; McMillian (Braves) 23 pts; B. Taylor 17 pts; Erving 16 pts; McAdoo DNP | NETS 109 Braves 83 | |
| Houston Rockets (NBA) vs. San Antonio Spurs (ABA) at San Antonio, TX Murphy 37 pts; Kenon 22 pts & 15 rebounds | ROCKETS 108 Spurs 85 | |
| Baltimore Claws (ABA) vs. Philadelphia 76ers (ABA) at Cherry Hill, NJ One of only three games the Claws played; D. Collins (76ers) 28 pts | 76ERS 103 Claws 82 | |
| October 12, 1975 | Kentucky Colonels (ABA) vs. Detroit Pistons (NBA) at Detroit, MI Porter (Pistons) 24 pts; Eberhard (Pistons) 20 pts; Averitt 21 pts | PISTONS 115 Colonels 107 (OT) |
| Chicago Bulls (NBA) vs. Virginia Squires (ABA) at Norfolk, VA T. Burden 28 pts; Wise 19 pts; Bulls later file suit against Squires, claiming that Virginia failed to pay Chicago a guaranteed $13,000 for playing the game at Scope | SQUIRES 105 Bulls 102 | |
| October 14, 1975 | Buffalo Braves (NBA) vs. Kentucky Colonels (ABA) at Louisville, KY | COLONELS 120 Braves 116 |
| Washington Bullets (NBA) vs. New York Nets (ABA) at New Haven, CT | NETS 122 Bullets 114 | |
| New Orleans Jazz (NBA) vs. San Antonio Spurs (ABA) at San Antonio, TX | JAZZ 105 Spurs 104 | |
| Chicago Bulls (NBA) vs. Utah Stars (ABA) at Salt Lake City, UT Bulls later file suit against Stars, claiming that Utah failed to pay Chicago a guaranteed $17,000 for playing the game at the Salt Palace | BULLS 122 Stars 119 (OT) | |
| October 15, 1975 | New York Knicks (NBA) vs. Indiana Pacers (ABA) at Indianapolis, IN | KNICKS 103 Pacers 98 |
| Golden State Warriors (NBA) vs. New York Nets (ABA) at Uniondale, NY Barry 49 pts; Erving 43 pts | WARRIORS 119 Nets 114 | |
| Portland Trailblazers (NBA) vs. San Diego Sails (ABA) at San Diego, CA Caldwell Jones (Sails) 27 pts & 27 rebounds; Bill Walton (Blazers) 6 pts & 11 rebounds; Petrie (Blazers) 22 pts | BLAZERS 98 Sails 85 | |
| Utah Stars (ABA) vs. Seattle Supersonics (NBA) at Seattle, WA Roche (Stars) 33 pts; Watts (Sonics) 21 pts | STARS 108 Sonics 98 | |
| October 16, 1975 | Buffalo Braves (NBA) vs. San Antonio Spurs (ABA) at San Antonio, TX Silas 22 pts; Gervin 22 pts; McAdoo 22 pts & 16 rebounds | SPURS 101 Braves 90 |
| October 17, 1975 | Boston Celtics (NBA) vs. Denver Nuggets (ABA) at Denver, CO Attendance 16,898; Thompson 33 pts; Havlicek 24 pts; Charlie Scott 4 pts, 4 personal fouls, 2 technicals fouls in second period (ejected from game by referee John Vanak) | NUGGETS 124 Celtics 114 |
| Philadelphia 76ers (NBA) vs. Kentucky Colonels (ABA) at Cincinnati, OH Gilmore 25 pts; McGinnis 25 pts; D. Collins 20 pts | COLONELS 112 76ers 110 | |
| New York Nets (ABA) vs. Buffalo Braves (NBA) at Seton Hall, NJ McAdoo 31 pts; Williamson 21 pts; DiGregorio 20 pts | NETS 117 Braves 97 | |
| Kansas City-Omaha Kings (NBA) vs. Spirits of St. Louis (ABA) at St. Louis, MO (Kiel Auditorium) | KINGS 114 Spirits 108 | |
| October 18, 1975 | New York Nets (ABA) vs. New York Knicks (NBA) at New York, NY (Madison Square Garden) Erving 33 pts & jump shot at buzzer to win game; Frazier 22 pts | NETS 103 Knicks 101 |
| Philadelphia 76ers (NBA) vs. Spirits of St. Louis (ABA) at Carbondale, IL Lucas (Spirits) 21 pts & 15 rebounds; Cunningham (76ers) 15 pts | SPIRITS 107 76ers 91 | |
| San Antonio Spurs (ABA) vs. Houston Rockets (NBA) at Edinburg, TX Silas 31 pts; Murphy 28 pts | ROCKETS 113 Spurs 109 (OT) | |
| October 19, 1975 | Philadelphia 76ers (NBA) vs. Indiana Pacers (ABA) at Indianapolis, IN McGinnis 27 pts (faces Pacers for first time as 76ers player); Knight 29 pts; Mix 24 pts; F. Carter (76ers) 22 pts; Roundfield 21 pts | 76ERS 131 Pacers 129 (2OT) |
| Washington Bullets (NBA) vs. Kentucky Colonels (ABA) at Lexington, KY Gilmore 23 pts; Chenier 18 pts | COLONELS 121 Bullets 111 | |
| October 21, 1975 | Milwaukee Bucks (NBA) vs. Utah Stars (ABA) at Salt Lake City, UT | STARS 106 Bucks 101 |