All-Time ABA vs. NBA Exhibition Game Results

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.

WHAT IF.....?

As seen below, the only NBA vs. ABA games actually played were exhibition (pre-season) games. They didn't count for anything except pride.

After the 1974-75 regular season, the ABA Champion Kentucky Colonels formally challenged the NBA Champion Golden State Warriors to a "World Series of Basketball," with the winner to take a $1 Million purse (to come from anticipated TV revenues). The NBA and the Warriors refused the challenge. Again, after the 1975-76 season, the ABA Champion New York Nets offered to play the NBA Champion Boston Celtics in a winner-take-all game, with the proceeds going to benefit the 1976 United States Olympic team. Predictably, the Celtics declined to participate.

What would have happened if these "ultimate" post-season games had been played? Writer Cort Reynolds asked this question and wrote a fascinating fictional account of a yearly NBA vs. ABA Championship Game played from 1968 through 1976: the "Basket Bowl." Check it out, it is great reading!

During the first few years of the rivalry, most of the interleague games were played in ABA arenas. The NBA simply did not want to showcase (and legitimize) the ABA in front of NBA fans. On the other hand, ABA cities were happy to host well-known NBA teams. The games attracted extra fans, made money, and painted the ABA as "major league." Results from the first few years were not highly publicized by either league. Again, the NBA did not want to promote the fact that its teams were competing against ABA teams. And the ABA was red-faced because its teams lost most of the early games.

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's red, white and blue ball was used for one half, and the NBA's traditional brown ball was used in the other half.

--The ABA's three-point shot (and 30 second shot clock) was used for one half only.

--In certain games, the ABA's no-foul out rule was in effect for the entire game.

--Generally, the league hosting the game provided its own referees.

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

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