1970 ABA Playoffs#(1) Indiana Pacers vs. (3) Carolina Cougars

{{3RoundBracket-Byes | RD1= Division Semifinals

| RD2= Division Finals

| RD3= ABA Finals

| RD1-group1=Western Division

| RD1-group2=Eastern Division

| RD1-seed1=1

| RD1-team1=Denver Rockets

| RD1-score1=4

| RD1-seed2=3

| RD1-team2=Washington Caps

| RD1-score2=3

| RD1-seed3=4

| RD1-team3=Los Angeles Stars

| RD1-score3=4

| RD1-seed4=2

| RD1-team4=Dallas Chaparrals

| RD1-score4=2

| RD1-seed5=1

| RD1-team5=Indiana Pacers

| RD1-score5=4

| RD1-seed6=3

| RD1-team6=Carolina Cougars

| RD1-score6=0

| RD1-seed7=4

| RD1-team7=New York Nets

| RD1-score7=3

| RD1-seed8=2

| RD1-team8=Kentucky Colonels

| RD1-score8=4

| RD2-seed1=1

| RD2-team1=Denver Rockets

| RD2-score1=1

| RD2-seed2=4

| RD2-team2=Los Angeles Stars

| RD2-score2=4

| RD2-seed3=1

| RD2-team3=Indiana Pacers

| RD2-score3=4

| RD2-seed4=2

| RD2-team4=Kentucky Colonels

| RD2-score4=1

| RD3-seed1=W4

| RD3-team1=Los Angeles Stars

| RD3-score1=2

| RD3-seed2=E1

| RD3-team2=Indiana Pacers

| RD3-score2=4

}}

{{Basketballbox|bg=#eee |date=April 17 |place= Denver Auditorium Arena, Denver, Colorado

|team1= Washington Caps|score1= 111

|team2= Denver Rockets|score2=130

|report=[https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197004170DNR.html Box score]

|Q1= 33–25 |Q2= 32–42 |Q3= 28–32 |Q4= 18–31

|points1= Rick Barry 40 |points2=Larry Jones 33

|rebounds1=George Carter 10 |rebounds2=Spencer Haywood 15

|assist1= |assist2=

|attendance= 9,822

|series= Denver leads series, 1–0

}}

{{Basketballbox|bg= |date=April 18|place= Denver Auditorium Arena, Denver, Colorado

|team1= Washington Caps|score1= 133

|team2= Denver Rockets|score2= 143

|report=[https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197004180DNR.html Box score]

|Q1= 32–26 |Q2= 33–44 |Q3= 30–37 |Q4= 38–36

|points1= Rick Barry 36 |points2= Larry Jones 32

|rebounds1= Fatty Taylor 9|rebounds2=Spencer Haywood 17

|assist1= |assist2=

|attendance= 9,889

|series= Denver leads series, 2–0

}}

{{Basketballbox|bg=#eee |date=April 19 |place= Washington Coliseum, Washington, D.C.

|team1=Denver Rockets |score1= 120

|team2= Washington Caps|score2= 125

|report=[https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197004190WSA.html Box score]

|Q1= 24–36 |Q2= 33–25 |Q3= 28–32 |Q4= 35–32

|points1= Spencer Haywood 45 |points2= Rick Barry 45

|rebounds1=Spencer Haywood 26 |rebounds2=Ira Harge 17

|assist1= |assist2=

|attendance= 1,748

|series= Denver leads series, 2–1

}}

{{Basketballbox|bg= |date=April 22 |place= Washington Coliseum, Washington, D.C.

|team1= Denver Rockets|score1= 114

|team2=Washington Caps |score2= 131

|report=[https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197004220WSA.html Box score]

|Q1= 27–34 |Q2= 24–32 |Q3= 34–27 |Q4= 29–38

|points1= Spencer Haywood 41|points2= Barry, Barrett 30 each

|rebounds1=Spencer Haywood 21|rebounds2= Ira Harge 13

|assist1= |assist2=

|attendance= 5,497

|series= Series tied, 2–2

}}

{{Basketballbox|bg=#eee |date=April 23 |place= Denver Auditorium Arena, Denver, Colorado

|team1= Washington Caps|score1= 110

|team2= Denver Rockets|score2= 132

|report=[https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197004230DNR.html Box score]

|Q1= 28–33 |Q2= 28–34 |Q3= 22–26 |Q4= 32–39

|points1= Rick Barry 38 |points2= Spencer Haywood 38

|rebounds1= Rick Barry 17 |rebounds2= Spencer Haywood 20

|assist1= |assist2=

|attendance= 7,141

|series= Denver leads series, 3–2

}}

{{Basketballbox|bg= |date=April 25 |place= Washington Coliseum, Washington, D.C.

|team1= Denver Rockets|score1= 111

|team2= Washington Caps|score2= 116

|report=[https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197004250WSA.html Box score]

|Q1= 26–31 |Q2= 29–24 |Q3= 32–27 |Q4= 24–34

|points1= Larry Jones 30 |points2= Rick Barry 40

|rebounds1=Spencer Haywood 21 |rebounds2= Ira Harge 24

|assist1= |assist2=

|attendance= 3,186

|series= Series tied, 3–3

}}

{{Basketballbox|bg=#eee |date=April 28 |place= Denver Auditorium Arena, Denver, Colorado

|team1= Washington Caps|score1= 119

|team2=Denver Rockets|score2= 143

|report=[https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197004280DNR.html Box score]

|Q1= 31–37 |Q2= 28–30 |Q3= 27–38 |Q4= 33–38

|points1=Rick Barry 52 |points2= Spencer Haywood 42

|rebounds1=Ira Harge 19|rebounds2= Spencer Haywood 18

|assist1= |assist2=

|attendance= 9,893

|series= Denver wins series, 4–3

}}

Rick Barry set a new ABA record for points in a postseason game with 52, but the Rockets dominated the Caps with a third quarter that saw their lead go from eight to nearly twenty.{{cite news|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-apr-29-1970-5031055/?utm_source=newspaperarchive&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_campaign=share_link&utm_content=newspaper_clipping/|title=Rockets Drop Caps, 143-119|work=Avalanche Journal|date=April 29, 1970|access-date=April 13, 2025|agency=Associated Press}}

{{Basketballbox|bg=#eee |date=April 17 |place= Moody Coliseum, University Park, Texas

|team1= Los Angeles Stars|score1= 115

|team2= Dallas Chaparrals|score2=103

|report=[https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197004170DLC.html Box score]

|Q1= 27–19 |Q2= 29–25 |Q3= 30–31 |Q4= 29–28

|points1=Bob Warren 21 |points2= Glen Combs 33

|rebounds1=Craig Raymond 18 |rebounds2= Manny Leaks 21

|assist1=Bob Warren 6 |assist2= Maurice McHartley 5

|attendance= 4,513

|series= Los Angeles leads series, 1–0

}}

{{Basketballbox|bg= |date= April 18|place= Moody Coliseum, University Park, Texas

|team1= Los Angeles Stars|score1= 121

|team2= Dallas Chaparrals|score2=129

|report=[https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197004180DLC.html Box score]

|Q1= 28–38 |Q2= 30–32 |Q3= 29–25 |Q4= 34–34

|points1=Mack Calvin 29 |points2= Glen Combs 24

|rebounds1=Trooper Washington 13 |rebounds2= Cincy Powell 14

|assist1=Mack Calvin 6 |assist2=Cincy Powell 7

|attendance= 4,764

|series= Series tied, 1–1

}}

{{Basketballbox|bg=#eee |date=April 20 |place=Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, California

|team1= Dallas Chaparrals|score1=116

|team2= Los Angeles Stars|score2=104

|report=[https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197004200LAS.html Box score]

|Q1= 21–28 |Q2= 32–20 |Q3= 37–23 |Q4= 26–33

|points1=Ron Boone 22 |points2= Mack Calvin 28

|rebounds1=Cincy Powell 18 |rebounds2= Stone, Raymond 12 each

|assist1= Glen Combs 7|assist2= Mack Calvin 7

|attendance= 971

|series= Dallas leads series, 2–1

}}

{{Basketballbox|bg= |date=April 22|place= Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, California

|team1=Dallas Chaparrals |score1=138

|team2=Los Angeles Stars|score2= 144

|report=[https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197004220LAS.html Box score]

|Q1= 23–32 |Q2= 33–37 |Q3= 38–41 |Q4= 44–34

|points1= John Beasley 28 |points2= Mack Calvin 44

|rebounds1=Cincy Powell 13 |rebounds2= Craig Raymond 28

|assist1=Combs, McHartley 6 each |assist2= Mack Calvin 16

|attendance= 2,921

|series= Series tied, 2–2

}}

{{Basketballbox|bg=#eee |date=April 24 |place=Moody Coliseum, University Park, Texas

|team1= Los Angeles Stars|score1= 146

|team2= Dallas Chaparrals|score2=139

|report=[https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197004240DLC.html Box score]

|Q1= 33–37 |Q2= 27–33 |Q3= 39–21 |Q4= 47–48

|points1= Mack Calvin 38 |points2= Glen Combs 32

|rebounds1= Craig Raymond 18|rebounds2= Cincy Powell 15

|assist1=Mack Calvin 11 |assist2= Charlie Beasley 8

|attendance= 5,128

|series= Los Angeles leads series, 3–2

}}

{{Basketballbox|bg= |date=April 26 |place= Long Beach Arena, Long Beach, California

|team1= Dallas Chaparrals|score1= 123

|team2= Los Angeles Stars|score2=124

|report=[https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197004260LAS.html Box score]

|Q1= 33–30 |Q2= 32–33 |Q3= 34–36 |Q4= 24–25

|points1=Manny Leaks 32 |points2= Mack Calvin 27

|rebounds1=Manny Leaks 20 |rebounds2= Craig Raymond 19

|assist1=Combs, Boone 6 each |assist2= Mack Calvin 7

|attendance=2,083

|series= Los Angeles wins series, 4–2

}}

{{basketballbox

| bg = #eee | date = April 18 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197004180INA.html Boxscore]

| team1 = Carolina Cougars| score1 = 105

| team2 = Indiana Pacers | score2 = 123

|Q1= 22–27 |Q2= 24–36 |Q3= 27–31 |Q4= 32–29

| points1 = Bob Verga 19 | rebounds1 = Randy Mahaffey 9 | assist1 = Doug Moe 6

| points2 = Freddie Lewis 29 | rebounds2 = Mel Daniels 17 | assist2 = Roger Brown 7

| place = Indiana State Fairgrounds Coliseum, Indianapolis, Indiana | attendance = 6,123

| series = Indiana leads series, 1–0

}}

{{basketballbox

| bg = | date = April 19 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197004190INA.html Boxscore]

| team1 = Carolina Cougars | score1 = 98

| team2 = Indiana Pacers | score2 = 103

|Q1= 14–20 |Q2= 26–31 |Q3= 26–27 |Q4= 32–25

| points1 = Bob Verga 35 | rebounds1 = Hank Whitney 11| assist1 = Calvin Fowler 4

| points2 = Freddie Lewis 26 | rebounds2 = Mel Daniels 21 | assist2 = Freddie Lewis 6

| place = Indiana State Fairgrounds Coliseum, Indianapolis, Indiana | attendance = 6,341

| series = Indiana leads series, 2–0

}}

{{basketballbox

| bg = #eee | date = April 22 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197004220CAR.html Boxscore]

| team1 = Indiana Pacers | score1 = 115

| team2 = Carolina Cougars | score2 =106

|Q1= 19–26 |Q2= 34–27 |Q3= 24–29 |Q4= 38–24

| points1 = John Barnhill 25 | rebounds1 = Mel Daniels 16| assist1 = Roger Brown 6

| points2 = Bob Verga 24 | rebounds2 = George Peeples 22 | assist2 = Doug Moe 8

| place = Charlotte Coliseum, Charlotte, North Carolina | attendance = 3,381

| series = Indiana leads series, 3–0

}}

{{basketballbox

| bg =| date = April 24 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197004240CAR.html Boxscore]

| team1 = Indiana Pacers | score1 = 110

| team2 = Carolina Cougars | score2 = 106

|Q1= 30–28 |Q2= 26–29 |Q3= 30–29 |Q4= 24–20

| points1 = Freddie Lewis 31| rebounds1 = Mel Daniels 15| assist1 = Freddie Lewis 6

| points2 = Bob Verga 30 | rebounds2 = George Peeples 18 | assist2 = Doug Moe 8

| place = Dorton Arena, Raleigh, North Carolina | attendance = 5,211

| series = Indiana wins series, 4–0

}}

{{Basketballbox|bg=#eee |date=April 17 |place= Louisville Convention Center, Louisville, Kentucky

|team1= New York Nets|score1= 122

|team2=Kentucky Colonels |score2= 118

|report=[https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197004170KEN.html Box score]

|Q1= 22–29 |Q2= 25–19 |Q3= 36–29 |Q4= 26–32 |OT= 13–9

|points1= Levern Tart 46 |points2= Louie Dampier 25

|rebounds1=Simon, Dove 13 each |rebounds2= Gene Moore 13

|assist1= |assist2=

|attendance= 2,105

|series= New York leads series, 1–0

}}

{{Basketballbox|bg= |date=April 18 |place= Louisville Convention Center, Louisville, Kentucky

|team1= New York Nets|score1= 111

|team2= Kentucky Colonels|score2= 113

|report=[https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197004180KEN.html Box score]

|Q1= 25–32 |Q2= 32–28 |Q3= 21–28 |Q4= 33–25

|points1= Levern Tart 31 |points2= Jim Ligon 23

|rebounds1=Sonny Dove 10 |rebounds2= Jim Ligon 17

|assist1= |assist2=

|attendance= 3,178

|series=Series tied, 1–1

}}

{{Basketballbox|bg=#eee |date=April 19 |place= Island Garden, West Hempstead, New York

|team1= Kentucky Colonels|score1= 99

|team2= New York Nets|score2= 107

|report=[https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197004190NYA.html Box score]

|Q1= 18–31 |Q2= 24–29 |Q3= 25–23 |Q4= 32–24

|points1= Louie Dampier 19 |points2= Sonny Dove 25

|rebounds1=Jim Ligon 9 |rebounds2=Dove, Simon, Johnson 11 each

|assist1= |assist2=

|attendance= 2,106

|series= New York leads series, 2–1

}}

{{Basketballbox|bg= |date=April 22 |place= Island Garden, West Hempstead, New York

|team1= Kentucky Colonels|score1= 128

|team2=New York Nets |score2= 101

|report=[https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197004220NYA.html Box score]

|Q1= 34–21 |Q2= 23–19 |Q3= 34–27 |Q4= 37–34

|points1= Darel Carrier 29 |points2=Levern Tart 21

|rebounds1= Gene Moore 15|rebounds2= Johnson, Dove 9 each

|assist1= |assist2=

|attendance= 4,721

|series= Series tied, 2–2

}}

{{Basketballbox|bg=#eee |date=April 26 |place= Louisville Convention Center, Louisville, Kentucky

|team1= New York Nets|score1= 127

|team2= Kentucky Colonels|score2= 112

|report=[https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197004260KEN.html Box score]

|Q1= 26–21 |Q2= 28–28 |Q3= 36–27 |Q4= 37–36

|points1= Bill Melchionni 39 |points2=Gene Moore 28

|rebounds1=Les Hunter 12|rebounds2= Gene Moore 14

|assist1= |assist2=

|attendance= 2,045

|series=New York leads series, 3–2

}}

{{Basketballbox|bg= |date=April 28 |place= Island Garden, West Hempstead, New York

|team1= Kentucky Colonels|score1= 116

|team2= New York Nets|score2= 113

|report=[https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197004280NYA.html Box score]

|Q1= 30–23 |Q2= 27–30 |Q3= 29–23 |Q4= 30–37

|points1= Louie Dampier 26 |points2= Les Hunter 28

|rebounds1=Jim Ligon 13 |rebounds2= Ed Johnson 12

|assist1= |assist2=

|attendance= 5,039

|series= Series tied, 3–3

}}

{{Basketballbox|bg=#eee |date=April 29 |place= Louisville Convention Center, Louisville, Kentucky

|team1= New York Nets|score1= 101

|team2= Kentucky Colonels|score2= 112

|report=[https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197004290KEN.html Box score]

|Q1= 31–25 |Q2= 17–21 |Q3= 24–34 |Q4= 29–32

|points1= Sonny Dove 24 |points2= Louie Dampier 22

|rebounds1=Sonny Dove 13 |rebounds2= Jim Ligon 11

|assist1= |assist2=

|attendance= 2,876

|series= Kentucky wins series, 4–3

}}

{{Basketballbox|bg=#eee |date= April 30|place= Denver Auditorium Arena, Denver, Colorado

|team1= Los Angeles Stars|score1= 113

|team2= Denver Rockets |score2=123

|report=[https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197004300DNR.html Box score]

|Q1= 30–23 |Q2= 26–30 |Q3= 22–32 |Q4= 27–20 |OT=8–18

|points1= Calvin, Stone 33 each |points2= Spencer Haywood 39

|rebounds1= Trooper Washington 20 |rebounds2= Spencer Haywood 31

|assist1= |assist2= Larry Jones 10

|attendance= 7,071

|referee=

|series= Denver leads series, 1–0

}}

{{Basketballbox|bg= |date= May 1|time= |place= Denver Auditorium Arena, Denver, Colorado

|team1= Los Angeles Stars|score1= 114

|team2= Denver Rockets |score2=105

|report=[https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197005010DNR.html Box score]

|Q1= 31–29 |Q2= 22–35 |Q3= 28–17 |Q4= 33–24

|points1= Mack Calvin 25|points2= Spencer Haywood 40

|rebounds1= Raymond, Warren 13 each |rebounds2= Haywood, Beck 18 each

|assist1= |assist2=

|attendance= 7,187

|referee=

|series= Series tied, 1–1

}}

{{Basketballbox|bg=#eee |date=May 4 |place=Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, California

|team1=Denver Rockets |score1= 113

|team2=Los Angeles Stars |score2=119

|report=[https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197005040LAS.html Box score]

|Q1= 35–32 |Q2= 26–29 |Q3= 25–27 |Q4= 27–31

|points1= Spencer Haywood 37|points2= Mack Calvin 31

|rebounds1=Spencer Haywood 22 |rebounds2= Trooper Washington 18

|assist1= Larry Jones 7 |assist2= Calvin, Washington 7 each

|attendance= 4,468

|referee=

|series= Los Angeles leads series, 2–1

}}

{{Basketballbox|bg= |date= May 5|time= |place= Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, California

|team1=Denver Rockets |score1= 110

|team2=Los Angeles Stars |score2=114

|report=[https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197005050LAS.html Box score]

|Q1= 27–31 |Q2= 30–26 |Q3= 28–36 |Q4= 25–21

|points1= Spencer Haywood 32 |points2= Mervin Jackson 25

|rebounds1= Haywood, Beck 13 each|rebounds2= Craig Raymond 17

|assist1=Jeff Congdon 12 |assist2= Mervin Jackson 8

|attendance= 3,432

|series= Los Angeles leads series, 3–1

}}

{{Basketballbox|bg=#eee |date= May 9|time= |place= Denver Auditorium Arena, Denver, Colorado

|team1= Los Angeles Stars|score1= 109

|team2= Denver Rockets|score2=107

|report=[https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197005090DNR.html Box score]

|Q1= 24–32 |Q2= 32–20 |Q3= 25–32 |Q4= 28–23

|points1= George Stone 22|points2= Spencer Haywood 37

|rebounds1= Trooper Washington 17|rebounds2= Byron Beck 17

|assist1= |assist2=

|attendance= 6,401

|series= Los Angeles wins series, 4–1

}}

{{Basketballbox|bg=#eee |date=May 1 |time= |place= Indiana State Fairgrounds Coliseum, Indianapolis, Indiana

|team1= Kentucky Colonels |score1= 114

|team2= Indiana Pacers|score2=110

|report=[https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197005010INA.html Box score]

|Q1= 21–24 |Q2= 24–17 |Q3= 30–30 |Q4= 27–31 |OT= 12–8

|points1= Jim Ligon 34|points2=Roger Brown 29

|rebounds1=Jim Ligon 24 |rebounds2=Mel Daniels 21

|assist1=Louie Dampier 6 |assist2= Brown Keller 6 each

|attendance=5,939

|referee=

|series= Kentucky leads series, 1–0

}}

{{Basketballbox|bg= |date= May 2|time= |place= Indiana State Fairgrounds Coliseum, Indianapolis, Indiana

|team1= Kentucky Colonels|score1= 110

|team2= Indiana Pacers|score2=121

|report=[https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197005020INA.html Box score]

|Q1= 23–31 |Q2= 26–20 |Q3= 28–36 |Q4= 33–34

|points1= Darel Carrier 31 |points2= Roger Brown 33

|rebounds1=Gene Moore 16 |rebounds2= Bob Netolicky 22

|assist1= Darel Carrier 5|assist2= Brown, Keller 5 each

|attendance= 7,007

|referee=

|series= Series tied 1–1

}}

{{Basketballbox|bg=#eee |date= May 3 |time= |place= Louisville Convention Center, Louisville, Kentucky

|team1= Indiana Pacers|score1=114

|team2= Kentucky Colonels|score2=110

|report=[https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197005030KEN.html Box score]

|Q1= 26–28 |Q2= 27–21 |Q3= 30–36 |Q4= 31–25

|points1= Freddie Lewis 31 |points2= Dampier, Chapman 22 each

|rebounds1=Mel Daniels 17|rebounds2= Jim Ligon 15

|assist1= Billy Keller 7|assist2= Louie Dampier 8

|attendance= 3,024

|referee=

|series= Indiana leads series, 2–1

}}

{{Basketballbox|bg= |date= May 5|time= |place= Louisville Convention Center, Louisville, Kentucky

|team1= Indiana Pacers|score1=111

|team2= Kentucky Colonels|score2=103

|report=[https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197005050KEN.html Box score]

|Q1= 21–26 |Q2= 34–21 |Q3= 29–28 |Q4= 27–28

|points1= Roger Brown 33 |points2= Gene Moore 26

|rebounds1= Netolicky, Daniels 13 each |rebounds2= Gene Moore 28

|assist1= Roger Brown 10|assist2= Gene Moore 6

|attendance= 3,476

|referee=

|series= Indiana leads series, 3–1

}}

{{Basketballbox|bg=#eee |date= May 6 |time= |place= Indiana State Fairgrounds Coliseum, Indianapolis, Indiana

|team1= Kentucky Colonels|score1= 103

|team2= Indiana Pacers|score2=117

|report=[https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197005060INA.html Box score]

|Q1= 30–26 |Q2= 21–29 |Q3= 22–25 |Q4= 30–37

|points1= Gene Moore 25 |points2= Roger Brown 28

|rebounds1= Gene Moore 14 |rebounds2=Mel Daniels 22

|assist1= Ligon, Dampier 5 each|assist2=Roger Brown 8

|attendance=5,453

|series= Indiana wins series, 4–1

}}

{{Basketballbox|bg=#eee |date=May 15 |time= |place=Indiana State Fair Coliseum, Indianapolis, Indiana

|team1=Los Angeles Stars |score1=93

|team2=Indiana Pacers |score2=109

|report=[https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197005150INA.html Box score]

|Q1=24–21 |Q2=20–28 |Q3=27–24|Q4=22–36

|points1=Bob Warren 20 |points2=Freddie Lewis 22

|rebounds1=Craig Raymond 23 |rebounds2=Bob Netolicky 14

|assist1=Mack Calvin 5 |assist2=Billy Keller 10

|attendance= 7,881

|referee=

|series=Indiana leads series, 1–0

}}

Favored to win by members of the press to win the series, the Pacers ultimately pulled away in the fourth quarter.{{cite news|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/anderson-herald-bulletin-may-16-1970-p-28/ |first=Don|last=Cronin|title=Team Play Puts Pacers Out Front In Championship Series|work=Anderson Herald Bulletin |date=May 16, 1970|access-date=April 7, 2025}}

{{Basketballbox|date=May 17 |time=|TV=CBS |place=Indiana State Fair Coliseum, Indianapolis, Indiana

|team1=Los Angeles Stars |score1=111

|team2=Indiana Pacers |score2=114

|report=[https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197005170INA.html Box score]

|Q1=27–21 |Q2=31–31 |Q3=26–30 |Q4=27–32

|points1=George Stone 29 |points2=Bob Netolicky 32

|rebounds1=Willie Wise 11 |rebounds2=Mel Daniels 27

|assist1=Trooper Washington 5 |assist2=Billy Keller 8

|attendance=9,014

|referee=

|series=Indiana leads series, 2–0

}}

The game was broadcast on CBS, although it was blacked out in Indianapolis.{{cite news|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/fairbanks-daily-news-miner-may-15-1970-p-14/|title=Two sports owner views enterprises|work=Fairbanks Daily News-Miner|agency=Associated Press |date=May 15, 1970|access-date=April 7, 2025}} The Stars led 66-56 early in the third quarter before Bob Netolicky came off the bench and managed to hit on ten straight shots as the Pacers eventually tied the game at 94 with 8:31 to go. The teams traded leads eight times before Roger Brown hit the go-ahead shot to give Indiana a 111-108 lead. The Stars got the deficit to one on a goaltending call with 34 seconds to go and then got the ball back on a missed shot with less than 20 seconds to go and called timeout. They tried a shot to go for the win but missed while Netolicky got the rebound and was then fouled by Willie Wise (his fifth) as Netolicky made the free throws to end the scoring.{{cite news|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/press-telegram-may-18-1970-p-23/|title=Down by 11, Pacers Rally to Subdue Stars, 114-111|work=Long Beach Press-Telegram|agency=Associated Press |date=May 18, 1970|access-date=April 7, 2025}}{{cite news|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/delta-democrat-times-may-18-1970-p-12/|title=Indiana Pacers down Stars again|work=Delta Democrat-Times|agency=UPI |date=May 18, 1970|access-date=April 7, 2025}}

{{Basketballbox|bg=#eee |date=May 18 |time= |place=Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, California

|team1=Indiana Pacers |score1= 106

|team2=Los Angeles Stars |score2=109

|report=[https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197005180LAS.html Box score]

|Q1=38–17 |Q2=22–30 |Q3=28–31 |Q4=18–31

|points1=Freddie Lewis 24 |points2=George Stone 34

|rebounds1=Mel Daniels 20 |rebounds2=Craig Raymond 18

|assist1=Roger Brown 6 |assist2=Merv Jackson 8

|attendance= 5,780

|referee=

|series=Indiana leads series, 2–1

}}

Behind the largest crowd of the season for the Stars (5,780), the team trailed by 21 at the end of the first quarter and 10 at the start of the fourth quarter but rode the shooting of George Stone and Trooper Washington to win the game. Stone scored 27 of his 34 points in the second half while Washington defended Daniels in the second half that saw the Stars go on a 25-2 run to start the fourth quarter. Stone scored the go-ahead shot with 7:33 remaining as the Stars held on and had Indiana not make a field goal until 1:59 remained in the game.{{cite news|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/greensburg-daily-news-may-19-1970-p-3/|title=L.A. Stars Rally To Upend Pacers|work=Greensburg Daily News|agency=UPI |date=May 19, 1970|access-date=April 7, 2025}}

{{Basketballbox||date=May 19 |time= |place=Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, California

|team1=Indiana Pacers |score1=142

|team2=Los Angeles Stars |score2=120

|report=[https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197005190LAS.html Box score]

|Q1=35–25 |Q2=28–37 |Q3=45–32 |Q4=34–26

|points1=Roger Brown 53 |points2=Andrew Anderson 20

|rebounds1=Roger Brown 13|rebounds2=George Stone 14

|assist1=Brown, Thacker 6 each|assist2=Trooper Washington 8

|attendance= 7,027

|referee=

|series=Indiana leads series, 3–1

}}

Roger Brown scored 53 points to set a then-ABA playoff record for points in one game (Rick Barry previously held the mark with 52 points in the First Round matchup), with 33 of them coming in the second half. He went 15-of-21 on field goals with three made three-pointers. The Pacers, going with Leonard's strategy to go to Brown on one-on-one situations, went from having an 85-83 lead with 4:50 to go in the third quarter to being up 108-94 by the end of the third quarter and the Pacers held on from there.{{cite news|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/anderson-herald-may-21-1970-p-18/|title=Brown Leads Pacers Near Title|work=Anderson Herald|agency=UPI |date=May 21, 1970|access-date=April 7, 2025}}{{cite news|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/oxnard-press-courier-may-20-1970-p-64/|title=Brown Buckets 53, Stars Dwindle by 22|work=Oxnard Press Courier|agency=AP |date=May 21, 1970|access-date=April 7, 2025}} Brown's 53 points in a playoff game is still a franchise record.

{{Basketballbox|bg=#eee |date=May 23 |TV=CBS|time= |place=Indiana State Fair Coliseum, Indianapolis, Indiana

|team1=Los Angeles Stars|score1=117

|team2=Indiana Pacers |score2=113

|report=[https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197005230INA.html Box score]

|Q1=27–27|Q2=22–30 |Q3=29–27 |Q4=29–23|OT=10–6

|points1=Mack Calvin 33 |points2=Roger Brown 39

|rebounds1=George Stone 15 |rebounds2=Bob Netolicky 18

|assist1=Mack Calvin 7 |assist2=Roger Brown 8

|attendance= 10,548

|referee=

|series=Indiana leads series, 3–2

}}

Facing elimination on a nationally televised game (which was once again blacked out in Indianapolis), the Stars delayed their elimination with an overtime victory. The Pacers led 86-78 with eleven minutes to go, but the Stars roared back to tie the game multiple times before grabbing the lead with five minutes to go, having gone on a 21-9 run in nearly six minutes. Indiana responded with five straight points to get the lead back as the teams went back and forth. John Barnhill had a chance to increase the lead when it was 105-104 for Indiana but missed them both (going 1-of-6 on the day). Bob Netolicky gave the Pacers a 107-105 lead with free throws and 34 seconds left, but Merv Jackson tied the game on a 20-foot shot with 16 seconds to tie the game again. With the game tied, Roger Brown tried to end the game with a 10-foot jumper with time expiring but the ball rolled around the rim and fell out, forcing overtime. The Pacers led 110-109 with 4:32 to go, but the Stars took control from there, with Mack Calvin giving the Stars the lead for good with 2:46 to go. The Pacers had one more chance when down 115-114 and Brown on the free-throw line to shoot his second free throw, which he intentionally missed to try and rebound it, but George Stone recovered it while Calvin sank free throws to end the scoring. Calvin scored 33 points to lead the Stars in scoring.{{cite news|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/anderson-sunday-herald-may-24-1970-p-25/|first=Dave|last=Soverly|title=Stars Edge Pacers, Series Moves To L.A. Tonight|work=Anderson Sunday Herald|date=May 24, 1970|access-date=April 7, 2025}}{{cite news|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/bakersfield-californian-may-24-1970-p-22/|title=Stars Rally, Stay Alive in Playoff|work=Bakersfield Californian|date=May 24, 1970|agency=Associated Press|access-date=April 7, 2025}}

{{Basketballbox|date=May 25 |time= |place=Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, California

|team1=Indiana Pacers |score1=111

|team2=Los Angeles Stars |score2=107

|report=[https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197005250LAS.html Box score]

|Q1=34–27 |Q2=20–26 |Q3=24–27 |Q4=33–27

|points1=Roger Brown 45 |points2=George Stone 28

|rebounds1=Mel Daniels 27|rebounds2=Trooper Washington 15

|assist1=Tom Thacker 7|assist2=Mack Calvin 9

|attendance= 8,233

|referee=

|series=Indiana wins series, 4–2

}}

The Pacers elected to go with a seven-man roster for Game 6 (with Roger Brown and Freddie Lewis both playing 48 minutes each) and used it to battle tough with the Stars, who lost center Craig Raymond to a severely sprained right ankle early in the second half that head coach Bill Sharman played a key difference, particularly on boards. The Stars got the deficit down to 106-105 before Freddie Lewis hit a 14-foot shot with 18 seconds left to give them a three-point lead. The Pacers then closed out the scoring with free throws as Indiana clinched their first ever professional sports championship.{{cite news|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/lompoc-record-may-26-1970-p-8/|title=Pacers eye Knicks after ABA win|work=Lompoc Record|agency=UPI|date=May 26, 1970|access-date=April 7, 2025}}{{cite news|url=https://cbs4indy.com/sports/remembering-the-pacers-first-aba-title-on-the-50th-anniversary/ |first=Phil|last=Nardiello|title=Remembering the Pacers first ABA title on the 50th anniversary|work=CBS4 Indy|date=May 25, 2020|access-date=April 7, 2025}}

In what became a general tradition, offers by the ABA champion to the NBA champion were made and rejected. In the afternoon hours of May 27, 1970, the Pacers arrived back in Indianapolis to be greeted by a thousand fans at the airport.{{cite news|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/linton-daily-citizen-may-27-1970-p-4/|title=Indianapolis Greets Victorious Pacers|work=Linton Daily Citizen|agency=UPI|date=May 27, 1970|access-date=April 7, 2025}} The team then received a motorcade as Indianapolis held a downtown ceremony that saw nearly 5,000 people celebrate on Monument Circle that saw speeches from the team and state Governor Edgar Whitcomb, who proclaimed the team as "the world champions of basketball".{{cite news|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/tipton-daily-tribune-may-28-1970-p-1/|title=Governor Calls Pacers The "World Champions"|work=Tipton Daily Tribune|agency=UPI|date=May 28, 1970|access-date=April 7, 2025}}

After the series ended, Bill Daniels, who bought the Stars mid-season and aimed to relocate the team, finally made his decision. It was reported during the series that he would not move the team to Albuquerque, New Mexico, with reports stating that the two finalists were between Anaheim, California (one of the myriad of Southern California arenas they currently used as a home court) and Salt Lake City, Utah.{{cite news|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/ontario-daily-report-may-24-1970-p-124/|title=Stars Still Alive in ABA Playoffs; Albuquerque Eliminated|work=Ontario Daily Report|agency=UPI|date=May 24, 1970|access-date=April 7, 2025}} On June 11, less than a month after Game 6, the Stars elected to move to Salt Lake City, Utah.{{cite news|url=https://www.ksl.com/article/40169012/here-come-the-stars-the-making-of-utahs-1st-pro-sports-championship |first=Sean|last=Walker|title=Here Come the Stars: the making of Utah's 1st pro sports championship|work=KSL.com|date=June 11, 2016|access-date=April 7, 2025}} 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.

{{Portal|Sports}}

{{Col-begin}}

{{Col-3}}

Points

1. Spencer Haywood - 440
2. Roger Brown - 428
3. George Stone - 402
4. Mack Calvin - 392
5. Larry Jones - 319

Rebounds

1. Mel Daniels - 265
2. Craig Raymond - 254
3. Spencer Haywood - 237
4. Bob Netolicky - 194
5. Trooper Washington - 188

{{Col-3}}

Assists

1. Mack Calvin - 101
2. Roger Brown - 84
3. Louie Dampier - 81
4. Larry Jones - 76
5. Jeff Congdon - 68
6. Billy Keller - 68
7. Larry Brown - 68

Minutes

1. George Stone - 724
2. Roger Brown - 693
3. Craig Raymond - 664
4. Bob Netolicky - 603
5. Mack Calvin - 593

{{Col-end}}

{{Clear}}

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.remembertheaba.com/PlayoffPages/1970Playoffs.html RememberTheABA.com page on 1970 ABA playoffs]
• [https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/ABA_1970.html Basketball-Reference.com's 1970 ABA Playoffs page]

{{ABA seasons}}

{{Indiana Pacers 1969–70 ABA Champions}}

Playoffs

Category:American Basketball Association playoffs