1973 ABA Playoffs#(1) Utah Stars vs. (2) Indiana Pacers

The teams with the three best records in the ABA that year failed to win the championship. The Carolina Cougars had the league's best record at 57–27 (.679), one game ahead of the Kentucky Colonels (56–28, .667) in the Eastern Division. The Utah Stars won the Western Division with a record of 55–29 (.655), four games ahead of the Indiana Pacers, who won the league championship after posting a regular season record of 51–33 (.607).[http://www.remembertheaba.com/PlayoffPages/1973Playoffs.html Remember the ABA: 1972-73 Regular Season Standings and Playoff Results] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101129165745/http://remembertheaba.com/PlayoffPages/1973Playoffs.html |date=2010-11-29 }}

With the Pacers and Colonels meeting in the playoffs once again, the rivalry, referred to in some circles as the "I-65 Series" (referring to Interstate 65 that goes through the two states) heated up once again as they met in the ABA Finals.https://www.nba.com/pacers/day-pacers-history-indiana-wins-third-aba-championship The Pacers became the first team to win a third ABA championship. The Colonels became the first team to lose two separate ABA championship series. The series also marked the second time in three years that the Colonels lost the ABA finals 4 games to 3; the same happened at the end of the 1971 ABA Playoffs against the Utah Stars.

Two years after the 1973 finals the Colonels and Pacers would meet again at the end of the 1975 ABA Playoffs with the Colonels winning the championship series.

The Pacers' George McGinnis was the Most Valuable Player of the ABA playoffs.

{{3RoundBracket-Byes | RD1= Division Semifinals

| RD2= Division Finals

| RD3= ABA Finals

| RD1-group1=Western Division

| RD1-group2=Eastern Division

| RD1-seed1=1

| RD1-team1=Utah Stars

| RD1-score1=4

| RD1-seed2=4

| RD1-team2=San Diego Conquistadors

| RD1-score2=0

| RD1-seed3=3

| RD1-team3=Denver Rockets

| RD1-score3=1

| RD1-seed4=2

| RD1-team4=Indiana Pacers

| RD1-score4=4

| RD1-seed5=1

| RD1-team5=Carolina Cougars

| RD1-score5=4

| RD1-seed6=4

| RD1-team6=New York Nets

| RD1-score6=1

| RD1-seed7=3

| RD1-team7=Virginia Squires

| RD1-score7=1

| RD1-seed8=2

| RD1-team8=Kentucky Colonels

| RD1-score8=4

| RD2-seed1=1

| RD2-team1=Utah Stars

| RD2-score1=2

| RD2-seed2=2

| RD2-team2=Indiana Pacers

| RD2-score2=4

| RD2-seed3=1

| RD2-team3=Carolina Cougars

| RD2-score3=3

| RD2-seed4=2

| RD2-team4=Kentucky Colonels

| RD2-score4=4

| RD3-seed1=W2

| RD3-team1=Indiana Pacers

| RD3-score1=4

| RD3-seed2=E2

| RD3-team2=Kentucky Colonels

| RD3-score2=3

}}

{{Basketballbox|bg=#eee |date= April 2|place= Salt Palace, Salt Lake City, Utah

|team1= San Diego Conquistadors |score1= 93

|team2= Utah Stars |score2=107

|report=[https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197304020UTS.html Box score]

|Q1= 21–30 |Q2= 23–19 |Q3= 27–26 |Q4= 22–32

|points1= Stew Johnson 22 |points2= Ron Boone 27

|rebounds1=Red Robbins 8 |rebounds2= Gerald Govan 15

|assist1=Chuck Williams 8 |assist2= Ron Boone 8

|attendance= 7,268

|series= Utah leads series, 1–0

}}

{{Basketballbox|bg= |date= April 4 |place= Salt Palace, Salt Lake City, Utah

|team1= San Diego Conquistadors |score1=92

|team2= Utah Stars |score2=103

|report=[https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197304040UTS.html Box score]

|Q1= 23–34 |Q2= 26–19 |Q3= 26–26 |Q4= 17–24

|points1= Chuck Williams 23 |points2= Willie Wise 29

|rebounds1=Red Robbins 17 |rebounds2= Gerald Govan 14

|assist1=Taylor, Williams 5 each |assist2= Willie Wise 5

|attendance= 7,271

|series= Utah leads series, 2–0

}}

{{Basketballbox|bg=#eee |date=April 7 |place= Peterson Gym, San Diego, California

|team1= Utah Stars|score1= 97

|team2= San Diego Conquistadors|score2=96

|report=[https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197304070SDA.html Box score]

|Q1= 24–20 |Q2= 24–27 |Q3= 19–26 |Q4= 30–23

|points1= Willie Wise 24|points2= Ollie Taylor 22

|rebounds1= Zelmo Beaty 11|rebounds2= Gene Moore 15

|assist1=Willie Wise 7 |assist2= Chuck Williams 5

|attendance= 1,729

|series= Utah leads series, 3–0

}}

{{Basketballbox|bg= |date= April 8 |place= Peterson Gym, San Diego, California

|team1= Utah Stars|score1= 120

|team2= San Diego Conquistadors|score2=98

|report=[https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197304080SDA.html Box score]

|Q1= 25–30 |Q2= 32–19 |Q3= 35–19 |Q4= 28–30

|points1= Ron Boone 27 |points2= Stew Johnson 19

|rebounds1= Bob Warren 11 |rebounds2= Gene Moore 10

|assist1= Wise, Boone 7 each |assist2= Stew Johnson 4

|attendance= 1,394

|series= Utah wins series, 4–0

}}

{{Basketballbox|bg=#eee |date=March 31 |place= Indiana State Fair Coliseum, Indianapolis, Indiana

|team1=Denver Rockets |score1= 91

|team2=Indiana Pacers |score2=114

|report=[https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197303310INA.html Box score]

|Q1= 24–29 |Q2= 21–25 |Q3= 18–31 |Q4=28–29

|points1= Byron Beck 25 |points2= Roger Brown 20

|rebounds1=Byron Beck 13 |rebounds2= Darnell Hillman 9

|assist1= Ralph Simpson 5|assist2= Billy Keller 7

|attendance= 7,051

|series= Indiana leads series, 1–0

}}

{{Basketballbox|bg= |date= April 1|place= Indiana State Fair Coliseum, Indianapolis, Indiana

|team1= Denver Rockets|score1= 93

|team2= Indiana Pacers|score2=106

|report=[https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197304010INA.html Box score]

|Q1= 31–23 |Q2= 19–25 |Q3= 26–25 |Q4= 17–33

|points1= Ralph Simpson 29 |points2= Freddie Lewis 30

|rebounds1=Dave Robisch 12 |rebounds2=Mel Daniels 23

|assist1=Warren Jabali 6 |assist2= Billy Keller 4

|attendance= 7,235

|series= Indiana leads series, 2–0

}}

{{Basketballbox|bg=#eee |date=April 3 |place= Denver Auditorium Arena, Denver, Colorado

|team1=Indiana Pacers |score1= 94

|team2= Denver Rockets|score2=105

|report=[https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197304030DNR.htmlBox score]

|Q1= 19–32 |Q2= 23–23 |Q3= 31–31 |Q4= 21–19

|points1= George McGinnis 32 |points2=Dave Robisch 22

|rebounds1= Mel Daniels 13|rebounds2= Julius Keye 21

|assist1= Freddie Lewis 11|assist2= Al Smith 11

|attendance= 5,335

|series= Indiana leads series, 2–1

}}

{{Basketballbox|bg= |date=April 5 |place= Denver Auditorium Arena, Denver, Colorado

|team1= Indiana Pacers|score1= 97

|team2= Denver Rockets|score2=95

|report=[https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197304050DNR.html Box score]

|Q1= 21–32 |Q2= 24–22 |Q3= 26–23 |Q4= 26–18

|points1= Mel Daniels 25|points2= Ralph Simpson 41

|rebounds1= Mel Daniels 11|rebounds2=Dave Robisch 19

|assist1= Freddie Lewis 10|assist2=Al Smith 5

|attendance= 6,904

|series= Indiana leads series, 3–1

}}

{{Basketballbox|bg=#eee |date= April 7|place= Indiana State Fair Coliseum, Indianapolis, Indiana

|team1= Denver Rockets|score1= 107

|team2= Indiana Pacers|score2=121

|report=[https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197304070INA.html Box score]

|Q1= 26–32 |Q2= 27–38 |Q3= 24–33 |Q4= 30–28

|points1= Dave Robisch 28|points2= Donnie Freeman 30

|rebounds1=Julius Keye 18|rebounds2= Mel Daniels 23

|assist1=Al Smith 8|assist2= Billy Keller 10

|attendance= 9,816

|series= Indiana wins series, 4–1

}}

{{Basketballbox|bg=#eee |date= March 30|place= Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, North Carolina

|team1= New York Nets |score1=96

|team2= Carolina Cougars|score2= 104

|report=[https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197303300CAR.html Box score]

|Q1= 24–24 |Q2= 21–29 |Q3= 29–22 |Q4= 22–29

|points1= Billy Paultz 26 |points2= Billy Cunningham 25

|rebounds1=Billy Paultz 16 |rebounds2= Billy Cunningham 15

|assist1=Bill Melchionni 9 |assist2= Billy Cunningham 9

|attendance= 4,725

|series= Carolina leads series, 1–0

}}

{{Basketballbox|bg= |date= March 31 |place= Reynolds Coliseum, Raleigh, North Carolina

|team1= New York Nets |score1=114

|team2= Carolina Cougars|score2= 111

|report=[https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197303310CAR.html Box score]

|Q1= 30–20 |Q2= 21–29 |Q3= 19–24 |Q4= 33–30 |OT=11–8

|points1= Johnny Baum 26 |points2= Billy Cunningham 24

|rebounds1=George Carter 14 |rebounds2= Billy Cunningham 16

|assist1=Taylor, Melchionni, Roche 3 each |assist2= Mack Calvin 5

|attendance= 6,343

|series= Series tied 1–1

}}

{{Basketballbox|bg=#eee |date=April 3 |place= Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Uniondale, New York

|team1= Carolina Cougars|score1= 101

|team2= New York Nets |score2=91

|report=[https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197304030NYA.html Box score]

|Q1= 29–33 |Q2= 17–15 |Q3= 27–25 |Q4= 28–18

|points1= Mack Calvin 28 |points2= Brian Taylor 25

|rebounds1=Tom Owens 9 |rebounds2= Carter, Paultz 11 each

|assist1=Mack Calvin 5 |assist2= Bill Melchionni 5

|attendance= 8,418

|series= Carolina leads series, 2–1

}}

{{Basketballbox|bg= |date=April 5 |place= Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Uniondale, New York

|team1= Carolina Cougars|score1= 112

|team2= New York Nets |score2=108

|report=[https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197304050NYA.html Box score]

|Q1= 25–31 |Q2= 37–14 |Q3= 28–37 |Q4= 22–26

|points1= Billy Cunningham 29 |points2= George Carter 29

|rebounds1=Tom Owens 10 |rebounds2= Billy Paultz 13

|assist1=Mack Calvin 6 |assist2= Bill Melchionni 8

|attendance= 7,867

|series= Carolina leads series, 3–1

}}

{{Basketballbox|bg=#eee |date=April 6 |place= Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, North Carolina

|team1= New York Nets |score1=113

|team2= Carolina Cougars|score2= 136

|report=[https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197304060CAR.html Box score]

|Q1= 24–36 |Q2= 36–33 |Q3= 20–38 |Q4= 33–29

|points1= George Carter 25 |points2= Tom Owens 26

|rebounds1=Jim Chones 12 |rebounds2= Tom Owens 15

|assist1=Bill Melchionni 6 |assist2= Billy Cunningham 6

|attendance= 6,388

|series= Carolina wins series, 4–1

}}

{{Basketballbox|bg=#eee |date=March 30 |place= Freedom Hall, Louisville, Kentucky

|team1= Virginia Squires|score1= 101

|team2= Kentucky Colonels|score2=129

|report=[https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197303300KEN.html Box score]

|Q1= 28–33 |Q2= 24–29 |Q3= 20–30 |Q4= 29–37

|points1= Julius Erving 21 |points2= Dan Issel 43

|rebounds1=Julius Erving 9|rebounds2= Artis Gilmore 14

|assist1=Fatty Taylor 5|assist2= Mike Gale 6

|attendance= 4,692

|series= Kentucky leads series, 1–0

}}

{{Basketballbox|bg= |date=April 10 |place= Freedom Hall, Louisville, Kentucky

|team1= Virginia Squires|score1= 109

|team2= Kentucky Colonels|score2=94

|report=[https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197304010KEN.html Box score]

|Q1= 21–31 |Q2= 35–23 |Q3= 20–26 |Q4= 33–14

|points1= Julius Erving 41 |points2= Dan Issel 35

|rebounds1=Jim Eakins 14 |rebounds2= Artis Gilmore 14

|assist1=Jim Eakins 5 |assist2= Artis Gilmore 6

|attendance= 5,139

|series= Series tied, 1–1

}}

{{Basketballbox|bg=#eee |date=April 3 |place= Norfolk Scope, Norfolk, Virginia

|team2= Virginia Squires|score2= 113

|team1= Kentucky Colonels|score1=115

|report=[https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197304030VIR.html Box score]

|Q1= 28–27 |Q2= 20–21 |Q3= 28–22 |Q4= 27–33 |OT=12–10

|points1= Dan Issel 31 |points2= Julius Erving 35

|rebounds1=Dan Issel 18 |rebounds2= George Gervin 12

|assist1=Jimmy O'Brien 10|assist2= Jim Eakins 5

|attendance= 9,621

|series= Kentucky leads series, 2–1

}}

{{Basketballbox|bg= |date=April 6 |place= Hampton Coliseum, Hampton, Virginia

|team1= Kentucky Colonels|score1=108

|team2= Virginia Squires|score2= 90

|report=[https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197304060VIR.html Box score]

|Q1= 19–25 |Q2= 30–22 |Q3= 28–23 |Q4= 31–20

|points1= Issel, Gilmore, Mount 22 each |points2= George Gervin 23

|rebounds1=Artis Gilmore 11 |rebounds2= Jim Eakins 15

|assist1= Jimmy O'Brien 8|assist2= Julius Erving 5

|attendance= 8,644

|series= Kentucky leads series, 3–1

}}

{{Basketballbox|bg=#eee |date=April 7 |place= Freedom Hall, Louisville, Kentucky

|team1= Virginia Squires|score1= 103

|team2= Kentucky Colonels|score2=114

|report=[https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197304070KEN.html Box score]

|Q1= 32–29 |Q2= 30–22 |Q3= 21–31 |Q4= 20–32

|points1=Jim Eakins 32 |points2= Dan Issel 27

|rebounds1=Jim Eakins 12 |rebounds2= Artis Gilmore 15

|assist1=Erwin Mueller 7 |assist2= Mike Gale 6

|attendance= 16,887

|series= Kentucky wins series, 4–1

}}

{{Basketballbox|bg=#eee |date=April 12 |place= Salt Palace, Salt Lake City, Utah

|team1=Indiana Pacers |score1= 107

|team2= Utah Stars|score2=124

|report=[https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197304120UTS.html Box score]

|Q1= 25–30 |Q2= 27–27 |Q3= 32–32 |Q4= 23–35

|points1= George McGinnis 31 |points2= Willie Wise 29

|rebounds1=Mel Daniels 14 |rebounds2=Zelmo Beaty 18

|assist1=Freddie Lewis 8|assist2= Ron Boone 9

|attendance= 7,712

|series= Utah leads series, 1–0

}}

{{Basketballbox|bg= |date=April 14 |place= Salt Palace, Salt Lake City, Utah

|team1= Indiana Pacers|score1= 116

|team2= Utah Stars|score2= 110

|report=[https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197304140UTS.html Box score]

|Q1= 33–27 |Q2= 26–31 |Q3= 36–26 |Q4= 21–26

|points1= Donnie Freeman 31 |points2= Willie Wise 29

|rebounds1= George McGinnis 16|rebounds2=Beaty Govan 11 each

|assist1=McGinnis, Daniels, Buse 5 each |assist2= Ron Boone 7

|attendance= 12,233

|series= Series tied, 1–1

}}

{{Basketballbox|bg=#eee |date=April 16 |place= Indiana State Fair Coliseum, Indianapolis, Indiana

|team1=Utah Stars|score1= 108

|team2= Indiana Pacers|score2= 118

|report=[https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197304160INA.html Box score]

|Q1= 27–23 |Q2= 23–24 |Q3= 27–36 |Q4= 31–35

|points1= Zelmo Beaty 27|points2= George McGinnis 31

|rebounds1= Willie Wise 15|rebounds2= George McGinnis 17

|assist1=Wise, Govan, Jones 3 each |assist2= Billy Keller 4

|attendance= 9,353

|series= Indiana leads series, 2–1

}}

{{Basketballbox|bg= |date= April 18|place= Indiana State Fair Coliseum, Indianapolis, Indiana

|team1= Utah Stars|score1= 104

|team2= Indiana Pacers|score2= 103

|report=[https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197304180INA.html Box score]

|Q1= 29–23 |Q2= 24–33 |Q3= 28–24 |Q4= 23–23

|points1= Jimmy Jones 34 |points2= George McGinnis 36

|rebounds1=Zelmo Beaty 11 |rebounds2= George McGinnis 18

|assist1= Jimmy Jones 6|assist2= Billy Keller 7

|attendance= 10,079

|series= Series tied, 2–2

}}

{{Basketballbox|bg=#eee |date=April 19 |place= Salt Palace, Salt Lake City, Utah

|team1= Indiana Pacers|score1= 104

|team2= Utah Stars|score2= 102

|report=[https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197304190UTS.html Box score]

|Q1= 29–28 |Q2= 29–32 |Q3= 26–24 |Q4= 20–18

|points1= Mel Daniels 23 |points2= Willie Wise 34

|rebounds1=Darnell Hillman 19 |rebounds2= Zelmo Beaty 13

|assist1=Darnell Hillman 6 |assist2= Gerald Govan 6

|attendance= 12,453

|series= Indiana leads series, 3–2

}}

{{Basketballbox|bg= |date=April 21 |place= Indiana State Fair Coliseum, Indianapolis, Indiana

|team1= Utah Stars|score1= 98

|team2= Indiana Pacers|score2= 107

|report=[https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197304210INA.html Box score]

|Q1= 21–29 |Q2= 32–26 |Q3= 18–27 |Q4= 27–25

|points1= Willie Wise 17 |points2= George McGinnis 23

|rebounds1=Gerald Govan 12 |rebounds2= Mel Daniels 17

|assist1=Govan, Warren, Jones 4 each |assist2= Freddie Lewis 7

|attendance= 9,529

|series= Indiana wins series, 4–2

}}

====(1) Carolina Cougars vs. (2) Kentucky Colonels====

{{Basketballbox|bg=#eee |date=April 11 |place= Charlotte Coliseum, Charlotte, North Carolina

|team1=Kentucky Colonels |score1= 113

|team2= Carolina Cougars|score2= 103

|report=[https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197304110CAR.html Box score]

|Q1= 31–35 |Q2= 25–17 |Q3= 29–28 |Q4= 28–23

|points1= Rick Mount 31 |points2= Billy Cunningham 25

|rebounds1=Dan Issel 12 |rebounds2= Tom Owens 16

|assist1= Walt Simon 7 |assist2= Billy Cunningham 6

|attendance= 9,165

|series= Kentucky leads series, 1–0

}}

{{Basketballbox|bg= |date=April 14 |place= Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, North Carolina

|team1=Kentucky Colonels |score1= 105

|team2=Carolina Cougars |score2= 125

|report=[https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197304140CAR.html Box score]

|Q1= 23–29 |Q2= 21–26 |Q3= 30–36 |Q4= 31–34

|points1= Rick Mount 29 |points2= Billy Cunningham 27

|rebounds1=Artis Gilmore 11 |rebounds2= Billy Cunningham 15

|assist1= Mike Gale 7|assist2= Billy Cunningham 9

|attendance= 5,103

|series= Series tied, 1–1

}}

{{Basketballbox|bg=#eee |date=April 16 |place=Freedom Hall, Louisville, Kentucky

|team1=Carolina Cougars |score1= 94

|team2=Kentucky Colonels |score2= 108

|report=[https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197304160KEN.html Box score]

|Q1= 20–29 |Q2= 25–28 |Q3= 24–20 |Q4= 25–31

|points1= Tom Owens 17 |points2= Dan Issel 34

|rebounds1=Tom Owens 10 |rebounds2= Artis Gilmore 15

|assist1=Joe Caldwell 7 |assist2= Simon, Gale 5 each

|attendance= 10,422

|series= Kentucky leads series, 2–1

}}

{{Basketballbox|bg= |date=April 18 |place= Freedom Hall, Louisville, Kentucky

|team1= Carolina Cougars|score1= 102

|team2= Kentucky Colonels|score2= 91

|report=[https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197304180KEN.html Box score]

|Q1= 31–21 |Q2= 22–29 |Q3= 25–20 |Q4= 24–21

|points1= Billy Cunningham 32 |points2= Dan Issel 31

|rebounds1=Tom Owens 17 |rebounds2=Dan Issel 15

|assist1= Mack Calvin 6|assist2= Jim O'Brien 5

|attendance= 16,238

|series= Series tied, 2–2

}}

{{Basketballbox|bg=#eee |date= April 20|place= Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, North Carolina

|team1=Kentucky Colonels |score1= 107

|team2=Carolina Cougars |score2= 112

|report=[https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197304200CAR.html Box score]

|Q1= 23–31 |Q2= 29–18 |Q3= 33–34 |Q4= 22–29

|points1= Dan Issel 36 |points2= Billy Cunningham 30

|rebounds1=Dan Issel 12|rebounds2= Billy Cunningham 15

|assist1=Dampier, O'Brien 5 each |assist2= Billy Cunningham 5

|attendance= 11,988

|series= Carolina leads series, 3–2

}}

{{Basketballbox|bg= |date= April 21|place= Freedom Hall, Louisville, Kentucky

|team1= Carolina Cougars|score1= 100

|team2= Kentucky Colonels|score2= 119

|report=[https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197304210KEN.html Box score]

|Q1= 20–29 |Q2= 28–26 |Q3= 26–31 |Q4= 26–33

|points1= Billy Cunningham 26|points2= Rick Mount 25

|rebounds1= Billy Cunningham 20|rebounds2= Artis Gilmore 16

|assist1= Mack Calvin 5|assist2= Walt Simon 8

|attendance= 16,892

|series= Series tied, 3–3

}}

{{Basketballbox|bg=#eee |date=April 24 |place= Charlotte Coliseum, Charlotte, North Carolina

|team1= Kentucky Colonels|score1= 107

|team2=Carolina Cougars |score2= 96

|report=[https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197304240CAR.html Box score]

|Q1= 26–18 |Q2= 24–27 |Q3= 28–16 |Q4= 29–35

|points1= Dan Issel 31 |points2= Cunningham, Jones, Calvin 16 each

|rebounds1=Dan Issel 17 |rebounds2= Tom Owens 16

|assist1= Simon, Dampier, Mount 3 each |assist2= Billy Cunningham 3

|attendance= 10,231

|series= Kentucky wins series, 4–3

}}

{{Basketballbox|bg=#eee |date=April 28 |time= |place=Freedom Hall, Louisville, Kentucky

|team1= Indiana Pacers |score1= 111

|team2=Kentucky Colonels |score2= 107

|report=[https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197304280KEN.html Box score]

|Q1=38–19 |Q2=27–32 |Q3=14–34|Q4=21–15|OT=11–7

|points1=Freddie Lewis 29 |points2=Dan Issel 33

|rebounds1=Mel Daniels 14 |rebounds2=Dan Issel 20

|assist1=Freddie Lewis 13 |assist2=Jim O'Brien 8

|attendance= 12,119

|referee= Norm Drucker, Ed Middleton

|series= Indiana leads series, 1–0

}}

This was the third time that the Pacers and Colonels played each other in a postseason series, having previously played each other in 1969 and 1970. Indiana dominated most of the first half to lead by 14 but the Colonels scored the first 17 points of the second half to take a lead that would change hands several times. A contentious second half saw the Colonels play a chunk of it under protest after a scoring play by Artis Gilmore was disallowed on a three-second violation. With the Pacers trailing 100-97, Roger Brown shot a three-pointer to tie the game with 1:09 left. With seconds to play, Jimmy O'Brien missed a shot and got the rebound to shoot what seemed to be a successful shot with 35 seconds to go that would've made it 102-100 for the Colonels. However, the referees ruled that the 30-second shot clock had expired and gave the ball back to Indiana, with an apparent television replay being reported as showing the first shot having hit the backboard but not the rim. The Kentucky crowd showered the court with debris as fans scuffled with Pacer players after the game ended. At any rate, the game went into overtime that saw the Pacers take the lead late with Freddie Lewis making a driving jump shot to give Indiana a 109-107 lead before recovering a subsequent missed Colonel shot and being fouled that saw him make both shots to close the scoring.{{cite news|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/anderson-sunday-herald-apr-29-1973-p-23/ |agency=Associated Press|title=Pacers Capture Controversal Opener|work=Anderson Sunday Herald|date=April 29, 1973|access-date=April 8, 2025}}

{{Basketballbox|date=April 30 |time= |place=Freedom Hall, Louisville, Kentucky

|team1= Indiana Pacers |score1= 102

|team2=Kentucky Colonels |score2= 114

|report=[https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197304300KEN.html Box score]

|Q1=23–28 |Q2=24–29 |Q3=33–22 |Q4=22–35

|points1=George McGinnis 28 |points2=Artis Gilmore 29

|rebounds1=Mel Daniels 16 |rebounds2=Artis Gilmore 26

|assist1=Mel Daniels 4 |assist2=Jim O'Brien 10

|attendance=13,408

|referee=

|series= Series tied, 1–1

}}

The Colonels dominated the first half with a ten-point lead before Indiana narrowed it to one in under four minutes that saw the two teams trade points until Indiana briefly had the lead 80-79 on a 11-0 run. However, the Colonels took control from there, with Walt Simon making two early baskets to give Kentucky the lead before continuing to build their lead. Artis Gilmore led the game in scoring with 29 points with 11-of-16 shooting while getting 26 rebounds and blocking seven shots while battling a pulled back muscle he re-injured in warmups. {{cite news|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/seymour-daily-tribune-may-01-1973-p-6/ |agency=Associated Press|title=Gilmore Leads Colonels Over Pacers, 114-102|work=Seymour Daily Tribune|date=May 1, 1973|access-date=April 8, 2025}}{{cite news|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/anderson-herald-may-01-1973-p-7/ |title=Indiana Fades At Finish, 114-102|work=Anderson Herald|date=May 1, 1973|access-date=April 8, 2025}}

{{Basketballbox|bg=#eee |date=May 3 |time= |place=Indiana State Fair Coliseum, Indianapolis, Indiana

|team1=Kentucky Colonels |score1= 92

|team2= Indiana Pacers |score2= 88

|report=[https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197305030INA.html Box score]

|Q1=26–14 |Q2=18–26 |Q3=22–27 |Q4=26–21

|points1=Artis Gilmore 28 |points2=Mel Daniels 21

|rebounds1=Artis Gilmore 16 |rebounds2=George McGinnis 17

|assist1=Gilmore, Mount, Simon 6 each |assist2=Freddie Lewis 8

|attendance= 10,079

|referee=

|series=Kentucky leads series, 2–1

}}

A tough first quarter saw Kentucky lead 17-5 with one successful field goal in the first four minutes for Indiana before the Pacers eventually battled back to be trailing by just four points at halftime. Indiana took control in the third period and even led 65-59 at one point, but Kentucky took control from there and had the lead for most of the fourth quarter. Kentucky led by as much as 12 before Indiana made one last effort to get it to three points with under 90 seconds to play. With a missed shot by Rick Mount, the Pacers tried to get the ball to George McGinnis down two with under 30 seconds to go, but Gilmore stole the ball and got it to his teammate before Mount was fouled with time expiring that saw him finish the game with free throws made to give Kentucky a four-point win. Indiana out-rebounded Kentucky (66-42) but shot for 31-of-92 (33 percent) while the Colonels made 37-of-85 (43 percent).{{cite news|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/anderson-herald-may-04-1973-p-16/ |first=Bob |last=Coffman|title=Pacers Start, Finish Slow|work=Anderson Herald|date=May 4, 1973|access-date=April 8, 2025}}

{{Basketballbox||date=May 5 |time= |place=Indiana State Fair Coliseum, Indianapolis, Indiana

|team1=Kentucky Colonels |score1= 86

|team2= Indiana Pacers |score2= 90

|report=[https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197305050INA.html Box score]

|Q1=22–29 |Q2=23–19 |Q3=27–26 |Q4=16–16

|points1=Dan Issel 21 |points2=George McGinnis 20

|rebounds1=Dan Issel 15|rebounds2=Darnell Hillman 18

|assist1=Walt Simon 4|assist2=Freddie Lewis 6

|attendance= 9,498

|referee= Joe Gushue, Wally Rooney

|series=Series tied, 2–2

}}

Both teams battled a physical game that saw Indiana lead 48-45. Head coach Bobby Leonard was ejected at halftime after receiving his second technical foul when words he spoke to Freddie Lewis were misconstrued by referee Joe Gushue as directed at him. With no assistant coach, Gus Johnson served as the coach for the rest of the game. Kentucky led early in the third period by four, but the Pacers kept up with the Colonels, with multiple lead changes occurring in the third quarter before Indiana took the lead for good on a Don Buse layup to make it 72-70. Indiana never trailed after that, even leading by seven before the Colonels threatened with under five minutes to go to get it to two. Hillman then scored a shot and free throws to give the Pacers a six-point lead again as the Pacers held on to tie the series. Indiana managed to shoot over 40 percent from the field (37-of-85) while Kentucky was just 37 percent on 34-of-91; after the game, Leonard called the next couple of games ones to "go to war".{{cite news|url=https://www.ibj.com/articles/mark-montieth-cool-and-crazy |first=Mark |last=Montieth|title=The 1973 ABA champion Pacers were drama kings to the end|work=Indianapolis Business Journal|date=May 12, 2023|access-date=April 8, 2025}}{{cite news|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/anderson-sunday-herald-may-06-1973-p-26/ |first=Jim |last=Bailey|title=Pacers Outbrutalize Kentucky|work=Anderson Sunday Herald|date=May 6, 1973|access-date=April 8, 2025}}

{{Basketballbox|bg=#eee |date=May 8 |time= |place=Freedom Hall, Louisville, Kentucky

|team1= Indiana Pacers |score1= 89

|team2=Kentucky Colonels |score2= 86

|report=[https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197305080KEN.html Box score]

|Q1=19–24|Q2=23–18 |Q3=20–22 |Q4=27–22

|points1=Freddie Lewis 31 |points2=Dan Issel 31

|rebounds1=Mel Daniels 20 |rebounds2=Artis Gilmore 17

|assist1=Daniels, Freeman 3 each |assist2=Artis Gilmore 11

|attendance= 16,779

|referee=John Vanak, Ed Middleton

|series= Indiana lead series 3–2

}}

Freddie Lewis scored 28 of his 31 points in the second half as the Pacers took a nine-point lead with under nine minutes to go. But Kentucky stormed back with a 19-5 run (emphasized by a Louie Dampier three-pointer to tie it) that saw them lead 85-80 with under two minutes to go. George McGinnis soon got fouled by Artis Gilmore (his sixth foul) that saw him make both free throws before Freddie Lewis subsequently got the ball and made it from the three-line. Kentucky got the ball and tried to run it down, but Walt Simon missed his 16-ft shot that saw Indiana rebound it with 0:48 to go. On the inbound play, Lewis tried to get the ball to McGinnis, but the ball went out of bounds with under 30 seconds to play. On the Kentucky inbound, McGinnis would bat the pass away and picked it up for what became a slam dunk to give Indiana a 87-86 lead with 0:23 to play. Jim O'Brien missed a shot for Kentucky that saw Mel Daniels fouled on the rebound. Lewis was then fouled on the inbound play that sent him to the free-throw line that saw him make both with under five seconds to go.{{cite news|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/anderson-herald-may-09-1973-p-12/ |agency=Associated Press|title=McGinnis' Steal, Basket Saves Pacers, 89-86|work=Anderson Herald|date=May 9, 1973|access-date=April 8, 2025}}{{cite news|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/anderson-herald-bulletin-may-09-1973-p-19/ |first=Don |last=Cronin|title=Pacers spurt at proper time, go for ABA crown Thursday|work=Anderson Herald Bulletin|date=May 9, 1973|access-date=April 8, 2025}}

{{Basketballbox|date=May 10 |time= |place=Indiana State Fair Coliseum, Indianapolis, Indiana

|team1=Kentucky Colonels |score1= 109

|team2= Indiana Pacers |score2= 93

|report=[https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197305100INA.html Box score]

|Q1=28–24 |Q2=27–19 |Q3=25–33 |Q4=29–17

|points1=Artis Gilmore 29 |points2=George McGinnis 26

|rebounds1=Artis Gilmore 21|rebounds2=George McGinnis 15

|assist1=Louie Dampier 7 |assist2=Donnie Freeman 7

|attendance= 10,079

|referee=

|series= Series tied, 3–3

}}

Kentucky took control of the first half for a twelve-point lead that had fans thinking the team would possibly not enjoy the cases of champagne wheeled through the Coliseum for a potential series victory for the Pacers. Once trailing 70-58 in the third, Indiana pulled within two late in the third quarter, but the Colonels dominated from there, turning a 78-76 lead to 88-76 as the Colonels staved off elimination and sent the series back home to Louisville.{{cite news|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/anderson-herald-bulletin-may-11-1973-p-6/ |first=Kevin|last=Lane|title=Champagne still waits, Pacers fall by 109-93|work=Anderson Herald Bulletin|date=May 9, 1973|access-date=April 8, 2025}}

{{Basketballbox|bg=#eee |date=May 12 |time= |place=Freedom Hall, Louisville, Kentucky

|team1= Indiana Pacers |score1= 88

|team2=Kentucky Colonels |score2= 81

|report=[https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197305120KEN.html Box score]

|Q1=24–18|Q2=18–23 |Q3=24–11 |Q4=22–29

|points1=George McGinnis 27 |points2=Artis Gilmore 19

|rebounds1=Darnell Hillman 13|rebounds2=Artis Gilmore 17

|assist1=Freeman, Brown, Keller each |assist2=Dan Issel 4

|attendance= 16,597

|referee=

|series=Indiana wins series 4–3

}}

After leading by one point at halftime, Indiana pounced on Kentucky's weak third quarter (where they went three of 22 for just eleven points), with George McGinnis scoring 13 of his 27 points in that quarter that the Colonels could not recover from. It was the last game for Gus Johnson, who recorded seven rebounds and played late defense against Artis Gilmore.{{cite news|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/terre-haute-tribune-star-may-13-1973-p-45/ |first=George|last=Hackett|title=Leonard Calls Win Team Effort|work=Terre Haute Tribune Star|date=May 13, 1973|access-date=April 8, 2025}}{{cite news|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/anderson-sunday-herald-may-13-1973-p-23/ |first=George|last=Hackett|title=Pacers Win Third ABA Title|work=Anderson Sunday Herald|agency=Associated Press|date=May 13, 1973|access-date=April 8, 2025}}{{cite news|url=https://www.nba.com/pacers/news/story-behind-all-three-pacers-aba-championships |first=Mark |last=Montieth|title=The Story Behind All Three of the Pacers' ABA Championships|work=NBA.com|date=December 8, 2016|access-date=April 8, 2025}}

Four members of the Pacers eventually made the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame: Gus Johnson (2010), Mel Daniels (2012), Roger Brown (2013), and George McGinnis (2017), to go along with head coach Bobby Leonard (2014) while the Colonels saw three players inducted in Dan Issel (1993), Artis Gilmore (2011), and Louie Dampier (2015).

In July, the Colonels lost both their general manager (Mike Storen) and head coach (Joe Mullaney), who each resigned; on July 24, Mullaney promptly signed a contract to coach the Utah Stars.{{cite news|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/bluefield-daily-telegraph-jul-25-1973-p-14/ |title=Joe Mullaney Will Coach Utah Stars|work=Bluefield Daily Telegraph|date=July 25, 1973|access-date=April 8, 2025}} He was replaced by Babe McCarthy.

{{Col-begin}}

{{Col-3}}

Points

1. Dan Issel - 521
2. George McGinnis - 431
3. Artis Gilmore - 361
4. Rick Mount - 321
5. Mel Daniels - 286

Rebounds

1. Artis Gilmore - 260
2. Mel Daniels - 248
3. Dan Issel - 225
4. George McGinnis - 222
5. Billy Cunningham - 142

{{Col-3}}

Assists

1. Freddie Lewis - 91
2. Jim O'Brien - 82
3. Walt Simon - 79
4. Artis Gilmore - 75
5. Billy Keller - 63

Minutes

1. Dan Issel - 825
2. Artis Gilmore - 780
3. George McGinnis - 731
4. Rick Mount - 676
5. Walt Simon - 639

{{Col-end}}

{{Clear}}

{{reflist}}

{{Portal|Sports}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20101129165745/http://remembertheaba.com/PlayoffPages/1973Playoffs.html RememberTheABA.com page on 1973 ABA playoffs]
• [https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/ABA_1973.html Basketball-Reference.com's 1973 ABA Playoffs page]

{{ABA seasons}}

{{Indiana Pacers 1972–73 ABA Champions}}

Playoffs

Category:American Basketball Association playoffs