1968 ABA Playoffs
The 1968 ABA Playoffs was the postseason tournament following the American Basketball Association's inaugural 1967-1968 season, starting on March 23 and ending on May 4. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Division champion Pittsburgh Pipers defeating the Western Division champion New Orleans Buccaneers, four games to three in the ABA Finals.
| Division Semifinals | Division Finals | ABA Finals | ||||||||||||
| 1 | New Orleans Bucs* | 3 | ||||||||||||
| 3 | Denver Rockets | 2 | ||||||||||||
| 1 | New Orleans Bucs* | 4 | ||||||||||||
| Western Division | ||||||||||||||
| 2 | Dallas Chaparrals | 1 | ||||||||||||
| 4 | Houston Mavericks | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2 | Dallas Chaparrals | 3 | ||||||||||||
| W1 | New Orleans Bucs* | 3 | ||||||||||||
| E1 | Pittsburgh Pipers* | 4 | ||||||||||||
| 1 | Pittsburgh Pipers* | 3 | ||||||||||||
| 3 | Indiana Pacers | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 1 | Pittsburgh Pipers* | 4 | ||||||||||||
| Eastern Division | ||||||||||||||
| 2 | Minnesota Muskies | 1 | ||||||||||||
| 4 | Kentucky Colonels | 2 | ||||||||||||
| 2 | Minnesota Muskies | 3 | ||||||||||||
| Dates | March 23–May 4, 1968 |
|---|---|
| Season | 1967–68 |
| Teams | 8 |
| Champions | Pittsburgh Pipers (1stth title) |
| Runners-up | New Orleans Buccaneers (1st finals appearance) |
| Semifinalists | |
* Division winner
Bold Series winner
Italic Team with home-court advantage
Notable events
This was the first ABA championship.
The Pittsburgh Pipers won the ABA championship in the playoffs after posting the league's best record during the regular season (54-24, .692). The Minnesota Muskies had the league's second best record, but they played in the Eastern Division with the Pipers.
None of the four teams that made it to the Division finals (and ABA finals) remained as they were during this season throughout the league's entire existence. The Pittsburgh Pipers spent the following season as the Minnesota Pipers, returned to play as the Pittsburgh Pipers the year after that, and then played two seasons as the Pittsburgh Condors before folding in 1972. After three seasons the New Orleans Buccaneers left town and became the Memphis Pros in 1970. The Minnesota Muskies spent the next two seasons as the Miami Floridians and then spent two seasons after that as The Floridians before folding in 1972. The Dallas Chaparrals eventually became the San Antonio Spurs, continuing to this day in the NBA.
The Kentucky Colonels won the last Eastern Division playoff berth in a one-game playoff over the New Jersey Americans by forfeit when the venue chosen by the Americans, Commack Arena, had an unplayable floor.
Connie Hawkins of the Pittsburgh Pipers was the Most Valuable Player of the ABA playoffs.
Division Semifinals
(1) Pittsburgh Pipers vs. (3) Indiana Pacers
March 25 |
| Indiana Pacers 127, Pittsburgh Pipers 146 | ||
| Pts: Roger Brown 32 Rebs: Roger Brown 12 |
Pts: Connie Hawkins 38 Rebs: Trooper Washington 20 | |
| Pittsburgh leads series, 1–0 | ||
March 26 |
| Indiana Pacers 108, Pittsburgh Pipers 121 | ||
| Pts: Freddie Lewis 21 Rebs: Ollie Darden 16 |
Pts: Art Heyman 32 Rebs: Trooper Washington 15 | |
| Pittsburgh leads series, 2–0 | ||
March 27 |
| Pittsburgh Pipers 133, Indiana Pacers 114 | ||
| Pts: Charlie Williams 34 Rebs: Connie Hawkins 15 |
Pts: Freddie Lewis 32 Rebs: George Peeples 20 | |
| Pittsburgh wins series, 3–0 | ||
| Pittsburgh won 6–4 in the regular-season series |
|---|
This was the first playoff meeting between the Pipers and the Pacers.
(2) Minnesota Muskies vs. (4) Kentucky Colonels
March 24 |
| Kentucky Colonels 102, Minnesota Muskies 115 | ||
| Pts: Darel Carrier 29 Rebs: Carrier, Ligon, Rhine 8 each |
Pts: Mel Daniels 44 Rebs: Mel Daniels 15 | |
| Minnesota leads series, 1–0 | ||
March 26 |
| Kentucky Colonels 100, Minnesota Muskies 95 | ||
| Pts: Louie Dampier 24 Rebs: Jim Caldwell 21 |
Pts: Donnie Freeman 30 Rebs: Daniels, Freeman, Hunter, Smith 8 each | |
| Series tied, 1–1 | ||
March 27 |
| Minnesota Muskies 116, Kentucky Colonels 107 | ||
| Pts: Les Hunter 38 Rebs: Les Hunter 21 |
Pts: Louie Dampier 32 Rebs: Jim Caldwell 9 | |
| Minnesota leads series, 2–1 | ||
March 29 |
| Minnesota Muskies 86, Kentucky Colonels 94 | ||
| Pts: Daniels, Smith 22 each Rebs: Mel Daniels 22 |
Pts: Darel Carrier 29 Rebs: Jim Ligon 21 | |
| Series tied, 2–2 | ||
March 30 |
| Kentucky Colonels 108, Minnesota Muskies 114 | ||
| Pts: Louie Dampier 33 Rebs: Jim Caldwell 11 |
Pts: Ervin Inniger 33 Rebs: Mel Daniels 19 | |
| Minnesota wins series, 3–2 | ||
| Tied 5–5 in the regular-season series |
|---|
This was the first playoff meeting between the Muskies and the Colonels.
(1) New Orleans Buccaneers vs. (3) Denver Rockets
March 26 |
| Denver Rockets 104, New Orleans Buccaneers 130 | ||
| Pts: Larry Jones 29 | Pts: Larry Brown 31 | |
| New Orleans leads series, 1–0 | ||
March 27 |
| Denver Rockets 93, New Orleans Buccaneers 105 | ||
| Pts: Willie Murrell 21 | Pts: Jimmy Jones 22 | |
| New Orleans leads series, 2–0 | ||
March 30 |
| New Orleans Buccaneers 98, Denver Rockets 105 | ||
| Pts: Doug Moe 22 | Pts: Wayne Hightower 28 | |
| New Orleans leads series, 2–1 | ||
March 31 |
| New Orleans Buccaneers 100, Denver Rockets 108 | ||
| Pts: Doug Moe 27 | Pts: Willie Murrell 28 | |
| Series tied, 2–2 | ||
April 3 |
| Denver Rockets 97, New Orleans Buccaneers 102 | ||
| Pts: Willie Murrell 26 | Pts: Larry Brown 24 | |
| New Orleans wins series, 3–2 | ||
| Tied 5–5 in the regular-season series |
|---|
This was the first playoff meeting between the Buccaneers and the Rockets.
(2) Dallas Chaparrals vs. (4) Houston Mavericks
March 23 |
| Houston Mavericks 110, Dallas Chaparrals 111 | ||
| Pts: Willie Somerset 42 | Pts: John Beasley 28 | |
| Dallas leads series, 1–0 | ||
March 25 |
| Houston Mavericks 97, Dallas Chaparrals 115 | ||
| Pts: Willie Somerset 40 | Pts: Charlie Beasley 27 | |
| Dallas leads series, 2–0 | ||
March 26 |
| Dallas Chaparrals 116, Houston Mavericks 103 | ||
| Pts: John Beasley 31 | Pts: Art Becker 26 | |
| Dallas wins series, 3–0 | ||
| Dallas won 8–2 in the regular-season series |
|---|
This was the first playoff meeting between the Chaparrals and the Mavericks.
Division Finals
(1) Pittsburgh Pipers vs. (2) Minnesota Muskies
April 4 |
| Minnesota Muskies 117, Pittsburgh Pipers 125 | ||
| Pts: Mel Daniels 28 Rebs: Mel Daniels 18 |
Pts: Art Heyman 34 Rebs: Connie Hawkins 15 | |
| Pittsburgh leads series, 1–0 | ||
April 6 |
| Minnesota Muskies 137, Pittsburgh Pipers 123 | ||
| Pts: Hunter, Daniels 38 each Rebs: Mel Daniels 27 |
Pts: Williams, Hawkins 27 each Rebs: Trooper Washington 35 | |
| Series tied, 1–1 | ||
April 10 |
| Pittsburgh Pipers 107, Minnesota Muskies 99 | ||
| Pts: Connie Hawkins 32 | Pts: Les Hunter 27 | |
| Pittsburgh leads series, 2–1 | ||
April 13 |
| Pittsburgh Pipers 117, Minnesota Muskies 108 | ||
| Pts: Connie Hawkins 38 | Pts: Skip Thoren 22 | |
| Pittsburgh leads series, 3–1 | ||
April 14 |
| Minnesota Muskies 105, Pittsburgh Pipers 114 | ||
| Pts: Donnie Freeman 23 Rebs: Skip Thoren 13 Asts: Donnie Freeman 11 |
Pts: Connie Hawkins 24 Rebs: Leroy Wright 17 | |
| Pittsburgh wins series, 4–1 | ||
| Pittsburgh won 7–4 in the regular-season series |
|---|
This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams.
(1) New Orleans Buccaneers vs. (2) Dallas Chaparrals
April 5 |
| Dallas Chaparrals 99, New Orleans Buccaneers 104 | ||
| Pts: John Beasley 27 | Pts: Doug Moe 28 | |
| New Orleans leads series, 1–0 | ||
April 9 |
| Dallas Chaparrals 112, New Orleans Buccaneers 109 | ||
| Pts: Charlie Beasley 31 | Pts: Doug Moe 30 | |
| Series tied, 1–1 | ||
April 10 |
| New Orleans Buccaneers 110, Dallas Chaparrals 107 | ||
| Pts: Larry Brown 25 | Pts: Cincy Powell 33 | |
| New Orleans leads series, 2–1 | ||
April 11 |
| New Orleans Buccaneers 119, Dallas Chaparrals 103 | ||
| Pts: Jesse Branson 26 | Pts: Maurice McHartley 26 | |
| New Orleans leads series, 3–1 | ||
April 13 |
| Dallas Chaparrals 107, New Orleans Buccaneers 108 | ||
| Pts: Cincy Powell 27 | Pts: Larry Brown 27 | |
| New Orleans wins series, 4–1 | ||
| New Orleans won 6–4 in the regular-season series |
|---|
This was the first playoff meeting between the Buccaneers and the Chaparrals.
ABA Finals: (W1) New Orleans Buccaneers vs. (E1) Pittsburgh Pipers
Series summary
| Game | Date | Away team | Result | Home team |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Game 1 | April 18 | New Orleans Buccaneers | 112–120 (0–1) | Pittsburgh Pipers |
| Game 2 | April 20 | New Orleans Buccaneers | 109–100 (1–1) | Pittsburgh Pipers |
| Game 3 | April 24 | Pittsburgh Pipers | 101–109 (1–2) | New Orleans Buccaneers |
| Game 4 | April 25 | Pittsburgh Pipers | 106–105 (OT) (2–2) | New Orleans Buccaneers |
| Game 5 | April 27 | New Orleans Buccaneers | 111–108 (3–2) | Pittsburgh Pipers |
| Game 6 | May 1 | Pittsburgh Pipers | 118–112 (3–3) | New Orleans Buccaneers |
| Game 7 | May 4 | New Orleans Buccaneers | 113–122 (3–4) | Pittsburgh Pipers |
Series results
April 18 |
| New Orleans Buccaneers 112, Pittsburgh Pipers 120 | ||
| Pts: Red Robbins 41 Rebs: Red Robbins 23 |
Pts: Connie Hawkins 39 Rebs: Washington, Wright 11 each | |
| Pittsburgh leads series, 1–0 | ||
April 20 |
| New Orleans Buccaneers 109, Pittsburgh Pipers 100 | ||
| Pts: Larry Brown 28 Rebs: Red Robbins 23 |
Pts: Chico Vaughn 27 Rebs: Trooper Washington 17 | |
| Series tied, 1–1 | ||
April 24 |
| Pittsburgh Pipers 101, New Orleans Buccaneers 109 | ||
| Pts: Chico Vaughn 27 Rebs: Trooper Washington 14 |
Pts: Red Robbins 30 Rebs: Red Robbins 22 | |
| New Orleans leads series, 2–1 | ||
April 25 |
| Pittsburgh Pipers 106, New Orleans Buccaneers 105 (OT) | ||
| Pts: Connie Hawkins 47 Rebs: Trooper Washington 25 |
Pts: Jimmy Jones 23 Rebs: Red Robbins 10 | |
| Series tied, 2–2 | ||
April 27 |
| New Orleans Buccaneers 111, Pittsburgh Pipers 108 | ||
| Pts: Doug Moe 31 | Pts: Williams, Hawkins 29 each | |
| New Orleans leads series, 3–2 | ||
May 1 |
| Pittsburgh Pipers 118, New Orleans Buccaneers 112 | ||
| Pts: Connie Hawkins 41 Rebs: Trooper Washington 16 |
Pts: Doug Moe 25 Rebs: Red Robbins 11 | |
| Series tied, 3–3 | ||
May 4 |
| New Orleans Buccaneers 113, Pittsburgh Pipers 122 | ||
| Pts: Doug Moe 28 Rebs: Red Robbins 13 |
Pts: Williams, Hawkins 35 each Rebs: Trooper Washington 14 | |
| Pittsburgh wins series, 4–3 | ||
| Tied 3–3 in the regular-season series |
|---|
This was the first playoff meeting between the Pipers and the Buccaneers.