ABA playoffs | |
Year: | 1968 |
Season: | 1967–68 |
Dates: | March 23–May 4, 1968 |
Num Teams: | 8 |
Winners: | Pittsburgh Pipers |
Count: | 1 |
Second: | New Orleans Buccaneers |
Semifinal1: | Minnesota Muskies |
Semifinal2: | Dallas Chaparrals |
Next Season: | 1969 |
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 winner
Bold Series winner
Italic Team with home-court advantage
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.
This was the first playoff meeting between the Pipers and the Pacers.
This was the first playoff meeting between the Muskies and the Colonels.
This was the first playoff meeting between the Buccaneers and the Rockets.
This was the first playoff meeting between the Chaparrals and the Mavericks.
This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams.
This was the first playoff meeting between the Buccaneers and the Chaparrals.
Game | Date | Away team | Result | Home team | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Game 1 | April 18 | 112–120 (0–1) | Pittsburgh Pipers | ||
Game 2 | April 20 | New Orleans Buccaneers | 109–100 (1–1) | Pittsburgh Pipers | |
Game 3 | April 24 | 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 | 113–122 (3–4) | Pittsburgh Pipers |
This was the first playoff meeting between the Pipers and the Buccaneers.