The 1972–73 NBA season was the Hawks' 24th season in the NBA and fifth season in Atlanta.[1] The team moved their home games from the Alexander Memorial Coliseum to The Omni Coliseum. The Hawks registered a 46–36 record during the regular-season, but went 2–4 against the Boston Celtics in postseason.
See main article: article and 1972 NBA draft.
| 1972–73 NBA Records | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| width=100 | Team | ATL | BAL | BOS | BUF | CHI | CLE | DET | GSW | HOU | KCO | LAL | MIL | NYK | PHI | PHO | POR | SEA |
| Atlanta | — | 3–4 | 1–5 | 5–1 | 2–2 | 3–4 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 4–4 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–3 | 6–0 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | |
| 4–3 | — | 1–5 | 5–1 | 0–4 | 8–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 5–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 4–0 | ||
| 5–1 | 5–1 | — | 7–0 | 3–1 | 5–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 5–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 4–4 | 7–0 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 4–0 | ||
| 1–5 | 1–5 | 0–7 | — | 2–2 | 1–5 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–5 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–6 | 7–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | ||
| 2–2 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | — | 3–1 | 3–4 | 3–3 | 4–0 | 5–2 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 5–1 | ||
| 4–3 | 0–8 | 1–5 | 5–1 | 1–3 | — | 1–3 | 1–3 | 4–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–6 | 6–0 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 3–1 | ||
| 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 4–3 | 3–1 | — | 2–4 | 1–3 | 3–3 | 1–5 | 2–5 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 4–2 | 6–0 | 2–4 | ||
| 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 3–3 | 3–1 | 4–2 | — | 3–1 | 4–2 | 3–4 | 1–5 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–4 | 5–1 | 4–3 | ||
| 4–4 | 2–5 | 1–5 | 5–1 | 0–4 | 3–4 | 3–1 | 1–3 | — | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–5 | 5–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | ||
| 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–5 | 2–2 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 4–0 | — | 1–5 | 1–6 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 4–2 | ||
| 1–3 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 4–0 | 5–1 | 3–1 | 5–1 | 4–3 | 3–1 | 5–1 | — | 3–3 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 6–1 | 6–0 | 6–0 | ||
| 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 4–2 | 3–1 | 5–2 | 5–1 | 3–1 | 6–1 | 3–3 | — | 2–2 | 3–1 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 5–1 | ||
| 3–3 | 3–3 | 4–4 | 6–1 | 1–3 | 6–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 5–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | — | 6–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | ||
| 0–6 | 1–5 | 0–7 | 1–7 | 0–4 | 0–6 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–5 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–6 | — | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–3 | ||
| 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 2–4 | 3–1 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 2–2 | 3–3 | 1–6 | 1–5 | 1–3 | 4–0 | — | 5–2 | 4–2 | ||
| 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–5 | 3–1 | 0–6 | 1–5 | 2–2 | 2–4 | 0–6 | 1–5 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–5 | — | 3–4 | ||
| 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–5 | 1–3 | 4–2 | 3–4 | 2–2 | 2–4 | 0–6 | 1–5 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 2–4 | 4–3 | — | ||
| 1972–73 Game log | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Opponent | Score | High points | Record | ||
| 1 | October 10 | 120–109 | Pete Maravich (34) | 1–0 | ||
| 2 | October 13 | 98–115 | Pete Maravich (27) | 1–1 | ||
| 3 | October 15 | 101–109 | Lou Hudson (32) | 2–1 | ||
| 4 | October 17 | 119–115 | Lou Hudson (27) | 2–2 | ||
| 5 | October 20 | 108–120 | Pete Maravich (39) | 2–3 | ||
| 6 | October 21 | 101–108 | Herm Gilliam (22) | 2–4 | ||
| 7 | October 24 | 118–110 | Lou Hudson (27) | 3–4 | ||
| 8 | October 25 | 118–115 | Lou Hudson (33) | 4–4 | ||
| 9 | October 28 | 107–122 | Lou Hudson (28) | 4–5 | ||
| 10 | October 31 | Houston | 106–105 | Walt Bellamy (23) | 4–6 | |
| 11 | November 3 | @ Houston | 114–108 | Hudson, Maravich (31) | 5–6 | |
| 12 | November 4 | 120–128 | Pete Maravich (44) | 6–6 | ||
| 13 | November 7 | Baltimore | 107–109 (OT) | Pete Maravich (28) | 7–6 | |
| 14 | November 9 | @ New York | 99–101 | Pete Maravich (25) | 7–7 | |
| 15 | November 11 | 102–111 | Lou Hudson (32) | 8–7 | ||
| 16 | November 14 | Golden State | 114–105 | Lou Hudson (20) | 8–8 | |
| 17 | November 18 | 122–126 | Pete Maravich (45) | 9–8 | ||
| 18 | November 19 | 98–109 | Lou Hudson (28) | 9–9 | ||
| 19 | November 21 | 110–113 (OT) | Lou Hudson (26) | 9–10 | ||
| 20 | November 23 | Seattle | 97–110 | Walt Bellamy (33) | 10–10 | |
| 21 | November 25 | 100–99 | Lou Hudson (25) | 10–11 | ||
| 22 | November 26 | @ Milwaukee | 96–108 | Pete Maravich (23) | 10–12 | |
| 23 | November 29 | @ Phoenix | 98–109 | Lou Hudson (30) | 10–13 | |
| 24 | December 1 | 114–109 (OT) | Pete Maravich (31) | 11–13 | ||
| 25 | December 2 | @ Portland | 106–103 | Lou Hudson (25) | 12–13 | |
| 26 | December 5 | Portland | 121–122 | Pete Maravich (31) | 13–13 | |
| 27 | December 7 | @ Chicago | 94–89 (OT) | Pete Maravich (39) | 14–13 | |
| 28 | December 8 | Baltimore | 115–134 | Pete Maravich (37) | 15–13 | |
| 29 | December 10 | @ Kansas City–Omaha | 115–130 | Lou Hudson (43) | 15–14 | |
| 30 | December 12 | @ New York | 93–114 | Lou Hudson (27) | 15–15 | |
| 31 | December 13 | New York | 120–121 | Pete Maravich (37) | 16–15 | |
| 32 | December 16 | Cleveland | 94–100 | Lou Hudson (26) | 17–15 | |
| 33 | December 19 | Kansas City–Omaha | 102–119 | Lou Hudson (27) | 18–15 | |
| 34 | December 22 | @ Buffalo | 110–109 | Lou Hudson (33) | 19–15 | |
| 35 | December 23 | Philadelphia | 112–124 | Pete Maravich (42) | 20–15 | |
| 36 | December 26 | @ Cleveland | 96–115 | Lou Hudson (27) | 20–16 | |
| 37 | December 27 | N Philadelphia | 120–121 | Lou Hudson (34) | 21–16 | |
| 38 | December 28 | Baltimore | 112–111 | Lou Hudson (26) | 21–17 | |
| 39 | December 30 | Buffalo | 110–120 | Pete Maravich (31) | 22–17 | |
| 40 | January 2 | @ Chicago | 90–100 | Pete Maravich (38) | 22–18 | |
| 41 | January 3 | @ Milwaukee | 97–105 | Walt Bellamy (23) | 22–19 | |
| 42 | January 5 | Boston | 126–108 | Steve Bracey (25) | 22–20 | |
| 43 | January 6 | @ Detroit | 116–111 | Pete Maravich (30) | 23–20 | |
| 44 | January 9 | Houston | 114–120 | Bellamy, Maravich (26) | 24–20 | |
| 45 | January 11 | New York | 122–107 | Pete Maravich (23) | 24–21 | |
| 46 | January 12 | @ Boston | 109–133 | Pete Maravich (26) | 24–22 | |
| 47 | January 14 | Los Angeles | 102–100 | Pete Maravich (28) | 24–23 | |
| 48 | January 16 | Detroit | 129–130 (OT) | Lou Hudson (33) | 25–23 | |
| 49 | January 17 | @ Philadelphia | 122–105 | Pete Maravich (25) | 26–23 | |
| 50 | January 18 | Buffalo | 127–125 | Walt Bellamy (32) | 26–24 | |
| 51 | January 20 | Cleveland | 84–96 | Herm Gilliam (24) | 27–24 | |
| 52 | January 26 | @ Buffalo | 118–82 | Lou Hudson (31) | 28–24 | |
| 53 | January 27 | Kansas City–Omaha | 126–129 | Lou Hudson (35) | 29–24 | |
| 54 | January 28 | @ Houston | 108–116 | Lou Hudson (37) | 29–25 | |
| 55 | January 30 | Detroit | 126–123 | Pete Maravich (35) | 29–26 | |
| 56 | February 2 | @ Boston | 100–99 | Pete Maravich (37) | 30–26 | |
| 57 | February 3 | Buffalo | 101–105 | Lou Hudson (32) | 31–26 | |
| 58 | February 6 | Baltimore | 106–112 | Lou Hudson (36) | 32–26 | |
| 59 | February 7 | @ Baltimore | 108–137 | Pete Maravich (24) | 32–27 | |
| 60 | February 8 | Cleveland | 136–132 (OT) | Lou Hudson (38) | 32–28 | |
| 61 | February 10 | Houston | 91–103 | Lou Hudson (29) | 33–28 | |
| 62 | February 11 | @ Cleveland | 115–107 | Lou Hudson (34) | 34–28 | |
| 63 | February 16 | @ Phoenix | 111–104 | Pete Maravich (40) | 35–28 | |
| 64 | February 18 | @ Los Angeles | 99–92 | Pete Maravich (31) | 36–28 | |
| 65 | February 20 | @ Golden State | 115–118 | Lou Hudson (38) | 36–29 | |
| 66 | February 23 | @ Seattle | 120–124 | Lou Hudson (39) | 36–30 | |
| 67 | February 27 | Seattle | 130–131 | Pete Maravich (38) | 37–30 | |
| 68 | March 2 | @ Philadelphia | 130–107 | Lou Hudson (29) | 38–30 | |
| 69 | March 3 | Houston | 125–136 | Walt Bellamy (33) | 39–30 | |
| 70 | March 4 | Philadelphia | 130–138 | Pete Maravich (38) | 40–30 | |
| 71 | March 8 | Portland | 129–135 | Pete Maravich (39) | 41–30 | |
| 72 | March 10 | Golden State | 113–117 | Lou Hudson (27) | 42–30 | |
| 73 | March 11 | @ Houston | 118–129 | Pete Maravich (35) | 42–31 | |
| 74 | March 13 | @ Cleveland | 107–115 | Pete Maravich (31) | 42–32 | |
| 75 | March 16 | Phoenix | 127–135 | Lou Hudson (38) | 43–32 | |
| 76 | March 18 | Milwaukee | 105–104 | Lou Hudson (28) | 43–33 | |
| 77 | March 20 | Los Angeles | 112–114 | Lou Hudson (34) | 44–33 | |
| 78 | March 21 | @ New York | 98–93 | Lou Hudson (32) | 45–33 | |
| 79 | March 23 | @ Boston | 108–124 | Pete Maravich (29) | 45–34 | |
| 80 | March 24 | Chicago | 111–113 | Lou Hudson (32) | 46–34 | |
| 81 | March 25 | @ Baltimore | 105–112 | Walt Bellamy (30) | 46–35 | |
| 82 | March 27 | Boston | 117–110 | Pete Maravich (30) | 46–36 |
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 1| April 1| @ Boston| L 109–134| Lou Hudson (28)| Jim Washington (14)| Hudson, Maravich (5)| Boston Garden
11,907| 0–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 2| April 4| Boston| L 113–126| Pete Maravich (34)| Walt Bellamy (11)| Pete Maravich (10)| Omni Coliseum
11,588| 0–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 3| April 6| @ Boston| W 118–105| Lou Hudson (37)| Walt Bellamy (12)| Pete Maravich (11)| Boston Garden
15,320| 1–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 4| April 8| Boston| W 97–94| Pete Maravich (37)| Jim Washington (15)| Herm Gilliam (7)| Omni Coliseum
11,675| 2–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 5| April 11| @ Boston| L 101–108| Pete Maravich (34)| Walt Bellamy (16)| Herm Gilliam (6)| Boston Garden
12,525| 2–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 6| April 13| Boston| L 103–121| Lou Hudson (35)| Washington, Bellamy (13)| Bellamy, Gilliam (5)| Omni Coliseum
16,181| 2–4|-