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1968 ABA Playoffs

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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.

1968 ABA playoffs
Tournament details
DatesMarch 23–May 4, 1968
Season1967–68
Teams8
Final positions
ChampionsPittsburgh Pipers (1st title)
Runner-upNew Orleans Buccaneers
Semifinalists
1969 →
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

* Division winner
Bold Series winner
Italic Team with home-court advantage

Notable events

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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

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Eastern Division Semifinals

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(1) Pittsburgh Pipers vs. (3) Indiana Pacers

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This was the first playoff meeting between the Pipers and the Pacers.

(2) Minnesota Muskies vs. (4) Kentucky Colonels

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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

This was the first playoff meeting between the Muskies and the Colonels.

Western Division Semifinals

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(1) New Orleans Buccaneers vs. (3) Denver Rockets

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March 26
Denver Rockets 104, New Orleans Buccaneers 130
Pts: Larry Jones 29 Pts: Larry Brown 31
New Orleans leads series, 1–0
March 30
New Orleans Buccaneers 98, Denver Rockets 105
Pts: Doug Moe 22 Pts: Wayne Hightower 28
New Orleans leads series, 2–1

This was the first playoff meeting between the Buccaneers and the Rockets.

(2) Dallas Chaparrals vs. (4) Houston Mavericks

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March 26
Dallas Chaparrals 116, Houston Mavericks 103
Pts: John Beasley 31 Pts: Art Becker 26
Dallas wins series, 3–0

This was the first playoff meeting between the Chaparrals and the Mavericks.

Division Finals

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Eastern Division Finals

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(1) Pittsburgh Pipers vs. (2) Minnesota Muskies

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This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams.

Western Division Finals

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(1) New Orleans Buccaneers vs. (2) Dallas Chaparrals

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This was the first playoff meeting between the Buccaneers and the Chaparrals.

ABA Finals: (W1) New Orleans Buccaneers vs. (E1) Pittsburgh Pipers

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Series summary

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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

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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 27
New Orleans Buccaneers 111, Pittsburgh Pipers 108
Pts: Doug Moe 31 Pts: Williams, Hawkins 29 each
New Orleans leads series, 3–2

This was the first playoff meeting between the Pipers and the Buccaneers.

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