With the NBA on hiatus and New York continuing its battle against the novel coronavirus outbreak, Brooklyn Nets games will not be played for the foreseeable future.
For the Nets, as much as any team, this comes at an odd time — Brooklyn was battling the Orlando Magic for the seventh spot in the Eastern Conference standings. At the stoppage of play, the Nets had a half-game advantage over the Magic.
Since there aren’t any games, each day Nets Wire will highlight impressive individual performances and major moments throughout Nets history:
After losing in the semifinals of 1970 and 1971 ABA Playoffs, the New York Nets made it all the way to the ABA Finals in 1972. Their opponent was the Indiana Pacers, who won it all in 1970.
Indy took it to the Nets in Game 1, winning by 21 points, but the same could not be said of their Game 2 meeting on May 8. Rich Barry (29) and Bill Melchionni (26) combined for 55 points as the Nets won their first ABA Finals win in franchise history 117-115 to even the series 1-1 (full box score).
Barry also had eight boards, and Melchionni finished with seven assists.
Billy Paultz (18 points and 15 rebounds) and Johnny Baum (14 points and 11 rebounds) both had double-doubles.
John Roche matched Paultz’s scoring output while also going 8-for-15 from the floor.