The 1973-74 Buffalo Braves marked a significant turning point in the franchise’s history. Under the guidance of head coach Jack Ramsay, the team achieved a 42-40 record, clinching their first-ever playoff berth. This success was largely attributed to the stellar performance of Bob McAdoo, who led the league in scoring with an average of 30.6 points per game, earning him the NBA Most Valuable Player award the following season.
In the playoffs, the Braves faced the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Despite a valiant effort, they were defeated in a tightly contested six-game series. The season’s results set the foundation for future success, as the team demonstrated significant improvement and competitiveness. The 1973-74 campaign is often seen as the beginning of the Braves’ ascent in the NBA during the mid-1970s.
- Regular Season Record: 42-40
- Playoff Result: Western Conference Semifinals: 2-4
Buffalo Braves Roster and Stats for 1973-74 Season
POINTS
Bob McAdoo
30.6
REBOUNDS
Bob McAdoo
15.1
ASSISTS
Ernie DiGregorio
7.9
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Bob McAdoo | 74 | 30.6 | 15.1 | 2.3 | 0.6 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 6 | 31.7 | 13.7 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jim McMillian | 82 | 18.6 | 7.4 | 3.1 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 6 | 14.5 | 8.8 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Randy Smith | 82 | 15.5 | 3.8 | 4.7 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 6 | 14.2 | 4.3 | 4.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Gar Heard | 81 | 15.3 | 11.5 | 2.2 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 6 | 16.8 | 14.7 | 2.5 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 |
| Ernie DiGregorio | 81 | 15.2 | 2.8 | 7.9 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 6 | 13.7 | 2.7 | 8.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jack Marin | 27 | 13.4 | 4.5 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 6 | 8.5 | 3.2 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Bob Kauffman | 74 | 6.1 | 4.5 | 1.9 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 2 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Matt Guokas | 27 | 4.9 | 1.5 | 2.6 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 6 | 3.2 | 1.3 | 2.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Dave Wohl | 41 | 4.0 | 0.8 | 3.1 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Ken Charles | 59 | 3.9 | 1.1 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 2 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Lee Winfield | 36 | 2.9 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1 | 1.0 | 3.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Kevin Kunnert | 39 | 2.8 | 2.7 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Mike Macaluso | 30 | 1.6 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Paul Ruffner | 20 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jim Garvin | 6 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Buffalo Braves in the 1974 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs Second Round vs. Boston Celtics
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 30, 1974 | @ Boston Celtics | L 107-97 | |
| Apr 02, 1974 | @ Buffalo Braves | L 115-105 | |
| Apr 03, 1974 | @ Boston Celtics | L 120-107 | |
| Apr 06, 1974 | @ Buffalo Braves | L 104-102 | |
| Apr 09, 1974 | @ Boston Celtics | L 100-97 | |
| Apr 12, 1974 | @ Buffalo Braves | W 106-104 |
Buffalo Braves 1973-74 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1973-74 season for the Buffalo Braves.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 09, 1973 | @ Buffalo Braves | L 107-105 | |
| Oct 12, 1973 | @ Boston Celtics | L 118-112 | |
| Oct 13, 1973 | @ Buffalo Braves | W 125-122 | |
| Oct 16, 1973 | @ New York Knicks | L 117-91 | |
| Oct 20, 1973 | @ Buffalo Braves | L 116-110 | |
| Oct 24, 1973 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 130-113 | |
| Oct 26, 1973 | @ Buffalo Braves | L 104-97 | |
| Oct 27, 1973 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 111-101 | |
| Oct 28, 1973 | @ Kansas City-Omaha Kings | W 112-100 | |
| Oct 30, 1973 | @ Buffalo Braves | L 105-103 | |
| Nov 02, 1973 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 107-97 | |
| Nov 03, 1973 | @ Buffalo Braves | W 124-121 | |
| Nov 04, 1973 | @ Buffalo Braves | W 101-95 | |
| Nov 07, 1973 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 130-113 | |
| Nov 09, 1973 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 122-108 | |
| Nov 10, 1973 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 128-105 | |
| Nov 13, 1973 | @ Buffalo Braves | L 121-114 | |
| Nov 15, 1973 | @ New York Knicks | L 97-86 | |
| Nov 17, 1973 | @ Buffalo Braves | W 98-94 | |
| Nov 18, 1973 | @ Capital Bullets | W 112-101 | |
| Nov 20, 1973 | @ Buffalo Braves | L 127-100 | |
| Nov 24, 1973 | @ Buffalo Braves | L 143-131 | |
| Nov 27, 1973 | @ Buffalo Braves | W 115-110 | |
| Nov 28, 1973 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 130-106 | |
| Nov 30, 1973 | @ Buffalo Braves | W 121-113 | |
| Dec 05, 1973 | @ Buffalo Braves | L 114-110 | |
| Dec 07, 1973 | @ Buffalo Braves | W 113-108 | |
| Dec 09, 1973 | @ Boston Celtics | L 118-114 | |
| Dec 11, 1973 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 132-127 | |
| Dec 12, 1973 | @ Boston Celtics | L 126-119 | |
| Dec 14, 1973 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 102-98 | |
| Dec 18, 1973 | @ Buffalo Braves | L 100-93 | |
| Dec 21, 1973 | @ Buffalo Braves | L 117-115 | |
| Dec 22, 1973 | @ Kansas City-Omaha Kings | L 122-112 | |
| Dec 23, 1973 | @ Buffalo Braves | W 110-85 | |
| Dec 26, 1973 | @ Buffalo Braves | W 125-123 | |
| Dec 29, 1973 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 120-108 | |
| Dec 30, 1973 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 108-105 | |
| Jan 01, 1974 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 120-119 | |
| Jan 02, 1974 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 115-111 | |
| Jan 05, 1974 | @ New York Knicks | W 111-110 | |
| Jan 06, 1974 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 117-109 | |
| Jan 08, 1974 | @ Buffalo Braves | L 100-96 | |
| Jan 11, 1974 | @ Buffalo Braves | L 117-99 | |
| Jan 12, 1974 | @ Capital Bullets | W 97-96 | |
| Jan 13, 1974 | @ Buffalo Braves | W 121-112 | |
| Jan 18, 1974 | @ Buffalo Braves | L 98-94 | |
| Jan 20, 1974 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 129-112 | |
| Jan 22, 1974 | @ Buffalo Braves | L 119-109 | |
| Jan 23, 1974 | @ Buffalo Braves | W 114-88 | |
| Jan 25, 1974 | @ Buffalo Braves | W 118-113 | |
| Jan 26, 1974 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 132-122 | |
| Jan 27, 1974 | @ Houston Rockets | W 122-108 | |
| Jan 29, 1974 | @ Buffalo Braves | W 128-121 | |
| Jan 30, 1974 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 111-96 | |
| Feb 03, 1974 | @ Buffalo Braves | L 112-98 | |
| Feb 06, 1974 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 114-98 | |
| Feb 08, 1974 | @ Buffalo Braves | L 106-101 | |
| Feb 09, 1974 | @ New York Knicks | W 103-100 | |
| Feb 10, 1974 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 125-121 | |
| Feb 12, 1974 | @ Buffalo Braves | W 100-93 | |
| Feb 13, 1974 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 129-106 | |
| Feb 15, 1974 | @ Buffalo Braves | L 118-116 | |
| Feb 16, 1974 | @ Capital Bullets | L 101-92 | |
| Feb 17, 1974 | @ Houston Rockets | W 135-118 | |
| Feb 19, 1974 | @ Buffalo Braves | L 145-109 | |
| Feb 21, 1974 | @ Buffalo Braves | L 119-97 | |
| Feb 22, 1974 | @ Buffalo Braves | W 116-109 | |
| Feb 26, 1974 | @ Buffalo Braves | W 119-112 | |
| Feb 27, 1974 | @ Boston Celtics | W 122-104 | |
| Mar 01, 1974 | @ Buffalo Braves | L 110-94 | |
| Mar 02, 1974 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 103-99 | |
| Mar 08, 1974 | @ Buffalo Braves | W 123-117 | |
| Mar 10, 1974 | @ Buffalo Braves | L 122-112 | |
| Mar 12, 1974 | @ Buffalo Braves | L 124-94 | |
| Mar 15, 1974 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 114-97 | |
| Mar 16, 1974 | @ Buffalo Braves | L 114-105 | |
| Mar 17, 1974 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 116-109 | |
| Mar 21, 1974 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 115-102 | |
| Mar 22, 1974 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 126-119 | |
| Mar 24, 1974 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 150-124 | |
| Mar 26, 1974 | @ Houston Rockets | L 119-96 |