The 1972-73 Indiana Pacers season marked a pivotal year for the franchise in the American Basketball Association (ABA). Under the guidance of head coach Slick Leonard, the Pacers showcased strong performance throughout the regular season, finishing with a record of 51-33. This record secured them the second seed in the Western Division, reflecting their dominance on the court.
The Pacers’ success was largely attributed to their balanced roster, which included standout players like George McGinnis and Roger Brown. Their cohesive play propelled the team into the playoffs, where they faced a series of challenging opponents. The Pacers’ resilience and strategic gameplay led them to the ABA Finals, where they emerged victorious against the Kentucky Colonels, winning the series 4-3. This victory marked the Pacers’ third ABA Championship in four years, solidifying their legacy as a powerhouse team in the league’s history.
- Regular Season Record: 55-36
- Playoff Result: Eastern Conference Semifinals: 4-1, Eastern Conference Finals: 4-2
Indiana Pacers Roster and Stats for 1972-73 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| George McGinnis | 89 | 27.2 | 12.6 | 2.5 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 22.9 | 11 | 25.0 | 11.5 | 2.3 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.0 |
| Mel Daniels | 88 | 18.3 | 15.2 | 2.2 | 0.1 | 0.6 | 25.1 | 11 | 15.7 | 14.1 | 2.1 | 0.1 | 1.4 | 0.0 |
| Freddie Lewis | 79 | 15.3 | 3.3 | 4.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 34.5 | 11 | 13.2 | 3.3 | 4.9 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 18.7 |
| Donnie Freeman | 84 | 14.0 | 2.8 | 2.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 33.3 | 11 | 19.0 | 2.6 | 2.4 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.0 |
| Bill Keller | 89 | 13.3 | 2.5 | 4.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 31.2 | 11 | 10.5 | 2.9 | 4.5 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 30.4 |
| Roger Brown | 79 | 12.4 | 4.8 | 2.7 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 34.4 | 10 | 14.2 | 4.0 | 2.9 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 61.1 |
| Darnell Hillman | 91 | 9.4 | 8.9 | 1.5 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 11 | 5.2 | 5.8 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 0.0 |
| Gus Johnson | 56 | 5.6 | 4.8 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 20.0 | 11 | 2.4 | 4.0 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.0 |
| Don Buse | 82 | 5.2 | 2.7 | 2.8 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 20.0 | 9 | 3.8 | 1.8 | 1.7 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 0.0 |
| Bill Newton | 24 | 2.4 | 2.0 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 50.1 | 4 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Bob Arnzen | 25 | 1.8 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5 | 1.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| George Peeples | 9 | 1.6 | 1.7 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Craig Raymond | 6 | 0.8 | 1.7 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Indiana Pacers in the 1973 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs Second Round vs. Denver Rockets
In the 1973 NBA Playoffs, the Indiana Pacers faced the Utah Stars in the second round of the ABA playoffs. The Pacers, led by the dynamic duo of George McGinnis and Mel Daniels, showcased their prowess by defeating the Stars in a hard-fought series. Their victory propelled them into the ABA Finals, where they continued their quest for championship glory.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 31, 1973 | vs. Denver Rockets | W 114-91 | |
| Apr 01, 1973 | vs. Denver Rockets | W 106-93 | |
| Apr 03, 1973 | @ Denver Rockets | L 105-94 | |
| Apr 05, 1973 | @ Denver Rockets | W 97-95 | |
| Apr 07, 1973 | vs. Denver Rockets | W 121-107 |
1973 Conference Championship vs. Utah Stars
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 12, 1973 | @ Utah Stars | L 124-107 | |
| Apr 14, 1973 | @ Utah Stars | W 116-110 | |
| Apr 16, 1973 | vs. Utah Stars | W 118-108 | |
| Apr 18, 1973 | vs. Utah Stars | L 104-103 | |
| Apr 19, 1973 | @ Utah Stars | W 104-102 | |
| Apr 21, 1973 | vs. Utah Stars | W 107-98 |
Indiana Pacers 1972-73 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1972-73 season for the Indiana Pacers.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 12, 1972 | @ Memphis Tams | W 109-105 | |
| Oct 13, 1972 | vs. Carolina Cougars | L 106-88 | |
| Oct 14, 1972 | vs. Denver Rockets | L 96-90 | |
| Oct 18, 1972 | vs. Utah Stars | W 107-103 | |
| Oct 20, 1972 | @ Denver Rockets | L 116-99 | |
| Oct 21, 1972 | vs. New York Nets | L 113-104 | |
| Oct 27, 1972 | vs. Memphis Tams | W 128-102 | |
| Oct 28, 1972 | @ Denver Rockets | W 119-106 | |
| Oct 29, 1972 | @ San Diego Conquistadors | W 112-98 | |
| Nov 01, 1972 | vs. Virginia Squires | W 120-109 | |
| Nov 03, 1972 | vs. Kentucky Colonels | W 118-116 | |
| Nov 07, 1972 | @ Memphis Tams | W 124-116 | |
| Nov 08, 1972 | vs. Utah Stars | W 135-124 | |
| Nov 09, 1972 | @ Virginia Squires | L 134-126 | |
| Nov 11, 1972 | @ Utah Stars | W 129-109 | |
| Nov 12, 1972 | @ San Diego Conquistadors | W 124-119 | |
| Nov 14, 1972 | @ Denver Rockets | L 118-108 | |
| Nov 17, 1972 | @ Carolina Cougars | L 127-120 | |
| Nov 21, 1972 | @ Memphis Tams | W 121-120 | |
| Nov 22, 1972 | vs. Carolina Cougars | W 114-103 | |
| Nov 24, 1972 | vs. Kentucky Colonels | W 109-99 | |
| Nov 25, 1972 | vs. San Diego Conquistadors | W 111-103 | |
| Nov 28, 1972 | @ Dallas Chaparrals | W 120-117 | |
| Dec 01, 1972 | vs. Dallas Chaparrals | L 123-117 | |
| Dec 02, 1972 | @ Utah Stars | L 111-105 | |
| Dec 03, 1972 | @ New York Nets | W 113-110 | |
| Dec 06, 1972 | vs. San Diego Conquistadors | W 124-112 | |
| Dec 07, 1972 | @ Virginia Squires | L 132-129 | |
| Dec 08, 1972 | @ Kentucky Colonels | L 121-114 | |
| Dec 09, 1972 | @ Dallas Chaparrals | L 129-128 | |
| Dec 14, 1972 | vs. San Diego Conquistadors | W 111-104 | |
| Dec 16, 1972 | vs. Memphis Tams | W 125-120 | |
| Dec 21, 1972 | vs. Utah Stars | L 118-112 | |
| Dec 22, 1972 | @ Dallas Chaparrals | L 147-142 | |
| Dec 26, 1972 | @ Kentucky Colonels | L 129-120 | |
| Dec 27, 1972 | vs. Carolina Cougars | L 122-114 | |
| Dec 28, 1972 | @ Carolina Cougars | L 120-106 | |
| Dec 30, 1972 | vs. Dallas Chaparrals | W 109-101 | |
| Jan 03, 1973 | @ Kentucky Colonels | L 109-107 | |
| Jan 04, 1973 | vs. San Diego Conquistadors | W 125-115 | |
| Jan 06, 1973 | vs. Utah Stars | L 125-118 | |
| Jan 10, 1973 | @ Denver Rockets | L 106-105 | |
| Jan 11, 1973 | @ Dallas Chaparrals | W 107-106 | |
| Jan 12, 1973 | vs. Denver Rockets | L 128-119 | |
| Jan 13, 1973 | vs. San Diego Conquistadors | W 108-107 | |
| Jan 16, 1973 | vs. Denver Rockets | W 130-113 | |
| Jan 18, 1973 | vs. Dallas Chaparrals | W 116-109 | |
| Jan 19, 1973 | @ Virginia Squires | W 129-121 | |
| Jan 20, 1973 | vs. Virginia Squires | W 121-110 | |
| Jan 23, 1973 | vs. New York Nets | W 110-103 | |
| Jan 25, 1973 | vs. Kentucky Colonels | W 96-94 | |
| Jan 26, 1973 | @ Carolina Cougars | L 114-108 | |
| Jan 28, 1973 | vs. Memphis Tams | L 127-126 | |
| Jan 30, 1973 | @ San Diego Conquistadors | W 126-120 | |
| Jan 31, 1973 | @ Utah Stars | L 122-107 | |
| Feb 01, 1973 | vs. Denver Rockets | L 97-92 | |
| Feb 03, 1973 | vs. Kentucky Colonels | W 110-103 | |
| Feb 04, 1973 | vs. Utah Stars | W 113-86 | |
| Feb 09, 1973 | @ New York Nets | W 115-98 | |
| Feb 10, 1973 | @ Dallas Chaparrals | W 105-99 | |
| Feb 11, 1973 | @ Kentucky Colonels | L 98-87 | |
| Feb 12, 1973 | vs. Virginia Squires | W 127-119 | |
| Feb 14, 1973 | @ Memphis Tams | W 129-125 | |
| Feb 16, 1973 | @ Utah Stars | L 124-114 | |
| Feb 18, 1973 | @ San Diego Conquistadors | W 118-103 | |
| Feb 20, 1973 | @ Dallas Chaparrals | L 119-112 | |
| Feb 24, 1973 | @ Virginia Squires | L 126-115 | |
| Feb 25, 1973 | @ New York Nets | L 118-97 | |
| Feb 26, 1973 | vs. New York Nets | W 112-107 | |
| Feb 28, 1973 | vs. San Diego Conquistadors | W 109-106 | |
| Mar 02, 1973 | vs. Denver Rockets | W 114-105 | |
| Mar 04, 1973 | vs. Dallas Chaparrals | W 121-118 | |
| Mar 07, 1973 | vs. Memphis Tams | W 122-114 | |
| Mar 09, 1973 | vs. Carolina Cougars | W 110-105 | |
| Mar 11, 1973 | @ Carolina Cougars | W 115-105 | |
| Mar 14, 1973 | vs. Utah Stars | W 113-106 | |
| Mar 16, 1973 | vs. New York Nets | W 98-89 | |
| Mar 18, 1973 | vs. Virginia Squires | W 119-105 | |
| Mar 21, 1973 | vs. Dallas Chaparrals | W 133-131 | |
| Mar 23, 1973 | @ Denver Rockets | L 101-92 | |
| Mar 24, 1973 | vs. Denver Rockets | W 116-94 | |
| Mar 25, 1973 | @ New York Nets | L 118-115 | |
| Mar 27, 1973 | @ San Diego Conquistadors | W 110-107 | |
| Mar 28, 1973 | @ Utah Stars | L 138-136 | |
| Apr 28, 1973 | @ Kentucky Colonels | W 111-107 | |
| Apr 30, 1973 | @ Kentucky Colonels | L 114-102 | |
| May 03, 1973 | vs. Kentucky Colonels | L 92-88 | |
| May 05, 1973 | vs. Kentucky Colonels | W 90-86 | |
| May 08, 1973 | @ Kentucky Colonels | W 89-86 | |
| May 10, 1973 | vs. Kentucky Colonels | L 109-93 | |
| May 12, 1973 | @ Kentucky Colonels | W 88-81 |