The 1973-74 Indiana Pacers season was significant as the team competed in the American Basketball Association (ABA). Under the guidance of coach Slick Leonard, the Pacers finished the regular season with a record of 46-38, placing them third in the Western Division. The team’s performance was driven by strong contributions from star players such as George McGinnis, who was a dominant force on the court.
In the playoffs, the Pacers demonstrated resilience and competitive spirit. They faced the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Division Semifinals, winning the series 4-3. However, their journey ended in the Western Division Finals, where they were defeated by the Utah Stars in a hard-fought 4-3 series. Despite not reaching the ABA Finals, the season was marked by strong individual performances and a solid team effort, maintaining the Pacers as a formidable team in the league.
- Regular Season Record: 46-38
- Playoff Result: Eastern Conference Semifinals: 4-3, Eastern Conference Finals: 3-4
Indiana Pacers Roster and Stats for 1973-74 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| George McGinnis | 80 | 25.9 | 14.8 | 3.3 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 14.7 | 14 | 24.0 | 11.9 | 3.4 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 28.6 |
| Mel Daniels | 78 | 15.4 | 11.6 | 1.6 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 14 | 12.2 | 11.4 | 1.9 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 0.0 |
| Donnie Freeman | 66 | 14.3 | 2.5 | 2.4 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 6 | 12.3 | 1.7 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Roger Brown | 82 | 11.8 | 4.7 | 2.8 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 36.4 | 13 | 14.1 | 5.8 | 3.7 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 33.3 |
| Freddie Lewis | 78 | 9.9 | 2.6 | 4.1 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 18.1 | 14 | 17.4 | 3.6 | 4.4 | 1.7 | 0.1 | 31.6 |
| Bill Keller | 75 | 9.5 | 1.7 | 2.2 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 38.5 | 12 | 9.4 | 1.5 | 2.1 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 37.5 |
| Darnell Hillman | 83 | 9.1 | 8.0 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 37.4 | 14 | 8.4 | 7.1 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 1.0 | 0.0 |
| Bob Netolicky | 56 | 9.1 | 5.2 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 33.3 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Kevin Joyce | 56 | 7.3 | 1.6 | 2.3 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 18.5 | 10 | 4.4 | 0.9 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 28.6 |
| Don Buse | 77 | 5.5 | 3.3 | 3.4 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 33.6 | 14 | 5.2 | 2.6 | 2.6 | 1.6 | 0.1 | 31.8 |
| Bob Arnzen | 20 | 2.8 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 100.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Johnny Baum | 13 | 2.8 | 1.9 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 11 | 3.6 | 1.9 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.0 |
| Larry Cannon | 3 | 2.3 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Bill Newton | 11 | 1.4 | 1.6 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Indiana Pacers in the 1974 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs Second Round vs. San Antonio Spurs
In the 1974 NBA Playoffs, the Indiana Pacers faced a challenging second-round matchup against the Utah Stars in the ABA Western Division Finals. Despite a strong effort from the Pacers, led by their star forward George McGinnis, they were ultimately defeated by the Stars in a gripping seven-game series. This loss marked the end of the Pacers' quest for a third consecutive ABA championship, highlighting the fierce competition of the era.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 30, 1974 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 113-109 | |
| Apr 01, 1974 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 128-101 | |
| Apr 03, 1974 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 115-96 | |
| Apr 04, 1974 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 91-89 | |
| Apr 06, 1974 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 105-100 | |
| Apr 10, 1974 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 102-86 | |
| Apr 12, 1974 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 86-79 |
1974 Conference Championship vs. Utah Stars
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 13, 1974 | @ Utah Stars | L 105-96 | |
| Apr 15, 1974 | @ Utah Stars | L 106-102 | |
| Apr 17, 1974 | vs. Utah Stars | L 99-90 | |
| Apr 18, 1974 | vs. Utah Stars | W 118-107 | |
| Apr 22, 1974 | @ Utah Stars | W 110-101 | |
| Apr 25, 1974 | vs. Utah Stars | W 91-89 | |
| Apr 27, 1974 | @ Utah Stars | L 109-87 |
Indiana Pacers 1973-74 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1973-74 season for the Indiana Pacers.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 10, 1973 | vs. New York Nets | W 118-99 | |
| Oct 12, 1973 | @ Carolina Cougars | L 99-98 | |
| Oct 13, 1973 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 116-99 | |
| Oct 19, 1973 | vs. Utah Stars | L 101-96 | |
| Oct 20, 1973 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 92-66 | |
| Oct 21, 1973 | @ San Diego Conquistadors | W 112-105 | |
| Oct 24, 1973 | vs. Denver Rockets | W 98-89 | |
| Oct 26, 1973 | vs. Memphis Tams | L 93-91 | |
| Nov 02, 1973 | vs. Denver Rockets | W 107-103 | |
| Nov 04, 1973 | vs. Virginia Squires | W 128-122 | |
| Nov 06, 1973 | @ Memphis Tams | L 102-96 | |
| Nov 07, 1973 | vs. Carolina Cougars | W 109-100 | |
| Nov 10, 1973 | @ Utah Stars | L 105-100 | |
| Nov 11, 1973 | @ San Diego Conquistadors | L 102-101 | |
| Nov 13, 1973 | @ Denver Rockets | L 127-109 | |
| Nov 14, 1973 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 95-90 | |
| Nov 17, 1973 | @ Kentucky Colonels | L 100-96 | |
| Nov 20, 1973 | vs. Utah Stars | W 102-98 | |
| Nov 21, 1973 | @ Memphis Tams | L 108-99 | |
| Nov 23, 1973 | vs. Kentucky Colonels | W 118-114 | |
| Nov 24, 1973 | @ Virginia Squires | L 108-102 | |
| Nov 25, 1973 | @ New York Nets | W 126-124 | |
| Nov 27, 1973 | vs. San Diego Conquistadors | W 129-117 | |
| Nov 29, 1973 | vs. Denver Rockets | L 127-111 | |
| Nov 30, 1973 | @ Kentucky Colonels | W 107-104 | |
| Dec 01, 1973 | vs. Memphis Tams | W 116-112 | |
| Dec 02, 1973 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 90-79 | |
| Dec 05, 1973 | vs. New York Nets | L 108-103 | |
| Dec 07, 1973 | vs. Kentucky Colonels | W 105-97 | |
| Dec 08, 1973 | @ Virginia Squires | W 113-107 | |
| Dec 12, 1973 | vs. San Diego Conquistadors | L 119-113 | |
| Dec 15, 1973 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 92-81 | |
| Dec 19, 1973 | vs. Utah Stars | W 104-88 | |
| Dec 21, 1973 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 84-81 | |
| Dec 22, 1973 | @ Virginia Squires | L 107-100 | |
| Dec 26, 1973 | @ Kentucky Colonels | L 106-78 | |
| Dec 28, 1973 | vs. Memphis Tams | W 91-86 | |
| Dec 29, 1973 | @ Denver Rockets | W 114-108 | |
| Dec 30, 1973 | @ San Diego Conquistadors | W 109-108 | |
| Jan 03, 1974 | vs. Denver Rockets | W 100-97 | |
| Jan 05, 1974 | vs. Kentucky Colonels | W 100-92 | |
| Jan 10, 1974 | vs. San Diego Conquistadors | L 109-107 | |
| Jan 11, 1974 | @ New York Nets | L 109-106 | |
| Jan 12, 1974 | vs. Carolina Cougars | W 124-105 | |
| Jan 13, 1974 | @ San Diego Conquistadors | L 141-130 | |
| Jan 16, 1974 | @ Utah Stars | L 123-105 | |
| Jan 17, 1974 | @ Memphis Tams | L 101-96 | |
| Jan 18, 1974 | vs. Virginia Squires | W 118-106 | |
| Jan 20, 1974 | vs. San Diego Conquistadors | W 123-122 | |
| Jan 23, 1974 | @ Carolina Cougars | L 123-101 | |
| Jan 25, 1974 | @ Memphis Tams | W 121-101 | |
| Jan 26, 1974 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 90-89 | |
| Jan 27, 1974 | vs. Virginia Squires | W 119-113 | |
| Feb 01, 1974 | @ San Diego Conquistadors | L 124-119 | |
| Feb 02, 1974 | @ Utah Stars | L 118-113 | |
| Feb 03, 1974 | @ Denver Rockets | W 111-102 | |
| Feb 06, 1974 | vs. New York Nets | L 121-100 | |
| Feb 09, 1974 | vs. Denver Rockets | L 102-97 | |
| Feb 10, 1974 | vs. Carolina Cougars | L 96-93 | |
| Feb 12, 1974 | @ Utah Stars | L 114-91 | |
| Feb 13, 1974 | @ San Diego Conquistadors | W 128-119 | |
| Feb 14, 1974 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 88-83 | |
| Feb 16, 1974 | vs. Denver Rockets | W 102-89 | |
| Feb 17, 1974 | @ Denver Rockets | W 93-92 | |
| Feb 19, 1974 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 107-102 | |
| Feb 22, 1974 | @ Carolina Cougars | L 109-106 | |
| Feb 23, 1974 | @ Virginia Squires | W 108-101 | |
| Feb 24, 1974 | vs. Virginia Squires | W 107-102 | |
| Feb 26, 1974 | @ Utah Stars | W 110-94 | |
| Feb 27, 1974 | @ Denver Rockets | L 118-114 | |
| Mar 02, 1974 | @ Carolina Cougars | L 110-108 | |
| Mar 03, 1974 | @ New York Nets | W 120-99 | |
| Mar 06, 1974 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 92-82 | |
| Mar 08, 1974 | vs. Memphis Tams | W 115-103 | |
| Mar 09, 1974 | @ Kentucky Colonels | L 113-108 | |
| Mar 10, 1974 | vs. Utah Stars | W 126-103 | |
| Mar 11, 1974 | @ New York Nets | L 124-117 | |
| Mar 13, 1974 | vs. Kentucky Colonels | W 100-96 | |
| Mar 15, 1974 | vs. San Diego Conquistadors | W 142-129 | |
| Mar 17, 1974 | vs. New York Nets | W 117-105 | |
| Mar 20, 1974 | vs. Carolina Cougars | W 104-102 | |
| Mar 24, 1974 | vs. Utah Stars | W 101-89 | |
| Mar 27, 1974 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 98-80 | |
| Mar 28, 1974 | @ Utah Stars | W 111-109 |