This day in NY sports history

THIS DAY IN NY SPORTS HISTORY

Thursday, May 13, 1976

New York Nets win second ABA title

The Nets rallied from 22 points down with 17 minutes left to beat the Denver Nuggets, 112-106, in Game 6 of the finals and claim the last American Basketball Association championship before the league merged with the NBA. The Nuggets had controlled the game thanks to David Thompson's 42 points and held an 80-58 lead with five minutes left in the third quarter. But the 15,934 fans at Nassau Coliseum witnessed the Nets surge back with a full-court pressure defense and John Williamson scoring 24 of his 28 points in the second half. Julius Erving (31 points) had five fourth-quarter steals as the Nets outscored Denver 34-14 in the final period.