The 1969–70 ABA season was the Rockets' third season. They ended up with a 51–33 record. Out of the 11 teams that played in the ABA that season the Rockets had the highest rating in simple rating system and offensive rating. Their 4-3 first round series win over the short-lived Washington Caps franchise would be their first playoff series win in franchise history, as well as their only playoff series win that they had while under their original Rockets name. They would also have a shot of making it to their first ABA Finals Championship series later that year, but they would surprisingly falter to the Los Angeles Stars (who had not only anticipated another losing season on their ends, but also entered the 1970 ABA Playoffs rather unexpectedly on their ends and had surprisingly upset the Dallas Chaparrals earlier on in the first round) in five games there. They would not win another playoff series until 1975, by which time they would change their team name from the Rockets to the modern-day iteration of the Denver Nuggets, which they still remain as to this very day.

Roster

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Season standings Eastern Division Eastern DivisionWLPCTGBIndiana Pacers *5925.702 -Kentucky Colonels *4539.53614.0Carolina Cougars *4242.50017.0New York Nets *3945.46420.0Pittsburgh Pipers2955.34530.0Miami Floridians2361.27436.0

Western Division Western DivisionWLPCTGBDenver Rockets *5133.607 -Dallas Chaparrals *4539.5366.0Washington Caps *4440.5247.0Los Angeles Stars *4341.5128.0New Orleans Buccaneers4242.5009.0 Asterisk Denotes playoff team

Game log 1969-70 Denver Rockets Schedule and Results | Basketball-Reference.com

Statistics RkPlayerAgeGMPFGFGAFG%3P3PA3P%2P2PA2P%FTFTAFT%ORBDRBTRBASTTOVPFPTS1Spencer Haywood2084 45.311.723.8.4930.00.1.00011.723.7.4966.58.4.7766.313.119.52.3 3.02.630.02Larry Jones2775 40.48.319.2.4340.52.2.2487.817.0.4587.79.8.7911.93.35.25.7 3.23.024.93Byron Beck2579 31.15.610.6.5230.00.0.0005.610.6.5241.72.2.7873.26.59.71.4 1.73.712.94Jeffrey Congdon2683 29.73.69.3.3860.82.1.3542.87.2.3951.82.3.7860.62.22.85.4 2.52.59.85Lonnie Wright2679 28.35.012.1.4130.72.4.2804.39.6.4471.52.2.6910.62.12.71.9 1.23.512.26Julian Hammond2669 26.84.89.6.4980.00.0.0004.89.6.4992.43.5.6953.03.96.81.6 2.32.712.07Julius Keye2377 21.33.28.0.3960.00.1.0003.27.9.4011.52.5.6012.44.46.90.6 1.32.77.98Walter Piatkowski2474 17.62.97.2.4020.10.7.2202.86.6.4211.01.3.7681.42.03.40.6 1.02.47.09Floyd Theard2525 16.21.64.5.3450.00.0.0001.64.5.3480.71.1.6430.31.72.01.8 1.82.03.810Dwight Waller247 12.41.43.4.4170.00.1.0001.43.3.4351.32.7.4742.33.15.40.6 2.31.74.111Lonnie Lynn2612 11.71.73.8.4350.00.0 1.73.8.4350.71.0.6671.32.94.20.3 0.61.54.012Ben Warley3342 11.31.44.0.3530.41.4.2591.12.7.4021.41.8.7630.62.02.60.7 0.92.34.613Greg Wittman2250 9.11.64.1.3920.10.3.2351.53.7.4060.61.2.5420.61.42.00.3 0.71.73.914Cliff Anderson253 7.30.71.3.5000.00.00.71.3.5000.72.0.3330.31.01.31.3 1.01.02.0 1969-70 ABA Season Summary | Basketball-Reference.com

ABA Playoffs ABA Western Division Semifinals vs. Washington Capitals Game Date Location Score Record Attendance 1 April 17 Denver 130–111 1–0 9,822 2 April 18 Denver 143–133 2–0 9,889 3 April 19 Washington 120–125 2–1 1,748 4 April 22 Washington 114–131 2–2 5,497 5 April 23 Denver 132–110 3–2 7,141 6 April 25 Washington 111–116 3–3 3,186 7 April 28 Denver 143–119 4–3 9,893 Rockets win series, 4–3

ABA Division Finals Game Date Location Score Record Attendance 1 April 30 Denver 123–113 (OT) 1–0 7,071 2 May 1 Denver 105–114 1–1 7,187 3 May 4 Los Angeles 113–119 1–2 4,468 4 May 5 Los Angeles 110–114 1–3 3,432 5 May 9 Denver 107–109 1–4 6,401 Rockets lose series, 4–1

Awards and records ABA All-Star: Larry Jones, Spencer Haywood ABA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player: Spencer Haywood ABA Most Valuable Player: Spencer Haywood ABA Coach of the Year Award: Joe Belmont ABA All-League Team: Spencer Haywood, Larry JonesRemember the ABA: Year-to-Year Postseason Awards Spencer Haywood: 986 field goals (Nuggets single-season franchise record)

References