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Nets take 2-1 leadUniondale, N. Y. (AP) Julius Erving admitted he did not play particularly well, but when the pressure was on, in the closing minutes, he was as usual, equal to the task.“It was a good win, but not a good game for me,” he confessed Thursday night after his heroics in thermal two minutes had carried the New York Nets to a 117-111 victory over the Denver Nuggets and a 2-1 lead in their American Basketball Ass ociation championship series.While Erving was downplaying his role, the Nuggets were loudly criticizing the officiating of John Vanak and Jack Madden.Denver Coach Larry Brown and rookie star David Thompson both were critical of a charging foul called by Vanak against Thompson with 23 seconds remaining and the Nets leading 113-111. Thompson, in fact, was crying as he entered the Nuggets’ locker room, and confessed it was the first time he had broken down because of such circumstances.“I went up for a shot and (Rich) Jones pushed me back,” said Thompson, Denver’s high scorer with 32 points.After Vanak made the controversial call, Thompson said he was “shocked.”“I couldn’t believe it,” he added. “I believe in fair play. That wasn’t fair play.”Rich Jones, the innocent party in the disputed call, said, “I know the way he (Thompson) drives. He likes to rock you and spring back. Sometimes it’s called a block, sometimes it’s called a charge.”Going into the last two min-A happyNew York Nets forward Julius Erving is grabbed and hugged by a happy teammate Thursday night after Dr. J. scored 31 points to pace theutes, Erving had scored a mere 23 points.Then, with 1:36 to go, he hit an inside jumper, for a 111-108The unhappy losersNets to a 117-111 victory over the Denver Nuggets in the American Basketball Association championship playoff series.(AP Wirephoto)New York lead. He then went high to block a jump shot by Bobby Jones and a one-hander by Chuck Williams, butDenver Nuggets' head coach Larry Brown, left, and his assistant, Doug Moe, were most displeased Thursday nightThompson came back and tied the score 111-111.Then it was all Erving. He spun around Jones for a spinn-when their David Thompson was charged with a questionable offensive foul. They were even more displeased latering backhand layup with his left hand with 31 seconds left. Eleven seconds after that he converted two free throws, andwhen the New York Nets took a 117-111 American Basketball Association win over the Nuggets.(AP Wirephoto)iust before the final buzzer, ha climaxed a 31-point performance with an acrobatic dunk following a Nets’ steal.Troubled ABA in 'limbo'By Bert Rosenthal Uniondale, N .Y. (AP)The American Basketball Association, in its usual state of uncertainty, probably will not have a team in Virginia next season and most likely will return to Salt Lake City.That is. if there is an ABA.If there is no ABA, its remaining six teams could wind up in the National Basketball Association.That appeared to be the jist of comments made by ABA Commissioner Dave DeBus-schere during a hastily-called news conference at halftime of game three of the league’s championship series between the New York Nets and the Denver Nuggets at the Nassau Coliseum Thursday night.Just prior to the contest,Squires may fold nextfollowing a meeting of the league’s Board of Trustees, DeBusschere announced termination of the Virginia franchise for failure to meet its obligations to the ABA and its players.However, DeBusschere added that the financially-ailing Squires had requested that they be given until 4 p.m., CDT, Monday to raise enough money —an estimated $100,000 -to keep the franchise alive. The trustees granted that request.Should the Squires fail, however, DeBusschere said he would take positive action with the players, whose contracts are legally under the league’s jurisdiction.DeBusschere also said the Spirits of St. Louis have been granted approval by the trustees to move the franchise to Salt Lake City, pending final agreement between all parties involved.“We do not have a final agreement out there (in Salt Lake City) yet,” explained DeBusschere, “but we are close to it.”He said the ABA, if it goes alone again next season, would be an eight-team league and die trustees formulated plans along those lines Thursday “while still thinking about merger.”
Newspaper Details
Southern Illinoisan
Carbondale, Illinois, US
Fri, May 07, 1976
Page 16
Full Page
Clipped by
Robert G.
USA 27 Mar 2025
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