Denver Rockets’ Spencer Haywood sets ABA scoring record with 59 points | April 15, 1970 | Top 150 Colorado Sports Moments
Happy birthday, Colorado — and Colorado sports.
Leading into the state’s 150th birthday Aug. 1, The Denver Gazette has partnered with the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame to publicize the definitive list of Colorado’s top 150 sports moments.
Colorado Sports Hall of Fame historian Dave Plati and a committee of 10 compiled and will release the list every week until the No. 1 moment on July 31. Plati and Broncos icon Jim Saccomano will unveil the list weekly on a Colorado Sports Hall of Fame podcast at coloradosports.org/podcast/.
Today’s top moment in Colorado sports history:
No. 134
April 15, 1970
Spencer Haywood scored an ABA-record 59 points in the regular-season finale, leading the Denver Rockets to a 152-116 win over the Los Angeles Stars in Denver. He also grabbed 25 rebounds (and added three assists). The record would stand for two years. The 152 points matched Denver’s most in an ABA game at that point, first done just a week before (April 8) against the Dallas Chaparrals in a 152-113 home win. Denver would top the 152 points three times in future ABA play, 156 and 153 in overtime games and in a 155-128 regulation win over Virginia when all 10 players scored in double figures.
—Dave Plati, Colorado Sports Hall of Fame historian
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