{"id":763552,"date":"2026-06-17T19:00:20","date_gmt":"2026-06-17T19:00:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/763552\/"},"modified":"2026-06-17T19:00:20","modified_gmt":"2026-06-17T19:00:20","slug":"george-gervin-edges-david-thompson-for-nba-scoring-title-april-9-1978-colorados-top-150-sports-moments","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/763552\/","title":{"rendered":"George Gervin edges David Thompson for NBA scoring title | April 9, 1978 | Colorado’s Top 150 Sports Moments"},"content":{"rendered":"

Happy birthday, Colorado\u00a0\u2014 and\u00a0Colorado\u00a0sports.<\/p>\n

Leading into the state\u2019s\u00a0150th birthday Aug. 1, The Denver Gazette has partnered with the\u00a0Colorado\u00a0Sports\u00a0Hall of Fame to publicize the definitive list of\u00a0Colorado\u2019s\u00a0top\u00a0150\u00a0sports\u00a0moments.<\/p>\n

For Nos. 50 to 1, Colorado\u00a0Sports\u00a0Hall of Fame historian Dave\u00a0Plati coordinated a 19-member committee to rank in order what they considered the top\u00a0moments. The No. 1 moment will be revealed July 31.\u00a0Plati\u00a0and Broncos icon Jim Saccomano will unveil the list weekly on a\u00a0Colorado\u00a0Sports\u00a0Hall of Fame podcast at\u00a0coloradosports.org\/podcast\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"Colorado Sports Hall of Fame Top 150 Sports Moments <\/p>\n

No. 34 \u2014 April 9, 1978<\/p>\n

It was the final day of the 1977-78 NBA season. Denver had clinched the Midwest Division with a 48-33 record and traveled to Detroit; San Antonio had clinched the Central (52-29) and finished up at New Orleans. Thus, winning wasn\u2019t the top priority \u2014 but the battle for the league\u2019s scoring title was at stake. The Spurs\u2019 George Gervin entered the day with 2,169 points in 81 games (26.8 per), while the Nuggets\u2019 David Thompson had 2,099 in 79 games (26.6). Gervin had one advantage: San Antonio\u2019s game tipped off 5 hours after Denver\u2019s 2:30 p.m. start in the Motor City. Thus, Thompson was up first and scored the third-most points in an NBA game \u2014 73, a number that was still tied for fourth through the \u201923-24 season. Thompson finished with 2,172 points (27.15 per game). Gervin knew he needed 58 points to overtake Thompson. He poured in 63 to finish with 2,232, or 27.22 per game. Thompson was 28-of-38 from the floor and 17-of-20 from the line. Both teams lost: Detroit beat Denver, 139-137; and New Orleans beat San Antonio, 153-132.<\/p>\n

\u2014Dave Plati, Colorado Sports Hall of Fame historian<\/p>\n


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