On This Date in Sports March 23, 1979: Playing Twice
In collaboration with the Sportsecyclopedia.com
It is two losses for the price of one, for the New Jersey Nets, as they a beaten by the Philadelphia 76ers in a rare NBA doubleheader at the Spectrum. The twin bill was needed because the Nets successfully protested a game from November 8th, forcing most of the second half to be replayed. The Sixers won the resumed game 123-117 and the original scheduled game 110-98.
On November 8, 1978, the Philadelphia 76ers hosted the New Jersey Nets, an early-season game at the Spectrum. The game was controversial as Richie Powers, notorious for calling technical fouls, ejected both Nets coach Kevin Loughery and Bernard King midway through the third quarter. It was the third technical on King in the game, Loughery went ballistic and joined his point guard on the way back to the locker. With assistant coach Phil Jackson taking over, and Eric Money scoring 37 points, the Nets would lose in double overtime 137-133. The Nets would protest the game, saying that King and Loughery were improperly ejected. Commissioner Larry O’Brien ruled in New Jersey’s favor, ordering the game be replayed from the midpoint of the third quarter prior to the Nets' next game in Philadelphia.
In the waning 136 days, the Nets and 76ers made a trade on February 7th. The Nets shipped Eric Money and Al Skinner to Philadelphia for Harvey Catchings and Ralph Simpson. All four players would be eligible to play in the resumed game, meaning they would have appeared for both teams. Money had a career-best day erased by the restart, had 23 points with New Jersey and four with the Sixers in the restart, while Al Skinner did not appear in the game for either team. Harry Catchings was held scoreless on November 8th for Philadelphia and had eight points for the Nets after the restart. Ralph Simpson had eight points for the Sixers and was held scoreless with the Nets. In the end, the restart did not change the result as the 76ers won 123-117, with Julius Erving scoring 32 points, while John Williamson had 34 for New Jersey.
In the regularly scheduled game, the 76ers again got the best of the New Jersey Nets, winning 110-98. Again Williams and Erving were the game’s top scorers. Williams led all scorers with 27 points, while Dr. J had 26 for the Sixers. Eric Money cashed in 15 points for Philadelphia, as the Sixers bench outscored New Jersey 47-16. With the wins, the 76ers coached by Billy Cunningham stood at 41-33, while the Nets dropped to 34-39. The teams would later meet in the playoffs, with the Sixers winning the best-of-three series 2-0.