1969–70 Phoenix Suns season
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record
9 November 4 New York L 99-116 Connie Hawkins ( 39 ) Paul Silas ( 9 ) Gail Goodrich , Connie Hawkins ( 4 ) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 10,552 3-6
10 November 7 @ Los Angeles W 122-120 Gail Goodrich ( 37 ) Paul Silas ( 14 ) Dick Van Arsdale ( 7 ) The Forum 10,557 4-6
11 November 9 Detroit W 140-129 Connie Hawkins ( 35 ) Paul Silas ( 14 ) Gail Goodrich ( 12 ) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 9,500 5-6
12 November 13 Philadelphia L 110-124 Dick Van Arsdale ( 30 ) Jim Fox ( 14 ) Gail Goodrich ( 7 ) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 5,440 5-7
13 November 14 @ Los Angeles L 112-127 Jim Fox ( 39 ) Jim Fox ( 23 ) Connie Hawkins ( 7 ) The Forum 8,902 5-8
14 November 15 Los Angeles W 114-111 Gail Goodrich ( 31 ) Connie Hawkins ( 18 ) Gail Goodrich ( 6 ) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 6,318 6-8
15 November 16 Atlanta W 139-118 Connie Hawkins ( 29 ) Paul Silas ( 15 ) Gail Goodrich , Connie Hawkins ( 8 ) University Arena 5,094 7-8
16 November 18 @ Boston L 119-120 ( OT ) Dick Van Arsdale ( 32 ) Connie Hawkins ( 17 ) Connie Hawkins , Dick Van Arsdale ( 6 ) Baltimore Civic Center 6,028 7-9
17 November 19 @ Baltimore L 118-133 Gail Goodrich ( 29 ) Lamar Green ( 16 ) Dick Van Arsdale ( 11 ) The Spectrum 9,287 7-10
18 November 21 @ Baltimore L 116-126 Dick Van Arsdale ( 26 ) Connie Hawkins ( 18 ) Gail Goodrich , Connie Hawkins , Dick Van Arsdale ( 5 ) Baltimore Civic Center 5,215 7-11
19 November 22 @ New York L 114-128 Dick Van Arsdale ( 24 ) Paul Silas ( 10 ) Gail Goodrich ( 12 ) Madison Square Garden 19,401 7-12
20 November 23 @ Cincinnati L 123-137 Jerry Chambers ( 31 ) Connie Hawkins ( 9 ) Gail Goodrich ( 9 ) Cincinnati Gardens 2,866 7-13
21 November 25 Baltimore L 124-134 Dick Van Arsdale ( 30 ) Connie Hawkins ( 16 ) Gail Goodrich ( 10 ) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 5,776 7-14
22 November 29 @ Seattle L 129-130 Jim Fox ( 31 ) Jim Fox ( 13 ) Dick Van Arsdale ( 9 ) Seattle Center Coliseum 9,418 7-15
23 November 30 Seattle W 116-108 Connie Hawkins ( 26 ) Paul Silas ( 13 ) Gail Goodrich ( 5 ) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 3,621 8-15
The 1969-70 Phoenix Suns season was the second season of the Phoenix Suns in the National Basketball Association (NBA). It was the first season, however, for eventual Hall of Famer Connie Hawkins, who was a star in the ABA before switching to the NBA to join the Suns. Head coach Johnny Red Kerr was replaced by general manager Jerry Colangelo after the Suns started 15-23. All home games were played at Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Hawkins led the Suns in scoring with 24.6 points per game, which was also sixth in the league. He teamed with Dick Van Arsdale's 21.3 points to create the highest-scoring season for a Suns duo until the 1977-78 Suns season, when Paul Westphal and Walter Davis combined for 49.4 points. After a 16-66 finish in 1968-69, Hawkins and the Suns made a 23-game improvement to 39-43, making their first playoff appearance in only their second season. Facing off against Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West, Elgin Baylor and the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Division Semifinals, the Suns took an improbable 3-1 lead, before falling to the Lakers in seven games.