The Spirits of St. Louis had finished the regular season in third place in the Eastern Division 26 games behind the Nets and Colonels with a record of 32-52. The Nets had claimed Game 1 in their Eastern Division Semifinals series against the Spirits but St. Louis had roared back to reel off four straight wins to advance against the favored Nets, claiming the spot against the Colonels in the Eastern Division semifinals.
