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.

For Nos. 50 to 1, Colorado Sports Hall of Fame historian Dave Plati coordinated a 19-member committee to rank in order what they considered the top moments. The No. 1 moment will be revealed 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/.

No. 13 — Jan. 27, 1976

The ABA was down to seven teams and playing as one group instead of two divisions, so it was decided to have the league All-Stars play the team that was in the lead at the time — Denver (32-11 on the season, topping New York’s 29-15 mark). Denver was always slated to host, and before a league-record 17,798 spectators at the brand-new McNichols Sports Arena, the Nuggets won, 144-138. David Thompson led the way with 29 points and was named the game’s MVP. Bobby Jones scored 24 and Dan Issel and Ralph Simpson each added 19. Julius “Dr. J” Erving led the All-Stars with 23 points, but he was a crowd favorite as at halftime, when he won the inaugural slam dunk contest over Thompson, George Gervin, Artis Gilmore and Larry Kenon. The NBA resumed the contest in 1984, when the NBA All-Star game was also held in Denver. Glen Campbell and Charley Pride performed in a pregame concert to kick off the festivities.

—Dave Plati, Colorado Sports Hall of Fame historian