1984–85 Denver Nuggets season

The 1984–85 Denver Nuggets season was their 18th season, and their ninth in the NBA.

In the playoffs, the Nuggets defeated the San Antonio Spurs in five games in the First Round, then defeated the Utah Jazz in five games in the Semi-finals, before losing to the eventual NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers in five games in the conference finals.

Draft picks

Round Pick Player Position Nationality School/Club team 2 42 Willie White G Tennessee-Chattanooga 4 79 Karl Tilleman Calgary 5 103 Prince Bridges Missouri 6 125 Willie Burton Tennessee 7 149 Mark Simpson Catawba College 8 171 Bill Wendlandt Texas 9 194 Cecil Exum F North Carolina 10 215 Dexter Bailey Xavier (OH)

Roster

Regular season

Season standings

Notes z, y – division champions x – clinched playoff spot

Game log Regular season

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 1 | | Golden State | W 125–121

| McNichols Sports Arena | 1–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 2 | | @ San Antonio | L 118–126

| HemisFair Arena | 1–1

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 3 | | Chicago | W 129–113

| McNichols Sports Arena | 2–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 4 | | @ Kansas City | W 128–114

| Kemper Arena | 3–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 5 | | @ L.A. Clippers | L 104–107

| Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena | 3–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 6 | 8:30p.m. MST | @ L.A. Lakers | W 146–130 | English (28) | Natt (8) | Lever (18) | The Forum11,272 | 4–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 7 | | Portland | W 128–125

| McNichols Sports Arena | 5–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 8 | | Utah | W 147–135

| McNichols Sports Arena | 6–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 9 | | Phoenix | W 122–110

| McNichols Sports Arena | 7–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 10 | | Houston | W 119–102

| McNichols Sports Arena | 8–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 11 | | @ Seattle | W 124–114

| Kingdome | 9–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 12 | | @ L.A. Clippers | W 112–106

| Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena | 10–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 13 | | Philadelphia | W 114–110

| McNichols Sports Arena | 11–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 14 | | L.A. Clippers | W 139–110

| McNichols Sports Arena | 12–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 15 | | @ Utah | L 97–116

| Salt Palace Acord Arena | 12–3

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 16 | | Utah | W 118–111

| McNichols Sports Arena | 13–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 17 | | @ New York | L 98–100

| Madison Square Garden | 13–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 18 | | @ Boston | L 107–123

| Boston Garden | 13–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 19 | | @ Detroit | L 115–122

| Pontiac Silverdome | 13–6 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 20 | | @ Cleveland | W 114–108

| Richfield Coliseum | 14–6 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 21 | | Portland | W 123–122

| McNichols Sports Arena | 15–6 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 22 | | @ San Antonio | L 105–126

| HemisFair Arena | 15–7 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 23 | | Kansas City | L 117–123

| McNichols Sports Arena | 15–8 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 24 | | Seattle | L 101–112

| McNichols Sports Arena | 15–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 25 | | @ Golden State | W 126–122 (OT)

| Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena | 16–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 26 | | Detroit | L 129–148

| McNichols Sports Arena | 16–10 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 27 | | Dallas | W 116–93

| McNichols Sports Arena | 17–10 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 28 | | @ Houston | L 107–125

| The Summit | 17–11 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 29 | | San Antonio | W 130–119

| McNichols Sports Arena | 18–11 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 30 | 7:30p.m. MST | L.A. Lakers | L 123–135 | English (31) | English (9) | English (8) | McNichols Sports Arena | 18–12 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 31 | | @ Seattle(at Tacoma, Washington) | W 115–108

| Tacoma Dome | 19–12

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 32 | | Houston | L 111–113

| McNichols Sports Arena | 19–13 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 33 | | @ Utah | L 108–118

| Salt Palace Acord Arena | 19–14 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 34 | | L.A. Clippers | L 115–127

| McNichols Sports Arena | 19–15 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 35 | 8:30p.m. MST | @ L.A. Lakers | W 126–124 | English (41) | English (11) | Evans (9) | The Forum13,024 | 20–15 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 36 | | New York | W 100–95

| McNichols Sports Arena | 21–15 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 37 | | Kansas City | W 143–121

| McNichols Sports Arena | 22–15 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 38 | | @ Milwaukee | L 116–140

| MECCA Arena | 22–16 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 39 | | @ Chicago | L 113–122

| Chicago Stadium | 22–17 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 40 | | Golden State | W 115–107

| McNichols Sports Arena | 23–17 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 41 | | Washington | W 108–106

| McNichols Sports Arena | 24–17 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 42 | | @ Portland | W 123–120

| Memorial Coliseum | 25–17 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 43 | | New Jersey | W 119–110

| McNichols Sports Arena | 26–17 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 44 | | Cleveland | W 144–127

| McNichols Sports Arena | 27–17 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 45 | | @ Utah | W 104–100

| Salt Palace Acord Arena | 28–17 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 46 | | Phoenix | W 128–100

| McNichols Sports Arena | 29–17 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 47 | | Dallas | W 121–110

| McNichols Sports Arena | 30–17

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 48 | | @ Houston | L 128–131 (2OT)

| The Summit | 30–18 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 49 | | @ Dallas | L 106–114

| Reunion Arena | 30–19 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 50 | | @ Phoenix | L 103–108

| Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum | 30–20 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 51 | | Seattle | W 120–101

| McNichols Sports Arena | 31–20 |- align="center" |colspan="9" bgcolor="#bbcaff"|All-Star Break |- style="background:#cfc;" |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 52 | | Atlanta | W 131–107

| McNichols Sports Arena | 32–20 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 53 | | @ Kansas City | W 138–123

| Kemper Arena | 33–20 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 54 | | San Antonio | W 129–119

| McNichols Sports Arena | 34–20 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 55 | | Boston | W 132–129

| McNichols Sports Arena | 35–20 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 56 | | @ Seattle | L 123–133

| Kingdome | 35–21 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 57 | | Phoenix | W 117–107

| McNichols Sports Arena | 36–21 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 58 | | @ Atlanta | W 106–94

| The Omni | 37–21 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 59 | | @ Washington | W 124–111

| Capital Centre | 38–21

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 60 | | @ Dallas | W 141–140 (OT)

| Reunion Arena | 39–21 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 61 | | Milwaukee | W 123–122

| McNichols Sports Arena | 40–21 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 62 | | Houston | W 133–131 (2OT)

| McNichols Sports Arena | 41–21 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 63 | | @ Kansas City | L 140–142

| Kemper Arena | 41–22 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 64 | | Indiana | W 126–116

| McNichols Sports Arena | 42–22 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 65 | | @ Houston | L 129–131

| The Summit | 42–23 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 66 | | @ Dallas | L 108–127

| Reunion Arena | 42–24 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 67 | | @ San Antonio | L 119–124

| HemisFair Arena | 42–25 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 68 | | Dallas | W 113–111

| McNichols Sports Arena | 43–25 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 69 | | @ Indiana | W 123–119

| Market Square Arena | 44–25 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 70 | | @ New Jersey | W 123–111

| Brendan Byrne Arena | 45–25 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 71 | | @ Philadelphia | L 103–124

| The Spectrum | 45–26 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 72 | | Utah | W 104–89

| McNichols Sports Arena | 46–26 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 73 | | Kansas City | W 133–115

| McNichols Sports Arena | 47–26 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 74 | | Portland | W 129–117

| McNichols Sports Arena | 48–26

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 75 | 7:30p.m. MST | L.A. Lakers | L 104–118 | English (31) | English (12) | Evans (5) | McNichols Sports Arena17,022 | 48–27 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 76 | | @ Phoenix | W 110–103

| Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum | 49–27 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 77 | | San Antonio | W 118–109

| McNichols Sports Arena | 50–27 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 78 | | Golden State | W 130–125

| McNichols Sports Arena | 51–27 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 79 | 8:30p.m. MST | @ L.A. Lakers | L 119–148 | English (28) | Kopicki (9) | Evans (9) | The Forum17,505 | 51–28 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 80 | | @ L.A. Clippers | L 127–129

| Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena | 51–29 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 81 | | @ Golden State | W 127–120

| Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena | 52–29 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 82 | | Portland | L 112–117

| Memorial Coliseum | 52–30

Playoffs

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 1 | | San Antonio | W 141–111 | Alex English (33) | Elston Turner (8) | Fat Lever (11) | McNichols Sports Arena12,128 | 1–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 2 | | San Antonio | L 111–113 | Alex English (29) | Wayne Cooper (10) | Fat Lever (13) | McNichols Sports Arena17,022 | 1–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 3 | | @ San Antonio | W 115–112 | Alex English (27) | Calvin Natt (8) | Calvin Natt (8) | HemisFair Arena8,799 | 2–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 4 | | @ San Antonio | L 111–116 | Alex English (27) | Alex English (8) | Fat Lever (7) | HemisFair Arena8,621 | 2–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 5 | | San Antonio | W 126–99 | Alex English (33) | Calvin Natt (10) | Fat Lever (10) | McNichols Sports Arena17,022 | 3–2

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 1 | | Utah | W 130–113 | Alex English (31) | Fat Lever (16) | Fat Lever (18) | McNichols Sports Arena11,918 | 1–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 2 | | Utah | W 131–123 (OT) | Alex English (26) | Fat Lever (13) | Alex English (12) | McNichols Sports Arena16,317 | 2–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 3 | | @ Utah | L 123–131 | Calvin Natt (30) | Mike Evans (8) | English, Lever (5) | Salt Palace Acord Arena12,178 | 2–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 4 | | @ Utah | W 125–118 | Alex English (40) | Wayne Cooper (14) | Calvin Natt (10) | Salt Palace Acord Arena12,716 | 3–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 5 | | Utah | W 116–104 | Alex English (30) | Wayne Cooper (11) | Alex English (6) | McNichols Sports Arena17,022 | 4–1

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 1 | 1:30p.m. MDT | @ L.A. Lakers | L 122–139 | English (30) | Issel (8) | Evans (11) | The Forum16,109 | 0–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 2 | 9:00p.m. MDT | @ L.A. Lakers | W 136–114 | English (40) | Turner (11) | Turner (8) | The Forum17,505 | 1–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 3 | 8:00p.m. MDT | L.A. Lakers | L 118–136 | Natt (30) | Natt (7) | Turner (6) | McNichols Sports Arena17,022 | 1–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 4 | 4:00p.m. MDT | L.A. Lakers | L 116–120 | Natt, English (28) | Natt, English (8) | Turner (10) | McNichols Sports Arena17,022 | 1–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 5 | 9:30p.m. MDT | @ L.A. Lakers | L 109–153 | Cooper (23) | Schayes (9) | Lever (6) | The Forum17,505 | 1–4

Awards, records, and honors Vince Boryla, NBA Executive of the Year Award T.R. Dunn, NBA All-Defensive Second Team

References

Nuggets on Basketball Reference