1984–85 Denver Nuggets season

NBA professional basketball team season

NBA professional basketball team season
1984–85 Denver Nuggets season
Division champions
Head coachDoug Moe
ArenaMcNichols Sports Arena
Results
Record52–30 (.634)
PlaceDivision: 1st (Midwest)
Conference: 2nd (Western)
Playoff finishWest Finals
(lost to Lakers 1–4)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionKWGN
RadioKOA
< 1983–84 1985–86 >

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  United States Tennessee-Chattanooga
4 79 Karl Tilleman  Canada Calgary
5 103 Prince Bridges  United States Missouri
6 125 Willie Burton  United States Tennessee
7 149 Mark Simpson  United States Catawba College
8 171 Bill Wendlandt  United States Texas
9 194 Cecil Exum F  United States
 Australia 		North Carolina
10 215 Dexter Bailey  United States Xavier (OH)

Roster

  • v
  • t
  • e
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From
C 42 Cooper, Wayne 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 195 lb (88 kg) New Orleans
SG 23 Dunn, T.R. 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 192 lb (87 kg) Alabama
SF 2 English, Alex (C) 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 190 lb (86 kg) South Carolina
G 5 Evans, Mike 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Kansas State
F 24 Hanzlik, Bill 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Notre Dame
C 44 Issel, Dan 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 235 lb (107 kg) Kentucky
PF 35 Kopicki, Joe 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 240 lb (109 kg) Detroit Mercy
G 12 Lever, Fat 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Arizona State
F 33 Natt, Calvin 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Louisiana–Monroe
C 34 Schayes, Danny 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 235 lb (107 kg) Syracuse
G/F 20 Turner, Elston 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Mississippi
SG 10 White, Willie 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Chattanooga
Head coach
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Regular season

Season standings

Midwest Division
  • v
  • t
  • e
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Denver Nuggets 52 30 .634 – 34–7 18–23 17–13
x-Houston Rockets 48 34 .585 4 29–12 19–22 20–10
x-Dallas Mavericks 44 38 .537 8 24–17 20–21 14–16
x-Utah Jazz 41 41 .500 11 26–15 15–26 19–11
x-San Antonio Spurs 41 41 .500 11 30–11 11–30 12–18
Kansas City Kings 31 51 .378 21 23–18 8–33 8–22
#
Western Conference
  • v
  • t
  • e
Team W L PCT GB
1 c-Los Angeles Lakers 62 20 .756 –
2 y-Denver Nuggets 52 30 .634 10
3 x-Houston Rockets 48 34 .585 14
4 x-Dallas Mavericks 44 38 .537 18
5 x-Portland Trail Blazers 42 40 .512 20
6 x-Utah Jazz 41 41 .500 21
7 x-San Antonio Spurs 41 41 .500 21
8 x-Phoenix Suns 36 46 .439 26
9 Seattle SuperSonics 31 51 .378 31
10 Los Angeles Clippers 31 51 .378 31
11 Kansas City Kings 31 51 .378 31
12 Golden State Warriors 22 60 .268 40

Notes

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

Record vs. opponents

1984-85 NBA Records
Team ATL BOS CHI CLE DAL DEN DET GSW HOU IND KCK LAC LAL MIL NJN NYK PHI PHO POR SAS SEA UTA WAS
Atlanta – 1–4 3–3 3–3 0–2 0–2 1–5 2–0 0–2 6–0 0–2 2–0 0–2 2–4 3–3 3–3 0–5 2–0 0–2 0–2 1–1 2–0 3–3
Boston 4–1 – 4–2 6–0 2–0 1–1 4–2 2–0 2–0 5–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–4 5–1 6–0 3–3 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 5–1
Chicago 3–3 2–4 – 2–4 2–0 1–1 3–3 1–1 0–2 2–4 2–0 2–0 1–1 3–3 2–4 4–2 0–5 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 0–2 3–2
Cleveland 3–3 0–6 4–2 – 1–1 0–2 1–4 1–1 0–2 4–2 2–0 2–0 0–2 1–5 2–3 3–3 4–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 3–3
Dallas 2–0 0–2 0–2 1–1 – 2–4 0–2 4–1 2–4 2–0 5–1 3–2 1–4 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–3 4–1 4–2 5–0 1–5 1–1
Denver 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 4–2 – 0–2 5–0 2–4 2–0 4–2 2–3 2–3 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 4–1 4–1 3–3 3–2 4–2 2–0
Detroit 5–1 2–4 3–3 4–1 2–0 2–0 – 2–0 1–1 6–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 3–3 1–5 3–2 1–5 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 3–3
Golden State 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–4 0–5 0–2 – 2–3 0–2 2–3 2–4 1–5 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 2–4 2–4 1–4 3–3 1–4 1–1
Houston 2–0 0–2 2–0 2–0 4–2 4–2 1–1 3–2 – 1–1 5–1 2–3 1–4 0–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 4–1 3–2 4–2 3–2 3–3 0–2
Indiana 0–6 1–5 4–2 2–4 0–2 0–2 0–6 2–0 1–1 – 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–5 2–3 2–4 1–5 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 2–0 1–4
Kansas City 2–0 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–5 2–4 1–1 3–2 1–5 1–1 – 3–2 0–5 0–2 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–3 3–2 2–4 3–2 2–4 1–1
L.A. Clippers 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 2–3 3–2 1–1 4–2 3–2 2–0 2–3 – 0–6 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 4–2 1–5 2–3 2–4 3–2 1–1
L.A. Lakers 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 4–1 3–2 1–1 5–1 4–1 1–1 5–0 6–0 – 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 5–1 5–1 3–2 3–3 4–1 1–1
Milwaukee 4–2 4–1 3–3 5–1 1–1 1–1 3–3 2–0 2–0 5–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 – 3–3 5–0 3–3 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 4–2
New Jersey 3–3 1–5 4–2 3–2 1–1 0–2 5–1 1–1 1–1 3–2 0–2 2–0 0–2 3–3 – 6–0 2–4 1–1 0–2 0–2 2–0 0–2 4–2
New York 3–3 0–6 2–4 3–3 0–2 1–1 2–3 1–1 0–2 4–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–5 0–6 – 2–4 0–2 0–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 0–6
Philadelphia 5–0 3–3 5–0 2–4 1–1 1–1 5–1 2–0 1–1 5–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 3–3 4–2 4–2 – 2–0 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–0 4–2
Phoenix 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 3–2 1–4 0–2 4–2 1–4 2–0 3–2 2–4 1–5 1–1 1–1 2–0 0–2 – 3–3 1–4 5–1 3–2 1–1
Portland 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–4 1–4 1–1 4–2 2–3 2–0 2–3 5–1 1–5 0–2 2–0 2–0 0–2 3–3 – 3–2 4–2 3–2 1–1
San Antonio 2–0 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–4 3–3 1–1 4–1 2–4 1–1 4–2 3–2 2–3 0–2 2–0 1–1 1–1 4–1 2–3 – 4–1 1–5 0–2
Seattle 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–5 2–3 1–1 3–3 2–3 2–0 2–3 4–2 3–3 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–5 2–4 1–4 – 3–2 2–0
Utah 0–2 0–2 2–0 1–1 5–1 2–4 2–0 4–1 3–3 0–2 4–2 2–3 1–4 0–2 2–0 1–1 0–2 2–3 2–3 5–1 2–3 – 1–1
Washington 3–3 1–5 2–3 3–3 1–1 0–2 3–3 1–1 2–0 4–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–4 2–4 6–0 2–4 1–1 1–1 2–0 0–2 1–1 —

Game log

Regular season

1984–85 game log
Total: 52–30 (home: 34–7; road: 18–23)
October: 1–1 (home: 1–0; road: 0–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
1 October 27, 1984 Golden State W 125–121 McNichols Sports Arena 1–0
2 October 30, 1984 @ San Antonio L 118–126 HemisFair Arena 1–1
November: 11–2 (home: 7–0; road: 4–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
3 November 1, 1984 Chicago W 129–113 McNichols Sports Arena 2–1
4 November 3, 1984 @ Kansas City W 128–114 Kemper Arena 3–1
5 November 5, 1984 @ L.A. Clippers L 104–107 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 3–2
6 November 6, 1984
8:30 p.m. MST 		@ L.A. Lakers W 146–130 English (28) Natt (8) Lever (18) The Forum
11,272 		4–2
7 November 8, 1984 Portland W 128–125 McNichols Sports Arena 5–2
8 November 10, 1984 Utah W 147–135 McNichols Sports Arena 6–2
9 November 13, 1984 Phoenix W 122–110 McNichols Sports Arena 7–2
10 November 16, 1984 Houston W 119–102 McNichols Sports Arena 8–2
11 November 20, 1984 @ Seattle W 124–114 Kingdome 9–2
12 November 21, 1984 @ L.A. Clippers W 112–106 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 10–2
13 November 24, 1984 Philadelphia W 114–110 McNichols Sports Arena 11–2
14 November 27, 1984 L.A. Clippers W 139–110 McNichols Sports Arena 12–2
15 November 30, 1984 @ Utah L 97–116 Salt Palace Acord Arena 12–3
December: 7–9 (home: 4–4; road: 3–5)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
16 December 1, 1984 Utah W 118–111 McNichols Sports Arena 13–3
17 December 4, 1984 @ New York L 98–100 Madison Square Garden 13–4
18 December 5, 1984 @ Boston L 107–123 Boston Garden 13–5
19 December 7, 1984 @ Detroit L 115–122 Pontiac Silverdome 13–6
20 December 8, 1984 @ Cleveland W 114–108 Richfield Coliseum 14–6
21 December 11, 1984 Portland W 123–122 McNichols Sports Arena 15–6
22 December 12, 1984 @ San Antonio L 105–126 HemisFair Arena 15–7
23 December 14, 1984 Kansas City L 117–123 McNichols Sports Arena 15–8
24 December 16, 1984 Seattle L 101–112 McNichols Sports Arena 15–9
25 December 18, 1984 @ Golden State W 126–122 (OT) Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 16–9
26 December 19, 1984 Detroit L 129–148 McNichols Sports Arena 16–10
27 December 21, 1984 Dallas W 116–93 McNichols Sports Arena 17–10
28 December 22, 1984 @ Houston L 107–125 The Summit 17–11
29 December 26, 1984 San Antonio W 130–119 McNichols Sports Arena 18–11
30 December 28, 1984
7:30 p.m. MST 		L.A. Lakers L 123–135 English (31) English (9) English (8) McNichols Sports Arena 18–12
31 December 29, 1984 @ Seattle
(at Tacoma, Washington) 		W 115–108 Tacoma Dome 19–12
January: 11–5 (home: 8–2; road: 3–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
32 January 2, 1985 Houston L 111–113 McNichols Sports Arena 19–13
33 January 4, 1985 @ Utah L 108–118 Salt Palace Acord Arena 19–14
34 January 5, 1985 L.A. Clippers L 115–127 McNichols Sports Arena 19–15
35 January 8, 1985
8:30 p.m. MST 		@ L.A. Lakers W 126–124 English (41) English (11) Evans (9) The Forum
13,024 		20–15
36 January 9, 1985 New York W 100–95 McNichols Sports Arena 21–15
37 January 11, 1985 Kansas City W 143–121 McNichols Sports Arena 22–15
38 January 13, 1985 @ Milwaukee L 116–140 MECCA Arena 22–16
39 January 14, 1985 @ Chicago L 113–122 Chicago Stadium 22–17
40 January 16, 1985 Golden State W 115–107 McNichols Sports Arena 23–17
41 January 18, 1985 Washington W 108–106 McNichols Sports Arena 24–17
42 January 19, 1985 @ Portland W 123–120 Memorial Coliseum 25–17
43 January 24, 1985 New Jersey W 119–110 McNichols Sports Arena 26–17
44 January 26, 1985 Cleveland W 144–127 McNichols Sports Arena 27–17
45 January 28, 1985 @ Utah W 104–100 Salt Palace Acord Arena 28–17
46 January 29, 1985 Phoenix W 128–100 McNichols Sports Arena 29–17
47 January 31, 1985 Dallas W 121–110 McNichols Sports Arena 30–17
February: 8–4 (home: 5–0; road: 3–4)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
48 February 2, 1985 @ Houston L 128–131 (2OT) The Summit 30–18
49 February 3, 1985 @ Dallas L 106–114 Reunion Arena 30–19
50 February 5, 1985 @ Phoenix L 103–108 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 30–20
51 February 6, 1985 Seattle W 120–101 McNichols Sports Arena 31–20
All-Star Break
52 February 12, 1985 Atlanta W 131–107 McNichols Sports Arena 32–20
53 February 14, 1985 @ Kansas City W 138–123 Kemper Arena 33–20
54 February 15, 1985 San Antonio W 129–119 McNichols Sports Arena 34–20
55 February 20, 1985 Boston W 132–129 McNichols Sports Arena 35–20
56 February 22, 1985 @ Seattle L 123–133 Kingdome 35–21
57 February 24, 1985 Phoenix W 117–107 McNichols Sports Arena 36–21
58 February 26, 1985 @ Atlanta W 106–94 The Omni 37–21
59 February 27, 1985 @ Washington W 124–111 Capital Centre 38–21
March: 9–5 (home: 7–0; road: 2–5)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
60 March 1, 1985 @ Dallas W 141–140 (OT) Reunion Arena 39–21
61 March 2, 1985 Milwaukee W 123–122 McNichols Sports Arena 40–21
62 March 5, 1985 Houston W 133–131 (2OT) McNichols Sports Arena 41–21
63 March 7, 1985 @ Kansas City L 140–142 Kemper Arena 41–22
64 March 9, 1985 Indiana W 126–116 McNichols Sports Arena 42–22
65 March 12, 1985 @ Houston L 129–131 The Summit 42–23
66 March 15, 1985 @ Dallas L 108–127 Reunion Arena 42–24
67 March 17, 1985 @ San Antonio L 119–124 HemisFair Arena 42–25
68 March 18, 1985 Dallas W 113–111 McNichols Sports Arena 43–25
69 March 20, 1985 @ Indiana W 123–119 Market Square Arena 44–25
70 March 22, 1985 @ New Jersey W 123–111 Brendan Byrne Arena 45–25
71 March 24, 1985 @ Philadelphia L 103–124 The Spectrum 45–26
72 March 26, 1985 Utah W 104–89 McNichols Sports Arena 46–26
73 March 28, 1985 Kansas City W 133–115 McNichols Sports Arena 47–26
74 March 30, 1985 Portland W 129–117 McNichols Sports Arena 48–26
April: 4–4 (home: 2–1; road: 2–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
75 April 2, 1985
7:30 p.m. MST 		L.A. Lakers L 104–118 English (31) English (12) Evans (5) McNichols Sports Arena
17,022 		48–27
76 April 4, 1985 @ Phoenix W 110–103 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 49–27
77 April 5, 1985 San Antonio W 118–109 McNichols Sports Arena 50–27
78 April 7, 1985 Golden State W 130–125 McNichols Sports Arena 51–27
79 April 9, 1985
8:30 p.m. MST 		@ L.A. Lakers L 119–148 English (28) Kopicki (9) Evans (9) The Forum
17,505 		51–28
80 April 10, 1985 @ L.A. Clippers L 127–129 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 51–29
81 April 13, 1985 @ Golden State W 127–120 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 52–29
82 April 14, 1985 Portland L 112–117 Memorial Coliseum 52–30
1984–85 schedule

Playoffs

1985 playoff game log
First round: 3–2 (home: 2–1; road: 1–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 April 18, 1985 San Antonio W 141–111 Alex English (33) Elston Turner (8) Fat Lever (11) McNichols Sports Arena
12,128 		1–0
2 April 20, 1985 San Antonio L 111–113 Alex English (29) Wayne Cooper (10) Fat Lever (13) McNichols Sports Arena
17,022 		1–1
3 April 23, 1985 @ San Antonio W 115–112 Alex English (27) Calvin Natt (8) Calvin Natt (8) HemisFair Arena
8,799 		2–1
4 April 26, 1985 @ San Antonio L 111–116 Alex English (27) Alex English (8) Fat Lever (7) HemisFair Arena
8,621 		2–2
5 April 28, 1985 San Antonio W 126–99 Alex English (33) Calvin Natt (10) Fat Lever (10) McNichols Sports Arena
17,022 		3–2
Conference Semi-finals: 4–1 (home: 3–0; road: 1–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 April 30, 1985 Utah W 130–113 Alex English (31) Fat Lever (16) Fat Lever (18) McNichols Sports Arena
11,918 		1–0
2 May 2, 1985 Utah W 131–123 (OT) Alex English (26) Fat Lever (13) Alex English (12) McNichols Sports Arena
16,317 		2–0
3 May 4, 1985 @ Utah L 123–131 Calvin Natt (30) Mike Evans (8) English, Lever (5) Salt Palace Acord Arena
12,178 		2–1
4 May 5, 1985 @ Utah W 125–118 Alex English (40) Wayne Cooper (14) Calvin Natt (10) Salt Palace Acord Arena
12,716 		3–1
5 May 7, 1985 Utah W 116–104 Alex English (30) Wayne Cooper (11) Alex English (6) McNichols Sports Arena
17,022 		4–1
Conference finals: 1–4 (home: 0–2; road: 1–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 May 11, 1985
1:30 p.m. MDT 		@ L.A. Lakers L 122–139 English (30) Issel (8) Evans (11) The Forum
16,109 		0–1
2 May 14, 1985
9:00 p.m. MDT 		@ L.A. Lakers W 136–114 English (40) Turner (11) Turner (8) The Forum
17,505 		1–1
3 May 17, 1985
8:00 p.m. MDT 		L.A. Lakers L 118–136 Natt (30) Natt (7) Turner (6) McNichols Sports Arena
17,022 		1–2
4 May 19, 1985
4:00 p.m. MDT 		L.A. Lakers L 116–120 Natt, English (28) Natt, English (8) Turner (10) McNichols Sports Arena
17,022 		1–3
5 May 22, 1985
9:30 p.m. MDT 		@ L.A. Lakers L 109–153 Cooper (23) Schayes (9) Lever (6) The Forum
17,505 		1–4
1985 schedule

Awards, records, and honors

Player stats

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game

Season

Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG

Playoffs

Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG

Transactions

References

  • Nuggets on Basketball Reference