# 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 | 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) |

## Regular season
### Season standings

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

### Playoffs

1985 playoff game log :
Western Conference First Round: 3–2 (home: 2–1; road: 1–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 18
San Antonio
W 141–111
Alex English (33)
Elston Turner (8)
Fat Lever (11)
McNichols Sports Arena 12,128
1–0
2
April 20
San Antonio
L 111–113
Alex English (29)
Wayne Cooper (10)
Fat Lever (13)
McNichols Sports Arena 17,022
1–1
3
April 23
@ San Antonio
W 115–112
Alex English (27)
Calvin Natt (8)
Calvin Natt (8)
HemisFair Arena 8,799
2–1
4
April 26
@ San Antonio
L 111–116
Alex English (27)
Alex English (8)
Fat Lever (7)
HemisFair Arena 8,621
2–2
5
April 28
San Antonio
W 126–99
Alex English (33)
Calvin Natt (10)
Fat Lever (10)
McNichols Sports Arena 17,022
3–2 :
Western Conference Semifinals: 4–1 (home: 3–0; road: 1–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 30
Utah
W 130–113
Alex English (31)
Fat Lever (16)
Fat Lever (18)
McNichols Sports Arena 11,918
1–0
2
May 2
Utah
W 131–123 (OT)
Alex English (26)
Fat Lever (13)
Alex English (12)
McNichols Sports Arena 16,317
2–0
3
May 4
@ Utah
L 123–131
Calvin Natt (30)
Mike Evans (8)
English, Lever (5)
Salt Palace Acord Arena 12,178
2–1
4
May 5
@ Utah
W 125–118
Alex English (40)
Wayne Cooper (14)
Calvin Natt (10)
Salt Palace Acord Arena 12,716
3–1
5
May 7
Utah
W 116–104
Alex English (30)
Wayne Cooper (11)
Alex English (6)
McNichols Sports Arena 17,022
4–1 :
Western Conference Finals: 1–4 (home: 0–2; road: 1–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
May 11 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 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 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 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 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

* Vince Boryla, NBA Executive of the Year Award
* T.R. Dunn, NBA All-Defensive Second Team

## Player stats
### 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 |