# 1985–86 Denver Nuggets season

The 1985–86 NBA season was the Nuggets' 10th season in the NBA and 19th season as a franchise.
In the playoffs, the Nuggets defeated the Portland Trail Blazers in four games in the First Round before losing to the eventual Western Conference Champion Houston Rockets in six games in the Semi-finals.

## Draft picks

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | School/Club Team |
| 1 | 15 | Blair Rasmussen | C | United States | Oregon |
| 2 | 43 | Barry Stevens | SG | United States | Iowa State |
| 4 | 89 | Pete Williams | F | United States | Arizona |
| 5 | 112 | Kenny Brown | | United States | Texas A&M |
| 6 | 135 | Joe Carrabino | | United States | Harvard |
| 7 | 158 | Eddie Smith | | United States | Arizona |

## Regular season
### Season standings

| Midwest Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| y-Houston Rockets | 51 | 31 | .622 | – | 36–5 | 15–26 | 20–10 |
| x-Denver Nuggets | 47 | 35 | .573 | 4 | 34–7 | 13–28 | 15–15 |
| x-Dallas Mavericks | 44 | 38 | .537 | 7 | 26–15 | 18–23 | 16–14 |
| x-Utah Jazz | 42 | 40 | .512 | 9 | 27–14 | 15–26 | 15–15 |
| x-Sacramento Kings | 37 | 45 | .451 | 14 | 25–16 | 12–29 | 15–15 |
| x-San Antonio Spurs | 35 | 47 | .427 | 16 | 21–20 | 14–27 | 9–21 |
| # | 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-Houston Rockets | 51 | 31 | .622 | 11 |
| 3 | x-Denver Nuggets | 47 | 35 | .573 | 15 |
| 4 | x-Dallas Mavericks | 44 | 38 | .537 | 18 |
| 5 | x-Utah Jazz | 42 | 40 | .512 | 20 |
| 6 | x-Portland Trail Blazers | 40 | 42 | .488 | 22 |
| 7 | x-Sacramento Kings | 37 | 45 | .451 | 25 |
| 8 | x-San Antonio Spurs | 35 | 47 | .427 | 27 |
| 9 | Phoenix Suns | 32 | 50 | .390 | 30 |
| 10 | Los Angeles Clippers | 32 | 50 | .390 | 30 |
| 11 | Seattle SuperSonics | 31 | 51 | .378 | 31 |
| 12 | Golden State Warriors | 30 | 52 | .366 | 32 |
    z – clinched division title
    y – clinched division title
    x – clinched playoff spot

### Record vs. opponents

1985-86 NBA Records :
| Team | ATL | BOS | CHI | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | LAC | LAL | MIL | NJN | NYK | PHI | PHO | POR | SAC | SAS | SEA | UTA | WAS |
| Atlanta | – | 0–6 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–4 |
| Boston | 6–0 | – | 5–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–0 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–1 |
| Chicago | 1–5 | 1–5 | – | 3–3 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–4 |
| Cleveland | 2–4 | 1–5 | 3–3 | – | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 0–6 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 |
| Dallas | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | – | 3–3 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 1–5 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 5–0 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 5–1 | 1–1 |
| Denver | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–3 | – | 1–1 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 2–0 |
| Detroit | 2–4 | 1–4 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | – | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 4–1 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 |
| Golden State | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–4 | 2–3 | 1–1 | – | 0–5 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 2–3 | 1–1 |
| Houston | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 5–0 | – | 2–0 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 |
| Indiana | 1–5 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | – | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 5–1 |
| L.A. Clippers | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 0–2 | – | 2–4 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 5–0 | 1–4 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 0–2 |
| L.A. Lakers | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | – | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 6–0 | 5–0 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 5–0 | 2–0 |
| Milwaukee | 3–3 | 0–5 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | – | 4–2 | 6–0 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 |
| New Jersey | 2–4 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | – | 5–1 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–4 |
| New York | 1–5 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–6 | 1–5 | – | 0–6 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–3 |
| Philadelphia | 1–4 | 2–4 | 5–1 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–4 | 4–2 | 6–0 | – | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 |
| Phoenix | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–5 | 1–4 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | – | 2–4 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 5–1 | 1–4 | 1–1 |
| Portland | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 0–6 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 4–2 | – | 3–2 | 1–4 | 5–1 | 2–3 | 0–2 |
| Sacramento | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 0–5 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 2–3 | – | 5–1 | 5–0 | 2–4 | 1–1 |
| San Antonio | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 4–1 | 1–5 | – | 2–3 | 2–4 | 2–0 |
| Seattle | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 0–5 | 3–2 | – | 2–3 | 1–1 |
| Utah | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 3–2 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 3–2 | – | 1–1 |
| Washington | 4–1 | 1–5 | 4–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — |

## Game log
### Regular season

1985–86 game log Total: 47–35 (home: 34–7; road: 13–28) :
October: 4–0 (home: 2–0; road: 2–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
October 25, 1985
@ Golden State
W 122–114
Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
1–0
2
October 26, 1985
Sacramento
W 123–112
McNichols Sports Arena
2–0
3
October 29, 1985
@ Phoenix
W 142–127
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
3–0
4
October 31, 1985
Seattle
W 90–73
McNichols Sports Arena
4–0 :
November: 8–6 (home: 7–2; road: 1–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
5
November 5, 1985 7:30 p.m. MST
Atlanta
W 128–113
English (33)
Schayes (8)
English, Hanzlik, Lever (6)
McNichols Sports Arena 8,691
5–0
6
November 7, 1985
Dallas
W 131–99
McNichols Sports Arena
6–0
7
November 8, 1985
@ L.A. Lakers
L 99–128
The Forum
6–1
8
November 12, 1985
@ Houston
L 119–127
The Summit
6–2
9
November 14, 1985
San Antonio
W 112–109
McNichols Sports Arena
7–2
10
November 16, 1985
L.A. Clippers
W 113–109
McNichols Sports Arena
8–2
11
November 19, 1985
Houston
W 127–113
McNichols Sports Arena
9–2
12
November 21, 1985
L.A. Lakers
W 121–120
McNichols Sports Arena
10–2
13
November 23, 1985
Sacramento
W 122–118
McNichols Sports Arena
11–2
14
November 24, 1985
@ Seattle
L 84–110
Seattle Center Coliseum
11–3
15
November 26, 1985
Chicago
L 123–128
McNichols Sports Arena
11–4
16
November 27, 1985
@ Golden State
L 102–104
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena
11–5
17
November 29, 1985
@ Utah
W 129–114
Salt Palace Acord Arena
12–5
18
November 30, 1985
Seattle
L 123–131 (2OT)
McNichols Sports Arena
12–6 :
December: 7–6 (home: 5–1; road: 2–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
19
December 3, 1985
@ New York
L 94–111
Madison Square Garden
12–7
20
December 4, 1985
@ Indiana
W 119–105
Market Square Arena
13–7
21
December 6, 1985
@ Philadelphia
W 123–121
The Spectrum
14–7
22
December 7, 1985
@ Cleveland
L 114–124
Richfield Coliseum
14–8
23
December 11, 1985
L.A. Clippers
W 134–95
McNichols Sports Arena
15–8
24
December 13, 1985
L.A. Lakers
W 124–120
McNichols Sports Arena
16–8
25
December 14, 1985
@ Dallas
L 100–127
Reunion Arena
16–9
26
December 17, 1985
Golden State
W 122–114
McNichols Sports Arena
17–9
27
December 19, 1985
Portland
W 123–118
McNichols Sports Arena
18–9
28
December 21, 1985
San Antonio
L 118–128
McNichols Sports Arena
18–10
29
December 22, 1985
@ Portland
L 114–121
Memorial Coliseum
18–11
30
December 28, 1985
@ San Antonio
L 112–116
HemisFair Arena
18–12
31
December 30, 1985
Houston
W 125–122
McNichols Sports Arena
19–12 :
January: 8–8 (home: 6–1; road: 2–7)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
32
January 3, 1986
@ Seattle
L 107–117
Seattle Center Coliseum
19–13
33
January 4, 1986
@ Sacramento
L 107–112
ARCO Arena
19–14
34
January 7, 1986
Dallas
W 132–110
McNichols Sports Arena
20–14
35
January 9, 1986
Seattle
W 94–90
McNichols Sports Arena
21–14
36
January 11, 1986
Utah
W 114–106
McNichols Sports Arena
22–14
37
January 13, 1986
@ Milwaukee
W 119–115
MECCA Arena
23–14
38
January 15, 1986
@ Boston
L 100–123
Boston Garden
23–15
39
January 17, 1986
@ Detroit
L 113–129
Pontiac Silverdome
23–16
40
January 18, 1986
@ New Jersey
L 113–124
Brendan Byrne Arena
23–17
41
January 21, 1986
@ Utah
L 114–117 (OT)
Salt Palace Acord Arena
23–18
42
January 22, 1986
New Jersey
W 137–124
McNichols Sports Arena
23–19
43
January 24, 1986
San Antonio
L 98–113
McNichols Sports Arena
24–19
44
January 25, 1986
@ L.A. Lakers
W 127–115
The Forum
25–19
45
January 27, 1986
Cleveland
W 124–103
McNichols Sports Arena
26–19
46
January 28, 1986
@ Sacramento
L 120–125
ARCO Arena
26–20
47
January 30, 1986
New York
W 102–97
McNichols Sports Arena
27–20 :
February: 9–4 (home: 7–0; road: 2–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
48
February 1, 1986
Milwaukee
W 116–113
McNichols Sports Arena
28–20
49
February 3, 1986
@ Houston
L 102–104
The Summit
28–21
50
February 4, 1986
Portland
W 119–118
McNichols Sports Arena
29–21
51
February 6, 1986
@ San Antonio
W 100–95
HemisFair Arena
30–21
All-Star Break
52
February 12, 1986
@ Dallas
L 110–117
Reunion Arena
30–22
53
February 14, 1986
@ Phoenix
L 95–112
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
30–23
54
February 15, 1986
Golden State
W 113–100
McNichols Sports Arena
31–23
55
February 18, 1986
Washington
W 101–90
McNichols Sports Arena
32–23
56
February 20, 1986
Boston
W 102–100
McNichols Sports Arena
33–23
57
February 22, 1986
Dallas
W 113–106
McNichols Sports Arena
34–23
58
February 24, 1986
@ Portland
W 119–113
Memorial Coliseum
35–23
59
February 25, 1986
Phoenix
W 112–99
McNichols Sports Arena
36–23
60
February 27, 1986
@ Houston
L 111–117
The Summit
36–24 :
March: 8–7 (home: 6–2; road: 2–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
61
March 1, 1986
Philadelphia
L 107–118
McNichols Sports Arena
36–25
62
March 4, 1986
Houston
W 128–115
McNichols Sports Arena
37–25
63
March 7, 1986
Indiana
W 134–117
McNichols Sports Arena
38–25
64
March 9, 1986
@ L.A. Clippers
W 123–121
Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
39–25
65
March 11, 1986 5:30 p.m. MST
@ Atlanta
L 116–128
English (38)
English (9)
Evans (5)
The Omni 8,905
39–26
66
March 13, 1986
@ Chicago
L 102–112
Chicago Stadium
39–27
67
March 14, 1986
@ Washington
W 101–91
Capital Centre
40–27
68
March 16, 1986
Sacramento
W 119–113
McNichols Sports Arena
41–27
69
March 18, 1986
@ Sacramento
L 113–117
ARCO Arena
41–28
70
March 19, 1986
Detroit
W 114–98
McNichols Sports Arena
42–28
71
March 21, 1986
L.A. Clippers
W 115–104
McNichols Sports Arena
43–28
72
March 23, 1986
@ Golden State
L 111–113
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena
43–29
73
March 25, 1986
L.A. Lakers
L 115–121
McNichols Sports Arena
43–30
74
March 26, 1986
@ Utah
L 101–116
Salt Palace Acord Arena
43–31
75
March 28, 1986
Utah
W 128–120
McNichols Sports Arena
44–31 :
April: 3–4 (home: 1–1; road: 2–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
76
April 1, 1986
@ Portland
L 110–127
Memorial Coliseum
44–32
77
April 3, 1986
@ Dallas
L 114–115
Reunion Arena
44–33
78
April 6, 1986
@ San Antonio
W 124–106
HemisFair Arena
45–33
79
April 7, 1986
@ Phoenix
W 131–123
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
46–33
80
April 9, 1986
@ L.A. Clippers
L 127–132
Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
46–34
81
April 10, 1986
Phoenix
W 115–113
McNichols Sports Arena
47–34
82
April 12, 1986
Utah
L 99–117
McNichols Sports Arena
47–35 :
1985–86 schedule :

### Playoffs

1986 playoff game log :
First round: 3–1 (home: 1–1; road: 2–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 18, 1986
Portland
W 133–126
Calvin Natt (40)
Danny Schayes (11)
English, Lever (9)
McNichols Sports Arena 13,209
1–0
2
April 20, 1986
Portland
L 106–108
Alex English (24)
Blair Rasmussen (9)
Alex English (10)
McNichols Sports Arena 11,724
1–1
3
April 22, 1986
@ Portland
W 115–104
Blair Rasmussen (15)
Calvin Natt (11)
Fat Lever (5)
Memorial Coliseum 12,666
2–1
4
April 24, 1986
@ Portland
W 116–112
Fat Lever (30)
T. R. Dunn (11)
Alex English (8)
Memorial Coliseum 12,666
3–1 :
Conference Semi-finals: 2–4 (home: 2–1; road: 0–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 26, 1986
@ Houston
L 119–126
Alex English (34)
Schayes, Natt (7)
English, Lever (9)
The Summit 15,448
0–1
2
April 29, 1986
@ Houston
L 101–119
Blair Rasmussen (18)
Wayne Cooper (9)
Mike Evans (7)
The Summit 16,016
0–2
3
May 2, 1986
Houston
W 116–115
Alex English (33)
Danny Schayes (8)
Alex English (5)
McNichols Sports Arena 17,022
1–2
4
May 4, 1986
Houston
W 114–111 (OT)
Alex English (28)
Wayne Cooper (9)
Turner, Hanzlik (5)
McNichols Sports Arena 14,152
2–2
5
May 6, 1986
@ Houston
L 103–131
Alex English (27)
Blair Rasmussen (12)
Fat Lever (4)
The Summit 16,016
2–3
6
May 8, 1986
Houston
L 122–126 (2OT)
Alex English (42)
Danny Schayes (14)
Fat Lever (7)
McNichols Sports Arena 17,022
2–4 :
1986 schedule :

## Player statistics
### 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 |

## Awards and records

* Alex English, All-NBA Second Team
* Bill Hanzlik, NBA All-Defensive Second Team