# 1981–82 Denver Nuggets season

The 1981–82 Denver Nuggets season was their 15th season, and their sixth in the NBA. During the 1981–82 season, they scored at least 100 points in every game and allowed at least 100 points in every game. They returned to the postseason for the first time since the 1978–79 season.
In the playoffs, the Nuggets lost to the Phoenix Suns in three games in the First Round.

## Draft picks

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | School/Club Team |
| 2 | 34 | Ken Green | Power forward | United States | Texas-Pan American |
| 5 | 101 | Willie Sims | Guard | United States | LSU |
| 6 | 124 | Alonzo Weatherly | Power forward | United States | University of Denver |
| 7 | 147 | Greg Manning | Shooting guard | United States | Maryland |
| 8 | 169 | Curtis Redding | | United States | St. John's |
| 9 | 191 | Andrew Burton | Guard | United States | Austin Peay |
| 10 | 211 | Derrick Rowland | Guard | United States | Potsdam State |

## Regular season
### Season standings

| Midwest Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| y-San Antonio Spurs | 48 | 34 | .585 | – | 29–12 | 19–22 | 20–10 |
| x-Denver Nuggets | 46 | 36 | .561 | 2.0 | 29–12 | 17–24 | 19–11 |
| x-Houston Rockets | 46 | 36 | .561 | 2.0 | 25–16 | 21–20 | 17–13 |
| Kansas City Kings | 30 | 52 | .366 | 18.0 | 23–18 | 7–34 | 11–19 |
| Dallas Mavericks | 28 | 54 | .341 | 20.0 | 16–25 | 12–29 | 11–19 |
| Utah Jazz | 25 | 57 | .305 | 23.0 | 18–23 | 7–34 | 9–21 |
| # | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte |
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
| 1 | c-Los Angeles Lakers | 57 | 25 | .695 | – |
| 2 | y-San Antonio Spurs | 48 | 34 | .585 | 9 |
| 3 | x-Seattle SuperSonics | 52 | 30 | .634 | 5 |
| 4 | x-Denver Nuggets | 46 | 36 | .561 | 11 |
| 5 | x-Phoenix Suns | 46 | 36 | .561 | 11 |
| 6 | x-Houston Rockets | 46 | 36 | .561 | 11 |
| 7 | Golden State Warriors | 45 | 37 | .549 | 12 |
| 8 | Portland Trail Blazers | 42 | 40 | .512 | 15 |
| 9 | Kansas City Kings | 30 | 52 | .366 | 27 |
| 10 | Dallas Mavericks | 28 | 54 | .341 | 29 |
| 11 | Utah Jazz | 25 | 57 | .305 | 32 |
| 12 | San Diego Clippers | 17 | 65 | .207 | 40 |
Notes
* z, y – division champions
* x – clinched playoff spot

### Record vs. opponents

1981-82 NBA Records :
| Team | ATL | BOS | CHI | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | KCK | LAL | MIL | NJN | NYK | PHI | PHO | POR | SAS | SDC | SEA | UTA | WAS |
| Atlanta | — | 1–5 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–4 |
| Boston | 5–1 | — | 4–2 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 6–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 6–0 |
| Chicago | 3–2 | 2–4 | — | 5–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–6 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 |
| Cleveland | 2–4 | 0–5 | 1–5 | — | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–6 | 0–6 | 0–6 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–5 |
| Dallas | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | — | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–5 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 3–3 | 1–1 |
| Denver | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | — | 1–1 | 3–2 | 5–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 5–0 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 2–0 |
| Detroit | 4–2 | 0–6 | 6–0 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–4 |
| Golden State | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 2–3 | 0–2 | — | 1–4 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 5–1 | 1–5 | 3–2 | 1–1 |
| Houston | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 4–1 | — | 2–0 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 4–1 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 2–3 | 6–0 | 2–0 |
| Indiana | 2–4 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | — | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–6 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–5 |
| Kansas City | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 1–1 | — | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 0–5 | 1–5 | 4–1 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 0–2 |
| Los Angeles | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 4–1 | — | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 2–3 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 5–0 | 2–0 |
| Milwaukee | 3–3 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 6–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 6–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | — | 4–1 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–2 |
| New Jersey | 2–3 | 1–5 | 4–2 | 6–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–4 | — | 4–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 4–2 |
| New York | 1–5 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 6–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 2–4 | — | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–5 |
| Philadelphia | 3–3 | 2–4 | 5–1 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 5–1 | — | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 6–0 |
| Phoenix | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — | 3–3 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 1–1 |
| Portland | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–3 | — | 3–2 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 0–2 |
| San Antonio | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 5–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–4 | 2–3 | — | 3–2 | 4–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 |
| San Diego | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 1–4 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 2–3 | — | 1–5 | 1–4 | 0–2 |
| Seattle | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 5–1 | — | 5–0 | 1–1 |
| Utah | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 0–5 | — | 1–1 |
| Washington | 4–2 | 0–6 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 5–1 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — |

## Game log
### Regular season

1981–82 game log Total: 46–36 (home: 29–12; road: 17–24) :
October: 1–1 (home: 1–0; road: 0–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
October 30
Golden State
W 134–121
McNichols Sports Arena
1–0
2
October 31
@ San Antonio
L 120–145
HemisFair Arena
1–1 :
November: 7–4 (home: 5–1; road: 2–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
3
November 4
Houston
W 112–100
McNichols Sports Arena
2–1
4
November 6
@ Seattle
W 109–105
Kingdome
3–1
5
November 7
@ Golden State
L 107–152
Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
3–2
6
November 8
@ Portland
L 116–120
Memorial Coliseum
3–3
7
November 10
Phoenix
L 106–109
McNichols Sports Arena
3–4
8
November 13
@ Utah
L 124–131
Salt Palace Acord Arena
3–5
9
November 18
San Diego
W 133–128
McNichols Sports Arena
4–5
10
November 21
Kansas City
W 128–121
McNichols Sports Arena
5–5
11
November 25
Dallas
W 139–133
McNichols Sports Arena
6–5
12
November 27
@ Kansas City
W 123–115
Kemper Arena
7–5
13
November 28
Utah
W 131–124 (OT)
McNichols Sports Arena
8–5 :
December: 6–10 (home: 3–4; road: 3–6)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
14
December 1
Portland
L 113–121
McNichols Sports Arena
8–6
15
December 3
@ Phoenix
L 109–137
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
8–7
16
December 4
Los Angeles
L 117–126
McNichols Sports Arena
8–8
17
December 5
@ Dallas
L 105–109
Reunion Arena
8–9
18
December 8
@ New York
L 122–135
Madison Square Garden
8–10
19
December 9
@ Philadelphia
L 109–137
The Spectrum
8–11
20
December 11
@ New Jersey
L 123–131
Brendan Byrne Arena
8–12
21
December 12
@ Cleveland
W 120–115
Richfield Coliseum
9–12
22
December 15
Seattle
L 120–126
McNichols Sports Arena
9–13
23
December 17
Atlanta
W 138–103
McNichols Sports Arena
10–13
24
December 19
San Antonio
W 138–125
McNichols Sports Arena
11–13
25
December 22
@ Houston
W 121–109
The Summit
12–13
26
December 23
Detroit
L 119–124
McNichols Sports Arena
12–14
27
December 26
@ Dallas
W 124–117
Reunion Arena
13–14
28
December 29
Boston
W 128–123
McNichols Sports Arena
14–14
29
December 30
@ Kansas City
L 116–120
Kemper Arena
14–15 :
January: 9–5 (home: 5–2; road: 4–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
30
January 2
@ San Antonio
L 133–148
HemisFair Arena
14–16
31
January 3
@ Milwaukee
W 128–122
MECCA Arena
15–16
32
January 5
@ Chicago
L 128–134
Chicago Stadium
15–17
33
January 6
San Diego
W 136–114
McNichols Sports Arena
16–17
34
January 8
@ Portland
W 124–121
Memorial Coliseum
17–17
35
January 9
Seattle
L 110–125
McNichols Sports Arena
17–18
36
January 12
Kansas City
W 139–126
McNichols Sports Arena
18–18
37
January 13
@ Golden State
L 128–143
Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
18–19
38
January 15
Dallas
W 128–113
McNichols Sports Arena
19–19
39
January 17
@ San Diego
W 138–131
San Diego Sports Arena
20–19
40
January 19
Los Angeles
W 140–139
McNichols Sports Arena
21–19
41
January 22
Milwaukee
L 125–131
McNichols Sports Arena
21–20
42
January 23
@ Houston
W 111–109
The Summit
22–20
43
January 27
New Jersey
W 130–116
McNichols Sports Arena
23–20
All-Star Break :
February: 6–8 (home: 4–4; road: 2–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
44
February 2
New York
W 128–117
McNichols Sports Arena
24–20
45
February 4
@ Indiana
L 114–131
Market Square Arena
24–21
46
February 5
@ Boston
L 144–145
Boston Garden
24–22
47
February 7
@ Washington
W 124–115
Capital Centre
25–22
48
February 10
Utah
L 148–151
McNichols Sports Arena
25–23
49
February 13
San Diego
W 146–129
McNichols Sports Arena
26–23
50
February 15
@ Utah
W 145–134
Salt Palace Acord Arena
27–23
51
February 16
Kansas City
W 119–106
McNichols Sports Arena
28–23
52
February 19
San Antonio
L 121–126
McNichols Sports Arena
28–24
53
February 21
Los Angeles
L 131–132
McNichols Sports Arena
28–25
54
February 23
@ Los Angeles
L 129–145
The Forum
28–26
55
February 24
Houston
L 110–120
McNichols Sports Arena
28–27
56
February 26
@ Phoenix
L 122–131
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
28–28
57
February 27
Philadelphia
W 134–125
McNichols Sports Arena
29–28 :
March: 13–2 (home: 8–1; road: 5–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
58
March 2
Indiana
L 124–132 (OT)
McNichols Sports Arena
29–29
59
March 5
Washington
W 127–126
McNichols Sports Arena
30–29
60
March 7
Cleveland
W 147–127
McNichols Sports Arena
31–29
61
March 9
@ Atlanta
L 106–120
The Omni
31–30
62
March 10
@ Detroit
W 124–113
Pontiac Silverdome
32–30
63
March 12
@ Houston
W 130–115
The Summit
33–30
64
March 14
Golden State
W 127–101
McNichols Sports Arena
34–30
65
March 16
Utah
W 154–138
McNichols Sports Arena
35–30
66
March 17
@ Phoenix
W 135–133 (OT)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
36–30
67
March 19
Chicago
W 130–120
McNichols Sports Arena
37–30
68
March 24
San Antonio
W 129–115
McNichols Sports Arena
38–30
69
March 25
@ San Diego
W 129–117
San Diego Sports Arena
39–30
70
March 27
Phoenix
W 140–134 (2OT)
McNichols Sports Arena
40–30
71
March 30
Seattle
W 145–142 (OT)
McNichols Sports Arena
41–30
72
March 31
@ Dallas
W 120–119
Reunion Arena
42–30 :
April: 4–6 (home: 3–0; road: 1–6)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
73
April 2
Portland
W 127–121
McNichols Sports Arena
43–30
74
April 4
@ Seattle
L 116–140
Kingdome
43–31
75
April 6
@ Portland
L 122–136
Memorial Coliseum
43–32
76
April 7
@ Golden State
W 129–121
Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
44–32
77
April 9
@ Los Angeles
L 128–153
The Forum
44–33
78
April 10
@ Utah
L 136–151
Salt Palace Acord Arena
44–34
79
April 13
@ San Antonio
L 137–144
HemisFair Arena
44–35
80
April 14
Houston
W 141–122
McNichols Sports Arena
45–35
81
April 16
@ Kansas City
L 121–123
Kemper Arena
45–36
82
April 17
Dallas
W 130–124
McNichols Sports Arena
46–36 :
1981–82 schedule :

## Playoffs

1982 playoff game log :
Western Conference First Round: 1–2 (home: 0–1; road: 1–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 20
Phoenix
W 129–113
VanDeWeghe (29)
English (10)
English, McKinney (5)
McNichols Sports Arena 17,298
1–0
2
April 23
@ Phoenix
L 110–126
Issel (26)
English (6)
English, Gondrezick (5)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,798
1–1
3
April 24
Phoenix
L 119–124
Issel (26)
Dunn. Issel (10)
English (7)
McNichols Sports Arena 17,443
1–2 :
1982 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

### Milestones
## Transactions
### Free agents

| Player | Former team |
| Player | New team |