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1984–85 Denver Nuggets season
Reference material by Wikipedia contributors. This retains its source identity and is not 411 news reporting.
NBA professional basketball team season
August 2023
March 2026
Denver Nuggets 1985 yes 52 30 Midwest 1 2 Doug Moe McNichols Sports Arena KWGN KOA West Finals(lost to Lakers 1–4) DEN
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
1984 NBA draft
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
Denver Nuggets 1984–85 #031E41 #FFCD03 #031E41 #FFCD03
42 Wayne Cooper basketball C 6 10 195 New Orleans
23 T.R. Dunn SG 6 4 192 Alabama
2 Alex English SF 6 7 190 South Carolina
5 Mike Evans basketball G 6 1 170 Kansas State
24 Bill Hanzlik F 6 7 185 Notre Dame
44 Dan Issel C 6 9 235 Kentucky
35 Joe Kopicki PF 6 9 240 Detroit
12 Fat Lever G 6 3 170 Arizona State
33 Calvin Natt F 6 6 220 Louisiana-Monroe
34 Danny Schayes C 6 11 235 Syracuse
20 Elston Turner G/F 6 5 190 Mississippi
10 Willie White basketball SG 6 3 195 Chattanooga
USA Doug Moe
Regular season
Season standings
DEN
DEN
Notes
z, y – division champions
x – clinched playoff spot
Game log
Regular season
Denver Nuggets 1985 #0000CD #FFD700 Total: 52–30 (home: 34–7; road: 18–23)
Denver Nuggets October yes #FFD700 #0000CD 1 0 0 1
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 1
| October 27, 1984
| Golden State
| W 125–121
|
|
|
| McNichols Sports Arena
| 1–0
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 2
| October 30, 1984
| @ San Antonio
| L 118–126
|
|
|
| HemisFair Arena
| 1–1
Denver Nuggets November #FFD700 #0000CD 7 0 4 2
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 3
| November 1, 1984
| Chicago
| W 129–113
|
|
|
| McNichols Sports Arena
| 2–1
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 4
| November 3, 1984
| @ Kansas City
| W 128–114
|
|
|
| Kemper Arena
| 3–1
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 5
| November 5, 1984
| @ L.A. Clippers
| L 104–107
|
|
|
| Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
| 3–2
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 6
| November 6, 19848:30p.m. MST
| @ L.A. Lakers
| W 146–130
| English (28)
| Natt (8)
| Lever (18)
| The Forum11,272
| 4–2
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 7
| November 8, 1984
| Portland
| W 128–125
|
|
|
| McNichols Sports Arena
| 5–2
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 8
| November 10, 1984
| Utah
| W 147–135
|
|
|
| McNichols Sports Arena
| 6–2
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 9
| November 13, 1984
| Phoenix
| W 122–110
|
|
|
| McNichols Sports Arena
| 7–2
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 10
| November 16, 1984
| Houston
| W 119–102
|
|
|
| McNichols Sports Arena
| 8–2
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 11
| November 20, 1984
| @ Seattle
| W 124–114
|
|
|
| Kingdome
| 9–2
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 12
| November 21, 1984
| @ L.A. Clippers
| W 112–106
|
|
|
| Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
| 10–2
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 13
| November 24, 1984
| Philadelphia
| W 114–110
|
|
|
| McNichols Sports Arena
| 11–2
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 14
| November 27, 1984
| L.A. Clippers
| W 139–110
|
|
|
| McNichols Sports Arena
| 12–2
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 15
| November 30, 1984
| @ Utah
| L 97–116
|
|
|
| Salt Palace Acord Arena
| 12–3
Denver Nuggets December #FFD700 #0000CD 4 4 3 5
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 16
| December 1, 1984
| Utah
| W 118–111
|
|
|
| McNichols Sports Arena
| 13–3
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 17
| December 4, 1984
| @ New York
| L 98–100
|
|
|
| Madison Square Garden
| 13–4
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 18
| December 5, 1984
| @ Boston
| L 107–123
|
|
|
| Boston Garden
| 13–5
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 19
| December 7, 1984
| @ Detroit
| L 115–122
|
|
|
| Pontiac Silverdome
| 13–6
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 20
| December 8, 1984
| @ Cleveland
| W 114–108
|
|
|
| Richfield Coliseum
| 14–6
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 21
| December 11, 1984
| Portland
| W 123–122
|
|
|
| McNichols Sports Arena
| 15–6
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 22
| December 12, 1984
| @ San Antonio
| L 105–126
|
|
|
| HemisFair Arena
| 15–7
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 23
| December 14, 1984
| Kansas City
| L 117–123
|
|
|
| McNichols Sports Arena
| 15–8
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 24
| December 16, 1984
| Seattle
| L 101–112
|
|
|
| McNichols Sports Arena
| 15–9
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 25
| December 18, 1984
| @ Golden State
| W 126–122 (OT)
|
|
|
| Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
| 16–9
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 26
| December 19, 1984
| Detroit
| L 129–148
|
|
|
| McNichols Sports Arena
| 16–10
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 27
| December 21, 1984
| Dallas
| W 116–93
|
|
|
| McNichols Sports Arena
| 17–10
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 28
| December 22, 1984
| @ Houston
| L 107–125
|
|
|
| The Summit
| 17–11
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 29
| December 26, 1984
| San Antonio
| W 130–119
|
|
|
| McNichols Sports Arena
| 18–11
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 30
| December 28, 19847:30p.m. MST
| L.A. Lakers
| L 123–135
| English (31)
| English (9)
| English (8)
| McNichols Sports Arena
| 18–12
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 31
| December 29, 1984
| @ Seattle(at Tacoma, Washington)
| W 115–108
|
|
|
| Tacoma Dome
| 19–12
Denver Nuggets January #FFD700 #0000CD 8 2 3 3
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 32
| January 2, 1985
| Houston
| L 111–113
|
|
|
| McNichols Sports Arena
| 19–13
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 33
| January 4, 1985
| @ Utah
| L 108–118
|
|
|
| Salt Palace Acord Arena
| 19–14
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 34
| January 5, 1985
| L.A. Clippers
| L 115–127
|
|
|
| McNichols Sports Arena
| 19–15
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 35
| January 8, 19858:30p.m. MST
| @ L.A. Lakers
| W 126–124
| English (41)
| English (11)
| Evans (9)
| The Forum13,024
| 20–15
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 36
| January 9, 1985
| New York
| W 100–95
|
|
|
| McNichols Sports Arena
| 21–15
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 37
| January 11, 1985
| Kansas City
| W 143–121
|
|
|
| McNichols Sports Arena
| 22–15
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 38
| January 13, 1985
| @ Milwaukee
| L 116–140
|
|
|
| MECCA Arena
| 22–16
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 39
| January 14, 1985
| @ Chicago
| L 113–122
|
|
|
| Chicago Stadium
| 22–17
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 40
| January 16, 1985
| Golden State
| W 115–107
|
|
|
| McNichols Sports Arena
| 23–17
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 41
| January 18, 1985
| Washington
| W 108–106
|
|
|
| McNichols Sports Arena
| 24–17
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 42
| January 19, 1985
| @ Portland
| W 123–120
|
|
|
| Memorial Coliseum
| 25–17
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 43
| January 24, 1985
| New Jersey
| W 119–110
|
|
|
| McNichols Sports Arena
| 26–17
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 44
| January 26, 1985
| Cleveland
| W 144–127
|
|
|
| McNichols Sports Arena
| 27–17
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 45
| January 28, 1985
| @ Utah
| W 104–100
|
|
|
| Salt Palace Acord Arena
| 28–17
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 46
| January 29, 1985
| Phoenix
| W 128–100
|
|
|
| McNichols Sports Arena
| 29–17
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 47
| January 31, 1985
| Dallas
| W 121–110
|
|
|
| McNichols Sports Arena
| 30–17
Denver Nuggets February #FFD700 #0000CD 5 0 3 4
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 48
| February 2, 1985
| @ Houston
| L 128–131 (2OT)
|
|
|
| The Summit
| 30–18
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 49
| February 3, 1985
| @ Dallas
| L 106–114
|
|
|
| Reunion Arena
| 30–19
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 50
| February 5, 1985
| @ Phoenix
| L 103–108
|
|
|
| Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
| 30–20
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 51
| February 6, 1985
| 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
| February 12, 1985
| Atlanta
| W 131–107
|
|
|
| McNichols Sports Arena
| 32–20
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 53
| February 14, 1985
| @ Kansas City
| W 138–123
|
|
|
| Kemper Arena
| 33–20
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 54
| February 15, 1985
| San Antonio
| W 129–119
|
|
|
| McNichols Sports Arena
| 34–20
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 55
| February 20, 1985
| Boston
| W 132–129
|
|
|
| McNichols Sports Arena
| 35–20
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 56
| February 22, 1985
| @ Seattle
| L 123–133
|
|
|
| Kingdome
| 35–21
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 57
| February 24, 1985
| Phoenix
| W 117–107
|
|
|
| McNichols Sports Arena
| 36–21
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 58
| February 26, 1985
| @ Atlanta
| W 106–94
|
|
|
| The Omni
| 37–21
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 59
| February 27, 1985
| @ Washington
| W 124–111
|
|
|
| Capital Centre
| 38–21
Denver Nuggets March #FFD700 #0000CD 7 0 2 5
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 60
| March 1, 1985
| @ Dallas
| W 141–140 (OT)
|
|
|
| Reunion Arena
| 39–21
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 61
| March 2, 1985
| Milwaukee
| W 123–122
|
|
|
| McNichols Sports Arena
| 40–21
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 62
| March 5, 1985
| Houston
| W 133–131 (2OT)
|
|
|
| McNichols Sports Arena
| 41–21
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 63
| March 7, 1985
| @ Kansas City
| L 140–142
|
|
|
| Kemper Arena
| 41–22
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 64
| March 9, 1985
| Indiana
| W 126–116
|
|
|
| McNichols Sports Arena
| 42–22
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 65
| March 12, 1985
| @ Houston
| L 129–131
|
|
|
| The Summit
| 42–23
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 66
| March 15, 1985
| @ Dallas
| L 108–127
|
|
|
| Reunion Arena
| 42–24
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 67
| March 17, 1985
| @ San Antonio
| L 119–124
|
|
|
| HemisFair Arena
| 42–25
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 68
| March 18, 1985
| Dallas
| W 113–111
|
|
|
| McNichols Sports Arena
| 43–25
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 69
| March 20, 1985
| @ Indiana
| W 123–119
|
|
|
| Market Square Arena
| 44–25
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 70
| March 22, 1985
| @ New Jersey
| W 123–111
|
|
|
| Brendan Byrne Arena
| 45–25
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 71
| March 24, 1985
| @ Philadelphia
| L 103–124
|
|
|
| The Spectrum
| 45–26
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 72
| March 26, 1985
| Utah
| W 104–89
|
|
|
| McNichols Sports Arena
| 46–26
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 73
| March 28, 1985
| Kansas City
| W 133–115
|
|
|
| McNichols Sports Arena
| 47–26
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 74
| March 30, 1985
| Portland
| W 129–117
|
|
|
| McNichols Sports Arena
| 48–26
Denver Nuggets April #FFD700 #0000CD 2 1 2 3
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 75
| April 2, 19857:30p.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
| April 4, 1985
| @ Phoenix
| W 110–103
|
|
|
| Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
| 49–27
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 77
| April 5, 1985
| San Antonio
| W 118–109
|
|
|
| McNichols Sports Arena
| 50–27
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 78
| April 7, 1985
| Golden State
| W 130–125
|
|
|
| McNichols Sports Arena
| 51–27
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 79
| April 9, 19858:30p.m. MST
| @ L.A. Lakers
| L 119–148
| English (28)
| Kopicki (9)
| Evans (9)
| The Forum17,505
| 51–28
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 80
| April 10, 1985
| @ L.A. Clippers
| L 127–129
|
|
|
| Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
| 51–29
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 81
| April 13, 1985
| @ Golden State
| W 127–120
|
|
|
| Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
| 52–29
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 82
| April 14, 1985
| Portland
| L 112–117
|
|
|
| Memorial Coliseum
| 52–30
DEN 1985
Playoffs
Denver Nuggets 1985 yes #031E41 #FFCD03
Denver Nuggets Western Conference First Round no yes yes #FFCD03 #031E41 2 1 1 1
|-
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 1
| April 18, 1985
| 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
| April 20, 1985
| 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
| April 23, 1985
| @ San Antonio
| W 115–112
| Alex English (27)
| Calvin Natt (8)
| Calvin Natt (8)
| HemisFair Arena8,799
| 2–1
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 4
| April 26, 1985
| @ San Antonio
| L 111–116
| Alex English (27)
| Alex English (8)
| Fat Lever (7)
| HemisFair Arena8,621
| 2–2
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 5
| April 28, 1985
| San Antonio
| W 126–99
| Alex English (33)
| Calvin Natt (10)
| Fat Lever (10)
| McNichols Sports Arena17,022
| 3–2
|-
Denver Nuggets Western Conference Semifinals no yes #FFCD03 #031E41 3 0 1 1
|-
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 1
| April 30, 1985
| Utah
| W 130–113
| Alex English (31)
| Fat Lever (16)
| Fat Lever (18)
| McNichols Sports Arena11,918
| 1–0
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 2
| May 2, 1985
| 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
| May 4, 1985
| @ 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
| May 5, 1985
| @ 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
| May 7, 1985
| Utah
| W 116–104
| Alex English (30)
| Wayne Cooper (11)
| Alex English (6)
| McNichols Sports Arena17,022
| 4–1
|-
Denver Nuggets Western Conference Finals no yes #FFCD03 #031E41 0 2 1 2
|-
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 1
| May 11, 19851:30p.m. MDT
| @ L.A. Lakers
| L 122–139
| English (30)
| Issel (8)
| Evans (11)
| The Forum16,109
| 0–1
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 2
| May 14, 19859:00p.m. MDT
| @ L.A. Lakers
| W 136–114
| English (40)
| Turner (11)
| Turner (8)
| The Forum17,505
| 1–1
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 3
| May 17, 19858:00p.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
| May 19, 19854:00p.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
| May 22, 19859:30p.m. MDT
| @ L.A. Lakers
| L 109–153
| Cooper (23)
| Schayes (9)
| Lever (6)
| The Forum17,505
| 1–4
|-
DEN 1985 yes
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
Category:Denver Nuggets seasons
Den
Denver Nugget
Denver Nugget