1985–86 Denver Nuggets season

1985–86 Denver Nuggets season
Head coach	Doug Moe
Arena	McNichols Sports Arena
Results
Record	47–35 (.573)
Place	Division: 2nd (Midwest) Conference: 3rd (Western)
Playoff finish	West Conference Semi-finals (lost to Rockets 2–4)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television	KWGN-TV
Radio	KOA

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

Main article: 1985 NBA draft

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

Roster

1985-86 Denver Nuggets roster

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 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 PF 24 Hanzlik, Bill 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Notre Dame G 12 Lever, Fat 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Arizona State PF 33 Natt, Calvin 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Louisiana–Monroe C 41 Rasmussen, Blair 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 250 lb (113 kg) Oregon C 34 Schayes, Danny 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 235 lb (107 kg) Syracuse SF 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 PF 31 Williams, Pete 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Arizona

Head coach Doug Moe Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured

Regular season

Season standings

Midwest Division	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 Conference
	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) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 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) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 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) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 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) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 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) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 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) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 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) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 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) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Series 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) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Series 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

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

Awards and records

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

See also

• 1985–86 NBA season