1985–86 Denver Nuggets season

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 Semifinals; (Lost to Rockets 2–4)
	Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television	KWGN-TV
Radio	KOA
< 1984–85	1986–87 >

The 1985–86 NBA season was the Nuggets' 10th season in the NBA and 19th season as a franchise.^[1]

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 Semifinals.

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

Roster

1985-86 Denver Nuggets roster

Players

Coaches

Pos.	No.	Name	Height	Weight	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 (C)	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 at 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)	Tennessee at 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 v t e	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 v t e
#	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
2	October 26	Sacramento	W 123–112				McNichols Sports Arena	2–0

November: 8–6 (home: 7–2; road: 1–4)

Game	Date	Team	Score	Location Attendance	Record
5	November 5	Atlanta	W 128–113	McNichols Sports Arena	5–0
6	November 7	Dallas	W 131–99	McNichols Sports Arena	6–0
7	November 8	@ L.A. Lakers	L 99–128	The Forum	6–1
8	November 12	@ Houston	L 119–127	The Summit	6–2
9	November 14	San Antonio	W 112-109	McNichols Sports Arena	7–2
11	November 19	Houston	W 127–113	McNichols Sports Arena	9–2
12	November 21	L.A. Lakers	W 121–120	McNichols Sports Arena	10–2
13	November 23	Sacramento	W 122–118	McNichols Sports Arena	11–2
15	November 26	Chicago	L 123–128	McNichols Sports Arena	11–4
17	November 29	@ Utah	W 129–114	Salt Palace Acord Arena	12–5

December: 7–6 (home: 5–1; road: 2–5)

Game	Date	Team	Score	Location Attendance	Record
21	December 6	@ Philadelphia	W 123–121	The Spectrum	14–7
24	December 13	L.A. Lakers	W 124–120	McNichols Sports Arena	16–8
25	December 14	@ Dallas	L 100–127	Reunion Arena	16–9
27	December 19	Portland	W 123–118	McNichols Sports Arena	18–9
28	December 21	San Antonio	L 118-128	McNichols Sports Arena	18–10
29	December 22	@ Portland	L 114–121	Memorial Coliseum	18–11
30	December 28	@ San Antonio	L 112–116	HemisFair Arena	18–12
31	December 30	Houston	W 125–122	McNichols Sports Arena	19–12

January: 8–8 (home: 6–1; road: 2–7)

Game	Date	Team	Score	Location Attendance	Record
33	January 4	@ Sacramento	L 107–112	ARCO Arena	19–14
34	January 7	Dallas	W 132–110	McNichols Sports Arena	20–14
36	January 11	Utah	W 114–106	McNichols Sports Arena	22–14
37	January 13	@ Milwaukee	W 119–115	MECCA Arena	23–14
38	January 15	@ Boston	L 100–123	Boston Garden	23–15
39	January 17	@ Detroit	L 113–129	Pontiac Silverdome	23–16
40	January 18	@ New Jersey	L 113–124	Brendan Byrne Arena	23–17
41	January 21	@ Utah	L 114–117 (OT)	Salt Palace Acord Arena	23–18
42	January 22	New Jersey	W 137–124	McNichols Sports Arena	23–19
43	January 24	San Antonio	L 98-113	McNichols Sports Arena	24–19
44	January 25	@ L.A. Lakers	W 127–115	The Forum	25–19
46	January 28	@ Sacramento	L 120–125	ARCO Arena	26–20

February: 9–4 (home: 7–0; road: 2–4)

Game	Date	Team	Score	Location Attendance	Record
48	February 1	Milwaukee	W 116–113	McNichols Sports Arena	28–20
49	February 3	@ Houston	L 102–104	The Summit	28–21
50	February 4	Portland	W 119–118	McNichols Sports Arena	29–21
51	February 6	@ San Antonio	W 100–95	HemisFair Arena	30–21
52	February 12	@ Dallas	L 110–117	Reunion Arena	30–22
55	February 18	Washington	W 101–90	McNichols Sports Arena	32–23
56	February 20	Boston	W 102–100	McNichols Sports Arena	33–23
57	February 22	Dallas	W 113–106	McNichols Sports Arena	34–23
58	February 24	@ Portland	W 119–113	Memorial Coliseum	35–23
60	February 27	@ Houston	L 111–117	The Summit	36–24

March: 8–7 (home: 6–2; road: 2–5)

Game	Date	Team	Score	Location Attendance	Record
61	March 1	Philadelphia	L 107–118	McNichols Sports Arena	36–25
62	March 4	Houston	W 128–115	McNichols Sports Arena	37–25
65	March 11	@ Atlanta	L 116–128	The Omni	39–26
66	March 13	@ Chicago	L 102–112	Chicago Stadium	39–27
67	March 14	@ Washington	W 101–91	Capital Centre	40–27
68	March 16	Sacramento	W 119–113	McNichols Sports Arena	41–27
69	March 18	@ Sacramento	L 113–117	ARCO Arena	41–28
70	March 19	Detroit	W 114–98	McNichols Sports Arena	42–28
73	March 25	L.A. Lakers	L 115–121	McNichols Sports Arena	43–30
74	March 26	@ Utah	L 101–116	Salt Palace Acord Arena	43–31
75	March 28	Utah	W 128–120	McNichols Sports Arena	44–31

April: 3–4 (home: 1–1; road: 2–3)

Game	Date	Team	Score	Location Attendance	Record
76	April 1	@ Portland	L 110–127	Memorial Coliseum	44–32
77	April 3	@ Dallas	L 114–115	Reunion Arena	44–33
78	April 6	@ San Antonio	W 124–106	HemisFair Arena	45–33
82	April 12	Utah	L 99–117	McNichols Sports Arena	47–35

1985–86 schedule

Playoffs

1986 playoff game log

Western Conference First Round: 3–1 (home: 1–1; road: 2–0)

Game	Date	Team	Score	Location Attendance	Series
1	April 18	Portland	W 133–126	McNichols Sports Arena	1–0
2	April 20	Portland	L 106–108	McNichols Sports Arena	1–1
3	April 22	@ Portland	W 115–104	Memorial Coliseum	2–1
4	April 24	@ Portland	W 116–112	Memorial Coliseum	3–1

Western Conference Semifinals: 2–4 (home: 2–1; road: 0–3)

Game	Date	Team	Score	Location Attendance	Series
1	April 26	@ Houston	L 119–126	The Summit	0–1
2	April 29	@ Houston	L 101–119	The Summit	0–2
3	May 2	Houston	W 116–115	McNichols Sports Arena	1–2
4	May 4	Houston	W 114–111 (OT)	McNichols Sports Arena	2–2
5	May 6	@ Houston	L 103–131	The Summit	2–3
6	May 8	Houston	L 122–126 (2OT)	McNichols Sports Arena	2–4

1986 schedule

Playoffs

West First Round

(3) Denver Nuggets vs. (6) Portland Trail Blazers: Nuggets win series 3–1

Game 1 @ McNichols Sports Arena, Denver (April 18): Denver 133, Portland 126
Game 2 @ McNichols Sports Arena, Denver (April 20): Portland 108, Denver 106
Game 3 @ Memorial Coliseum, Portland (April 22): Denver 115, Portland 104
Game 4 @ Memorial Coliseum, Portland (April 24): Denver 116, Portland 112

Last Playoff Meeting: 1977 Western Conference Semifinals (Portland won 4–2)

West Conference Semifinals

(2) Houston Rockets vs. (3) Denver Nuggets: Rockets win series 4–2

Game 1 @ The Summit, Houston (April 26): Houston 126, Denver 119
Game 2 @ The Summit, Houston (April 29): Houston 119, Denver 101
Game 3 @ McNichols Sports Arena, Denver (May 2): Denver 116, Houston 115
Game 4 @ McNichols Sports Arena, Denver (May 4): Denver 114, Houston 111 (OT)
Game 5 @ The Summit, Houston (May 6): Houston 131, Denver 103
Game 6 @ McNichols Sports Arena, Denver (May 8): Houston 126, Denver 122 (2OT)

Last Playoff Meeting: This is the first meeting between the Rockets and Nuggets.

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

Transactions

References

^ 1985-86 Denver Nuggets

v t e Denver Nuggets
Founded in 1967 Formerly the Denver Rockets (1967–1974) Based in Denver, Colorado
Franchise	ABA–NBA merger All-time roster Draft history Records Head coaches Seasons Current season
Arenas	Denver Auditorium Arena Denver Coliseum McNichols Sports Arena Ball Arena
Personnel	Owner(s) Ann Walton Kroenke President Josh Kroenke General manager Calvin Booth Head coach Michael Malone
G League affiliate	Grand Rapids Gold
Retired numbers	2 12 33 40 44 55 432
NBA championships	2023
Rivalries	Minnesota Timberwolves Utah Jazz
Culture and lore	Alex English Mt. Mutombo The Hey Song "Cartman Finds Love" (South Park) Kansas City (ABA) 1976 ABA All-Star Game Knicks–Nuggets brawl The Joker

Draft picks

Roster

Regular season

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Game log

Regular season

Playoffs

Playoffs

West First Round

West Conference Semifinals

Player statistics

Season

Playoffs

Awards and records

Transactions

References

See also