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1981–82 Denver Nuggets season

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(Redirected from 1981-82 Denver Nuggets season) NBA professional basketball team season

NBA professional basketball team season
1981–82 Denver Nuggets season
Head coachDoug Moe
ArenaMcNichols Sports Arena
Results
Record46–36 (.561)
PlaceDivision: 2nd (Midwest)
Conference: 4th (Western)
Playoff finishWest First Round
(lost to Suns 1–2)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionKWGN
RadioKOA
< 1980–81 1982–83 >

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

Main article: 1981 NBA draft
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

Roster

1981–82 Denver Nuggets roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From
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
F 22 Gondrezick, Glen 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 218 lb (99 kg) UNLV
G 1 Higgs, Kenny 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 180 lb (82 kg) LSU
F 34 Hordges, Cedrick 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 280 lb (127 kg) South Carolina
C 44 Issel, Dan 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 235 lb (107 kg) Kentucky
G 7 McKinney, Billy 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Northwestern
F 43 Ray, James 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Jacksonville
C 25 Robisch, Dave 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 235 lb (107 kg) Kansas
G 10 Roche, John 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 170 lb (77 kg) South Carolina
SF 33 Thompson, David 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 195 lb (88 kg) NC State
PF 55 Vandeweghe, Kiki 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) UCLA
Head coach
Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Regular season

Season standings

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

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

Records

Milestones

Transactions

Trades

Free agents

Player Former team
Player New team

See also

References

1981–82 NBA season
Eastern
Atlantic
Central
Western
Midwest
Pacific
Denver Nuggets seasons
1960s
1967–68 1968–69
1970s
1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79
1980s
1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89
1990s
1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99
2000s
1999–00 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09
2010s
2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19
2020s
2019–20 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24 2024–25
Bold indicates NBA Finals victory
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