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.

1981–82 Denver Nuggets season
Head coach	Doug Moe
Arena	McNichols Sports Arena
Results
Record	46–36 (.561)
Place	Division: 2nd (Midwest) Conference: 4th (Western)
Playoff finish	West First Round (lost to Suns 1–2)
Stats at Basketball Reference
Local media
Television	KWGN
Radio	KOA
< 1980–81 1982–83 >

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. Player Height Weight DOB From SG 23 T.R. Dunn 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 192 lb (87 kg) Alabama SF 2 Alex English 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 190 lb (86 kg) South Carolina F 22 Glen Gondrezick 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 218 lb (99 kg) UNLV G 1 Kenny Higgs 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 180 lb (82 kg) LSU F 34 Cedrick Hordges 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 280 lb (127 kg) South Carolina C 44 Dan Issel 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 235 lb (107 kg) Kentucky G 7 Billy McKinney 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Northwestern F 43 James Ray 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Jacksonville C 25 Dave Robisch 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 235 lb (107 kg) Kansas G 10 John Roche 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 170 lb (77 kg) South Carolina SF 33 David Thompson 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 195 lb (88 kg) NC State PF 55 Kiki Vandeweghe 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) UCLA

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-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 v t e
	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	NYN	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

• 1981-82 NBA season

References

• Nuggets on Basketball Reference