The 2020-21 Denver Nuggets had a strong season, finishing with a 47-25 record, securing the third seed in the Western Conference. Led by MVP Nikola Jokić, who averaged 26.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 8.3 assists per game, the Nuggets showcased exceptional offensive efficiency. However, their campaign faced challenges, notably Jamal Murray’s ACL injury in April, which sidelined him for the remainder of the season and playoffs.
In the playoffs, Denver defeated the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round, winning the series 4-2. Despite Jokić’s continued excellence, the Nuggets struggled against the Phoenix Suns in the Western Conference Semifinals, ultimately being swept 4-0. The season highlighted Jokić’s rise as a premier NBA talent and underscored the need for depth and resilience against injuries. Looking ahead, the Nuggets aim to build on their strengths and return as contenders in the upcoming seasons.
- Regular Season Record: 47-25
- Playoff Result: Western Conference First Round: 4-2, Western Conference Semifinals: 0-4
Denver Nuggets Roster and Stats for 2020-21 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Nikola Jokić | 72 | 26.4 | 10.8 | 8.3 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 38.8 | 10 | 29.8 | 11.6 | 5.0 | 0.6 | 0.9 | 37.7 |
| Jamal Murray | 48 | 21.2 | 4.0 | 4.8 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 40.8 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Michael Porter Jr. | 61 | 19.0 | 7.3 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 44.5 | 10 | 17.4 | 6.2 | 1.3 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 39.7 |
| Will Barton | 56 | 12.7 | 4.0 | 3.2 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 38.1 | 3 | 16.3 | 4.3 | 2.7 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 33.3 |
| Monte Morris | 47 | 10.2 | 2.0 | 3.2 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 38.1 | 10 | 13.7 | 2.4 | 5.5 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 40.0 |
| Aaron Gordon | 25 | 10.2 | 4.7 | 2.2 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 26.6 | 10 | 11.1 | 5.4 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 39.1 |
| Gary Harris | 19 | 9.7 | 2.5 | 1.7 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 32.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Paul Millsap | 56 | 9.0 | 4.7 | 1.8 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 34.3 | 9 | 6.4 | 3.9 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 26.1 |
| Austin Rivers | 15 | 8.7 | 2.3 | 2.6 | 1.2 | 0.1 | 37.5 | 10 | 9.2 | 1.7 | 2.1 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 41.3 |
| JaMychal Green | 58 | 8.1 | 4.8 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 39.9 | 10 | 5.4 | 5.2 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 30.0 |
| PJ Dozier | 50 | 7.7 | 3.6 | 1.8 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 31.5 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Facundo Campazzo | 65 | 6.1 | 2.1 | 3.6 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 35.2 | 10 | 9.3 | 3.0 | 4.1 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 39.6 |
| JaVale McGee | 13 | 5.5 | 5.3 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 4 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 1.3 | 0.0 |
| Isaiah Hartenstein | 30 | 3.5 | 2.8 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Shaquille Harrison | 17 | 3.3 | 2.3 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 21.4 | 9 | 1.0 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 100.0 |
| Zeke Nnaji | 42 | 3.2 | 1.5 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 40.7 | 5 | 2.4 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 42.9 |
| Markus Howard | 37 | 2.8 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 27.7 | 9 | 4.7 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 42.3 |
| R.J. Hampton | 25 | 2.6 | 2.0 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 27.8 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Bol Bol | 32 | 2.2 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 37.5 | 3 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Vlatko Čančar | 41 | 2.1 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 27.3 | 5 | 2.2 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 100.0 |
| Greg Whittington | 4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Gary Clark | 2 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Denver Nuggets in the 2021 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Portland Trail Blazers
In the first round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs, the Denver Nuggets faced off against the Portland Trail Blazers and emerged victorious in a competitive six-game series. Nikola Jokić, the MVP of that season, showcased his brilliance by averaging 33 points per game, providing the offensive firepower and leadership the Nuggets needed. Despite the absence of Jamal Murray due to injury, Denver's depth and resilience allowed them to advance to the Western Conference Semifinals.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 22, 2021 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 123-109 | |
| May 24, 2021 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 128-109 | |
| May 27, 2021 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 120-115 | |
| May 29, 2021 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 115-95 | |
| Jun 01, 2021 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 147-140 | |
| Jun 03, 2021 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 126-115 |
Playoffs Second Round vs. Phoenix Suns
In the 2021 NBA Playoffs, the Denver Nuggets faced the Phoenix Suns in the second round and were swept 4-0, despite the MVP efforts of Nikola Jokić. The Nuggets struggled to contain the Suns' dynamic backcourt led by Chris Paul and Devin Booker, highlighting Denver's defensive vulnerabilities and the absence of key players like Jamal Murray due to injury. This exit underscored the need for a stronger supporting cast to complement Jokić's brilliance in future playoff runs.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 07, 2021 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 122-105 | |
| Jun 09, 2021 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 123-98 | |
| Jun 11, 2021 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 116-102 | |
| Jun 13, 2021 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 125-118 |
Denver Nuggets 2020-21 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 2020-21 season for the Denver Nuggets.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 23, 2020 | vs. Sacramento Kings | L 124-122 | |
| Dec 25, 2020 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | L 121-108 | |
| Dec 28, 2020 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 124-111 | |
| Dec 29, 2020 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 125-115 | |
| Jan 01, 2021 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 106-103 | |
| Jan 03, 2021 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | W 124-109 | |
| Jan 05, 2021 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | W 123-116 | |
| Jan 07, 2021 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | L 124-117 | |
| Jan 09, 2021 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 115-103 | |
| Jan 10, 2021 | @ New York Knicks | W 114-89 | |
| Jan 12, 2021 | @ Brooklyn Nets | L 122-116 | |
| Jan 14, 2021 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 114-104 | |
| Jan 17, 2021 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 109-105 | |
| Jan 19, 2021 | vs. Oklahoma City Thunder | W 119-101 | |
| Jan 22, 2021 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 130-126 | |
| Jan 23, 2021 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 120-112 | |
| Jan 25, 2021 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 117-113 | |
| Jan 27, 2021 | @ Miami Heat | W 109-82 | |
| Jan 29, 2021 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 119-109 | |
| Jan 31, 2021 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 128-117 | |
| Feb 04, 2021 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 114-93 | |
| Feb 06, 2021 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 119-114 | |
| Feb 08, 2021 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 125-112 | |
| Feb 10, 2021 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 133-95 | |
| Feb 12, 2021 | vs. Oklahoma City Thunder | W 97-95 | |
| Feb 14, 2021 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 122-105 | |
| Feb 16, 2021 | @ Boston Celtics | L 112-99 | |
| Feb 17, 2021 | @ Washington Wizards | L 130-128 | |
| Feb 19, 2021 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 120-103 | |
| Feb 21, 2021 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 123-115 | |
| Feb 23, 2021 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 111-106 | |
| Feb 25, 2021 | vs. Washington Wizards | L 112-110 | |
| Feb 27, 2021 | @ Oklahoma City Thunder | W 126-96 | |
| Mar 01, 2021 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 118-112 | |
| Mar 02, 2021 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 128-97 | |
| Mar 04, 2021 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 113-103 | |
| Mar 12, 2021 | @ Memphis Grizzlies | W 103-102 | |
| Mar 13, 2021 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | L 116-103 | |
| Mar 15, 2021 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 121-106 | |
| Mar 17, 2021 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | W 129-104 | |
| Mar 19, 2021 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 131-127 | |
| Mar 21, 2021 | vs. New Orleans Pelicans | L 113-108 | |
| Mar 23, 2021 | @ Orlando Magic | W 110-99 | |
| Mar 24, 2021 | @ Toronto Raptors | L 135-111 | |
| Mar 26, 2021 | @ New Orleans Pelicans | W 113-108 | |
| Mar 28, 2021 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 126-102 | |
| Mar 30, 2021 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 104-95 | |
| Apr 01, 2021 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 101-94 | |
| Apr 04, 2021 | vs. Orlando Magic | W 119-109 | |
| Apr 06, 2021 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 134-119 | |
| Apr 07, 2021 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 106-96 | |
| Apr 09, 2021 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 121-119 | |
| Apr 11, 2021 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 105-87 | |
| Apr 12, 2021 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 116-107 | |
| Apr 14, 2021 | vs. Miami Heat | W 123-106 | |
| Apr 16, 2021 | @ Houston Rockets | W 128-99 | |
| Apr 19, 2021 | vs. Memphis Grizzlies | W 139-137 | |
| Apr 21, 2021 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 106-105 | |
| Apr 23, 2021 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 118-97 | |
| Apr 24, 2021 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 129-116 | |
| Apr 26, 2021 | vs. Memphis Grizzlies | W 120-96 | |
| Apr 28, 2021 | vs. New Orleans Pelicans | W 114-112 | |
| Apr 29, 2021 | vs. Toronto Raptors | W 121-111 | |
| May 01, 2021 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 110-104 | |
| May 03, 2021 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 93-89 | |
| May 05, 2021 | vs. New York Knicks | W 113-97 | |
| May 07, 2021 | @ Utah Jazz | L 127-120 | |
| May 08, 2021 | vs. Brooklyn Nets | L 125-119 | |
| May 11, 2021 | @ Charlotte Hornets | W 117-112 | |
| May 13, 2021 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | W 114-103 | |
| May 14, 2021 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 104-91 | |
| May 16, 2021 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 132-116 |