The 2011-12 Denver Nuggets finished the lockout-shortened season with a 38-28 record, securing the sixth seed in the Western Conference. Under head coach George Karl, the team emphasized a fast-paced, high-scoring offense, leading the league in points per game. Key players included Ty Lawson, Danilo Gallinari, and veteran Andre Miller, who provided leadership and versatility.
Despite trading Nene to the Washington Wizards mid-season for JaVale McGee, the Nuggets maintained their competitive edge. In the playoffs, they faced the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round. The series extended to seven games, showcasing Denver’s resilience, but ultimately, the Nuggets fell short, losing 4-3. Their performance highlighted the team’s depth and potential, setting the groundwork for future success, but also underscored the need for a strong inside presence to compete against elite Western Conference teams.
- Regular Season Record: 38-28
- Playoff Result: Western Conference First Round: 3-4
Denver Nuggets Roster and Stats for 2011-12 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Ty Lawson | 61 | 16.4 | 3.7 | 6.6 | 1.3 | 0.1 | 36.5 | 7 | 19.0 | 2.6 | 6.0 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 32.1 |
| Arron Afflalo | 62 | 15.2 | 3.2 | 2.4 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 39.8 | 7 | 10.9 | 3.6 | 2.7 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 20.0 |
| Danilo Gallinari | 43 | 14.6 | 4.7 | 2.7 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 32.8 | 7 | 13.4 | 5.1 | 2.4 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 17.4 |
| Al Harrington | 64 | 14.2 | 6.1 | 1.4 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 33.3 | 7 | 9.7 | 4.3 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 28.6 |
| Nenê | 28 | 13.4 | 7.4 | 2.2 | 1.3 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| JaVale McGee | 20 | 10.3 | 5.8 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 1.6 | 0.0 | 7 | 8.6 | 9.6 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 3.1 | 0.0 |
| Kenneth Faried | 46 | 10.2 | 7.7 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 7 | 10.4 | 10.0 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 1.1 | 0.0 |
| Andre Miller | 66 | 9.7 | 3.3 | 6.7 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 21.7 | 7 | 11.3 | 5.6 | 6.0 | 1.3 | 0.1 | 57.1 |
| Wilson Chandler | 8 | 9.4 | 5.1 | 2.1 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 25.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Corey Brewer | 59 | 8.9 | 2.5 | 1.5 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 26.0 | 7 | 8.3 | 2.0 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 30.0 |
| Rudy Fernández | 31 | 8.6 | 2.1 | 2.4 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 32.8 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Kosta Koufos | 48 | 5.5 | 5.4 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 3 | 0.7 | 3.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| Timofey Mozgov | 44 | 5.4 | 4.1 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 7 | 4.0 | 3.3 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.9 | 0.0 |
| Chris Andersen | 32 | 5.3 | 4.6 | 0.2 | 0.6 | 1.4 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jordan Hamilton | 26 | 4.4 | 2.4 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 36.2 | 2 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| DeMarre Carroll | 4 | 3.0 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Julyan Stone | 22 | 1.6 | 1.1 | 1.7 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 18.2 | 2 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Denver Nuggets in the 2012 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Los Angeles Lakers
In the first round of the 2012 NBA Playoffs, the Denver Nuggets faced off against the Los Angeles Lakers in a thrilling seven-game series. Despite the Nuggets' impressive depth and fast-paced play, they ultimately fell short, losing 4-3 to the Lakers. Denver's resilience and ability to push a veteran Lakers team to the brink highlighted their potential and set the stage for future postseason appearances.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 29, 2012 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 103-88 | |
| May 01, 2012 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 104-100 | |
| May 04, 2012 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 99-84 | |
| May 06, 2012 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 92-88 | |
| May 08, 2012 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 102-99 | |
| May 10, 2012 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 113-96 | |
| May 12, 2012 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 96-87 |
Denver Nuggets 2011-12 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 2011-12 season for the Denver Nuggets.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 26, 2011 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 115-93 | |
| Dec 28, 2011 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 117-100 | |
| Dec 29, 2011 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 111-102 | |
| Dec 31, 2011 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 92-89 | |
| Jan 01, 2012 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 99-90 | |
| Jan 02, 2012 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 91-86 | |
| Jan 04, 2012 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 110-83 | |
| Jan 06, 2012 | @ New Orleans Hornets | W 96-88 | |
| Jan 07, 2012 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 121-117 | |
| Jan 09, 2012 | vs. New Orleans Hornets | L 94-81 | |
| Jan 11, 2012 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 123-115 | |
| Jan 13, 2012 | vs. Miami Heat | W 117-104 | |
| Jan 15, 2012 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 106-96 | |
| Jan 17, 2012 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 105-95 | |
| Jan 18, 2012 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 108-104 | |
| Jan 20, 2012 | @ Washington Wizards | W 108-104 | |
| Jan 21, 2012 | @ New York Knicks | W 119-114 | |
| Jan 25, 2012 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 122-93 | |
| Jan 27, 2012 | vs. Toronto Raptors | W 96-81 | |
| Jan 29, 2012 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | L 109-105 | |
| Jan 31, 2012 | @ Memphis Grizzlies | L 100-97 | |
| Feb 02, 2012 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 112-91 | |
| Feb 03, 2012 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 93-89 | |
| Feb 04, 2012 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 117-97 | |
| Feb 06, 2012 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 99-90 | |
| Feb 08, 2012 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | L 105-95 | |
| Feb 09, 2012 | vs. Golden State Warriors | L 109-101 | |
| Feb 11, 2012 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 113-109 | |
| Feb 14, 2012 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 109-92 | |
| Feb 15, 2012 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 102-84 | |
| Feb 17, 2012 | @ Memphis Grizzlies | L 103-102 | |
| Feb 19, 2012 | @ Oklahoma City Thunder | L 124-118 | |
| Feb 20, 2012 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | W 103-101 | |
| Feb 22, 2012 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | L 103-95 | |
| Feb 23, 2012 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 114-99 | |
| Feb 29, 2012 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 104-95 | |
| Mar 02, 2012 | @ Houston Rockets | W 117-105 | |
| Mar 04, 2012 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 99-94 | |
| Mar 05, 2012 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 119-116 | |
| Mar 07, 2012 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | L 100-99 | |
| Mar 09, 2012 | vs. New Orleans Hornets | W 110-97 | |
| Mar 11, 2012 | vs. Memphis Grizzlies | L 94-91 | |
| Mar 13, 2012 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 118-117 | |
| Mar 15, 2012 | vs. Oklahoma City Thunder | L 103-90 | |
| Mar 17, 2012 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 98-91 | |
| Mar 19, 2012 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | L 112-95 | |
| Mar 21, 2012 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 116-115 | |
| Mar 23, 2012 | @ Utah Jazz | L 121-102 | |
| Mar 25, 2012 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | L 117-100 | |
| Mar 26, 2012 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 108-91 | |
| Mar 28, 2012 | @ Toronto Raptors | L 105-96 | |
| Mar 30, 2012 | @ Charlotte Bobcats | W 99-88 | |
| Apr 01, 2012 | @ Orlando Magic | W 104-101 | |
| Apr 04, 2012 | @ New Orleans Hornets | L 94-92 | |
| Apr 06, 2012 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 105-99 | |
| Apr 07, 2012 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 112-97 | |
| Apr 09, 2012 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 123-84 | |
| Apr 11, 2012 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | W 113-107 | |
| Apr 13, 2012 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 103-97 | |
| Apr 15, 2012 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 101-86 | |
| Apr 16, 2012 | @ Houston Rockets | W 105-102 | |
| Apr 18, 2012 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | L 104-98 | |
| Apr 21, 2012 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 118-107 | |
| Apr 22, 2012 | vs. Orlando Magic | W 101-74 | |
| Apr 25, 2012 | @ Oklahoma City Thunder | W 106-101 | |
| Apr 26, 2012 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | W 131-102 |