The 2004-05 Denver Nuggets experienced a roller-coaster season, finishing with a 49-33 record. The team started slowly under Jeff Bzdelik, but after his mid-season dismissal, interim coach Michael Cooper briefly took over before George Karl was appointed. Karl’s leadership ignited a dramatic turnaround, as the Nuggets went 32-8 in their final 40 games, securing a playoff spot as the seventh seed in the Western Conference.
Key players included Carmelo Anthony, who led the team in scoring, and Marcus Camby, who anchored the defense. Andre Miller provided steady playmaking, while Kenyon Martin added toughness and experience. In the playoffs, the Nuggets faced the San Antonio Spurs in the first round. Despite winning the opening game, they ultimately fell to the Spurs in five games. This season marked a pivotal moment for the Nuggets, laying the foundation for future successes under Karl’s guidance.
- Regular Season Record: 49-33
- Playoff Result: Western Conference First Round: 1-4
Denver Nuggets Roster and Stats for 2004-05 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Carmelo Anthony | 75 | 20.8 | 5.7 | 2.6 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 26.6 | 5 | 19.2 | 5.4 | 2.0 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.0 |
| Kenyon Martin | 70 | 15.5 | 7.3 | 2.4 | 1.4 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 5 | 12.4 | 5.6 | 1.2 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 |
| Andre Miller | 82 | 13.6 | 4.1 | 6.9 | 1.5 | 0.1 | 15.4 | 5 | 16.2 | 5.2 | 5.2 | 2.0 | 0.2 | 50.0 |
| Earl Boykins | 82 | 12.4 | 1.7 | 4.5 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 33.7 | 5 | 14.2 | 1.0 | 3.8 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 0.0 |
| Marcus Camby | 66 | 10.3 | 10.0 | 2.3 | 0.9 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 5 | 10.2 | 11.2 | 1.8 | 0.6 | 3.2 | 0.0 |
| Voshon Lenard | 3 | 9.7 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 33.3 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Nenê | 55 | 9.6 | 5.9 | 1.5 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 5 | 6.6 | 5.0 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.0 |
| Wesley Person | 25 | 8.1 | 2.4 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 48.5 | 4 | 3.8 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 37.5 |
| DerMarr Johnson | 71 | 7.1 | 2.1 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 35.8 | 4 | 7.3 | 2.0 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 36.4 |
| Eduardo Nájera | 26 | 6.9 | 4.8 | 1.1 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 2 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Greg Buckner | 70 | 6.2 | 3.0 | 1.9 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 40.5 | 5 | 2.0 | 3.2 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 22.2 |
| Rodney White | 42 | 5.6 | 1.8 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 43.2 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Bryon Russell | 70 | 4.4 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 37.6 | 3 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Francisco Elson | 67 | 3.7 | 3.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 33.3 | 1 | 0.0 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Luis Flores | 1 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 100.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Nikoloz Tskitishvili | 23 | 1.5 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Mark Pope | 9 | 0.4 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Denver Nuggets in the 2005 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. San Antonio Spurs
In the 2005 NBA Playoffs, the Denver Nuggets faced off against the San Antonio Spurs in the first round. Despite a promising start with a Game 1 victory, the Nuggets struggled to maintain their momentum, ultimately losing the series 4-1. Denver's young talent, including Carmelo Anthony, showed flashes of potential, but they were outmatched by the seasoned and disciplined Spurs, who went on to win the NBA Championship that year.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 24, 2005 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 93-87 | |
| Apr 27, 2005 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 104-76 | |
| Apr 30, 2005 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 86-78 | |
| May 02, 2005 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 126-115 | |
| May 04, 2005 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 99-89 |
Denver Nuggets 2004-05 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 2004-05 season for the Denver Nuggets.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 02, 2004 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 89-78 | |
| Nov 04, 2004 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | W 94-92 | |
| Nov 06, 2004 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 106-82 | |
| Nov 08, 2004 | @ Utah Jazz | L 102-91 | |
| Nov 09, 2004 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 108-88 | |
| Nov 11, 2004 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 117-109 | |
| Nov 14, 2004 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 101-89 | |
| Nov 17, 2004 | vs. Toronto Raptors | W 112-106 | |
| Nov 19, 2004 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 99-81 | |
| Nov 21, 2004 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 110-82 | |
| Nov 23, 2004 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 90-88 | |
| Nov 26, 2004 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 89-75 | |
| Nov 27, 2004 | @ Houston Rockets | W 82-76 | |
| Nov 29, 2004 | vs. New Orleans Hornets | W 76-67 | |
| Dec 02, 2004 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | L 92-73 | |
| Dec 04, 2004 | vs. Miami Heat | W 104-95 | |
| Dec 06, 2004 | vs. Orlando Magic | W 115-102 | |
| Dec 08, 2004 | @ Washington Wizards | W 111-105 | |
| Dec 10, 2004 | @ Toronto Raptors | W 101-87 | |
| Dec 12, 2004 | @ New York Knicks | L 107-96 | |
| Dec 14, 2004 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 110-102 | |
| Dec 15, 2004 | @ Boston Celtics | W 100-99 | |
| Dec 17, 2004 | @ Miami Heat | L 107-100 | |
| Dec 18, 2004 | @ Orlando Magic | L 117-95 | |
| Dec 20, 2004 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 107-105 | |
| Dec 22, 2004 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 98-83 | |
| Dec 26, 2004 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | L 102-88 | |
| Dec 27, 2004 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 104-101 | |
| Dec 31, 2004 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 97-92 | |
| Jan 02, 2005 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 99-91 | |
| Jan 03, 2005 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | L 102-98 | |
| Jan 08, 2005 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 99-90 | |
| Jan 09, 2005 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 116-98 | |
| Jan 11, 2005 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 109-100 | |
| Jan 12, 2005 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 95-83 | |
| Jan 14, 2005 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | L 93-83 | |
| Jan 17, 2005 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 107-97 | |
| Jan 18, 2005 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 116-110 | |
| Jan 21, 2005 | vs. Memphis Grizzlies | W 92-82 | |
| Jan 23, 2005 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 95-93 | |
| Jan 25, 2005 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 111-107 | |
| Jan 26, 2005 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 87-70 | |
| Jan 28, 2005 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 106-100 | |
| Jan 29, 2005 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 95-88 | |
| Feb 01, 2005 | vs. New York Knicks | W 96-76 | |
| Feb 02, 2005 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 97-94 | |
| Feb 05, 2005 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 107-91 | |
| Feb 08, 2005 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 97-87 | |
| Feb 09, 2005 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | L 98-92 | |
| Feb 11, 2005 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 106-101 | |
| Feb 13, 2005 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 94-79 | |
| Feb 15, 2005 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 100-96 | |
| Feb 16, 2005 | @ Charlotte Bobcats | L 94-88 | |
| Feb 23, 2005 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 107-86 | |
| Feb 25, 2005 | @ Memphis Grizzlies | W 97-94 | |
| Feb 27, 2005 | @ New Orleans Hornets | W 94-93 | |
| Mar 01, 2005 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 97-74 | |
| Mar 03, 2005 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 96-87 | |
| Mar 05, 2005 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 105-89 | |
| Mar 07, 2005 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 111-98 | |
| Mar 12, 2005 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 90-87 | |
| Mar 13, 2005 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 106-101 | |
| Mar 16, 2005 | vs. Charlotte Bobcats | W 120-101 | |
| Mar 18, 2005 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 115-96 | |
| Mar 20, 2005 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 114-103 | |
| Mar 22, 2005 | vs. Washington Wizards | W 127-98 | |
| Mar 24, 2005 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 117-96 | |
| Mar 26, 2005 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 113-99 | |
| Mar 28, 2005 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 123-114 | |
| Mar 30, 2005 | @ Utah Jazz | W 109-98 | |
| Apr 01, 2005 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 102-84 | |
| Apr 02, 2005 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 103-97 | |
| Apr 05, 2005 | @ Memphis Grizzlies | W 94-91 | |
| Apr 06, 2005 | @ New Orleans Hornets | W 94-83 | |
| Apr 08, 2005 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | W 107-104 | |
| Apr 09, 2005 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 121-105 | |
| Apr 11, 2005 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 122-106 | |
| Apr 13, 2005 | vs. New Orleans Hornets | W 116-102 | |
| Apr 15, 2005 | vs. Memphis Grizzlies | W 111-102 | |
| Apr 16, 2005 | @ Houston Rockets | L 115-87 | |
| Apr 18, 2005 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 128-114 | |
| Apr 19, 2005 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 119-115 |