The 1985-86 Denver Nuggets finished the regular season with a 47-35 record, securing the second spot in the Midwest Division. Coached by Doug Moe, the team’s high-powered offense averaged 124.5 points per game, leading the NBA. Alex English was the standout performer, averaging 29.8 points per game, which placed him among the league’s top scorers.
In the playoffs, the Nuggets advanced to the Western Conference Semifinals. They defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 3-1 in the first round. However, their postseason run ended in the semifinals, where they faced the Houston Rockets, losing the series 4-2. Despite the loss, the season was marked by the Nuggets’ dynamic offensive play and the continued excellence of Alex English.
- Regular Season Record: 47-35
- Playoff Result: Western Conference First Round: 3-1, Western Conference Semifinals: 2-4
Denver Nuggets Roster and Stats for 1985-86 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Alex English | 81 | 29.8 | 5.0 | 4.0 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 19.9 | 10 | 27.3 | 3.5 | 5.2 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.0 |
| Calvin Natt | 69 | 17.7 | 6.3 | 2.3 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 33.3 | 10 | 17.9 | 7.9 | 2.8 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 50.0 |
| Fat Lever | 78 | 13.8 | 5.4 | 7.5 | 2.3 | 0.2 | 31.6 | 10 | 14.3 | 4.8 | 5.3 | 2.0 | 0.2 | 57.1 |
| Wayne Cooper | 78 | 13.1 | 7.8 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 2.9 | 42.9 | 8 | 7.9 | 5.0 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 0.0 |
| Bill Hanzlik | 79 | 12.5 | 3.3 | 4.0 | 1.4 | 0.2 | 20.0 | 6 | 7.3 | 1.0 | 3.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 100.0 |
| Mike Evans | 81 | 9.5 | 1.3 | 2.2 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 22.2 | 10 | 9.2 | 2.0 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 24.1 |
| Danny Schayes | 80 | 8.2 | 5.5 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 10 | 11.6 | 8.2 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 1.7 | 0.0 |
| Elston Turner | 73 | 5.1 | 2.7 | 2.3 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 10 | 6.6 | 2.9 | 2.2 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 100.0 |
| T.R. Dunn | 82 | 5.0 | 4.6 | 2.1 | 1.9 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 10 | 4.9 | 5.3 | 1.3 | 1.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Willie White | 43 | 4.0 | 1.0 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 28.6 | 4 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 25.0 |
| Blair Rasmussen | 48 | 3.2 | 2.0 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 10 | 11.1 | 6.0 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 0.0 |
| Pete Williams | 53 | 2.8 | 2.7 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 4 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Denver Nuggets in the 1986 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Portland Trail Blazers
In the first round of the 1986 NBA Playoffs, the Denver Nuggets faced the Portland Trail Blazers in a best-of-five series. The Nuggets, led by their dynamic duo of Alex English and Fat Lever, managed to advance by winning the series 3-1. Their high-paced offense and strong performances from key players were instrumental in overcoming the Blazers and moving on to the conference semifinals.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 18, 1986 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 133-126 | |
| Apr 20, 1986 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 108-106 | |
| Apr 22, 1986 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 115-104 | |
| Apr 24, 1986 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 116-112 |
Playoffs Second Round vs. Houston Rockets
In the 1986 NBA Playoffs, the Denver Nuggets faced the Houston Rockets in the Western Conference Semifinals. Despite their strong regular-season performance, the Nuggets struggled against the Rockets, who were led by the formidable duo of Hakeem Olajuwon and Ralph Sampson, ultimately losing the series 4-2. Denver's high-paced offense, spearheaded by Alex English, couldn't overcome Houston's dominant frontcourt and defensive prowess.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 26, 1986 | @ Houston Rockets | L 126-119 | |
| Apr 29, 1986 | @ Houston Rockets | L 119-101 | |
| May 02, 1986 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 116-115 | |
| May 04, 1986 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 114-111 | |
| May 06, 1986 | @ Houston Rockets | L 131-103 | |
| May 08, 1986 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 126-122 |
Denver Nuggets 1985-86 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1985-86 season for the Denver Nuggets.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 25, 1985 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 119-105 | |
| Oct 26, 1985 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 123-112 | |
| Oct 29, 1985 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 142-127 | |
| Oct 31, 1985 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 90-73 | |
| Nov 05, 1985 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 128-113 | |
| Nov 07, 1985 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 131-99 | |
| Nov 08, 1985 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 128-99 | |
| Nov 12, 1985 | @ Houston Rockets | L 127-119 | |
| Nov 14, 1985 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 112-109 | |
| Nov 16, 1985 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 113-109 | |
| Nov 19, 1985 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 127-113 | |
| Nov 21, 1985 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 121-120 | |
| Nov 23, 1985 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 122-118 | |
| Nov 24, 1985 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 110-84 | |
| Nov 26, 1985 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 128-123 | |
| Nov 27, 1985 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 104-102 | |
| Nov 29, 1985 | @ Utah Jazz | W 129-114 | |
| Nov 30, 1985 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 131-123 | |
| Dec 03, 1985 | @ New York Knicks | L 111-94 | |
| Dec 04, 1985 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 119-105 | |
| Dec 06, 1985 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 123-121 | |
| Dec 07, 1985 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 124-114 | |
| Dec 11, 1985 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 134-95 | |
| Dec 13, 1985 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 124-120 | |
| Dec 14, 1985 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 127-100 | |
| Dec 17, 1985 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 122-114 | |
| Dec 19, 1985 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 123-118 | |
| Dec 21, 1985 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 128-118 | |
| Dec 22, 1985 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 121-114 | |
| Dec 28, 1985 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 116-112 | |
| Dec 30, 1985 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 125-122 | |
| Jan 03, 1986 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 117-107 | |
| Jan 04, 1986 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 112-107 | |
| Jan 07, 1986 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 132-110 | |
| Jan 09, 1986 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 94-90 | |
| Jan 11, 1986 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 114-106 | |
| Jan 13, 1986 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 119-115 | |
| Jan 15, 1986 | @ Boston Celtics | L 123-100 | |
| Jan 17, 1986 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 129-113 | |
| Jan 18, 1986 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 124-113 | |
| Jan 21, 1986 | @ Utah Jazz | L 117-114 | |
| Jan 22, 1986 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 137-124 | |
| Jan 24, 1986 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 113-98 | |
| Jan 25, 1986 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 127-115 | |
| Jan 27, 1986 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 124-103 | |
| Jan 28, 1986 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 125-120 | |
| Jan 30, 1986 | vs. New York Knicks | W 102-97 | |
| Feb 01, 1986 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 116-113 | |
| Feb 03, 1986 | @ Houston Rockets | L 104-102 | |
| Feb 04, 1986 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 119-118 | |
| Feb 06, 1986 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 100-95 | |
| Feb 12, 1986 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 117-110 | |
| Feb 14, 1986 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 112-95 | |
| Feb 15, 1986 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 113-100 | |
| Feb 18, 1986 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 101-90 | |
| Feb 20, 1986 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 102-100 | |
| Feb 22, 1986 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 113-106 | |
| Feb 24, 1986 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 119-113 | |
| Feb 25, 1986 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 112-99 | |
| Feb 27, 1986 | @ Houston Rockets | L 117-111 | |
| Mar 01, 1986 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 118-107 | |
| Mar 04, 1986 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 128-115 | |
| Mar 07, 1986 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 134-117 | |
| Mar 09, 1986 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 123-121 | |
| Mar 11, 1986 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 128-116 | |
| Mar 13, 1986 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 112-102 | |
| Mar 14, 1986 | @ Washington Bullets | W 101-91 | |
| Mar 16, 1986 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 119-113 | |
| Mar 18, 1986 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 117-113 | |
| Mar 19, 1986 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 114-98 | |
| Mar 21, 1986 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 115-104 | |
| Mar 23, 1986 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 113-111 | |
| Mar 25, 1986 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 121-115 | |
| Mar 26, 1986 | @ Utah Jazz | L 116-101 | |
| Mar 28, 1986 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 128-120 | |
| Apr 01, 1986 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 127-110 | |
| Apr 03, 1986 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 115-114 | |
| Apr 06, 1986 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 124-106 | |
| Apr 07, 1986 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 131-123 | |
| Apr 09, 1986 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | L 132-127 | |
| Apr 10, 1986 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 115-113 | |
| Apr 12, 1986 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 117-99 |