The 1987-88 Denver Nuggets, coached by Doug Moe, finished the regular season with a 54-28 record, securing the Midwest Division title. They were known for their high-octane offense, leading the league in scoring with an average of 120.0 points per game. Alex English was the standout performer, averaging 25.0 points per game and earning an All-Star selection.
In the playoffs, the Nuggets faced the Seattle SuperSonics in the first round. Despite their strong regular season, they were eliminated in a five-game series, losing 3-2. The team struggled defensively, allowing the Sonics to capitalize and advance. Despite the playoff disappointment, the Nuggets’ exciting style of play and division title highlighted the season’s successes. Doug Moe received the NBA Coach of the Year award for his efforts in leading the team to an impressive regular-season record.
- Regular Season Record: 54-28
- Playoff Result: Western Conference First Round: 3-2, Western Conference Semifinals: 2-4
Denver Nuggets Roster and Stats for 1987-88 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Alex English | 80 | 25.0 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 11 | 24.3 | 5.4 | 4.4 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| Fat Lever | 82 | 18.8 | 8.1 | 7.7 | 2.7 | 0.3 | 21.0 | 7 | 17.0 | 9.3 | 7.0 | 1.9 | 0.6 | 42.9 |
| Jay Vincent | 73 | 15.4 | 4.2 | 2.0 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 25.0 | 8 | 17.5 | 4.6 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.0 |
| Michael Adams | 82 | 14.0 | 2.7 | 6.2 | 2.1 | 0.2 | 36.5 | 11 | 13.4 | 3.3 | 5.8 | 1.6 | 0.2 | 31.5 |
| Danny Schayes | 81 | 13.9 | 8.2 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 11 | 16.4 | 7.2 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 0.9 | 0.0 |
| Blair Rasmussen | 79 | 12.7 | 5.5 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 11 | 12.5 | 6.5 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 1.1 | 0.0 |
| Calvin Natt | 27 | 9.6 | 3.6 | 1.7 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Wayne Cooper | 45 | 6.4 | 6.0 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 2.1 | 0.0 | 9 | 2.0 | 3.7 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.9 | 0.0 |
| Otis Smith | 15 | 6.3 | 2.0 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Mike Evans | 56 | 6.1 | 0.9 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 39.6 | 11 | 10.5 | 2.0 | 2.1 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 27.3 |
| Bill Hanzlik | 77 | 4.5 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 18.8 | 11 | 5.3 | 2.6 | 2.4 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 0.0 |
| Andre Moore | 7 | 2.9 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Michael Brooks | 16 | 2.7 | 2.8 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 4 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 50.0 |
| T.R. Dunn | 82 | 2.2 | 2.9 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 11 | 2.4 | 2.6 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Maurice Martin | 26 | 2.2 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 25.0 | 3 | 2.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| Brad Wright | 2 | 1.0 | 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 1988 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Seattle SuperSonics
In the 1988 NBA Playoffs, the Denver Nuggets faced off against the Seattle SuperSonics in the first round. Despite the standout performances from players like Alex English, the Nuggets were unable to advance, losing the series 3-2. The intense matchup highlighted Denver's offensive prowess but also underscored their defensive vulnerabilities against Seattle's dynamic play.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 29, 1988 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 126-123 | |
| May 01, 1988 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 111-91 | |
| May 03, 1988 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 125-114 | |
| May 05, 1988 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 127-117 | |
| May 07, 1988 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 115-96 |
Playoffs Second Round vs. Dallas Mavericks
In the 1988 NBA Playoffs, the Denver Nuggets faced the Dallas Mavericks in the second round. Despite a valiant effort led by Alex English, the Nuggets struggled to contain the Mavericks' balanced attack and ultimately fell in six games. This series highlighted Denver's need for more defensive fortitude to complement their high-scoring offense.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 10, 1988 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 126-115 | |
| May 12, 1988 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | L 112-108 | |
| May 14, 1988 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 107-105 | |
| May 15, 1988 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 124-103 | |
| May 17, 1988 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | L 110-106 | |
| May 19, 1988 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 108-95 |
Denver Nuggets 1987-88 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1987-88 season for the Denver Nuggets.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 06, 1987 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 139-93 | |
| Nov 07, 1987 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 103-99 | |
| Nov 10, 1987 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 134-123 | |
| Nov 12, 1987 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 126-113 | |
| Nov 14, 1987 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 130-109 | |
| Nov 17, 1987 | @ Utah Jazz | L 120-110 | |
| Nov 18, 1987 | vs. Indiana Pacers | L 117-106 | |
| Nov 20, 1987 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 156-142 | |
| Nov 21, 1987 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 97-91 | |
| Nov 24, 1987 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 132-104 | |
| Nov 27, 1987 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 127-119 | |
| Nov 28, 1987 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 106-98 | |
| Dec 01, 1987 | @ Houston Rockets | L 106-101 | |
| Dec 02, 1987 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 147-120 | |
| Dec 04, 1987 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 105-89 | |
| Dec 05, 1987 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 109-96 | |
| Dec 09, 1987 | @ Boston Celtics | W 124-119 | |
| Dec 10, 1987 | @ New York Knicks | L 113-97 | |
| Dec 12, 1987 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 131-121 | |
| Dec 16, 1987 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 132-113 | |
| Dec 18, 1987 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 133-114 | |
| Dec 19, 1987 | @ Houston Rockets | W 121-117 | |
| Dec 22, 1987 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 119-104 | |
| Dec 23, 1987 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 129-117 | |
| Dec 26, 1987 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 115-111 | |
| Dec 28, 1987 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 108-100 | |
| Dec 29, 1987 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 98-97 | |
| Jan 01, 1988 | @ Washington Bullets | W 124-109 | |
| Jan 02, 1988 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 151-142 | |
| Jan 04, 1988 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 122-101 | |
| Jan 06, 1988 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 98-93 | |
| Jan 07, 1988 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 100-96 | |
| Jan 09, 1988 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 113-105 | |
| Jan 11, 1988 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 127-115 | |
| Jan 14, 1988 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 115-112 | |
| Jan 16, 1988 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 115-94 | |
| Jan 18, 1988 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 123-116 | |
| Jan 21, 1988 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 115-113 | |
| Jan 22, 1988 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 126-106 | |
| Jan 28, 1988 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 122-113 | |
| Jan 30, 1988 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 124-106 | |
| Feb 03, 1988 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 115-105 | |
| Feb 04, 1988 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 129-123 | |
| Feb 09, 1988 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 136-108 | |
| Feb 11, 1988 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 120-108 | |
| Feb 12, 1988 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 120-105 | |
| Feb 14, 1988 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 107-93 | |
| Feb 17, 1988 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 138-125 | |
| Feb 20, 1988 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 128-108 | |
| Feb 22, 1988 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 100-87 | |
| Feb 24, 1988 | @ Utah Jazz | W 123-120 | |
| Feb 26, 1988 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 120-104 | |
| Feb 28, 1988 | vs. New York Knicks | W 109-100 | |
| Feb 29, 1988 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 123-96 | |
| Mar 02, 1988 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 99-81 | |
| Mar 04, 1988 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 116-108 | |
| Mar 05, 1988 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 115-102 | |
| Mar 07, 1988 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 116-114 | |
| Mar 08, 1988 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 113-103 | |
| Mar 11, 1988 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 132-93 | |
| Mar 13, 1988 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 108-100 | |
| Mar 14, 1988 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 116-115 | |
| Mar 17, 1988 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 116-115 | |
| Mar 18, 1988 | @ Utah Jazz | L 118-111 | |
| Mar 20, 1988 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 108-95 | |
| Mar 22, 1988 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 136-109 | |
| Mar 23, 1988 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 118-108 | |
| Mar 25, 1988 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 120-119 | |
| Mar 26, 1988 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 131-108 | |
| Mar 29, 1988 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 107-103 | |
| Mar 31, 1988 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 121-111 | |
| Apr 02, 1988 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 123-107 | |
| Apr 05, 1988 | @ Houston Rockets | W 110-97 | |
| Apr 08, 1988 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 129-124 | |
| Apr 09, 1988 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 135-109 | |
| Apr 11, 1988 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 123-119 | |
| Apr 13, 1988 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 120-106 | |
| Apr 15, 1988 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 132-125 | |
| Apr 17, 1988 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 133-122 | |
| Apr 19, 1988 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 134-114 | |
| Apr 22, 1988 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 141-135 | |
| Apr 23, 1988 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 134-109 |