The 1989-90 Denver Nuggets experienced a challenging season, finishing with a record of 43-39. Despite their efforts, they did not qualify for the playoffs. Head Coach Doug Moe, known for his run-and-gun offensive style, led the team, but they struggled defensively, often failing to contain opponents.
All-Star guard Fat Lever was a standout performer, contributing significantly in points, assists, and rebounds. Lever’s versatility was vital, but the team lacked depth to support his efforts consistently. Alex English, a key figure in the Nuggets’ offense, continued to deliver strong scoring performances, but the team suffered from inconsistencies.
Overall, the Nuggets’ high-paced offense could not compensate for their defensive shortcomings, leading to their playoff absence. The season marked the end of an era as Doug Moe was replaced by Paul Westhead in the subsequent season, signaling a shift in the team’s strategic approach.
- Regular Season Record: 43-39
- Playoff Result: Western Conference First Round: 0-3
Denver Nuggets Roster and Stats for 1989-90 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Fat Lever | 79 | 18.3 | 9.3 | 6.5 | 2.1 | 0.2 | 41.4 | 3 | 17.3 | 10.7 | 7.0 | 2.7 | 0.3 | 14.3 |
| Alex English | 80 | 17.9 | 3.6 | 2.8 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 40.0 | 3 | 19.7 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| Walter Davis | 69 | 17.5 | 2.6 | 2.2 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 13.0 | 3 | 14.0 | 3.0 | 2.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Michael Adams | 79 | 15.5 | 2.8 | 6.3 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 36.6 | 3 | 13.0 | 2.0 | 6.0 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 30.0 |
| Blair Rasmussen | 81 | 12.4 | 7.3 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 3 | 15.7 | 8.7 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 1.3 | 0.0 |
| Joe Barry Carroll | 30 | 11.9 | 6.4 | 1.8 | 0.9 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 3 | 6.7 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 1.7 | 0.0 |
| Danny Schayes | 53 | 10.4 | 6.5 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Todd Lichti | 79 | 8.0 | 1.9 | 1.5 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 3 | 14.7 | 6.0 | 3.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Bill Hanzlik | 81 | 6.2 | 2.6 | 2.3 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 19.4 | 3 | 7.0 | 3.3 | 3.7 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 33.3 |
| Tim Kempton | 71 | 5.4 | 3.1 | 1.7 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 3 | 6.0 | 1.7 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jerome Lane | 67 | 5.0 | 5.4 | 1.6 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 2 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Eddie Hughes | 60 | 3.5 | 1.2 | 1.9 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 40.8 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Mike Higgins | 5 | 2.6 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| T.R. Dunn | 65 | 1.8 | 2.1 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 3 | 0.0 | 2.3 | 0.7 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
Denver Nuggets in the 1990 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. San Antonio Spurs
In the 1990 NBA Playoffs, the Denver Nuggets faced the San Antonio Spurs in the first round. Despite a valiant effort, the Nuggets were swept 3-0 in the best-of-five series, struggling to contain the Spurs' dynamic duo of David Robinson and Terry Cummings. The series highlighted the Nuggets' defensive shortcomings, as they couldn't overcome San Antonio's balanced offensive attack.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 26, 1990 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 119-103 | |
| Apr 28, 1990 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 129-120 | |
| May 01, 1990 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 131-120 |
Denver Nuggets 1989-90 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1989-90 season for the Denver Nuggets.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 03, 1989 | @ Utah Jazz | L 122-113 | |
| Nov 04, 1989 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 135-132 | |
| Nov 08, 1989 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 102-84 | |
| Nov 09, 1989 | @ Houston Rockets | W 128-127 | |
| Nov 11, 1989 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 122-108 | |
| Nov 14, 1989 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | L 129-121 | |
| Nov 15, 1989 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 109-98 | |
| Nov 17, 1989 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 119-105 | |
| Nov 18, 1989 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 141-111 | |
| Nov 21, 1989 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 111-95 | |
| Nov 22, 1989 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | W 96-93 | |
| Nov 24, 1989 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 122-109 | |
| Nov 28, 1989 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 141-120 | |
| Nov 30, 1989 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 103-102 | |
| Dec 02, 1989 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 146-113 | |
| Dec 05, 1989 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 119-99 | |
| Dec 06, 1989 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 136-117 | |
| Dec 08, 1989 | @ Boston Celtics | W 103-102 | |
| Dec 09, 1989 | @ Charlotte Hornets | W 106-93 | |
| Dec 12, 1989 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 121-108 | |
| Dec 13, 1989 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 134-114 | |
| Dec 15, 1989 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 121-112 | |
| Dec 16, 1989 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | L 114-108 | |
| Dec 20, 1989 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 104-89 | |
| Dec 22, 1989 | @ Orlando Magic | W 137-125 | |
| Dec 23, 1989 | @ Miami Heat | W 135-104 | |
| Dec 26, 1989 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 114-111 | |
| Dec 28, 1989 | vs. Miami Heat | W 132-107 | |
| Dec 30, 1989 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 116-109 | |
| Jan 03, 1990 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 114-98 | |
| Jan 04, 1990 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 112-98 | |
| Jan 06, 1990 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 123-120 | |
| Jan 08, 1990 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 139-122 | |
| Jan 10, 1990 | @ Utah Jazz | L 130-99 | |
| Jan 11, 1990 | vs. Orlando Magic | W 141-105 | |
| Jan 13, 1990 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 119-111 | |
| Jan 15, 1990 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 101-90 | |
| Jan 16, 1990 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 120-115 | |
| Jan 18, 1990 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | L 110-108 | |
| Jan 20, 1990 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 126-99 | |
| Jan 22, 1990 | @ Houston Rockets | L 116-104 | |
| Jan 27, 1990 | vs. New York Knicks | L 110-96 | |
| Feb 01, 1990 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 123-112 | |
| Feb 04, 1990 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 125-113 | |
| Feb 06, 1990 | vs. Indiana Pacers | L 138-130 | |
| Feb 08, 1990 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 123-98 | |
| Feb 13, 1990 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 106-96 | |
| Feb 14, 1990 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 127-117 | |
| Feb 16, 1990 | @ Charlotte Hornets | L 113-107 | |
| Feb 17, 1990 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 126-117 | |
| Feb 19, 1990 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 114-109 | |
| Feb 21, 1990 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 113-111 | |
| Feb 23, 1990 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 121-112 | |
| Feb 25, 1990 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 115-107 | |
| Feb 27, 1990 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 120-101 | |
| Mar 01, 1990 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 131-125 | |
| Mar 03, 1990 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 106-89 | |
| Mar 06, 1990 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | W 122-96 | |
| Mar 07, 1990 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | W 86-73 | |
| Mar 10, 1990 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 118-111 | |
| Mar 11, 1990 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 110-109 | |
| Mar 13, 1990 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 117-114 | |
| Mar 14, 1990 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 138-108 | |
| Mar 16, 1990 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 104-97 | |
| Mar 18, 1990 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | W 103-98 | |
| Mar 20, 1990 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 119-112 | |
| Mar 22, 1990 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 125-118 | |
| Mar 24, 1990 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 140-126 | |
| Mar 26, 1990 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 113-102 | |
| Mar 28, 1990 | @ Washington Bullets | L 113-99 | |
| Mar 30, 1990 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 149-131 | |
| Mar 31, 1990 | @ New York Knicks | W 118-115 | |
| Apr 04, 1990 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | L 116-112 | |
| Apr 06, 1990 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 119-103 | |
| Apr 08, 1990 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 116-109 | |
| Apr 10, 1990 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 121-113 | |
| Apr 12, 1990 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 113-103 | |
| Apr 14, 1990 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 136-127 | |
| Apr 17, 1990 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | W 99-89 | |
| Apr 19, 1990 | @ Houston Rockets | W 130-127 | |
| Apr 20, 1990 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 112-108 | |
| Apr 22, 1990 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | W 115-108 |