The 1978-79 Denver Nuggets had a strong NBA season, finishing with a 47-35 record. They secured the Midwest Division title under head coach Larry Brown, showcasing a potent offensive strategy. The team was led by forward David Thompson, who averaged 24 points per game, and center Dan Issel, contributing significantly with 22.3 points per game.
Denver’s high-scoring offense was a hallmark, ranking third in the league in points per game. However, their defense lagged, allowing opponents to score frequently, which proved challenging in tighter games. In the playoffs, the Nuggets faced the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference Semifinals. Despite their offensive prowess, they were eliminated in a competitive series, losing 4-1.
The season highlighted the Nuggets’ offensive capabilities while underscoring the need for defensive improvements. Their divisional success laid a foundation for future endeavors, even as they sought more balanced play to advance deeper into the postseason. The team’s performance during this period remains a significant chapter in their history.
- Regular Season Record: 47-35
- Playoff Result: Western Conference First Round: 1-2
Denver Nuggets Roster and Stats for 1978-79 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| David Thompson | 76 | 24.0 | 3.6 | 3.0 | 0.9 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 3 | 28.0 | 7.0 | 4.0 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| George McGinnis | 76 | 22.6 | 11.4 | 3.7 | 1.6 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Dan Issel | 81 | 17.0 | 9.1 | 3.1 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 3 | 24.3 | 9.3 | 3.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Charlie Scott | 79 | 12.0 | 2.7 | 5.4 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 3 | 16.0 | 4.7 | 3.3 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.0 |
| Bob Wilkerson | 80 | 11.4 | 5.2 | 3.6 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 3 | 9.7 | 8.7 | 5.0 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| Tom Boswell | 79 | 10.6 | 6.8 | 3.0 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 3 | 17.3 | 9.0 | 5.3 | 1.0 | 1.7 | 0.0 |
| Anthony Roberts | 63 | 7.9 | 4.1 | 1.8 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3 | 11.0 | 4.3 | 2.0 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| Robert Smith | 82 | 6.4 | 1.8 | 2.4 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 3 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Bo Ellis | 42 | 2.7 | 1.5 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 3 | 2.0 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| Kim Hughes | 81 | 2.6 | 4.1 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 3 | 1.0 | 3.7 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Phil Hicks | 20 | 2.0 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| John Kuester | 33 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Geoff Crompton | 20 | 1.3 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Denver Nuggets in the 1979 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Los Angeles Lakers
In the 1979 NBA Playoffs, the Denver Nuggets faced the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round. Despite a valiant effort, the Nuggets were unable to advance, losing the best-of-three series 2-1. Led by David Thompson's scoring prowess, Denver pushed the Lakers to a decisive third game, showcasing their competitive spirit against a formidable opponent.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 10, 1979 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 110-105 | |
| Apr 13, 1979 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 121-109 | |
| Apr 15, 1979 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 112-111 |
Denver Nuggets 1978-79 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1978-79 season for the Denver Nuggets.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 13, 1978 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 118-117 | |
| Oct 15, 1978 | @ San Diego Clippers | W 98-94 | |
| Oct 18, 1978 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 125-113 | |
| Oct 20, 1978 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 126-117 | |
| Oct 21, 1978 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 130-125 | |
| Oct 25, 1978 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 108-104 | |
| Oct 27, 1978 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 112-99 | |
| Oct 29, 1978 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 134-121 | |
| Oct 31, 1978 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 134-107 | |
| Nov 03, 1978 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 110-93 | |
| Nov 04, 1978 | @ Kansas City Kings | L 109-107 | |
| Nov 09, 1978 | vs. New York Knicks | W 116-109 | |
| Nov 10, 1978 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 150-132 | |
| Nov 11, 1978 | vs. Kansas City Kings | L 117-113 | |
| Nov 14, 1978 | @ New York Knicks | L 106-100 | |
| Nov 15, 1978 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 109-103 | |
| Nov 17, 1978 | @ Boston Celtics | L 120-118 | |
| Nov 18, 1978 | @ Washington Bullets | L 119-114 | |
| Nov 22, 1978 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 113-111 | |
| Nov 24, 1978 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 103-100 | |
| Nov 25, 1978 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 110-104 | |
| Nov 28, 1978 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 117-100 | |
| Nov 30, 1978 | @ New Orleans Jazz | L 111-105 | |
| Dec 01, 1978 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 125-120 | |
| Dec 02, 1978 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 104-93 | |
| Dec 06, 1978 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 92-83 | |
| Dec 09, 1978 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 113-103 | |
| Dec 12, 1978 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 107-103 | |
| Dec 15, 1978 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 116-113 | |
| Dec 17, 1978 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 123-110 | |
| Dec 20, 1978 | vs. New Orleans Jazz | W 121-112 | |
| Dec 22, 1978 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 107-103 | |
| Dec 26, 1978 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 106-102 | |
| Dec 28, 1978 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 111-107 | |
| Dec 29, 1978 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 123-117 | |
| Dec 30, 1978 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 113-87 | |
| Jan 02, 1979 | @ Kansas City Kings | W 99-97 | |
| Jan 03, 1979 | vs. Kansas City Kings | L 108-101 | |
| Jan 05, 1979 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 95-92 | |
| Jan 06, 1979 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 127-98 | |
| Jan 09, 1979 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 121-90 | |
| Jan 12, 1979 | vs. New York Knicks | W 126-119 | |
| Jan 14, 1979 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 111-109 | |
| Jan 16, 1979 | @ New Orleans Jazz | W 104-100 | |
| Jan 17, 1979 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 119-101 | |
| Jan 19, 1979 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 101-98 | |
| Jan 20, 1979 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 109-106 | |
| Jan 22, 1979 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 121-117 | |
| Jan 23, 1979 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 108-107 | |
| Jan 24, 1979 | @ Houston Rockets | L 117-116 | |
| Jan 26, 1979 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 119-107 | |
| Jan 28, 1979 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 98-87 | |
| Jan 30, 1979 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 82-76 | |
| Feb 02, 1979 | @ San Diego Clippers | L 124-100 | |
| Feb 07, 1979 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 120-105 | |
| Feb 09, 1979 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 106-104 | |
| Feb 11, 1979 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 126-87 | |
| Feb 13, 1979 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 104-94 | |
| Feb 14, 1979 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 111-107 | |
| Feb 16, 1979 | vs. San Diego Clippers | L 118-104 | |
| Feb 18, 1979 | vs. New Orleans Jazz | W 115-112 | |
| Feb 21, 1979 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 114-109 | |
| Feb 24, 1979 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 132-117 | |
| Feb 25, 1979 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 119-111 | |
| Feb 27, 1979 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 121-106 | |
| Feb 28, 1979 | @ Houston Rockets | L 122-97 | |
| Mar 02, 1979 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 119-105 | |
| Mar 04, 1979 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 113-99 | |
| Mar 06, 1979 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 119-118 | |
| Mar 11, 1979 | vs. Washington Bullets | L 119-98 | |
| Mar 14, 1979 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 120-100 | |
| Mar 17, 1979 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 118-111 | |
| Mar 20, 1979 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 113-102 | |
| Mar 23, 1979 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 137-113 | |
| Mar 25, 1979 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 123-113 | |
| Mar 28, 1979 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 115-110 | |
| Mar 30, 1979 | vs. San Diego Clippers | W 130-121 | |
| Apr 01, 1979 | @ Washington Bullets | L 105-89 | |
| Apr 03, 1979 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 110-97 | |
| Apr 05, 1979 | @ New York Knicks | W 114-107 | |
| Apr 06, 1979 | @ Boston Celtics | W 107-101 | |
| Apr 08, 1979 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 112-111 |