The 1981-82 Denver Nuggets, under head coach Doug Moe, finished the NBA regular season with a 46-36 record. Known for their high-paced offense, the Nuggets led the league in scoring, averaging 126.5 points per game. Alex English emerged as a standout performer, leading the team in scoring with 25.4 points per game and earning a spot on the All-NBA Second Team.
Despite their offensive prowess, the Nuggets struggled defensively, conceding an average of 126 points per game. This imbalance was a critical factor in their performance during the playoffs. They entered the postseason as the sixth seed in the Western Conference but were eliminated in the First Round by the Phoenix Suns, losing the series 2-1. While their season ended earlier than hoped, the Nuggets’ dynamic offense laid the foundation for future success in the 1980s.
- Regular Season Record: 46-36
- Playoff Result: Western Conference First Round: 1-2
Denver Nuggets Roster and Stats for 1981-82 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Alex English | 82 | 25.4 | 6.8 | 5.3 | 1.1 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 3 | 19.3 | 7.7 | 5.7 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 |
| Dan Issel | 81 | 22.9 | 7.5 | 2.2 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 66.7 | 3 | 25.3 | 7.0 | 1.7 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| Kiki Vandeweghe | 82 | 21.5 | 5.6 | 3.0 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 7.7 | 3 | 22.7 | 6.0 | 3.0 | 0.7 | 1.3 | 0.0 |
| David Thompson | 61 | 14.9 | 2.4 | 1.9 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 28.6 | 3 | 11.7 | 3.3 | 2.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 33.3 |
| Dave Robisch | 12 | 12.0 | 5.3 | 2.7 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Billy McKinney | 81 | 10.8 | 1.8 | 4.2 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 3 | 14.0 | 2.0 | 3.3 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Glen Gondrezick | 80 | 8.3 | 5.3 | 1.9 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 3 | 6.0 | 2.7 | 3.0 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| T.R. Dunn | 82 | 8.2 | 6.8 | 2.3 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 3 | 6.3 | 6.0 | 3.3 | 2.7 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| Kenny Higgs | 76 | 7.5 | 1.9 | 5.2 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 19.0 | 3 | 7.7 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Cedrick Hordges | 77 | 6.8 | 5.1 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 23.1 | 3 | 6.3 | 4.3 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| John Roche | 39 | 4.8 | 0.6 | 2.3 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 45.1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| James Ray | 40 | 3.1 | 1.6 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 100.0 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 |
| David Burns | 6 | 2.7 | 0.5 | 1.8 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Denver Nuggets in the 1982 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Phoenix Suns
In the 1982 NBA Playoffs, the Denver Nuggets faced off against the Phoenix Suns in the first round. Despite a strong regular season performance, the Nuggets were unable to advance, losing the series 2-1 in a best-of-three format. Denver's high-powered offense, led by Alex English, struggled to contain the Suns, who capitalized on their defensive lapses to clinch the series.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 20, 1982 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 129-113 | |
| Apr 23, 1982 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 126-110 | |
| Apr 24, 1982 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 124-119 |
Denver Nuggets 1981-82 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1981-82 season for the Denver Nuggets.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 30, 1981 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 134-121 | |
| Oct 31, 1981 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 145-120 | |
| Nov 04, 1981 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 112-100 | |
| Nov 06, 1981 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 109-105 | |
| Nov 07, 1981 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 152-107 | |
| Nov 08, 1981 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 120-116 | |
| Nov 10, 1981 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 109-106 | |
| Nov 13, 1981 | @ Utah Jazz | L 131-124 | |
| Nov 18, 1981 | vs. San Diego Clippers | W 133-128 | |
| Nov 21, 1981 | vs. Kansas City Kings | W 128-121 | |
| Nov 25, 1981 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 139-133 | |
| Nov 27, 1981 | @ Kansas City Kings | W 123-115 | |
| Nov 28, 1981 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 131-124 | |
| Dec 01, 1981 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 121-113 | |
| Dec 03, 1981 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 137-109 | |
| Dec 04, 1981 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 126-117 | |
| Dec 05, 1981 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 109-105 | |
| Dec 08, 1981 | @ New York Knicks | L 135-122 | |
| Dec 09, 1981 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 137-109 | |
| Dec 11, 1981 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 131-123 | |
| Dec 12, 1981 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 120-115 | |
| Dec 15, 1981 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 126-120 | |
| Dec 17, 1981 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 138-103 | |
| Dec 19, 1981 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 138-125 | |
| Dec 22, 1981 | @ Houston Rockets | W 121-109 | |
| Dec 23, 1981 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 124-119 | |
| Dec 26, 1981 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 124-117 | |
| Dec 29, 1981 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 128-123 | |
| Dec 30, 1981 | @ Kansas City Kings | L 120-116 | |
| Jan 02, 1982 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 148-133 | |
| Jan 03, 1982 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 128-122 | |
| Jan 05, 1982 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 134-128 | |
| Jan 06, 1982 | vs. San Diego Clippers | W 136-114 | |
| Jan 08, 1982 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 124-121 | |
| Jan 09, 1982 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 125-110 | |
| Jan 12, 1982 | vs. Kansas City Kings | W 139-126 | |
| Jan 13, 1982 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 143-128 | |
| Jan 15, 1982 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 128-113 | |
| Jan 17, 1982 | @ San Diego Clippers | W 138-131 | |
| Jan 19, 1982 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 140-139 | |
| Jan 22, 1982 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 131-125 | |
| Jan 23, 1982 | @ Houston Rockets | W 111-109 | |
| Jan 27, 1982 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 130-116 | |
| Feb 02, 1982 | vs. New York Knicks | W 128-117 | |
| Feb 04, 1982 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 131-114 | |
| Feb 05, 1982 | @ Boston Celtics | L 145-144 | |
| Feb 07, 1982 | @ Washington Bullets | W 124-115 | |
| Feb 10, 1982 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 151-148 | |
| Feb 13, 1982 | vs. San Diego Clippers | W 146-129 | |
| Feb 15, 1982 | @ Utah Jazz | W 145-134 | |
| Feb 16, 1982 | vs. Kansas City Kings | W 119-106 | |
| Feb 19, 1982 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 126-121 | |
| Feb 21, 1982 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 132-131 | |
| Feb 23, 1982 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 145-129 | |
| Feb 24, 1982 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 120-110 | |
| Feb 26, 1982 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 131-122 | |
| Feb 27, 1982 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 134-125 | |
| Mar 02, 1982 | vs. Indiana Pacers | L 132-124 | |
| Mar 05, 1982 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 127-126 | |
| Mar 07, 1982 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 147-127 | |
| Mar 09, 1982 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 120-106 | |
| Mar 10, 1982 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 124-113 | |
| Mar 12, 1982 | @ Houston Rockets | W 130-115 | |
| Mar 14, 1982 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 127-101 | |
| Mar 16, 1982 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 154-138 | |
| Mar 17, 1982 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 135-133 | |
| Mar 19, 1982 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 130-120 | |
| Mar 24, 1982 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 129-115 | |
| Mar 25, 1982 | @ San Diego Clippers | W 129-117 | |
| Mar 27, 1982 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 140-134 | |
| Mar 30, 1982 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 145-142 | |
| Mar 31, 1982 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 120-119 | |
| Apr 02, 1982 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 127-121 | |
| Apr 04, 1982 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 140-116 | |
| Apr 06, 1982 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 136-122 | |
| Apr 07, 1982 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 129-121 | |
| Apr 09, 1982 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 153-128 | |
| Apr 10, 1982 | @ Utah Jazz | L 151-136 | |
| Apr 13, 1982 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 144-137 | |
| Apr 14, 1982 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 141-122 | |
| Apr 16, 1982 | @ Kansas City Kings | L 123-121 | |
| Apr 17, 1982 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 130-124 |