The 1986-87 Denver Nuggets season saw the team finish with a 37-45 record, placing them third in the Midwest Division. Under head coach Doug Moe, the Nuggets maintained their fast-paced, high-scoring style, finishing the season as one of the top offensive teams in the NBA. However, their defense struggled, contributing to their sub-.500 record.
Key players included Alex English, who led the team in scoring, averaging 28.6 points per game, and Fat Lever, who contributed significantly with 18.9 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 8.0 assists per game. Despite their offensive prowess, the Nuggets faced challenges in maintaining consistency, especially on the defensive end.
The team managed to secure a playoff spot as the eighth seed but were eliminated in the first round by the Los Angeles Lakers, who swept them 3-0. The season highlighted the Nuggets’ need for defensive improvements to complement their potent offense.
- Regular Season Record: 37-45
- Playoff Result: Western Conference First Round: 0-3
Denver Nuggets Roster and Stats for 1986-87 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Alex English | 82 | 28.6 | 4.2 | 5.1 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 26.7 | 3 | 18.7 | 4.7 | 3.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Fat Lever | 82 | 18.9 | 8.9 | 8.0 | 2.5 | 0.4 | 23.9 | 3 | 15.3 | 6.0 | 7.3 | 2.3 | 0.0 | 25.0 |
| Bill Hanzlik | 73 | 13.0 | 3.5 | 3.8 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 27.5 | 3 | 8.3 | 2.0 | 2.3 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Darrell Walker | 81 | 12.2 | 4.0 | 3.5 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 3 | 8.7 | 3.3 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Mike Evans | 81 | 10.1 | 1.6 | 2.3 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 31.4 | 3 | 6.0 | 2.3 | 2.7 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 28.6 |
| Calvin Natt | 1 | 10.0 | 5.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Blair Rasmussen | 74 | 9.5 | 6.3 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 3 | 16.3 | 7.7 | 2.3 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.0 |
| Danny Schayes | 76 | 8.5 | 5.0 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 3 | 10.0 | 5.7 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 0.0 |
| Wayne Cooper | 69 | 8.0 | 6.8 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 3 | 4.0 | 5.7 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| Mark Alarie | 64 | 7.9 | 3.3 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 22.3 | 3 | 6.7 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.0 |
| Maurice Martin | 43 | 3.4 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 20.0 | 3 | 10.3 | 3.0 | 3.3 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| T.R. Dunn | 81 | 3.4 | 3.3 | 1.8 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 3 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| Otis Smith | 28 | 2.8 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3 | 3.3 | 1.7 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.0 |
| Pete Williams | 5 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Denver Nuggets in the 1987 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Los Angeles Lakers
In the first round of the 1987 NBA Playoffs, the Denver Nuggets faced the Los Angeles Lakers in a challenging matchup. Despite their efforts, the Nuggets were unable to overcome the dominant Lakers, led by Magic Johnson, and were swept in three games. The series highlighted Denver's struggles with defense against a high-powered Lakers offense, ultimately resulting in their early exit from the playoffs.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 23, 1987 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 128-95 | |
| Apr 25, 1987 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 139-127 | |
| Apr 29, 1987 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 140-103 |
Denver Nuggets 1986-87 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1986-87 season for the Denver Nuggets.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 31, 1986 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 134-104 | |
| Nov 01, 1986 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 131-109 | |
| Nov 04, 1986 | vs. New York Knicks | W 118-103 | |
| Nov 06, 1986 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 135-121 | |
| Nov 07, 1986 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 138-116 | |
| Nov 11, 1986 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | L 115-112 | |
| Nov 12, 1986 | vs. Sacramento Kings | L 110-108 | |
| Nov 14, 1986 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 142-138 | |
| Nov 15, 1986 | @ Utah Jazz | L 111-103 | |
| Nov 18, 1986 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 125-112 | |
| Nov 20, 1986 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 142-128 | |
| Nov 22, 1986 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 132-120 | |
| Nov 26, 1986 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 109-107 | |
| Nov 28, 1986 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 126-102 | |
| Nov 29, 1986 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 131-99 | |
| Dec 02, 1986 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 116-100 | |
| Dec 03, 1986 | @ Boston Celtics | L 119-113 | |
| Dec 05, 1986 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 113-100 | |
| Dec 06, 1986 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 128-113 | |
| Dec 09, 1986 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 106-100 | |
| Dec 10, 1986 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 112-110 | |
| Dec 12, 1986 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 128-116 | |
| Dec 13, 1986 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 123-110 | |
| Dec 16, 1986 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 120-119 | |
| Dec 19, 1986 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 141-118 | |
| Dec 20, 1986 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 128-112 | |
| Dec 23, 1986 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 127-116 | |
| Dec 26, 1986 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | L 123-121 | |
| Dec 27, 1986 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 108-106 | |
| Dec 30, 1986 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 111-108 | |
| Jan 02, 1987 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 114-111 | |
| Jan 03, 1987 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 116-108 | |
| Jan 06, 1987 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 112-104 | |
| Jan 07, 1987 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 147-109 | |
| Jan 09, 1987 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 116-113 | |
| Jan 10, 1987 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 127-120 | |
| Jan 13, 1987 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 117-109 | |
| Jan 14, 1987 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | L 123-105 | |
| Jan 16, 1987 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 134-100 | |
| Jan 19, 1987 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 118-116 | |
| Jan 21, 1987 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 129-112 | |
| Jan 24, 1987 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 132-122 | |
| Jan 26, 1987 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 145-141 | |
| Jan 29, 1987 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | L 132-102 | |
| Jan 31, 1987 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 142-113 | |
| Feb 02, 1987 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 140-112 | |
| Feb 03, 1987 | @ Houston Rockets | W 107-105 | |
| Feb 05, 1987 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 113-100 | |
| Feb 10, 1987 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 119-105 | |
| Feb 12, 1987 | vs. Washington Bullets | L 121-115 | |
| Feb 14, 1987 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 129-113 | |
| Feb 17, 1987 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 131-126 | |
| Feb 18, 1987 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 128-122 | |
| Feb 20, 1987 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | L 121-107 | |
| Feb 23, 1987 | @ Houston Rockets | L 124-108 | |
| Feb 24, 1987 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 134-105 | |
| Feb 26, 1987 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 106-100 | |
| Feb 28, 1987 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | L 119-117 | |
| Mar 02, 1987 | vs. Sacramento Kings | L 117-114 | |
| Mar 04, 1987 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 115-107 | |
| Mar 05, 1987 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 121-104 | |
| Mar 10, 1987 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 143-107 | |
| Mar 11, 1987 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 122-116 | |
| Mar 15, 1987 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 104-100 | |
| Mar 17, 1987 | @ New York Knicks | W 133-111 | |
| Mar 18, 1987 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 104-100 | |
| Mar 20, 1987 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 116-106 | |
| Mar 21, 1987 | @ Washington Bullets | W 117-107 | |
| Mar 23, 1987 | @ Utah Jazz | L 122-118 | |
| Mar 24, 1987 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 128-119 | |
| Mar 26, 1987 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 123-113 | |
| Mar 28, 1987 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 121-109 | |
| Mar 31, 1987 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 111-106 | |
| Apr 02, 1987 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 132-96 | |
| Apr 03, 1987 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 116-106 | |
| Apr 05, 1987 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 126-118 | |
| Apr 07, 1987 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 129-126 | |
| Apr 10, 1987 | @ Utah Jazz | L 106-103 | |
| Apr 11, 1987 | @ Houston Rockets | L 113-103 | |
| Apr 14, 1987 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 142-114 | |
| Apr 16, 1987 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 123-117 | |
| Apr 18, 1987 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 126-117 |