The 2003-04 Denver Nuggets marked a significant turnaround for the franchise. Under head coach Jeff Bzdelik, the team ended a lengthy playoff drought by securing a postseason spot for the first time since 1995. A key factor in their success was the addition of rookie Carmelo Anthony, who was selected third overall in the 2003 NBA Draft. Anthony made an immediate impact, becoming the team’s leading scorer and playing a pivotal role in their improved performance.
The Nuggets finished the regular season with a 43-39 record, significantly better than their 17-65 finish in the previous season. This improvement was also aided by strong contributions from players like Andre Miller and Marcus Camby. Despite their progress, the Nuggets faced a tough challenge in the playoffs, where they were eliminated in the first round by the Minnesota Timberwolves, losing the series 4-1. Nonetheless, the season laid the foundation for future success and re-established the Nuggets as a competitive team in the Western Conference.
- Regular Season Record: 43-39
- Playoff Result: Western Conference First Round: 1-4
Denver Nuggets Roster and Stats for 2003-04 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Carmelo Anthony | 75 | 20.8 | 6.1 | 2.8 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 32.1 | 4 | 15.0 | 8.3 | 2.8 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 18.2 |
| Andre Miller | 75 | 15.1 | 4.4 | 6.1 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 19.0 | 5 | 15.4 | 4.6 | 3.2 | 1.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Voshon Lenard | 70 | 14.5 | 2.7 | 2.1 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 36.7 | 5 | 17.0 | 2.6 | 2.4 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 45.8 |
| Nenê | 70 | 11.9 | 6.6 | 2.2 | 1.6 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 5 | 7.8 | 5.0 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 0.0 |
| Earl Boykins | 75 | 10.1 | 1.7 | 3.7 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 32.9 | 5 | 13.4 | 2.4 | 3.8 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 35.7 |
| Marcus Camby | 66 | 8.6 | 10.2 | 1.9 | 1.2 | 2.7 | 0.0 | 5 | 12.6 | 11.4 | 2.4 | 0.8 | 1.4 | 50.0 |
| Rodney White | 66 | 7.4 | 2.2 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 38.2 | 4 | 2.0 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jon Barry | 50 | 5.8 | 1.9 | 2.3 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 36.0 | 5 | 4.2 | 3.6 | 2.0 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 33.3 |
| Michael Doleac | 19 | 3.8 | 3.1 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 5 | 2.0 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Francisco Elson | 58 | 3.6 | 3.5 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 4 | 3.8 | 2.3 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| Chris Andersen | 66 | 3.5 | 4.2 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 5 | 1.2 | 2.8 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.0 |
| Nikoloz Tskitishvili | 37 | 2.7 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 20.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jeff Trepagnier | 11 | 2.3 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 50.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Ryan Bowen | 49 | 0.8 | 1.7 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 4 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Mark Pope | 4 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Denver Nuggets in the 2004 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
In the 2004 NBA Playoffs, the Denver Nuggets, led by rookie sensation Carmelo Anthony, made their first postseason appearance since 1995, entering as the eighth seed in the Western Conference. They faced the top-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves, featuring MVP Kevin Garnett, and despite a spirited effort, the Nuggets were ultimately overpowered, losing the series 4-1. Denver's return to the playoffs marked a significant turning point for the franchise, setting the stage for future successes.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 18, 2004 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | L 106-92 | |
| Apr 21, 2004 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | L 95-81 | |
| Apr 24, 2004 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | W 107-86 | |
| Apr 27, 2004 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | L 84-82 | |
| Apr 30, 2004 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | L 102-91 |
Denver Nuggets 2003-04 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 2003-04 season for the Denver Nuggets.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 29, 2003 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 80-72 | |
| Oct 30, 2003 | @ Houston Rockets | L 102-85 | |
| Nov 01, 2003 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 109-88 | |
| Nov 04, 2003 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 71-60 | |
| Nov 05, 2003 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 93-89 | |
| Nov 07, 2003 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | L 104-102 | |
| Nov 09, 2003 | @ Toronto Raptors | L 89-76 | |
| Nov 10, 2003 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 105-97 | |
| Nov 14, 2003 | vs. Orlando Magic | W 106-101 | |
| Nov 18, 2003 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | L 89-76 | |
| Nov 19, 2003 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 94-86 | |
| Nov 21, 2003 | vs. Washington Wizards | W 108-87 | |
| Nov 22, 2003 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 115-101 | |
| Nov 25, 2003 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 110-80 | |
| Nov 28, 2003 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 113-103 | |
| Nov 29, 2003 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 98-86 | |
| Dec 02, 2003 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 115-103 | |
| Dec 03, 2003 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 117-109 | |
| Dec 05, 2003 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 98-91 | |
| Dec 07, 2003 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 116-111 | |
| Dec 09, 2003 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 112-98 | |
| Dec 12, 2003 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 86-77 | |
| Dec 13, 2003 | @ New York Knicks | L 95-88 | |
| Dec 16, 2003 | vs. New Orleans Hornets | W 116-94 | |
| Dec 17, 2003 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 99-98 | |
| Dec 19, 2003 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 101-99 | |
| Dec 20, 2003 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 115-106 | |
| Dec 22, 2003 | vs. Memphis Grizzlies | W 106-99 | |
| Dec 26, 2003 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 95-94 | |
| Dec 28, 2003 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 103-79 | |
| Dec 30, 2003 | vs. Toronto Raptors | L 81-74 | |
| Dec 31, 2003 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | L 120-104 | |
| Jan 02, 2004 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 106-96 | |
| Jan 03, 2004 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 84-76 | |
| Jan 05, 2004 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 98-74 | |
| Jan 07, 2004 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 113-91 | |
| Jan 09, 2004 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 106-96 | |
| Jan 11, 2004 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 117-106 | |
| Jan 13, 2004 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 105-92 | |
| Jan 14, 2004 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 97-71 | |
| Jan 16, 2004 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | L 91-88 | |
| Jan 18, 2004 | vs. Miami Heat | W 88-80 | |
| Jan 20, 2004 | @ Utah Jazz | W 96-75 | |
| Jan 21, 2004 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 97-92 | |
| Jan 23, 2004 | @ New Orleans Hornets | L 97-91 | |
| Jan 25, 2004 | @ Memphis Grizzlies | L 106-88 | |
| Jan 26, 2004 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | L 97-95 | |
| Jan 28, 2004 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 115-99 | |
| Jan 31, 2004 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 107-102 | |
| Feb 02, 2004 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 116-97 | |
| Feb 06, 2004 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 96-87 | |
| Feb 08, 2004 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 115-92 | |
| Feb 09, 2004 | vs. Memphis Grizzlies | W 86-83 | |
| Feb 12, 2004 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 107-98 | |
| Feb 17, 2004 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 106-85 | |
| Feb 20, 2004 | @ Orlando Magic | L 102-98 | |
| Feb 21, 2004 | @ Miami Heat | L 97-81 | |
| Feb 23, 2004 | @ Memphis Grizzlies | L 109-106 | |
| Feb 25, 2004 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 112-111 | |
| Feb 28, 2004 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 117-92 | |
| Feb 29, 2004 | vs. New York Knicks | W 107-96 | |
| Mar 02, 2004 | vs. New Jersey Nets | L 95-91 | |
| Mar 06, 2004 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 97-66 | |
| Mar 07, 2004 | vs. Indiana Pacers | L 103-94 | |
| Mar 09, 2004 | @ Washington Wizards | W 117-87 | |
| Mar 10, 2004 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 98-97 | |
| Mar 12, 2004 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 117-111 | |
| Mar 14, 2004 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 102-75 | |
| Mar 17, 2004 | @ Boston Celtics | L 104-100 | |
| Mar 22, 2004 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 102-80 | |
| Apr 07, 2004 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 111-96 | |
| Apr 09, 2004 | @ Houston Rockets | L 106-103 | |
| Apr 10, 2004 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 110-100 | |
| Apr 12, 2004 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 97-89 | |
| Apr 14, 2004 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 93-67 |