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1987–88 Denver Nuggets season

NBA professional basketball team season

NBA professional basketball team season

(lost to Mavericks 2–4)

The Nuggets got off to an 8–4 start to the regular season, and held a 26–17 record at the All-Star break. The team posted a 10-game winning streak between March and April, and won 16 of their final 18 games of the season. The Nuggets finished in first place in the Midwest Division with a 54–28 record, and earned the second seed in the Western Conference. Head coach Doug Moe was named the NBA Coach of the Year, after leading his team to a 17-game improvement over the previous season.

Alex English averaged 25.0 points, and 4.7 rebounds and assists per game each, while Fat Lever averaged 18.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, 7.8 assists and 2.7 steals per game, and was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team, and Vincent played a sixth man role off the bench, averaging 15.4 points and 4.2 rebounds per game. In addition, Adams provided the team with 13.9 points, 6.1 assists and 2.0 steals per game, while Danny Schayes provided with 13.9 points and 8.2 rebounds per game, and Blair Rasmussen contributed 12.7 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. Meanwhile, Calvin Natt averaged 9.6 points per game, but only played just 27 games due to injury, Wayne Cooper averaged 6.4 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game, but only appeared in just 45 games also due to injury, Bill Hanzlik provided with 4.5 points per game, and defensive guard T.R. Dunn contributed 2.2 points and 1.2 steals per game.

During the NBA All-Star weekend at the Chicago Stadium in Chicago, Illinois, English and Lever were both selected for the 1988 NBA All-Star Game, as members of the Western Conference All-Star team. Lever finished in ninth place in Most Valuable Player voting, while English finished in eleventh place, and Adams finished tied in 14th place; Lever also finished tied in fifth place in Defensive Player of the Year voting, and Adams finished in fourth place in Most Improved Player voting.

In the Western Conference First Round of the 1988 NBA playoffs, the Nuggets defeated the Seattle SuperSonics in five games, but lost in six games to the 3rd-seeded Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference Semi-finals. Following the season, Dunn signed as a free agent with the Phoenix Suns during the next season.

Draft picks

Main article: 1987 NBA draft

RoundPickPlayerPositionNationalitySchool/Club team
231Andre MoorePFUnited States
AustraliaLoyola (IL)
354Tom SchaferUnited StatesIowa State
477David BooneUnited StatesMarquette
5100Ron GrandisonUnited StatesNew Orleans
6123Kelvin ScarboroughUnited StatesNew Mexico
7146Rowan GomesUnited StatesHampton
7156Curtis HunterUnited StatesNorth Carolina

Roster

  • Doug Moe
  • Allan Bristow

Regular season

Season standings

:z – clinched division title :y – clinched division title :x – clinched playoff spot

Game log

Regular season

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 1 | November 6 | L.A. Clippers | W 139–93 | | | | McNichols Sports Arena | 1–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 2 | November 7 | @ Golden State | W 103–99 | | | | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena | 2–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 3 | November 10 | @ Sacramento | L 123–134 | | | | ARCO Arena | 2–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 4 | November 12 | Portland | W 126–113 | | | | McNichols Sports Arena | 3–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 5 | November 14 | Sacramento | W 130–109 | | | | McNichols Sports Arena | 4–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 6 | November 17, 1987 7:30p.m. MST | @ Utah | L 110–120 | Lever (18) | Rasmussen (10) | Lever (7) | Salt Palace 11,461 | 4–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 7 | November 18 | Indiana | L 106–117 | | | | McNichols Sports Arena | 4–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 8 | November 20 | San Antonio | W 156–142 | | | | McNichols Sports Arena | 5–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 9 | November 21 | @ L.A. Clippers | W 97–91 | | | | Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena | 6–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 10 | November 24 | New Jersey | W 132–104 | | | | McNichols Sports Arena | 7–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 11 | November 27, 1987 8:30p.m. MST | @ L.A. Lakers | L 119–127 | English (27) | Schayes (14) | Adams, Lever (10) | The Forum 17,505 | 7–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 12 | November 28, 1987 7:30p.m. MST | Dallas | W 106–98 | English (25) | Schayes (15) | English (7) | McNichols Sports Arena 13,400 | 8–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 13 | December 1 | @ Houston | L 101–106 | | | | The Summit | 8–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 14 | December 2 | Sacramento | W 147–120 | | | | McNichols Sports Arena | 9–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 15 | December 4, 1987 7:30p.m. MST | Chicago | W 105–89 | English (21) | Rasmussen (12) | Adams (7) | McNichols Sports Arena 17,022 | 10–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 16 | December 5, 1987 6:30p.m. MST | @ Dallas | L 96–109 | English, Vincent (16) | English, Lever, Rasmussen (5) | Adams, English, Lever (5) | Reunion Arena 17,007 | 10–6 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 17 | December 9, 1987 5:30p.m. MST | @ Boston | W 124–119 | Adams (31) | Lever (11) | Lever (13) | Boston Garden 14,890 | 11–6 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 18 | December 10 | @ New York | L 97–113 | | | | Madison Square Garden | 11–7 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 19 | December 12 | @ Philadelphia | W 131–121 | | | | The Spectrum | 12–7 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 20 | December 16 | Houston | W 132–113 | | | | McNichols Sports Arena | 13–7 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 21 | December 18 | @ San Antonio | L 114–133 | | | | HemisFair Arena | 13–8 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 22 | December 19 | @ Houston | W 121–117 | | | | The Summit | 14–8 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 23 | December 22 | Phoenix | W 119–104 | | | | McNichols Sports Arena | 15–8 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 24 | December 23 | @ Golden State | L 117–129 | | | | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena | 15–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 25 | December 26 | Seattle | W 115–111 | | | | McNichols Sports Arena | 16–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 26 | December 28 | @ Seattle | L 100–108 | | | | Seattle Center Coliseum | 16–10 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 27 | December 29, 1987 7:30p.m. MST | Utah | L 97–98 | Schayes (27) | English, Lever, Schayes (11) | Lever (6) | McNichols Sports Arena 10,621 | 16–11 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 28 | January 1, 1988 6:00p.m. MST | @ Washington | W 124–109 | Vincent (33) | Schayes (7) | Adams (10) | Capital Centre 5,326 | 17–11 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 29 | January 2, 1988 5:30p.m. MST | @ Detroit | W 151–142 | English (34) | Cooper (11) | Lever (13) | Pontiac Silverdome 23,746 | 18–11 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 30 | January 4, 1988 5:30p.m. MST | @ Cleveland | L 101–122 | Evans (28) | Schayes (8) | English (7) | Richfield Coliseum 6,448 | 18–12 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 31 | January 6 | @ New Jersey | W 98–93 | | | | Brendan Byrne Arena | 19–12 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 32 | January 7, 1988 6:30p.m. MST | @ Chicago | L 96–100 | Lever (31) | Lever (16) | Lever (12) | Chicago Stadium 17,590 | 19–13 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 33 | January 9, 1988 5:30p.m. MST | @ Atlanta | L 105–113 | English (27) | Rasmussen, Schayes (9) | Lever (6) | The Omni 14,986 | 19–14 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 34 | January 11 | @ Phoenix | L 115–127 | | | | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum | 19–15 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 35 | January 14, 1988 7:30p.m. MST | Atlanta | W 115–112 | English (27) | Schayes (12) | English, Lever, Vincent (5) | McNichols Sports Arena 14,944 | 20–15 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 36 | January 16 | Golden State | W 115–94 | | | | McNichols Sports Arena | 21–15 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 37 | January 18, 1988 2:00p.m. MST | Detroit | L 116–123 | English (32) | Vincent (11) | English (7) | McNichols Sports Arena 13,004 | 21–16 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 38 | January 21, 1988 7:30p.m. MST | L.A. Lakers | W 115–113 | Vincent (23) | Vincent (12) | Lever (8) | McNichols Sports Arena 17,022 | 22–16 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 39 | January 22 | @ Portland | L 106–126 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 22–17 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 40 | January 28, 1988 7:30p.m. MST | Milwaukee | W 122–113 | English (24) | Rasmussen (8) | Adams, English, Lever (8) | McNichols Sports Arena 13,911 | 23–17 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 41 | January 30 | L.A. Clippers | W 124–106 | | | | McNichols Sports Arena | 24–17 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 42 | February 3, 1988 7:30p.m. MST | Dallas | W 115–105 | English (26) | Lever (9) | Adams (9) | McNichols Sports Arena 10,667 | 25–17 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 43 | February 4 | @ San Antonio | W 129–123 | | | | HemisFair Arena | 26–17 |- align="center" |- style="background:#cfc;" |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 44 | February 9 | San Antonio | W 136-108 | | | | McNichols Sports Arena | 27–17 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 45 | February 11, 1988 7:30p.m. MST | L.A. Lakers | L 105–120 | English (31) | Rasmussenn (9) | Adams (8) | McNichols Sports Arena 17,022 | 27–18 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 46 | February 12 | @ Portland | L 105–120 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 27–19 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 47 | February 14, 1988 7:30p.m. MST | Utah | W 107–93 | English (25) | Lever (15) | Lever (8) | McNichols Sports Arena 9,971 | 28–19 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 48 | February 17, 1988 7:30p.m. MST | Boston | W 138–125 | English (37) | Rasmussen (11) | English (11) | McNichols Sports Arena 17,022 | 29–19 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 49 | February 20 | @ Phoenix | L 108–128 | | | | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum | 29–20 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 50 | February 22, 1988 7:30p.m. MST | Washington | W 100–87 | Schayes (21) | Lever (15) | English (8) | McNichols Sports Arena 10,553 | 30–20 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 51 | February 24, 1988 7:30p.m. MST | @ Utah | W 123–120 | English, Rasmussen (35) | Lever (10) | Lever (16) | Salt Palace 12,444 | 31–20 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 52 | February 26 | Philadelphia | W 120–104 | | | | McNichols Sports Arena | 32–20 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 53 | February 28 | New York | W 109–100 | | | | McNichols Sports Arena | 33–20 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 54 | February 29, 1988 6:30p.m. MST | @ Dallas | L 96–123 | Schayes (21) | Lever (8) | Adams (8) | Reunion Arena 17,007 | 33–21 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 55 | March 2, 1988 7:30p.m. MST | Cleveland | W 99–81 | Adams (23) | Lever (20) | Lever (12) | McNichols Sports Arena 9,178 | 34–21 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 56 | March 4 | Phoenix | W 116–108 | | | | McNichols Sports Arena | 35–21 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 57 | March 5 | @ Seattle | W 115–102 | | | | Seattle Center Coliseum | 36–21 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 58 | March 7 | @ Sacramento | L 114–116 (OT) | | | | ARCO Arena | 36–22 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 59 | March 8 | Houston | L 103–113 | | | | McNichols Sports Arena | 36–23 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 60 | March 11, 1988 7:00p.m. MST | @ Milwaukee | L 93–132 | Rasmussen (21) | Rasmussen (8) | Adams (7) | MECCA Arena 11,052 | 36–24 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 61 | March 13 | @ Indiana | W 108–100 | | | | Market Square Arena | 37–24 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 62 | March 14, 1988 7:30p.m. MST | Utah | L 115–116 | English (27) | Lever (17) | English (8) | McNichols Sports Arena 10,172 | 37–25 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 63 | March 17 | Portland | W 116–115 (OT) | | | | McNichols Sports Arena | 38–25 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 64 | March 18, 1988 7:30p.m. MST | @ Utah | L 111–118 | Adams (22) | Lever, Rasmussen (11) | Lever (9) | Salt Palace 12,444 | 38–26 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 65 | March 20 | Seattle | W 108–95 | | | | McNichols Sports Arena | 39–26 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 66 | March 22 | San Antonio | W 136–109 | | | | McNichols Sports Arena | 40–26 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 67 | March 23 | @ L.A. Clippers | W 118–108 | | | | Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena | 41–26 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 68 | March 25, 1988 8:30p.m. MST | @ L.A. Lakers | W 120–119 | English (34) | Schayes (9) | Lever (11) | The Forum 17,505 | 42–26 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 69 | March 26 | @ Golden State | W 131–108 | | | | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena | 43–26 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 70 | March 29 | @ Sacramento | W 107–103 | | | | ARCO Arena | 44–26 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 71 | March 31 | Sacramento | W 121–111 | | | | McNichols Sports Arena | 45–26 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 72 | April 2 | Golden State | W 123–107 | | | | McNichols Sports Arena | 46–26 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 73 | April 5 | @ Houston | W 110–97 | | | | The Summit | 47–26 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 74 | April 8 | @ San Antonio | W 129–124 (OT) | | | | HemisFair Arena | 48–26 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 75 | April 9, 1988 6:30p.m. MDT | @ Dallas | L 109–135 | Schayes (21) | Brooks (7) | Adams (10) | Reunion Arena 17,007 | 48–27 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 76 | April 11 | @ Phoenix | W 123–119 | | | | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum | 49–27 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 77 | April 13, 1988 7:30p.m. MDT | L.A. Lakers | W 120–106 | English (29) | Lever (12) | Adams (9) | McNichols Sports Arena 17,022 | 50–27 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 78 | April 15 | Houston | W 132–125 | | | | McNichols Sports Arena | 51–27 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 79 | April 17, 1988 2:00p.m. MDT | Dallas | W 133–122 | English (31) | Lever (19) | Lever (13) | McNichols Sports Arena 17,022 | 52–27 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 80 | April 19 | Seattle | W 134–114 | | | | McNichols Sports Arena | 53–27 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 81 | April 22 | @ Portland | L 135–141 (OT) | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 53–28 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 82 | April 23 | L.A. Clippers | W 134–109 | | | | McNichols Sports Arena | 54–28

Playoffs

|- |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 1 | April 29 | Seattle | W 126–123 | Alex English (28) | Fat Lever (11) | Fat Lever (8) | McNichols Sports Arena 17,022 | 1–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 2 | May 1 | Seattle | L 91–111 | English, Evans (16) | Fat Lever (12) | Michael Adams (5) | McNichols Sports Arena 17,022 | 1–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 3 | May 3 | @ Seattle | W 125–114 | Blair Rasmussen (28) | Blair Rasmussen (12) | Adams, Lever (7) | Seattle Center Coliseum 14,250 | 2–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 4 | May 5 | @ Seattle | L 117–127 | Jay Vincent (28) | Danny Schayes (8) | English, Evans (5) | Seattle Center Coliseum 14,250 | 2–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 5 | May 7 | Seattle | W 115–96 | Alex English (23) | Jay Vincent (7) | Alex English (7) | McNichols Sports Arena 16,040

3–2
-
- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
1
May 10, 1988
7:30p.m. MDT
Dallas
W 126–115
Lever (30)
Lever (11)
English,
Lever (8)
McNichols Sports Arena
17,022
1–0
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
2
May 12, 1988
8:00p.m. MDT
Dallas
L 108–112
English,
Lever (22)
Schayes (12)
Adams (7)
McNichols Sports Arena
17,022
1–1
- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
3
May 14, 1988
1:30p.m. MDT
@ Dallas
W 107–105
English (23)
Lever (11)
Lever (12)
Reunion Arena
17,007
2–1
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
4
May 15, 1988
6:00p.m. MDT
@ Dallas
L 103–124
English (24)
Cooper (10)
Adams (9)
Reunion Arena
17,007
2–2
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
5
May 17, 1988
8:00p.m. MDT
Dallas
L 106–110
Schayes (33)
Schayes (13)
Adams,
English (6)
McNichols Sports Arena
17,022
2–3
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
6
May 19, 1988
8:00p.m. MDT
@ Dallas
L 95–108
English (34)
Schayes (9)
Adams (8)
Reunion Arena
17,007
2–4
-

Awards and records

  • Doug Moe, NBA Coach of the Year Award
  • Lafayette Lever, NBA All-Defensive Second Team

References

References

  1. "1987-88 Denver Nuggets Roster and Stats".
  2. Cotton, Anthony. (November 2, 1987). "Bullets Send Adams, Vincent to Nuggets for Walker, Alarie". The Washington Post.
  3. (November 3, 1987). "Bullets Trade Vincent, Adams to Nuggets". Los Angeles Times.
  4. (November 3, 1987). "Bullets Conducting an NBA Yard Sale". The Free Lance-Star.
  5. (December 23, 1987). "Transactions". The Beaver County Times.
  6. "NBA Games Played on February 4, 1988". Basketball-Reference.
  7. "1987–88 Denver Nuggets Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference.
  8. (May 16, 1988). "Moe Named NBA Coach of Year". Los Angeles Times.
  9. (May 17, 1988). "Nuggets Moe Gets Top Honor". The Item.
  10. "NBA & ABA Coach of the Year Award Winners". Basketball-Reference.
  11. "1987–88 Denver Nuggets Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference.
  12. Barnard, Bill. (February 7, 1988). "Today's NBA All-Star Game Will Be Homecoming of Sorts for 3 Players". Los Angeles Times.
  13. (September 13, 2021). "1988 NBA All-Star Recap". NBA.com.
  14. "1988 NBA All-Star Game: East 138, West 133". Basketball-Reference.
  15. "1987–88 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference.
  16. "1988 NBA Western Conference First Round: SuperSonics vs. Nuggets". Basketball-Reference.
  17. "1988 NBA Western Conference Semifinals: Mavericks vs. Nuggets". Basketball-Reference.
  18. (January 16, 1989). "Transactions". Lawrence Journal-World.
  19. Newman, Bruce. (February 27, 1989). "...RISEN AGAIN: Reduced to Ashes by a Drug Scandal, Phoenix Has Regrouped and...".
Info: Wikipedia Source

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