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1987–88 Denver Nuggets season

1987–88 Denver Nuggets season
Division champions
Head coachDoug Moe
ArenaMcNichols Sports Arena
Results
Record54–28 (.659)
PlaceDivision: 1st (Midwest)
Conference: 2nd (Western)
Playoff finishWest Conference semifinals
(lost to Mavericks 2–4)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
< 1986–87 1988–89 >

The 1987–88 NBA season was the Nuggets' 12th season in the NBA and 21st season as a franchise.[1] During the offseason, the Nuggets acquired Michael Adams from the Washington Bullets. The Nuggets finished first place in the Midwest Division with a 54–28 record. Head coach Doug Moe was named Coach of The Year. Alex English and Fat Lever were both selected for the 1988 NBA All-Star Game. In the first round of the playoffs, they defeated the Seattle SuperSonics in five games, but lost to the 3rd-seeded Dallas Mavericks six games in the semifinals.

Draft picks

Main article: 1987 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality School/Club Team
2 31 Andre Moore PF  United States
 Australia		 Loyola (IL)
3 54 Tom Schafer  United States Iowa State
4 77 David Boone  United States Marquette
5 100 Ron Grandison  United States New Orleans
6 123 Kelvin Scarborough  United States New Mexico
7 146 Rowan Gomes  United States Hampton
7 156 Curtis Hunter  United States North Carolina

Roster

1987–88 Denver Nuggets roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From
PG 14 Adams, Michael 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 162 lb (73 kg) Boston College
SF 35 Brooks, Michael 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 220 lb (100 kg) La Salle
C 42 Cooper, Wayne 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 220 lb (100 kg) New Orleans
SG 23 Dunn, T.R. 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Alabama
SF 2 English, Alex 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 190 lb (86 kg) South Carolina
PG 5 Evans, Mike 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Kansas State
SF 24 Hanzlik, Bill 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Notre Dame
SG 12 Lever, Fat 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Arizona State
SF 11 Martin, Maurice 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Saint Joseph's
PF 33 Natt, Calvin 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Louisiana–Monroe
C 41 Rasmussen, Blair 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 250 lb (113 kg) Oregon
PF 34 Schayes, Danny 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 235 lb (107 kg) Syracuse
SF 30 Vincent, Jay 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Michigan State
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Regular season

Season standings

Midwest Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Denver Nuggets 54 28 .659 – 35–6 19–22 18–12
x-Dallas Mavericks 53 29 .646 1 33–8 20–21 20–10
x-Utah Jazz 47 35 .573 7 33–8 14–27 18–12
x-Houston Rockets 46 36 .561 8 31–10 15–26 13–17
x-San Antonio Spurs 31 51 .378 23 23–18 8–33 12–18
Sacramento Kings 24 58 .293 30 19–22 5–36 9–21
#
Western Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Los Angeles Lakers 62 20 .756 –
2 y-Denver Nuggets 54 28 .659 8
3 x-Dallas Mavericks 53 29 .646 9
4 x-Portland Trail Blazers 53 29 .646 9
5 x-Utah Jazz 47 35 .573 15
6 x-Houston Rockets 46 36 .561 16
7 x-Seattle SuperSonics 44 38 .537 18
8 x-San Antonio Spurs 31 51 .378 31
9 Phoenix Suns 28 54 .341 34
10 Sacramento Kings 24 58 .293 38
11 Golden State Warriors 20 62 .244 42
12 Los Angeles Clippers 17 65 .207 45
z – clinched division title
y – clinched division title
x – clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

1987-88 NBA Records
Team ATL BOS CHI CLE DAL DEN DET GSW HOU IND LAC LAL MIL NJN NYK PHI PHO POR SAC SAS SEA UTA WAS
Atlanta — 2–4 2–3 5–1 2–0 1–1 2–4 2–0 1–1 4–2 2–0 0–2 3–3 5–0 3–3 6–0 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 3–3
Boston 4–2 — 3–3 2–3 2–0 0–2 3–3 2–0 1–1 5–0 2–0 0–2 3–3 5–1 5–1 4–2 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 2–0 5–1
Chicago 3–2 3–3 — 3–3 0–2 1–1 2–4 2–0 2–0 3–3 2–0 1–1 5–1 5–1 3–2 4–2 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 3–3
Cleveland 1–5 3–2 3–3 — 1–1 1–1 1–5 0–2 1–1 4–2 1–1 1–1 2–4 5–1 2–4 3–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 0–2 6–0
Dallas 0–2 0–2 2–0 1–1 — 3–3 1–1 4–1 4–2 2–0 5–0 1–4 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 5–0 3–2 5–1 5–1 3–2 3–3 1–1
Denver 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 3–3 — 1–1 4–1 4–2 1–1 5–0 3–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 3–2 2–3 4–2 5–1 4–1 2–4 2–0
Detroit 4–2 3–3 4–2 5–1 1–1 1–1 — 2–0 1–1 3–3 1–1 0–2 4–2 5–1 4–2 4–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 3–2
Golden State 0–2 0–2 0–2 2–0 1–4 1–4 0–2 — 0–5 0–2 3–3 0–6 0–2 2–0 0–2 1–1 2–4 1–5 2–3 3–2 1–5 1–4 0–2
Houston 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–4 2–4 1–1 5–0 — 2–0 3–2 1–4 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 4–1 4–1 4–2 2–4 3–2 3–3 2–0
Indiana 2–4 0–5 3–3 2–4 0–2 1–1 3–3 2–0 0–2 — 1–1 1–1 3–3 6–0 2–3 2–4 2–0 0–2 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–4
L.A. Clippers 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–5 0–5 1–1 3–3 2–3 1–1 — 1–5 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 2–4 0–6 3–2 0–5 1–5 1–4 0–2
L.A. Lakers 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 4–1 2–3 2–0 6–0 4–1 1–1 5–1 — 0–2 2–0 2–0 2–0 5–1 3–3 4–1 5–0 4–2 4–1 1–1
Milwaukee 3–3 3–3 1–5 4–2 0–2 1–1 2–4 2–0 0–2 3–3 2–0 2–0 — 3–2 3–3 2–4 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 4–1
New Jersey 0–5 1–5 1–5 1–5 1–1 0–2 1–5 0–2 1–1 0–6 2–0 0–2 2–3 — 3–3 2–4 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–6
New York 3–3 1–5 2–3 4–2 1–1 1–1 2–4 2–0 1–1 3–2 2–0 0–2 3–3 3–3 — 3–3 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 3–3
Philadelphia 0–6 2–4 2–4 2–3 1–1 0–2 1–4 1–1 1–1 4–2 1–1 0–2 4–2 4–2 3–3 — 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 3–3
Phoenix 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–5 2–3 0–2 4–2 1–4 0–2 4–2 1–5 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 — 0–6 3–2 2–3 2–4 2–3 0–2
Portland 2–0 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–3 3–2 1–1 5–1 1–4 2–0 6–0 3–3 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 6–0 — 4–1 5–0 3–3 1–4 2–0
Sacramento 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–5 2–4 0–2 3–2 2–4 0–2 2–3 1–4 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–3 1–4 — 3–3 1–4 1–5 0–2
San Antonio 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–5 1–5 1–1 2–3 4–2 0–2 5–0 0–5 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 3–2 0–5 3–3 — 3–2 3–3 0–2
Seattle 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–3 1–4 1–1 5–1 2–3 1–1 5–1 2–4 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 4–2 3–3 4–1 2–3 — 1–4 2–0
Utah 1–1 0–2 0–2 2–0 3–3 4–2 0–2 4–1 3–3 1–1 4–1 1–4 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 3–2 4–1 5–1 3–3 4–1 — 2–0
Washington 3–3 1–5 3–3 0–6 1–1 0–2 2–3 2–0 0–2 4–2 2–0 1–1 1–4 6–0 3–3 3–3 2–0 0–2 2–0 2–0 0–2 0–2 —

Game log

Regular season

1987–88 game log
Total: 54–28 (home: 35–6; road: 19–22)
November: 8–4 (home: 6–1; road: 2–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
1 November 6 L.A. Clippers W 139–93 McNichols Sports Arena 1–0
2 November 7 @ Golden State W 103–99 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 2–0
3 November 10 @ Sacramento L 123–134 ARCO Arena 2–1
4 November 12 Portland W 126–113 McNichols Sports Arena 3–1
5 November 14 Sacramento W 130–109 McNichols Sports Arena 4–1
6 November 17, 1987
7:30 p.m. MST 		@ Utah L 110–120 Lever (18) Rasmussen (10) Lever (7) Salt Palace
11,461 		4–2
7 November 18 Indiana L 106–117 McNichols Sports Arena 4–3
8 November 20 San Antonio W 156–142 McNichols Sports Arena 5–3
9 November 21 @ L.A. Clippers W 97–91 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 6–3
10 November 24 New Jersey W 132–104 McNichols Sports Arena 7–3
11 November 27, 1987
8:30 p.m. MST 		@ L.A. Lakers L 119–127 English (27) Schayes (14) Adams,
Lever (10) 		The Forum
17,505 		7–4
12 November 28, 1987
7:30 p.m. MST 		Dallas W 106–98 English (25) Schayes (15) English (7) McNichols Sports Arena
13,400 		8–4
December: 8–7 (home: 5–1; road: 3–6)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
13 December 1 @ Houston L 101–106 The Summit 8–5
14 December 2 Sacramento W 147–120 McNichols Sports Arena 9–5
15 December 4, 1987
7:30 p.m. MST 		Chicago W 105–89 English (21) Rasmussen (12) Adams (7) McNichols Sports Arena
17,022 		10–5
16 December 5, 1987
6:30 p.m. MST 		@ Dallas L 96–109 English,
Vincent (16) 		English,
Lever,
Rasmussen (5) 		Adams,
English,
Lever (5) 		Reunion Arena
17,007 		10–6
17 December 9, 1987
5:30 p.m. MST 		@ Boston W 124–119 Adams (31) Lever (11) Lever (13) Boston Garden
14,890 		11–6
18 December 10 @ New York L 97–113 Madison Square Garden 11–7
19 December 12 @ Philadelphia W 131–121 The Spectrum 12–7
20 December 16 Houston W 132–113 McNichols Sports Arena 13–7
21 December 18 @ San Antonio L 114–133 HemisFair Arena 13–8
22 December 19 @ Houston W 121–117 The Summit 14–8
23 December 22 Phoenix W 119–104 McNichols Sports Arena 15–8
24 December 23 @ Golden State L 117–129 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 15–9
25 December 26 Seattle W 115–111 McNichols Sports Arena 16–9
26 December 28 @ Seattle L 100–108 Seattle Center Coliseum 16–10
27 December 29, 1987
7:30 p.m. MST 		Utah L 97–98 Schayes (27) English,
Lever,
Schayes (11) 		Lever (6) McNichols Sports Arena
10,621 		16–11
January: 8–6 (home: 5–1; road: 3–5)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
28 January 1, 1988
6:00 p.m. MST 		@ Washington W 124–109 Vincent (33) Schayes (7) Adams (10) Capital Centre
5,326 		17–11
29 January 2, 1988
5:30 p.m. MST 		@ Detroit W 151–142 English (34) Cooper (11) Lever (13) Pontiac Silverdome
23,746 		18–11
30 January 4, 1988
5:30 p.m. MST 		@ Cleveland L 101–122 Evans (28) Schayes (8) English (7) Richfield Coliseum
6,448 		18–12
31 January 6 @ New Jersey W 98–93 Brendan Byrne Arena 19–12
32 January 7, 1988
6:30 p.m. MST 		@ Chicago L 96–100 Lever (31) Lever (16) Lever (12) Chicago Stadium
17,590 		19–13
33 January 9, 1988
5:30 p.m. MST 		@ Atlanta L 105–113 English (27) Rasmussen,
Schayes (9) 		Lever (6) The Omni
14,986 		19–14
34 January 11 @ Phoenix L 115–127 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 19–15
35 January 14, 1988
7:30 p.m. MST 		Atlanta W 115–112 English (27) Schayes (12) English,
Lever,
Vincent (5) 		McNichols Sports Arena
14,944 		20–15
36 January 16 Golden State W 115–94 McNichols Sports Arena 21–15
37 January 18, 1988
2:00 p.m. MST 		Detroit L 116–123 English (32) Vincent (11) English (7) McNichols Sports Arena
13,004 		21–16
38 January 21, 1988
7:30 p.m. MST 		L.A. Lakers W 115–113 Vincent (23) Vincent (12) Lever (8) McNichols Sports Arena
17,022 		22–16
39 January 22 @ Portland L 106–126 Memorial Coliseum 22–17
40 January 28, 1988
7:30 p.m. MST 		Milwaukee W 122–113 English (24) Rasmussen (8) Adams,
English,
Lever (8) 		McNichols Sports Arena
13,911 		23–17
41 January 30 L.A. Clippers W 124–106 McNichols Sports Arena 24–17
February: 9–4 (home: 7–1; road: 2–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
42 February 3, 1988
7:30 p.m. MST 		Dallas W 115–105 English (26) Lever (9) Adams (9) McNichols Sports Arena
10,667 		25–17
43 February 4 @ San Antonio W 129–123 HemisFair Arena 26–17
All-Star Break
44 February 9 San Antonio W 136-108 McNichols Sports Arena 27–17
45 February 11, 1988
7:30 p.m. MST 		L.A. Lakers L 105–120 English (31) Rasmussenn (9) Adams (8) McNichols Sports Arena
17,022 		27–18
46 February 12 @ Portland L 105–120 Memorial Coliseum 27–19
47 February 14, 1988
7:30 p.m. MST 		Utah W 107–93 English (25) Lever (15) Lever (8) McNichols Sports Arena
9,971 		28–19
48 February 17, 1988
7:30 p.m. MST 		Boston W 138–125 English (37) Rasmussen (11) English (11) McNichols Sports Arena
17,022 		29–19
49 February 20 @ Phoenix L 108–128 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 29–20
50 February 22, 1988
7:30 p.m. MST 		Washington W 100–87 Schayes (21) Lever (15) English (8) McNichols Sports Arena
10,553 		30–20
51 February 24, 1988
7:30 p.m. MST 		@ Utah W 123–120 English,
Rasmussen (35) 		Lever (10) Lever (16) Salt Palace
12,444 		31–20
52 February 26 Philadelphia W 120–104 McNichols Sports Arena 32–20
53 February 28 New York W 109–100 McNichols Sports Arena 33–20
54 February 29, 1988
6:30 p.m. MST 		@ Dallas L 96–123 Schayes (21) Lever (8) Adams (8) Reunion Arena
17,007 		33–21
March: 12–5 (home: 6–2; road: 6–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
55 March 2, 1988
7:30 p.m. MST 		Cleveland W 99–81 Adams (23) Lever (20) Lever (12) McNichols Sports Arena
9,178 		34–21
56 March 4 Phoenix W 116–108 McNichols Sports Arena 35–21
57 March 5 @ Seattle W 115–102 Seattle Center Coliseum 36–21
58 March 7 @ Sacramento L 114–116 (OT) ARCO Arena 36–22
59 March 8 Houston L 103–113 McNichols Sports Arena 36–23
60 March 11, 1988
7:00 p.m. MST 		@ Milwaukee L 93–132 Rasmussen (21) Rasmussen (8) Adams (7) MECCA Arena
11,052 		36–24
61 March 13 @ Indiana W 108–100 Market Square Arena 37–24
62 March 14, 1988
7:30 p.m. MST 		Utah L 115–116 English (27) Lever (17) English (8) McNichols Sports Arena
10,172 		37–25
63 March 17 Portland W 116–115 (OT) McNichols Sports Arena 38–25
64 March 18, 1988
7:30 p.m. MST 		@ Utah L 111–118 Adams (22) Lever,
Rasmussen (11) 		Lever (9) Salt Palace
12,444 		38–26
65 March 20 Seattle W 108–95 McNichols Sports Arena 39–26
66 March 22 San Antonio W 136–109 McNichols Sports Arena 40–26
67 March 23 @ L.A. Clippers W 118–108 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 41–26
68 March 25, 1988
8:30 p.m. MST 		@ L.A. Lakers W 120–119 English (34) Schayes (9) Lever (11) The Forum
17,505 		42–26
69 March 26 @ Golden State W 131–108 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 43–26
70 March 29 @ Sacramento W 107–103 ARCO Arena 44–26
71 March 31 Sacramento W 121–111 McNichols Sports Arena 45–26
April: 9–2 (home: 6–0; road: 3–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
72 April 2 Golden State W 123–107 McNichols Sports Arena 46–26
73 April 5 @ Houston W 110–97 The Summit 47–26
74 April 8 @ San Antonio W 129–124 (OT) HemisFair Arena 48–26
75 April 9, 1988
6:30 p.m. MDT 		@ Dallas L 109–135 Schayes (21) Brooks (7) Adams (10) Reunion Arena
17,007 		48–27
76 April 11 @ Phoenix W 123–119 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 49–27
77 April 13, 1988
7:30 p.m. MDT 		L.A. Lakers W 120–106 English (29) Lever (12) Adams (9) McNichols Sports Arena
17,022 		50–27
78 April 15 Houston W 132–125 McNichols Sports Arena 51–27
79 April 17, 1988
2:00 p.m. MDT 		Dallas W 133–122 English (31) Lever (19) Lever (13) McNichols Sports Arena
17,022 		52–27
80 April 19 Seattle W 134–114 McNichols Sports Arena 53–27
81 April 22 @ Portland L 135–141 (OT) Memorial Coliseum 53–28
82 April 23 L.A. Clippers W 134–109 McNichols Sports Arena 54–28
1987–88 schedule

Playoffs

1988 playoff game log
First Round: 3–2 (home: 2–1; road: 1–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 April 29 Seattle W 126–123 Alex English (28) Fat Lever (11) Fat Lever (8) McNichols Sports Arena
17,022 		1–0
2 May 1 Seattle L 91–111 English, Evans (16) Fat Lever (12) Michael Adams (5) McNichols Sports Arena
17,022 		1–1
3 May 3 @ Seattle W 125–114 Blair Rasmussen (28) Blair Rasmussen (12) Adams, Lever (7) Seattle Center Coliseum
14,250 		2–1
4 May 5 @ Seattle L 117–127 Jay Vincent (28) Danny Schayes (8) English, Evans (5) Seattle Center Coliseum
14,250 		2–2
5 May 7 Seattle W 115–96 Alex English (23) Jay Vincent (7) Alex English (7) McNichols Sports Arena
16,040 		3–2
Western Conference Semifinals: 2–4 (home: 1–2; road: 1–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 May 10, 1988
7:30 p.m. MDT 		Dallas W 126–115 Lever (30) Lever (11) English,
Lever (8) 		McNichols Sports Arena
17,022 		1–0
2 May 12, 1988
8:00 p.m. MDT 		Dallas L 108–112 English,
Lever (22) 		Schayes (12) Adams (7) McNichols Sports Arena
17,022 		1–1
3 May 14, 1988
1:30 p.m. MDT 		@ Dallas W 107–105 English (23) Lever (11) Lever (12) Reunion Arena
17,007 		2–1
4 May 15, 1988
6:00 p.m. MDT 		@ Dallas L 103–124 English (24) Cooper (10) Adams (9) Reunion Arena
17,007 		2–2
5 May 17, 1988
8:00 p.m. MDT 		Dallas L 106–110 Schayes (33) Schayes (13) Adams,
English (6) 		McNichols Sports Arena
17,022 		2–3
6 May 19, 1988
8:00 p.m. MDT 		@ Dallas L 95–108 English (34) Schayes (9) Adams (8) Reunion Arena
17,007 		2–4
1988 schedule

Player statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game

Season

Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG

Playoffs

Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG

Awards and records

Transactions

References

  1. ^ "1987-88 Denver Nuggets Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 16, 2021.

See also

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