1987–88 Denver Nuggets season

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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  United States Iowa State
4 77  United States Marquette
5 100 Ron Grandison  United States New Orleans
6 123 Kelvin Scarborough  United States New Mexico
7 146  United States Hampton
7 156  United States North Carolina

Roster[]

1987–88 Denver Nuggets roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB (YYYY-MM-DD) From
PG 14 United States Adams, Michael 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 162 lb (73 kg) Boston College
SF 35 United States Brooks, Michael 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 220 lb (100 kg) La Salle
C 42 United States Cooper, Wayne 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 220 lb (100 kg) New Orleans
SG 23 United States Dunn, T.R. 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Alabama
SF 2 United States English, Alex 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 190 lb (86 kg) South Carolina
PG 5 United States Evans, Mike 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Kansas State
SF 24 United States Hanzlik, Bill 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Notre Dame
SG 12 United States Lever, Fat 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Arizona State
SF 11 United States Martin, Maurice 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Saint Joseph's
PF 33 United States Natt, Calvin 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Louisiana–Monroe
C 41 United States Rasmussen, Blair 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 250 lb (113 kg) Oregon
PF 34 United States Schayes, Danny 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 235 lb (107 kg) Syracuse
SF 30 United States Vincent, Jay 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Michigan State
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (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 @ Utah L 110–120 Salt Palace Acord Arena 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 MST 		@ L.A. Lakers L 119–127 The Forum
17,505 		7–4
12 November 28, 1987
7:30 PM MST 		Dallas W 106–98 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 Chicago W 105–89 McNichols Sports Arena 10–5
16 December 5, 1987
6:30 PM MST 		@ Dallas L 96–109 Reunion Arena
17,007 		10–6
17 December 9 @ Boston W 124–119 Boston Garden 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 Utah L 97–98 McNichols Sports Arena 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 @ Washington W 124–109 Capital Centre 17–11
29 January 2, 1988
5:30 MST 		@ Detroit W 151–142 Pontiac Silverdome
23,746 		18–11
30 January 4 @ Cleveland L 101–122 Richfield Coliseum 18–12
31 January 6 @ New Jersey W 98–93 Brendan Byrne Arena 19–12
32 January 7 @ Chicago L 96–100 Chicago Stadium 19–13
33 January 9 @ Atlanta L 105–113 The Omni 19–14
34 January 11 @ Phoenix L 115–127 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 19–15
35 January 14 Atlanta W 115–112 McNichols Sports Arena 20–15
36 January 16 Golden State W 115–94 McNichols Sports Arena 21–15
37 January 18, 1988
2:00 MST 		Detroit L 116–123 McNichols Sports Arena
13,004 		21–16
38 January 21, 1988
7:30 PM MST 		L.A. Lakers W 115–113 McNichols Sports Arena
17,022 		22–16
39 January 22 @ Portland L 106–126 Memorial Coliseum 22–17
40 January 28 Milwaukee W 122–113 McNichols Sports Arena 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 PM MST 		Dallas W 115–105 McNichols Sports Arena
10,667 		25–17
43 February 4 @ San Antonio W 129–123 HemisFair Arena 26–17
44 February 9 San Antonio W 136-108 McNichols Sports Arena 27–17
45 February 11, 1988
7:30 PM MST 		L.A. Lakers L 105–120 McNichols Sports Arena
17,022 		27–18
46 February 12 @ Portland L 105–120 Memorial Coliseum 27–19
47 February 14 Utah W 107–93 McNichols Sports Arena 28–19
48 February 17 Boston W 138–125 McNichols Sports Arena 29–19
49 February 20 @ Phoenix L 108–128 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 29–20
50 February 22 Washington W 100–87 McNichols Sports Arena 30–20
51 February 24 @ Utah W 123–120 Salt Palace Acord Arena 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 PM MST 		@ Dallas L 96–123 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 Cleveland W 99–81 McNichols Sports Arena 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 @ Milwaukee L 93–132 MECCA Arena 36–24
61 March 13 @ Indiana W 108–100 Market Square Arena 37–24
62 March 14 Utah L 115–116 McNichols Sports Arena 37–25
63 March 17 Portland W 116–115 (OT) McNichols Sports Arena 38–25
64 March 18 @ Utah L 111–118 Salt Palace Acord Arena 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 PM MST 		@ L.A. Lakers W 120–119 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 PM MDT 		@ Dallas L 109–135 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 PM MDT 		L.A. Lakers W 120–106 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 PM MDT 		Dallas W 133–122 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
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 PM MDT 		Dallas W 126–115 Fat Lever (30) Fat Lever (11) Lever, English (8) McNichols Sports Arena
17,022 		1–0
2 May 12, 1988
8:00 PM MDT 		Dallas L 108–112 Lever, English (22) Danny Schayes (12) Michael Adams (7) McNichols Sports Arena
17,022 		1–1
3 May 14, 1988
1:30 PM MDT 		@ Dallas W 107–105 Alex English (23) Fat Lever (11) Fat Lever (12) Reunion Arena
17,007 		2–1
4 May 15, 1988
6:00 PM MDT 		@ Dallas L 103–124 Alex English (24) Wayne Cooper (10) Michael Adams (9) Reunion Arena
17,007 		2–2
5 May 17, 1988
8:00 PM MDT 		Dallas L 106–110 Danny Schayes (33) Danny Schayes (13) Adams, English (6) McNichols Sports Arena
17,022 		2–3
6 May 19, 1988
8:00 PM MDT 		@ Dallas L 95–108 Alex English (34) Danny Schayes (9) Michael 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 2021-11-16.

See also[]

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