The 1981–82 Denver Nuggets season was their 15th season, and their sixth in the NBA. During the 1981–82 season, they scored at least 100 points in every game and allowed at least 100 points in every game. They returned to the postseason for the first time since the 1978–79 season.
In the playoffs, the Nuggets lost to the Phoenix Suns in three games in the First Round.
See main article: article and 1981 NBA draft.
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | School/Club Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 34 | Ken Green | Power forward | Texas-Pan American | |
| 5 | 101 | Willie Sims | Guard | LSU | |
| 6 | 124 | Alonzo Weatherly | Power forward | University of Denver | |
| 7 | 147 | Greg Manning | Shooting guard | Maryland | |
| 8 | 169 | Curtis Redding | St. John's | ||
| 9 | 191 | Andrew Burton | Guard | Austin Peay | |
| 10 | 211 | Derrick Rowland | Guard | Potsdam State | |
Notes
| 1981-82 NBA Records | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| width=100 | Team | ATL | BOS | CHI | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | KCK | LAL | MIL | NJN | NYK | PHI | PHO | POR | SAS | SDC | SEA | UTA | WAS |
| Atlanta | — | 1–5 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–4 | |
| Boston | 5–1 | — | 4–2 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 6–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 6–0 | |
| Chicago | 3–2 | 2–4 | — | 5–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–6 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | |
| Cleveland | 2–4 | 0–5 | 1–5 | — | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–6 | 0–6 | 0–6 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–5 | |
| Dallas | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | — | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–5 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 3–3 | 1–1 | |
| Denver | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | — | 1–1 | 3–2 | 5–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 5–0 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 2–0 | |
| Detroit | 4–2 | 0–6 | 6–0 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–4 | |
| Golden State | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 2–3 | 0–2 | — | 1–4 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 5–1 | 1–5 | 3–2 | 1–1 | |
| Houston | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 4–1 | — | 2–0 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 4–1 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 2–3 | 6–0 | 2–0 | |
| Indiana | 2–4 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | — | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–6 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–5 | |
| Kansas City | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 1–1 | — | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 0–5 | 1–5 | 4–1 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 0–2 | |
| Los Angeles | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 4–1 | — | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 2–3 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 5–0 | 2–0 | |
| Milwaukee | 3–3 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 6–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 6–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | — | 4–1 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–2 | |
| New Jersey | 2–3 | 1–5 | 4–2 | 6–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–4 | — | 4–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 4–2 | |
| New York | 1–5 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 6–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 2–4 | — | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–5 | |
| Philadelphia | 3–3 | 2–4 | 5–1 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 5–1 | — | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 6–0 | |
| Phoenix | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — | 3–3 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 1–1 | |
| Portland | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–3 | — | 3–2 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 0–2 | |
| San Antonio | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 5–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–4 | 2–3 | — | 3–2 | 4–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | |
| San Diego | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 1–4 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 2–3 | — | 1–5 | 1–4 | 0–2 | |
| Seattle | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 5–1 | — | 5–0 | 1–1 | |
| Utah | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 0–5 | — | 1–1 | |
| Washington | 4–2 | 0–6 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 5–1 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | |
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 1| | Golden State| W 134–121|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 1–0|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 2| | @ San Antonio| L 120–145|||| HemisFair Arena| 1–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 3| | Houston| W 112–100|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 2–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 4| | @ Seattle| W 109–105|||| Kingdome| 3–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 5| | @ Golden State| L 107–152|||| Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena| 3–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 6| | @ Portland| L 116–120|||| Memorial Coliseum| 3–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 7| | Phoenix| L 106–109|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 3–4|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 8| | @ Utah| L 124–131|||| Salt Palace Acord Arena| 3–5|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 9| | San Diego| W 133–128|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 4–5|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 10| | Kansas City| W 128–121|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 5–5|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 11| | Dallas| W 139–133|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 6–5|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 12| | @ Kansas City| W 123–115|||| Kemper Arena| 7–5|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 13| | Utah| W 131–124 (OT)|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 8–5|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 14| | Portland| L 113–121|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 8–6|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 15| | @ Phoenix| L 109–137|||| Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum| 8–7|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 16| | Los Angeles| L 117–126|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 8–8|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 17| | @ Dallas| L 105–109|||| Reunion Arena| 8–9|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 18| | @ New York| L 122–135|||| Madison Square Garden| 8–10|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 19| | @ Philadelphia| L 109–137|||| The Spectrum| 8–11|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 20| | @ New Jersey| L 123–131|||| Brendan Byrne Arena| 8–12|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 21| | @ Cleveland| W 120–115|||| Richfield Coliseum| 9–12|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 22| | Seattle| L 120–126|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 9–13|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 23| | Atlanta| W 138–103|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 10–13|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 24| | San Antonio| W 138–125|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 11–13|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 25| | @ Houston| W 121–109|||| The Summit| 12–13|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 26| | Detroit| L 119–124|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 12–14|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 27| | @ Dallas| W 124–117|||| Reunion Arena| 13–14|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 28| | Boston| W 128–123|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 14–14|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 29| | @ Kansas City| L 116–120|||| Kemper Arena| 14–15|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 30| | @ San Antonio| L 133–148|||| HemisFair Arena| 14–16|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 31| | @ Milwaukee| W 128–122|||| MECCA Arena| 15–16|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 32| | @ Chicago| L 128–134|||| Chicago Stadium| 15–17|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 33| | San Diego| W 136–114|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 16–17|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 34| | @ Portland| W 124–121|||| Memorial Coliseum| 17–17|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 35| | Seattle| L 110–125|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 17–18|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 36| | Kansas City| W 139–126|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 18–18|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 37| | @ Golden State| L 128–143|||| Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena| 18–19|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 38| | Dallas| W 128–113|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 19–19|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 39| | @ San Diego| W 138–131|||| San Diego Sports Arena| 20–19|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 40| | Los Angeles| W 140–139|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 21–19|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 41| | Milwaukee| L 125–131|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 21–20|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 42| | @ Houston| W 111–109|||| The Summit| 22–20|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 43| | New Jersey| W 130–116|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 23–20|- align="center"|colspan="9" bgcolor="#bbcaff"|All-Star Break|- style="background:#cfc;"|- bgcolor="#bbffbb"|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 44| | New York| W 128–117|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 24–20|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 45| | @ Indiana| L 114–131|||| Market Square Arena| 24–21|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 46| | @ Boston| L 144–145|||| Boston Garden| 24–22|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 47| | @ Washington| W 124–115|||| Capital Centre| 25–22|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 48| | Utah| L 148–151|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 25–23|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 49| | San Diego| W 146–129|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 26–23|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 50| | @ Utah| W 145–134|||| Salt Palace Acord Arena| 27–23|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 51| | Kansas City| W 119–106|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 28–23|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 52| | San Antonio| L 121–126|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 28–24|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 53| | Los Angeles| L 131–132|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 28–25|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 54| | @ Los Angeles| L 129–145|||| The Forum| 28–26|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 55| | Houston| L 110–120|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 28–27|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 56| | @ Phoenix| L 122–131|||| Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum| 28–28|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 57| | Philadelphia| W 134–125|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 29–28|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 58| | Indiana| L 124–132 (OT)|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 29–29|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 59| | Washington| W 127–126|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 30–29|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 60| | Cleveland| W 147–127|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 31–29|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 61| | @ Atlanta| L 106–120|||| The Omni| 31–30|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 62| | @ Detroit| W 124–113|||| Pontiac Silverdome| 32–30|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 63| | @ Houston| W 130–115|||| The Summit| 33–30|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 64| | Golden State| W 127–101|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 34–30|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 65| | Utah| W 154–138|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 35–30|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 66| | @ Phoenix| W 135–133 (OT)|||| Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum| 36–30|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 67| | Chicago| W 130–120|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 37–30|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 68| | San Antonio| W 129–115|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 38–30|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 69| | @ San Diego| W 129–117|||| San Diego Sports Arena| 39–30|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 70| | Phoenix| W 140–134 (2OT)|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 40–30|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 71| | Seattle| W 145–142 (OT)|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 41–30|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 72| | @ Dallas| W 120–119|||| Reunion Arena| 42–30|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 73| | Portland| W 127–121|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 43–30|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 74| | @ Seattle| L 116–140|||| Kingdome| 43–31|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 75| | @ Portland| L 122–136|||| Memorial Coliseum| 43–32|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 76| | @ Golden State| W 129–121|||| Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena| 44–32|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 77| | @ Los Angeles| L 128–153|||| The Forum| 44–33|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 78| | @ Utah| L 136–151|||| Salt Palace Acord Arena| 44–34|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 79| | @ San Antonio| L 137–144|||| HemisFair Arena| 44–35|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 80| | Houston| W 141–122|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 45–35|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 81| | @ Kansas City| L 121–123|||| Kemper Arena| 45–36|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 82| | Dallas| W 130–124|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 46–36
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 1| | Phoenix| W 129–113| VanDeWeghe (29)| English (10)| English,
McKinney (5)| McNichols Sports Arena
17,298| 1–0|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 2| | @ Phoenix| L 110–126| Issel (26)| English (6)| English,
Gondrezick (5)| Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
12,798| 1–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 3| | Phoenix| L 119–124| Issel (26)| Dunn.
Issel (10)| English (7)| McNichols Sports Arena
17,443| 1–2|-