The Denver Nuggets were one of the original American Basketball Association teams. Their only trip to the finals as a member of the ABA ended in a six-game loss to the New York Nets. However, Denver fans were rewarded later that summer with a spot as one of the four franchises to enter the NBA as part of the merger. The Nuggets continued to be a successful franchise, making a dozen playoff appearances in their first 14 seasons in the NBA. Only twice did they inch close to making the NBA Finals, losing both their chances in the Western Conference Finals. Denver made minimal
Team Ratings | Offense Stats | Defense Stats | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Overall | OFF RTG | DEF RTG | PPG | ORB | AST | TO | FGM | FGA | 3PA | 3-PM | FG% | 3PT% | FT% | Pace | PPG Allow | DRB | AST Allow | STL | BLK | FG% Allow | 3P% Allow | FORCE TO | ||
85
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116.7
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113
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115.4
|
320
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819
|
417
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1333
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2768
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1084
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416
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48.2
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38.4
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78.2
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97.2
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111.6
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1025
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831
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260
|
133
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47.3
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36.5
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455
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Team Rankings | Offense Rankings | Defense Rankings | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Overall | OFF RTG | DEF RTG | PPG | ORB | AST | TO | FGM | FGA | 3PA | 3-PM | FG% | 3PT% | FT% | Pace | PPG Allow | DRB | AST Allow | STL | BLK | FG% Allow | 3P% Allow | FORCE TO | ||
11
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5
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21
|
6
|
15
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6
|
8
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5
|
14
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16
|
11
|
6
|
5
|
14
|
28
|
13
|
21
|
26
|
7
|
23
|
22
|
12
|
11
|
Opponent | Vegas | Points Scored | Shooting | Rebounding | Assists | TO | ||||||||||||||
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2/23/21 | POR | -6 | -250 | 231.5 | 111 | 34 | 23 | 21 | 33 | 94 | 40 | 36 | 14 | 38.9 | 42.6 | 30 | 10 | 40 | 25 | 1 |
2/21/21 | ATL | +2.5 | +125 | 231.5 | 115 | 33 | 23 | 20 | 39 | 84 | 43 | 36 | 16 | 44.4 | 51.2 | 30 | 3 | 33 | 25 | 13 |
2/19/21 | CLE | +9.5 | +320 | 225.5 | 120 | 33 | 36 | 26 | 25 | 80 | 46 | 31 | 15 | 48.4 | 57.5 | 31 | 6 | 37 | 24 | 15 |
2/17/21 | WAS | +3.5 | +132 | 234.5 | 128 | 41 | 23 | 29 | 35 | 92 | 48 | 38 | 17 | 44.7 | 52.2 | 32 | 10 | 42 | 23 | 11 |
2/16/21 | BOS | -2 | -130 | 222.5 | 99 | 26 | 28 | 21 | 24 | 84 | 38 | 34 | 9 | 26.5 | 45.2 | 27 | 11 | 38 | 25 | 17 |
2/14/21 | LAL | +0.5 | +110 | 218.5 | 122 | 33 | 40 | 30 | 19 | 85 | 39 | 47 | 19 | 40.4 | 45.9 | 38 | 9 | 47 | 28 | 9 |
2/12/21 | OKC | -11.5 | -750 | 221.5 | 97 | 16 | 24 | 30 | 27 | 87 | 40 | 40 | 10 | 25 | 46 | 34 | 7 | 41 | 24 | 13 |
2/10/21 | CLE | -9.5 | -500 | 218 | 133 | 34 | 30 | 36 | 33 | 85 | 51 | 36 | 16 | 44.4 | 60 | 35 | 4 | 39 | 31 | 11 |
2/8/21 | MIL | +3 | +130 | 234 | 112 | 42 | 20 | 26 | 24 | 94 | 41 | 36 | 15 | 41.7 | 43.6 | 30 | 8 | 38 | 22 | 9 |
2/6/21 | SAC | +2.5 | +115 | 226 | 114 | 25 | 27 | 29 | 33 | 97 | 45 | 35 | 13 | 37.1 | 46.4 | 34 | 13 | 47 | 30 | 9 |
2/4/21 | LAL | -3.5 | -210 | 217 | 93 | 30 | 28 | 17 | 18 | 92 | 36 | 28 | 8 | 28.6 | 39.1 | 27 | 16 | 43 | 19 | 15 |
1/31/21 | UTA | +3 | +130 | 220 | 128 | 43 | 36 | 24 | 25 | 87 | 47 | 28 | 18 | 64.3 | 54 | 32 | 7 | 39 | 28 | 8 |
1/29/21 | SAS | +4 | +150 | 223.5 | 109 | 30 | 25 | 31 | 23 | 78 | 41 | 31 | 14 | 45.2 | 52.6 | 30 | 7 | 37 | 25 | 15 |
1/27/21 | MIA | +6 | +200 | 215.5 | 109 | 26 | 32 | 16 | 35 | 92 | 42 | 43 | 14 | 32.6 | 45.7 | 37 | 12 | 49 | 29 | 13 |
1/25/21 | DAL | +2 | +110 | 223 | 117 | 38 | 32 | 22 | 25 | 79 | 40 | 35 | 15 | 42.9 | 50.6 | 35 | 14 | 49 | 25 | 16 |
1/23/21 | PHX | +2.5 | +115 | 216.5 | 120 | 28 | 30 | 15 | 25 | 97 | 40 | 36 | 15 | 41.7 | 41.2 | 53 | 12 | 65 | 22 | 16 |
1/22/21 | PHX | -1 | -115 | 220 | 130 | 25 | 29 | 37 | 23 | 103 | 53 | 26 | 6 | 23.1 | 51.5 | 33 | 10 | 43 | 32 | 9 |
1/19/21 | OKC | -9.5 | -475 | 219 | 119 | 31 | 34 | 32 | 22 | 105 | 46 | 42 | 14 | 33.3 | 43.8 | 40 | 18 | 58 | 29 | 14 |
1/17/21 | UTA | +1.5 | +105 | 219.5 | 105 | 31 | 27 | 21 | 26 | 100 | 40 | 37 | 14 | 37.8 | 40 | 29 | 23 | 52 | 25 | 9 |
1/14/21 | GSW | -4.5 | -185 | 225.5 | 114 | 37 | 28 | 25 | 24 | 90 | 41 | 37 | 11 | 29.7 | 45.6 | 40 | 10 | 50 | 29 | 13 |
1/12/21 | BKN | -1.5 | -130 | 230.5 | 116 | 35 | 35 | 20 | 26 | 88 | 44 | 37 | 18 | 48.6 | 50 | 23 | 9 | 32 | 28 | 13 |
1/10/21 | NYK | +5.5 | +190 | 213.5 | 114 | 28 | 31 | 23 | 32 | 84 | 45 | 35 | 15 | 42.9 | 53.6 | 35 | 8 | 43 | 23 | 12 |
1/9/21 | PHI | +13.5 | +750 | 215 | 115 | 28 | 30 | 35 | 22 | 90 | 45 | 33 | 12 | 36.4 | 50 | 30 | 15 | 45 | 28 | 17 |
1/7/21 | DAL | 0 | 0 | 0 | 117 | 28 | 24 | 26 | 31 | 97 | 43 | 44 | 15 | 34.1 | 44.3 | 38 | 9 | 47 | 25 | 13 |
1/7/21 | DAL | 0 | 0 | 0 | 117 | 28 | 24 | 26 | 31 | 97 | 43 | 44 | 15 | 34.1 | 44.3 | 38 | 9 | 47 | 25 | 13 |
1/5/21 | MIN | -11.5 | -650 | 226.5 | 123 | 34 | 28 | 31 | 30 | 79 | 41 | 25 | 8 | 32 | 51.9 | 32 | 10 | 42 | 22 | 14 |
1/3/21 | MIN | +5.5 | +320 | 230 | 124 | 29 | 26 | 28 | 41 | 92 | 45 | 45 | 19 | 42.2 | 48.9 | 30 | 13 | 43 | 34 | 15 |
1/1/21 | PHX | -3.5 | -160 | 221 | 103 | 32 | 17 | 29 | 25 | 85 | 39 | 29 | 12 | 41.4 | 45.9 | 30 | 8 | 38 | 28 | 11 |
12/29/20 | SAC | +1 | -110 | 225.5 | 115 | 34 | 28 | 38 | 15 | 81 | 44 | 28 | 11 | 39.3 | 54.3 | 32 | 7 | 39 | 27 | 19 |
12/25/20 | LAC | +2.5 | -100 | 224 | 108 | 26 | 29 | 24 | 29 | 81 | 37 | 36 | 11 | 30.6 | 45.7 | 22 | 10 | 32 | 25 | 13 |
12/23/20 | SAC | -4.5 | -330 | 226.5 | 122 | 31 | 29 | 24 | 28 | 98 | 47 | 29 | 8 | 27.6 | 48 | 35 | 10 | 45 | 28 | 15 |
Opponent | Vegas | Points Allowed | Shooting (Allowed) | Rebounding (Allowed) | AST Allow | Defensive | |||||||||||||||
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2/23/21 | POR | -6 | +210 | 231.5 | 106 | 25 | 32 | 21 | 28 | 87 | 41 | 40 | 14 | 35 | 47.1 | 40 | 7 | 47 | 21 | 3 | 8 |
2/21/21 | ATL | +2.5 | -145 | 231.5 | 123 | 27 | 37 | 29 | 30 | 81 | 42 | 34 | 12 | 35.3 | 51.9 | 34 | 10 | 44 | 29 | 3 | 8 |
2/19/21 | CLE | +9.5 | -400 | 225.5 | 103 | 23 | 27 | 30 | 23 | 83 | 39 | 31 | 12 | 38.7 | 47 | 21 | 13 | 34 | 30 | 2 | 9 |
2/17/21 | WAS | +3.5 | -156 | 234.5 | 130 | 24 | 46 | 30 | 30 | 86 | 44 | 33 | 15 | 45.5 | 51.2 | 36 | 10 | 46 | 31 | 7 | 8 |
2/16/21 | BOS | -2 | +110 | 222.5 | 112 | 30 | 29 | 27 | 26 | 81 | 39 | 42 | 15 | 35.7 | 48.1 | 33 | 10 | 43 | 26 | 3 | 12 |
2/14/21 | LAL | +0.5 | -130 | 218.5 | 105 | 33 | 28 | 24 | 20 | 87 | 40 | 28 | 6 | 21.4 | 46 | 38 | 8 | 46 | 27 | 4 | 6 |
2/12/21 | OKC | -11.5 | +530 | 221.5 | 95 | 28 | 25 | 26 | 16 | 89 | 36 | 32 | 10 | 31.3 | 40.4 | 38 | 11 | 49 | 26 | 5 | 6 |
2/10/21 | CLE | -9.5 | +400 | 218 | 95 | 17 | 26 | 23 | 29 | 94 | 36 | 37 | 8 | 21.6 | 38.3 | 31 | 18 | 49 | 25 | 9 | 12 |
2/8/21 | MIL | +3 | -150 | 234 | 125 | 37 | 22 | 34 | 32 | 89 | 45 | 40 | 16 | 40 | 50.6 | 39 | 11 | 50 | 24 | 4 | 5 |
2/6/21 | SAC | +2.5 | -135 | 226 | 119 | 26 | 27 | 34 | 32 | 91 | 44 | 35 | 14 | 40 | 48.4 | 35 | 10 | 45 | 30 | 9 | 3 |
2/4/21 | LAL | -3.5 | +180 | 217 | 114 | 27 | 19 | 37 | 31 | 81 | 46 | 24 | 8 | 33.3 | 56.8 | 32 | 7 | 39 | 29 | 2 | 8 |
1/31/21 | UTA | +3 | -150 | 220 | 117 | 29 | 25 | 37 | 26 | 75 | 32 | 47 | 20 | 42.6 | 42.7 | 28 | 10 | 38 | 28 | 2 | 8 |
1/29/21 | SAS | +4 | -170 | 223.5 | 119 | 37 | 24 | 26 | 32 | 81 | 44 | 23 | 10 | 43.5 | 54.3 | 32 | 9 | 41 | 29 | 5 | 8 |
1/27/21 | MIA | +6 | -240 | 215.5 | 82 | 12 | 21 | 32 | 17 | 80 | 30 | 45 | 13 | 28.9 | 37.5 | 32 | 6 | 38 | 24 | 4 | 14 |
1/25/21 | DAL | +2 | -130 | 223 | 113 | 31 | 27 | 36 | 19 | 84 | 41 | 32 | 11 | 34.4 | 48.8 | 26 | 8 | 34 | 26 | 4 | 9 |
1/23/21 | PHX | +2.5 | -135 | 216.5 | 112 | 30 | 31 | 16 | 21 | 102 | 41 | 53 | 16 | 30.2 | 40.2 | 43 | 7 | 50 | 26 | 3 | 4 |
1/22/21 | PHX | -1 | -105 | 220 | 126 | 34 | 34 | 27 | 19 | 94 | 47 | 44 | 17 | 38.6 | 50 | 36 | 9 | 45 | 30 | 1 | 12 |
1/19/21 | OKC | -9.5 | +370 | 219 | 101 | 31 | 21 | 22 | 27 | 86 | 36 | 43 | 14 | 32.6 | 41.9 | 32 | 9 | 41 | 22 | 3 | 11 |
1/17/21 | UTA | +1.5 | -125 | 219.5 | 109 | 32 | 21 | 28 | 28 | 76 | 39 | 37 | 15 | 40.5 | 51.3 | 29 | 7 | 36 | 24 | 6 | 6 |
1/14/21 | GSW | -4.5 | +165 | 225.5 | 104 | 24 | 30 | 22 | 28 | 81 | 38 | 29 | 11 | 37.9 | 46.9 | 38 | 5 | 43 | 29 | 5 | 11 |
1/12/21 | BKN | -1.5 | +110 | 230.5 | 122 | 27 | 27 | 36 | 32 | 79 | 48 | 32 | 16 | 50 | 60.8 | 33 | 8 | 41 | 31 | 5 | 12 |
1/10/21 | NYK | +5.5 | -220 | 213.5 | 89 | 21 | 17 | 26 | 25 | 74 | 32 | 21 | 6 | 28.6 | 43.2 | 28 | 8 | 36 | 19 | 4 | 11 |
1/9/21 | PHI | +13.5 | -1200 | 215 | 103 | 26 | 25 | 21 | 31 | 103 | 43 | 35 | 11 | 31.4 | 41.7 | 28 | 20 | 48 | 23 | 7 | 11 |
1/7/21 | DAL | 0 | 0 | 0 | 124 | 22 | 21 | 33 | 33 | 87 | 42 | 40 | 16 | 40 | 48.3 | 37 | 7 | 44 | 27 | 1 | 8 |
1/7/21 | DAL | 0 | 0 | 0 | 124 | 22 | 21 | 33 | 33 | 87 | 42 | 40 | 16 | 40 | 48.3 | 37 | 7 | 44 | 27 | 1 | 8 |
1/5/21 | MIN | -11.5 | +480 | 226.5 | 116 | 22 | 43 | 31 | 20 | 91 | 42 | 34 | 11 | 32.4 | 46.2 | 32 | 10 | 42 | 24 | 2 | 9 |
1/3/21 | MIN | +5.5 | -400 | 230 | 109 | 28 | 20 | 36 | 25 | 85 | 44 | 31 | 10 | 32.3 | 51.8 | 27 | 9 | 36 | 30 | 4 | 6 |
1/1/21 | PHX | -3.5 | +140 | 221 | 106 | 34 | 26 | 27 | 19 | 76 | 37 | 35 | 13 | 37.1 | 48.7 | 29 | 8 | 37 | 24 | 1 | 7 |
12/29/20 | SAC | +1 | -110 | 225.5 | 125 | 32 | 42 | 22 | 29 | 94 | 46 | 33 | 16 | 48.5 | 48.9 | 25 | 12 | 37 | 33 | 5 | 7 |
12/25/20 | LAC | +2.5 | -120 | 224 | 121 | 32 | 40 | 26 | 23 | 74 | 41 | 38 | 19 | 50 | 55.4 | 29 | 9 | 38 | 32 | 1 | 7 |
12/23/20 | SAC | -4.5 | +265 | 226.5 | 124 | 25 | 28 | 36 | 23 | 101 | 45 | 31 | 10 | 32.3 | 44.6 | 36 | 17 | 53 | 27 | 12 | 6 |
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90
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1114 | 838 | 261 | 339 | 52 | 19 | 103 | 56.2 | 321 | 49 | 120 | 40.8 0 | 147 | 168 | 87.5 |
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85
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1019 | 609 | 132 | 127 | 35 | 8 | 63 | 47.4 | 226 | 74 | 191 | 38.7 0 | 83 | 101 | 82.2 |
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77
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835 | 322 | 88 | 105 | 21 | 12 | 43 | 43.4 | 122 | 44 | 110 | 40 0 | 34 | 46 | 73.9 |
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76
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795 | 320 | 101 | 69 | 20 | 7 | 17 | 47.7 | 123 | 37 | 99 | 37.4 0 | 37 | 51 | 72.5 |
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81
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621 | 271 | 43 | 134 | 22 | 14 | 26 | 52.4 | 99 | 32 | 78 | 41 0 | 41 | 59 | 69.5 |
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73
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581 | 184 | 32 | 47 | 17 | 4 | 14 | 44.2 | 69 | 24 | 75 | 32 0 | 22 | 30 | 73.3 |
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79
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578 | 290 | 21 | 130 | 18 | 24 | 21 | 47.8 | 108 | 44 | 115 | 38.3 0 | 30 | 38 | 78.9 |
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71
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512 | 228 | 24 | 150 | 15 | 7 | 26 | 44.4 | 80 | 41 | 96 | 42.7 0 | 27 | 32 | 84.4 |
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74
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432 | 151 | 59 | 26 | 26 | 5 | 22 | 40.7 | 46 | 31 | 78 | 39.7 0 | 28 | 35 | 80 |
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74
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330 | 121 | 23 | 70 | 9 | 10 | 13 | 46.8 | 44 | 15 | 37 | 40.5 0 | 18 | 25 | 72 |
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73
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211 | 54 | 12 | 44 | 5 | 2 | 11 | 41.5 | 22 | 5 | 18 | 27.8 0 | 5 | 8 | 62.5 |
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73
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189 | 82 | 11 | 57 | 10 | 14 | 16 | 52.5 | 32 | 0 | 0 | 0 0 | 18 | 31 | 58.1 |
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71
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172 | 61 | 2 | 21 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 48.9 | 23 | 13 | 31 | 41.9 0 | 2 | 4 | 50 |
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73
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77 | 22 | 3 | 9 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 50 | 9 | 3 | 7 | 42.9 0 | 1 | 2 | 50 |
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69
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51 | 15 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 20 | 6 | 3 | 21 | 14.3 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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67
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48 | 8 | 1 | 12 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 21.4 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 12.5 0 | 1 | 2 | 50 |
Denver would close out the 1980s getting swept out of the playoffs in back-to-back seasons. The Nuggets would begin a downward spiral that would encompass the next 13 seasons. Denver would make but two playoff appearances, getting to the conference semifinals once. Beginning in 2003, the Nuggets would improve enough to become a consistent playoff team. However, they consistently were swiftly eliminated. Denver won a total of four playoff games across five straight first-round exits. In 2008-09, Denver won their first of back-to-back Northwest Division crowns, only to get bumped by the Los Angeles Lakers in their third attempt to make the NBA Finals. The Nuggets would follow that conference finals loss up with four more first-round losing efforts.
Denver would begin another five-year playoff hiatus, never finishing better than fourth in the division. Two seasons ago, things began to change. The Nuggets won their first of another set of back-to-back Northwest Division titles. They played the Portland Trail Blazers into a seventh game in the semifinals at the end of the 2018-19 season and inched closer to the franchise's first trip to the NBA Finals last year. Denver put together a solid season behind a wealth of young talent, but the eventual NBA Champion Lakers were too strong. Denver will benefit from any improvements on defense to complement what has become a top-10 scoring offense. As the season unfolds, the Nuggets have the talent to once again challenge the elite for the Western Conference title, and hopefully Denver's first trip to the NBA Finals.