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1977–78 Denver Nuggets season

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NBA professional basketball team season

NBA professional basketball team season
1977–78 Denver Nuggets season
Division champions
Head coachLarry Brown
ArenaMcNichols Sports Arena
Results
Record48–34 (.585)
PlaceDivision: 1st (Midwest)
Conference: 2nd (Western)
Playoff finishWest Conference finals
(lost to SuperSonics 2–4)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionKWGN-TV
RadioKOA
< 1976–77 1978–79 >

The 1977–78 NBA season was the Nuggets' 2nd season in the NBA and 11th season as a franchise.

In the playoffs, the Nuggets defeated the Milwaukee Bucks in seven games in the Semifinals, winning their first playoff series in the NBA, before losing to the Seattle SuperSonics in six games in the conference finals.

Draft picks

Main article: 1977 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality School/Club Team
1 9 Tom LaGarde C  United States North Carolina
1 21 Anthony Roberts SF  United States Oral Roberts
3 65 Robert Smith PG  United States Nevada-Las Vegas
5 109 John Billups  United States Mississippi
6 130 Jim Town  United States Massachusetts Amherst
7 150 Willie High  United States Alabama State
8 169 Len Saunders  United States Florida

Roster

1977–78 Denver Nuggets roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From
PG 20 Calvin, Mack 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 165 lb (75 kg) 1947–07–27 USC
F 55 Cook, Norm 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Kansas
F 30 Dorsey, Jacky 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 230 lb (104 kg) Georgia
PF 31 Ellis, Bo 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 197 lb (89 kg) Marquette
F/C 30 Hillman, Darnell 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 215 lb (98 kg) San José State
C 44 Issel, Dan 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 235 lb (107 kg) Kentucky
PF 24 Jones, Bobby 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 210 lb (95 kg) North Carolina
C 45 LaGarde, Tom 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 220 lb (100 kg) North Carolina
PG 15 Price, Jim 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Louisville
SF 21 Roberts, Anthony 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Oral Roberts
G/F 10 Simpson, Ralph 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Michigan State
PG 5 Smith, Robert 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 165 lb (75 kg) UNLV
PG 14 Taylor, Brian 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Princeton
G/F 33 Thompson, David 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 195 lb (88 kg) NC State
G/F 32 Wilkerson, Bob 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Indiana
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 48 34 .585 – 33–8 15–26 11–9
x-Milwaukee Bucks 44 38 .537 4 28–13 16–25 14–6
Chicago Bulls 40 42 .488 8 29–12 11–30 8–12
Detroit Pistons 38 44 .463 10 24–17 14–27 8–12
Indiana Pacers 31 51 .378 17 21–20 10–31 8–12
Kansas City Kings 31 51 .378 17 22–19 9–32 11–9
# Western Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Portland Trail Blazers 58 24 .707 –
2 y-Denver Nuggets 48 34 .585 10
3 x-Phoenix Suns 49 33 .598 9
4 x-Seattle SuperSonics 47 35 .573 11
5 x-Los Angeles Lakers 45 37 .549 13
6 x-Milwaukee Bucks 44 38 .537 14
7 Golden State Warriors 43 39 .524 15
8 Chicago Bulls 40 42 .488 18
9 Detroit Pistons 38 44 .463 20
10 Indiana Pacers 31 51 .378 27
11 Kansas City Kings 31 51 .378 27
z – clinched division title
y – clinched division title
x – clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

1977–78 NBA Records
Team ATL BOS BUF CHI CLE DEN DET GSW HOU IND KCK LAL MIL NJN NOJ NYK PHI PHO POR SAS SEA WAS
Atlanta — 2–2 3–1 1–3 1–3 1–3 2–2 1–3 3–1 3–1 2–1 3–1 2–2 3–1 2–2 2–2 2–2 3–1 1–3 1–3 2–1 1–3
Boston 2–2 — 3–1 1–3 1–3 1–3 1–3 2–2 2–2 2–1 2–2 1–2 3–1 3–1 2–2 2–2 0–4 2–2 1–3 0–4 0–4 1–3
Buffalo 1–3 1–3 — 3–1 1–3 1–3 1–3 0–3 3–1 1–3 1–2 1–3 1–3 2–2 2–2 3–1 1–3 0–4 1–3 1–3 1–3 1–3
Chicago 3–1 3–1 1–3 — 3–1 2–2 2–2 1–3 3–1 3–1 0–4 2–2 1–3 1–2 2–2 1–3 3–0 2–2 1–3 2–2 2–2 2–1
Cleveland 3–1 3–1 3–1 1–3 — 3–1 2–2 2–2 2–2 2–1 2–2 2–2 3–1 3–1 2–2 3–1 1–3 1–2 0–4 0–4 3–1 2–2
Denver 3–1 3–1 3–1 2–2 1–3 — 2–2 2–2 3–0 2–2 2–2 3–1 3–1 3–1 3–1 1–3 1–3 2–2 3–1 2–1 1–3 3–1
Detroit 2–2 3–1 3–1 2–2 2–2 2–2 — 2–2 3–1 1–3 1–3 2–2 2–2 3–1 3–0 0–4 0–4 2–2 1–3 1–3 1–3 2–2
Golden State 3–1 2–2 3–0 3–1 2–2 2–2 2–2 — 2–1 3–1 3–1 0–4 2–2 3–1 0–4 2–2 1–3 2–2 1–3 3–1 2–2 2–2
Houston 1–3 2–2 1–3 1–3 2–2 0–3 1–3 1–2 — 3–1 2–2 1–3 1–3 2–2 1–3 2–2 2–2 1–3 2–2 1–3 0–4 1–3
Indiana 1–3 1–2 3–1 1–3 1–2 2–2 3–1 1–3 1–3 — 2–2 1–3 0–4 2–2 2–2 1–3 2–2 1–3 1–3 1–3 1–3 3–1
Kansas City 1–2 2–2 2–1 4–0 2–2 2–2 3–1 1–3 2–2 2–2 — 2–2 0–4 2–2 2–2 0–4 1–3 0–4 0–4 0–4 1–3 2–2
Los Angeles 1–3 2–1 3–1 2–2 2–2 1–3 2–2 4–0 3–1 3–1 2–2 — 3–1 4–0 2–1 3–1 2–2 1–3 0–4 2–2 1–3 2–2
Milwaukee 2–2 1–3 3–1 3–1 1–3 1–3 2–2 2–2 3–1 4–0 4–0 1–3 — 3–1 2–1 3–1 1–2 1–3 1–3 2–2 1–3 3–1
New Jersey 1–3 1–3 2–2 2–1 1–3 1–3 1–3 1–3 2–2 2–2 2–2 0–4 1–3 — 0–4 1–3 0–4 2–2 0–3 0–4 2–2 2–2
New Orleans 2–2 2–2 2–2 2–2 2–2 1–3 1–3 4–0 3–1 2–2 2–2 1–2 1–2 4–0 — 1–3 2–2 1–3 3–1 1–3 2–2 0–4
New York 2–2 2–2 1–3 3–1 1–3 3–1 3–0 2–2 2–2 3–1 4–0 1–3 1–3 3–1 3–1 — 1–3 1–3 1–3 2–2 2–1 2–2
Philadelphia 2–2 4–0 3–1 1–3 3–1 3–1 4–0 3–1 2–2 2–2 3–1 2–2 2–1 4–0 2–2 3–1 — 2–1 2–2 3–1 3–1 2–2
Phoenix 1–3 2–2 4–0 2–2 2–1 2–2 2–2 2–2 3–1 3–1 4–0 3–1 3–1 2–2 3–1 3–1 1–2 — 1–3 2–2 2–2 2–2
Portland 3–1 3–1 3–1 3–1 4–0 1–3 3–1 3–1 2–2 3–1 4–0 4–0 3–1 3–1 1–3 3–0 2–2 3–1 — 2–2 3–1 2–1
San Antonio 3–1 4–0 3–1 2–2 4–0 1–2 2–1 1–3 3–1 3–1 4–0 2–2 2–2 4–0 3–1 2–2 1–3 2–2 2–2 — 2–2 2–2
Seattle 1–2 4–0 3–1 2–2 1–3 3–1 3–1 2–2 4–0 3–1 3–1 3–1 3–1 2–2 2–1 1–3 1–3 2–2 1–3 2–2 — 1–3
Washington 3–1 3–1 3–1 1–2 2–2 1–3 2–2 2–2 3–1 1–3 2–2 2–2 1–3 2–2 4–0 2–2 2–2 2–2 1–2 2–2 3–1 —

Game log

Regular season

1977–78 game log
Total: 48–34 (home: 33–8; road: 15–26)
October: 4–2 (home: 4–0; road: 0–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
November: 10–6 (home: 6–0; road: 4–6)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
18 November 23 @ Atlanta L 104–105 The Omni 12–6
December: 7–5 (home: 5–1; road: 2–4)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
25 December 7 Atlanta W 123–116 McNichols Sports Arena 17–8
34 December 30 @ Atlanta W 106–104 The Omni 21–13
January: 10–4 (home: 6–2; road: 4–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
February: 8–6 (home: 6–1; road: 2–5)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
All-Star Break
51 February 8 Atlanta W 114–109 McNichols Sports Arena 33–18
March: 5–9 (home: 4–4; road: 1–5)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
April: 4–2 (home: 2–0; road: 2–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
1977–78 schedule

Playoffs

1978 playoff game log
Western Conference Semifinals: 4–3 (home: 3–1; road: 1–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 April 18 Milwaukee W 119–103 David Thompson (27) Dan Issel (12) David Thompson (6) McNichols Sports Arena
17,297 		1–0
2 April 21 Milwaukee W 127–111 Dan Issel (22) Dan Issel (14) Issel, Calvin (6) McNichols Sports Arena
17,838 		2–0
3 April 23 @ Milwaukee L 112–143 three players tied (16) Anthony Roberts (8) David Thompson (5) MECCA Arena
10,938 		2–1
4 April 25 @ Milwaukee W 118–104 David Thompson (34) Dan Issel (14) Wilkerson, Sampson (5) MECCA Arena
10,938 		3–1
5 April 28 Milwaukee L 112–117 Bobby Jones (25) Dan Issel (15) Bob Wilkerson (8) McNichols Sports Arena
17,838 		3–2
6 April 30 @ Milwaukee L 91–119 David Thompson (28) Bobby Jones (10) Bob Wilkerson (6) MECCA Arena
10,938 		3–3
7 May 3 Milwaukee W 116–110 David Thompson (37) Bob Wilkerson (12) David Thompson (6) McNichols Sports Arena
17,838 		4–3
Western Conference Finals: 2–4 (home: 2–1; road: 0–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 May 5 Seattle W 116–107 Dan Issel (25) Issel, Hillman (11) Bob Wilkerson (10) McNichols Sports Arena
17,387 		1–0
2 May 7 Seattle L 111–121 Dan Issel (29) Dan Issel (14) Ralph Sampson (7) McNichols Sports Arena
17,838 		1–1
3 May 10 @ Seattle L 91–105 David Thompson (21) Anthony Roberts (8) Jones, Webster (3) Seattle Center Coliseum
14,098 		1–2
4 May 12 @ Seattle L 94–100 Dan Issel (27) Darnell Hillman (11) Bob Wilkerson (8) Seattle Center Coliseum
14,098 		1–3
5 May 14 Seattle W 123–114 David Thompson (35) Bobby Jones (11) Bob Wilkerson (10) McNichols Sports Arena
17,006 		2–3
6 May 17 @ Seattle L 108–123 David Thompson (21) Anthony Roberts (16) Bob Wilkerson (8) Seattle Center Coliseum
14,098 		2–4
1978 schedule

Awards and records

References

  1. 1977–78 Denver Nuggets
1977–78 NBA season by team
Eastern
Atlantic
Central
Western
Midwest
Pacific
Denver Nuggets seasons
1960s
1967–68 1968–69
1970s
1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79
1980s
1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89
1990s
1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99
2000s
1999–00 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09
2010s
2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19
2020s
2019–20 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24 2024–25
Bold indicates NBA Finals victory
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