The 2008âÂÂ09 Denver Nuggets season was the 42nd season of the franchise, 33rd in the National Basketball Association (NBA). They finished the regular season with 54 wins and 28 losses, the franchise's best record since 1987âÂÂ88. In the playoffs, the Nuggets defeated New Orleans Hornets in five games in the first round; this series included a notable 58-point bludgeoning of the Hornets in Game 4. The Nuggets then defeated the Dallas Mavericks in five games in the Western Conference Semi-finals to reach the conference finals for the first time since 1985, ending their streak of five straight first-round exits. However, the Nuggets lost to the eventual NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers, ending their playoff run. This was the second straight year the Nuggets had their season ended by the Lakers.
The Nuggets' six-game loss to the Lakers in the 2009 Western Conference finals matched their six-game defeat in the 1978 Western Conference finals for the closest the franchise had ever come to reaching an NBA Finals until 2023.
During the first week of the season, superstar guard Allen Iverson was traded in a blockbuster deal to the Detroit Pistons for Chauncey Billups, Antonio McDyess and Cheikh Samb. McDyess was released soon after the trade.
The Denver Nuggets had no draft picks in the 2008 NBA draft, but did acquire the draft rights of Sonny Weems from the Chicago Bulls. Weems was the 39th pick of the draft.
|- style="background:#fcc;" | 1 | October 29 | @ Utah | | Allen Iverson, Kenyon Martin (18) | Kenyon Martin, Chris Andersen (6) | Allen Iverson (8) | EnergySolutions Arena<br />19,111 | 0âÂÂ1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 2 | October 31 | @ L.A. Clippers | | Allen Iverson (25) | Kenyon Martin (13) | Anthony Carter (6) | Staples Center<br />11,418 | 1âÂÂ1
|- style="background:#fcc;" | 3 | November 1 | L.A. Lakers | | Anthony Carter (20) | Chris Andersen (7) | Allen Iverson (7) | Pepsi Center<br />19,651 | 1âÂÂ2 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 4 | November 5 | @ Golden State | | Carmelo Anthony (28) | Nenê (15) | Anthony Carter (11) | Oracle Arena<br />18,194 | 1âÂÂ3 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 5 | November 7 | Dallas | | Carmelo Anthony (28) | Carmelo Anthony (8) | Anthony Carter (7) | Pepsi Center<br />19,175 | 2âÂÂ3 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 6 | November 9 | Memphis | | Carmelo Anthony (24) | Nenê (12) | Chauncey Billups (10) | Pepsi Center<br />14,359 | 3âÂÂ3 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 7 | November 11 | @ Charlotte | | Carmelo Anthony (25) | Nenê, Linas Kleiza (8) | Anthony Carter (6) | Time Warner Cable Arena<br />10,753 | 4âÂÂ3 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 8 | November 13 | @ Cleveland | | Chauncey Billups (26) | Kenyon Martin (10) | Chauncey Billups (6) | Quicken Loans Arena<br />20,562 | 4âÂÂ4 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 9 | November 14 | @ Boston | | Chauncey Billups, Carmelo Anthony (18) | Carmelo Anthony (13) | Chauncey Billups (7) | TD Banknorth Garden<br />18,624 | 5âÂÂ4 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 10 | November 16 | Minnesota | | Chauncey Billups (26) | Carmelo Anthony (12) | Chauncey Billups (5) | Pepsi Center<br />16,721 | 6âÂÂ4 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 11 | November 18 | Milwaukee | | Linas Kleiza (25) | Nenê (6) | Chauncey Billups (5) | Pepsi Center<br />14,413 | 7âÂÂ4 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 12 | November 19 | @ San Antonio | | Chauncey Billups (22) | Carmelo Anthony, Nenê (9) | Carmelo Anthony (7) | AT&T Center<br />16,559 | 8âÂÂ4 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 13 | November 21 | @ L.A. Lakers | | J. R. Smith, Nenê (18) | Carmelo Anthony (10) | Chauncey Billups (9) | Staples Center<br />18,997 | 8âÂÂ5 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 14 | November 23 | Chicago | | Kenyon Martin (26) | Carmelo Anthony (13) | Chauncey Billups, Carmelo Anthony (8) | Pepsi Center<br />16,202 | 9âÂÂ5 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 15 | November 26 | @ L.A. Clippers | | Carmelo Anthony (30) | Carmelo Anthony (11) | Chauncey Billups (11) | Staples Center<br />14,934 | 10âÂÂ5 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 16 | November 27 | New Orleans | | J. R. Smith (32) | Chris Andersen (8) | Anthony Carter (8) | Pepsi Center<br />15,563 | 10âÂÂ6 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 17 | November 29 | @ Minnesota | | Chauncey Billups (27) | Carmelo Anthony (10) | Chucky Atkins (5) | Target Center<br />14,197 | 11âÂÂ6 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 18 | November 30 | Houston | | Chauncey Billups (28) | Nenê (10) | Chauncey Billups (10) | Pepsi Center<br />17,201 | 12âÂÂ6
|- style="background:#bfb;" | 19 | December 2 | Toronto | | Chauncey Billups (24) | Nenê (11) | Chauncey Billups (14) | Pepsi Center<br />14,243 | 13âÂÂ6 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 20 | December 4 | San Antonio | | Carmelo Anthony (16) | J. R. Smith (10) | J. R. Smith, Chauncey Billups (4) | Pepsi Center<br />15,866 | 13âÂÂ7 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 21 | December 6 | @ Sacramento | | Chauncey Billups (24) | Nenê, Carmelo Anthony (7) | Chauncey Billups (4) | ARCO Arena<br />12,322 | 14âÂÂ7 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 22 | December 10 | Minnesota | | Carmelo Anthony (45) | Carmelo Anthony (11) | Chauncey Billups (6) | Pepsi Center<br />14,007 | 15âÂÂ7 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 23 | December 13 | Golden State | | Carmelo Anthony (27) | Carmelo Anthony (9) | Chauncey Billups (11) | Pepsi Center<br />15,322 | 16âÂÂ7 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 24 | December 15 | @ Dallas | | J. R. Smith (25) | Kenyon Martin (10) | Chauncey Billups (8) | American Airlines Center<br />19,969 | 17âÂÂ7 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 25 | December 16 | @ Houston | | Carmelo Anthony (22) | Kenyon Martin (8) | Chauncey Billups (6) | Toyota Center<br />17,737 | 17âÂÂ8 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 26 | December 19 | Cleveland | | Chauncey Billups (16) | Chris Andersen (10) | Anthony Carter, J. R. Smith (4) | Pepsi Center<br />19,155 | 17âÂÂ9 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 27 | December 20 | @ Phoenix | | J. R. Smith (23) | Nenê (15) | Chauncey Billups (8) | US Airways Center<br />18,422 | 17âÂÂ10 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 28 | December 22 | Portland | | Chauncey Billups, Nenê (19) | Kenyon Martin (12) | Chauncey Billups (10) | Pepsi Center<br />18,611 | 18âÂÂ10 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 29 | December 23 | @ Portland | | Linas Kleiza (20) | Nenê (13) | Chucky Atkins (4) | Rose Garden<br />20,007 | 18âÂÂ11 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 30 | December 26 | Philadelphia | | J. R. Smith (27) | Nenê (12) | Chauncey Billups (10) | Pepsi Center<br />19,155 | 19âÂÂ11 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 31 | December 28 | @ New York | | Carmelo Anthony (32) | Carmelo Anthony, Nenê (9) | Chauncey Billups (5) | Madison Square Garden<br />19,763 | 20âÂÂ11 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 32 | December 29 | @ Atlanta | | Kenyon Martin (19) | Chris Andersen (6) | Anthony Carter (7) | Philips Arena<br />17,131 | 20âÂÂ12 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 33 | December 31 | @ Toronto | | Nenê (21) | Chris Andersen (10) | Chauncey Billups (7) | Air Canada Centre<br />18,879 | 21âÂÂ12
|- style="background:#bfb;" | 34 | January 2 | @ Oklahoma City | | Carmelo Anthony (31) | Nenê (14) | Chauncey Billups, Anthony Carter (7) | Ford Center<br />18,613 | 22âÂÂ12 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 35 | January 3 | New Orleans | | Carmelo Anthony (22) | Carmelo Anthony (7) | Chauncey Billups (6) | Pepsi Center<br />19,614 | 23âÂÂ12 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 36 | January 5 | Indiana | | Kenyon Martin (25) | Chris Andersen (9) | Chauncey Billups (11) | Pepsi Center<br />14,255 | 24âÂÂ12 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 37 | January 7 | Miami | | Chauncey Billups, J. R. Smith, Linas Kleiza (21) | Kenyon Martin (8) | Anthony Carter (9) | Pepsi Center<br />15,459 | 25âÂÂ12 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 38 | January 9 | Detroit | | Chauncey Billups (30) | Nenê (9) | Chauncey Billups, J. R. Smith (4) | Pepsi Center<br />19,682 | 25âÂÂ13 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 39 | January 13 | Dallas | | Chauncey Billups (23) | Chris Andersen (10) | J. R. Smith (7) | Pepsi Center<br />14,158 | 26âÂÂ13 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 40 | January 15 | Phoenix | | Chauncey Billups (26) | Nenê (14) | Chauncey Billups (8) | Pepsi Center<br />18,073 | 27âÂÂ13 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 41 | January 17 | Orlando | | Linas Kleiza (26) | Chris Andersen (9) | Anthony Carter (7) | Pepsi Center<br />19,749 | 27âÂÂ14 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 42 | January 19 | @ Houston | | J. R. Smith (24) | Nenê (12) | Chauncey Billups (12) | Toyota Center<br />18,199 | 27âÂÂ15 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 43 | January 20 | Sacramento | | Linas Kleiza (27) | Nenê (12) | Anthony Carter (10) | Pepsi Center<br />15,164 | 28âÂÂ15 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 44 | January 25 | Utah | | Nenê (28) | Linas Kleiza, Nenê (9) | Anthony Carter (10) | Pepsi Center<br />17,895 | 29âÂÂ15 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 45 | January 27 | @ Memphis | | Chauncey Billups (29) | Kenyon Martin (10) | Kenyon Martin (4) | FedExForum<br />11,338 | 30âÂÂ15 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 46 | January 28 | @ New Orleans | | Kenyon Martin (22) | Linas Kleiza, Kenyon Martin, J. R. Smith, Nenê (6) | Anthony Carter (6) | New Orleans Arena<br />15,792 | 30âÂÂ16 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 47 | January 30 | Charlotte | | Nenê (22) | Nenê (12) | Anthony Carter, Chauncey Billups (6) | Pepsi Center<br />18,463 | 31âÂÂ16
|- style="background:#bfb;" | 48 | February 3 | San Antonio | | Carmelo Anthony (35) | Nenê (11) | Anthony Carter (9) | Pepsi Center<br />18,536 | 32âÂÂ16 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 49 | February 4 | @ Oklahoma City | | Carmelo Anthony (32) | Nenê (8) | Carmelo Anthony (11) | Ford Center<br />18,332 | 33âÂÂ16 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 50 | February 6 | @ Washington | | Carmelo Anthony (23) | Nenê (10) | Anthony Carter (7) | Verizon Center<br />20,173 | 34âÂÂ16 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 51 | February 7 | @ New Jersey | | Carmelo Anthony (15) | Nenê (7) | Chauncey Billups (3) | Izod Center<br />17,697 | 34âÂÂ17 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 52 | February 10 | @ Miami | | Chauncey Billups (23) | Kenyon Martin (10) | Anthony Carter, Chauncey Billups (5) | American Airlines Arena<br />16,784 | 35âÂÂ17 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 53 | February 11 | @ Orlando | | Carmelo Anthony (29) | Carmelo Anthony (8) | Chauncey Billups (4) | Amway Arena<br />17,461 | 36âÂÂ17 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 54 | February 18 | @ Philadelphia | | Carmelo Anthony (26) | Carmelo Anthony (14) | Anthony Carter, Chauncey Billups, J. R. Smith (5) | Wachovia Center<br />15,979 | 37âÂÂ17 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 55 | February 20 | @ Chicago | | Chauncey Billups (25) | Carmelo Anthony (8) | Chauncey Billups (6) | United Center<br />21,970 | 37âÂÂ18 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 56 | February 22 | @ Milwaukee | | Carmelo Anthony (33) | Carmelo Anthony (9) | J. R. Smith (5) | Bradley Center<br />14,891 | 37âÂÂ19 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 57 | February 23 | Boston | | J. R. Smith (19) | Johan Petro (10) | J. R. Smith, Chauncey Billups (5) | Pepsi Center<br />19,784 | 37âÂÂ20 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 58 | February 25 | Atlanta | | Chauncey Billups (33) | Chris Andersen (12) | Chauncey Billups (7) | Pepsi Center<br />18,418 | 38âÂÂ20 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 59 | February 27 | L.A. Lakers | | Chauncey Billups, J. R. Smith (22) | Carmelo Anthony, Chris Andersen (12) | Chauncey Billups (6) | Pepsi Center<br />19,920 | 39âÂÂ20
|- style="background:#fcc;" | 60 | March 1 | @ Indiana | | Chauncey Billups (27) | Chris Andersen (12) | Chauncey Billups (7) | Conseco Fieldhouse<br />12,458 | 39âÂÂ21 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 61 | March 3 | @ Detroit | | Chauncey Billups (34) | Nenê, Renaldo Balkman, Chris Andersen (7) | Chauncey Billups, Kenyon Martin (4) | The Palace of Auburn Hills<br />22,076 | 39âÂÂ22 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 62 | March 5 | Portland | | Carmelo Anthony (38) | J. R. Smith (7) | Chauncey Billups (9) | Pepsi Center<br />16,801 | 40âÂÂ22 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 63 | March 6 | @ Utah | | J. R. Smith (27) | Renaldo Balkman (14) | J. R. Smith (5) | EnergySolutions Arena<br />19,911 | 40âÂÂ23 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 64 | March 8 | @ Sacramento | | Carmelo Anthony (32) | Renaldo Balkman (10) | Chauncey Billups (8) | ARCO Arena<br />12,678 | 40âÂÂ24 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 65 | March 9 | Houston | | Chauncey Billups (28) | Nenê (8) | Chauncey Billups (5) | Pepsi Center<br />16,020 | 40âÂÂ25 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 66 | March 11 | Oklahoma City | | Carmelo Anthony (22) | Renaldo Balkman (14) | Anthony Carter (12) | Pepsi Center<br />16,186 | 41âÂÂ25 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 67 | March 14 | L.A. Clippers | | Renaldo Balkman (22) | Chris Andersen, Renaldo Balkman (11) | Chauncey Billups (9) | Pepsi Center<br />18,676 | 42âÂÂ25 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 68 | March 16 | New Jersey | | J. R. Smith, Nenê (19) | Chris Andersen (9) | Chauncey Billups (10) | Pepsi Center<br />16,223 | 43âÂÂ25 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 69 | March 18 | @ Memphis | | Carmelo Anthony (35) | Renaldo Balkman (12) | Chauncey Billups (12) | FedExForum<br />11,087 | 44âÂÂ25 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 70 | March 20 | Washington | | J. R. Smith (40) | Chris Andersen (11) | Anthony Carter (10) | Pepsi Center<br />18,231 | 45âÂÂ25 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 71 | March 23 | @ Phoenix | | Carmelo Anthony (29) | Kenyon Martin (9) | Chauncey Billups (8) | US Airways Center<br />18,422 | 45âÂÂ26 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 72 | March 25 | @ New Orleans | | Carmelo Anthony (29) | Chris Andersen (9) | Chauncey Billups (6) | New Orleans Arena<br />17,274 | 46âÂÂ26 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 73 | March 27 | @ Dallas | | Carmelo Anthony (43) | Carmelo Anthony (11) | Chauncey Billups (9) | American Airlines Center<br />20,310 | 47âÂÂ26 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 74 | March 28 | Golden State | | Carmelo Anthony (31) | Chris Andersen (11) | Anthony Carter (13) | Pepsi Center<br />19,155 | 48âÂÂ26 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 75 | March 31 | New York | | Carmelo Anthony (29) | Nenê (12) | Anthony Carter (8) | Pepsi Center<br />17,851 | 49âÂÂ26
|- style="background:#bfb;" | 76 | April 2 | Utah | | J. R. Smith (28) | Chris Andersen (10) | J. R. Smith (7) | Pepsi Center<br />17,969 | 50âÂÂ26 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 77 | April 4 | L.A. Clippers | | J. R. Smith (34) | Chris Andersen (8) | Chauncey Billups (9) | Pepsi Center<br />17,880 | 51âÂÂ26 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 78 | April 5 | @ Minnesota | | Carmelo Anthony (23) | Carmelo Anthony, Chris Andersen (8) | Chauncey Billups (7) | Target Center<br />16,839 | 52âÂÂ26 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 79 | April 8 | Oklahoma City | | Carmelo Anthony (31) | Nenê (10) | Chauncey Billups (9) | Pepsi Center<br />16,536 | 53âÂÂ26 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 80 | April 9 | @ L.A. Lakers | | Carmelo Anthony (23) | Nenê (10) | Chauncey Billups (8) | Staples Center<br />18,997 | 53âÂÂ27 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 81 | April 13 | Sacramento | | J. R. Smith (45) | Chris Andersen (10) | Carmelo Anthony (9) | Pepsi Center<br />15,823 | 54âÂÂ27 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 82 | April 15 | @ Portland | | Chauncey Billups (13) | Nenê (9) | Chauncey Billups (4) | Rose Garden<br />20,652 | 54âÂÂ28
|- style="background:#bfb;" | 1 | April 19 | New Orleans | | Billups (36) | Nenê (14) | Billups (8) | Pepsi Center<br />19,536 | 1âÂÂ0 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 2 | April 22 | New Orleans | | Billups (31) | Nenê (8) | Anthony (9) | Pepsi Center<br />19,623 | 2âÂÂ0 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 3 | April 25 | @ New Orleans | | Anthony (25) | Martin (10) | Billups (6) | New Orleans Arena<br />17,489 | 2âÂÂ1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 4 | April 27 | @ New Orleans | | Anthony (26) | Andersen (8) | Billups (8) | New Orleans Arena<br />17,236 | 3âÂÂ1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 5 | April 29 | New Orleans | | Anthony (34) | Andersen, Martin, Nenê (7) | Billups (11) | Pepsi Center<br />19,744 | 4âÂÂ1
|- style="background:#bfb;" | 1 | May 3 | Dallas | | Nenê (24) | Andersen (6) | Billups, Smith (6) | Pepsi Center<br />19,631 | 1âÂÂ0 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 2 | May 5 | Dallas | | Anthony, Nenê (25) | Andersen (9) | Billups (8) | Pepsi Center<br />19,890 | 2âÂÂ0 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 3 | May 9 | @ Dallas | | Billups (32) | Anthony, Nenê (8) | Nenê (4) | American Airlines Center<br />20,620 | 3âÂÂ0 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 4 | May 11 | @ Dallas | | Anthony (41) | Anthony (11) | Billups (7) | American Airlines Center<br />20,523 | 3âÂÂ1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 5 | May 13 | Dallas | | Anthony (30) | Billups, Nenê (7) | Billups (12) | Pepsi Center<br />19,962 | 4âÂÂ1
|- style="background:#fcc;" | 1 | May 19 | @ L.A. Lakers | | Anthony (39) | Martin (8) | Billups (8) | Staples Center<br />18,997 | 0âÂÂ1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 2 | May 21 | @ L.A. Lakers | | Anthony (34) | Anthony, Nenê (9) | Nenê (6) | Staples Center<br />18,997 | 1âÂÂ1 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 3 | May 23 | L.A. Lakers | | Anthony (21) | Andersen, Martin (7) | Billups (7) | Pepsi Center<br />19,939 | 1âÂÂ2 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 4 | May 25 | L.A. Lakers | | Billups, Smith (24) | Martin (15) | Nenê (6) | Pepsi Center<br />20,037 | 2âÂÂ2 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 5 | May 27 | @ L.A. Lakers | | Anthony (31) | Andersen, Nenê (8) | Billups (5) | Staples Center<br />18,997 | 2âÂÂ3 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 6 | May 29 | L.A. Lakers | | Anthony (25) | Nenê (6) | Billups (9) | Pepsi Center<br />20,053 | 2âÂÂ4