David Thompson

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Seventy-three points. Forty-two years to this day, David Thompson cemented his legacy as an all-time Nuggets great by posting that output in a 139-137 loss to the Detroit Pistons on April 9, 1978. It’s an accomplishment so otherworldly, he is one of only three players to score 73 points or more in a game, with the others being Wilt Chamberlain and Kobe Bryant.

Thompson’s historic night was sparked by a race for the scoring title with fellow NBA legend George Gervin, who played for the San Antonio Spurs. It was the final game of the season for the Nuggets and head coach Larry Brown, a Hall-of-Famer, gave Thompson the green light to fire as many shots as he needed to take home the crown. Thompson sure did.

The Nuggets swingman hoisted up 38 attempts, hitting 28 of them and went to the line 20 times, converting 17 times. Thompson would match Gervin on scoring average at 27.2 points per game after the contest, but the Spurs star won the tiebreaker on total points. Still, Thompson would have a legendary night that people still talk about in discussing the forward’s underrated greatness during his time in the Mile High City.

Thompson joined the Nuggets during their final year in the ABA in the 1975-76 campaign and dazzled crowds in Denver for six additional seasons in the NBA. During his seven years with the team, he averaged 24.1 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists while shooting 50.7 percent from the floor.

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Nuggets Legendary Moments: David Thompson’s 73-point game

Eric Spyropoulos

Throughout the month of August, NBA TV is devoting one day to each team as a celebration of the team’s past. In what has become an annual event, NBA TV will air a select number of memorable games from a team’s past as well as some off-court programs that highlight some of the best players in franchise history.

On August 15, the Nuggets will be featured. Here are a few of the notable games and shows that will be featured on Thursday.

Sure, it has been just about three months since the Nuggets were still playing in the 2019 postseason, but there were certainly a few notable games from the 14-game run. The first three games shown on Thursday are from the most recent playoff appearance, as the day begins with Game 7 against the San Antonio Spurs, followed by Games 4 and 5 against the Portland Trail Blazers.

Of course, the Game 7 victory over the Spurs was crucially important for a young and (then) inexperienced Nuggets squad. Although Denver held on to a comfortable lead throughout the majority of the game, the Nuggets had to withstand a late run from San Antonio to win the team’s first playoff series in a decade.

While many certainly remember the four-overtime, Game 3 classic against Portland, Games 4 and 5 showcased the resiliency that the Nuggets had throughout the season. Down 2-1 in the series and facing a Game 4 in Portland, Jamal Murray led the way with 34 points (including 11-of-11 from the free throw line) while Denver secured a must-have road win.

The Nuggets then followed that up with a blowout victory in Game 5 that firmly put them in the driver’s seat in the series. Nikola Jokić and Paul Millsap combined for nearly 50 points in the 26-point victory. Sit back, relax, and enjoy as the Nuggets firmly established themselves as playoff contenders throughout their two series in the 2019 playoffs.

2) 2009 Conference Semifinals, Game 3 @ Dallas

Speaking of Denver’s last playoff-series victory prior to defeating San Antonio this season, this Game 3 against the Dallas Mavericks had all of the drama and intrigue of a crucial playoff game. With the Nuggets having won the first two games of the series in Denver, Dallas needed to win Game 3 to stay alive in the series.

Up by two with just over six seconds remaining, the Mavericks had a foul-to-give, which they planned to use to disrupt Denver’s offense as it looked for the game-tying shot. Carmelo Anthony received the ball at midcourt and proceeded to dribble towards Dallas’ bench. Anthony (who scored 31 points in the game) was guarded by Antoine Wright, who appeared to foul Anthony to disrupt his rhythm and force Denver to inbound the ball again.

However, the attempted foul wasn’t called, and Anthony proceeded to calmly walk into an open 3-pointer, which he knocked down to give the Nuggets a one-point lead with one second remaining. As the story goes, Denver would hold on to the win and ultimately eliminated Dallas in five games to return to the Western Conference Finals for the first time in 24 years.

Chauncey Billups (32 points) also played a big role in what was essentially a series-clinching victory. Relive this thrilling, back-and-forth playoff game on Thursday evening at 3 p.m. MT.

3) Throwback content highlighting past stars

Although the Nuggets are yet to reach the mountain top of the NBA in the form of a championship, the team has certainly had some electrifying star players play in the Mile High City. Denver’s team day on NBA TV will showcase several of those stars, from the aforementioned Carmelo Anthony to past legends such as David Thompson and Dikembe Mutombo.

At 9 a.m. MT, NBA Journey: Dikembe Mutombo will air. The half-hour show follows Mutombo’s journey as a charismatic basketball player and humanitarian. Later in the day, Skywalker: The David Thompson Story will be shown. According to the show’s description, “Skywalker: The David Thompson Story shows Thompson's career as never before with highlights, photographs and interviews with Michael Jordan, Dr. J., Bill Walton, Dennis Johnson, Dan Issel, Norm Sloan, Carl Scheer and more!”

You can also watch the two stars in action throughout the day, as Game 5 of the 1994 first round series against the Seattle Supersonics will air at 7 a.m. MT, while Game 5 of the 1977 Western Conference Semifinals against Portland will air at midnight on August 16.

Be sure to tune-in to NBA TV throughout the day on Thursday for a plethora of Nuggets content, both past and present!

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Denver Nuggets’ NBA TV Day: Three things to watch

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There were about 300 people at Stapleton International Airport on the night of April 9, 1978, all waiting on the Nuggets’ plane to arrive. They were there to greet David Thompson, just hours after one of the franchise’s greatest players scored 73 points in a game at Detroit. Among those in attendance were Nuggets president and general manager Carl Scheer, and Bob King, Nuggets executive vice president. And then there were the fans, all present to immediately celebrate one of the greatest individual performances in NBA history.

It was the final game of the 1977-78 season and, going into the game, one thing was already certain: The Nuggets were going to the playoffs, win or lose. Thompson, meanwhile, was in the thick of an NBA scoring race with San Antonio legend George “The Iceman” Gervin. The stage was set, then, for Thompson to have carte blanche to secure the scoring crown.

Prior to the game, Nuggets coach Larry Brown asked Thompson if he wanted “to go for it.” Thompson shrugged it off. He’d proceed however the game flowed, he told Brown. He’d not force anything just to win the scoring crown.

Shots started falling fast. Thompson made his first eight from the field. He hit from all angles -- jump shots to alley oop dunks. By the time the first quarter ended, Thompson had hit 13-of-14 from the field and made all six of his free throws. He’d poured in 32 points in the period, breaking Wilt Chamberlain’s NBA record for points in a quarter. Thompson was on his way.

The shots kept falling in the second quarter. Thompson put in 21 more points in that period to ring up 53 in the first half. The Pistons, who desperately wanted to win in what was the last game in that arena, Cobo Arena, were forced to make major changes at halftime or be beaten.

Detroit’s solution: Throw everyone AND the kitchen sink at Thompson.

The Pistons’ defense, now fully tilted to stop Thompson, found some success in the third quarter. They held him to just six points. But that defensive success was short-lived. Thompson got right back on track in the fourth, and the Nuggets needed every point he could provide. He rang up 14 in the final stanza, but the Nuggets could not pull out the game, dropping it by two points, 139-137. Thompson’s eye-popping performance, however, outshone everything.

His final line: 73 points on 28-of-38 shooting (73.7 percent) from the field and 17-of-20 from the free throw line. It still stands tied for the fourth-highest scoring game in NBA history.

NBA great Bill Walton faced Thompson in college, and for a documentary on Thompson once said: “When you dream of the perfect basketball player, you visualize David Thompson.” On one 1978 spring night in April, the NBA could do nothing but agree.

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On This Day: David Thompson's 73 Point Game

The Denver Nuggets are proud to announce KeyBank FanFest as part of their opening night festivities when they host the Sacramento Kings on Saturday, October 21.

The KeyBank FanFest will kick-off at 3:00PM on the Grand Atrium plaza outside Pepsi Center and will celebrate the launch of the Nuggets’ 50th Anniversary Season.

Fans are invited to cheer on the current Nuggets team as they arrive for the game for a special red-carpet entrance. The players will arrive between 4:00PM and 5:30PM.

KeyBank FanFest will also feature a meet and greet and autograph session with the five players being honored as part of the Opening Night Legends Celebration: Byron Beck #40, David Thompson #33, Dan Issel #44, Alex English #2 and Dikembe Mutombo #55. The Legends’ autograph session will be open to fans from 5:30PM to 6:20PM.

The first 500 fans to arrive at FanFest will receive a free 50th Anniversary Nuggets t-shirt and will have the opportunity to enter-to-win other great prizes including a fly-away trip to see the Nuggets take on the Lakers on November 19 in Los Angeles.

Additional activities at KeyBank FanFest will include food trucks, vendors, a beer garden, raffles and giveaways. There will also be family-friendly activities including games, balloon artists, face painters, sign making stations, photo booths and more.

Admission to KeyBank FanFest is free and all ages are welcome.

The Denver Nuggets 50th Anniversary Season is presented by Western Union and KeyBank.
Tickets to Nuggets Opening Night are available for purchase here. The game will be broadcasted live on Altitude Sports and Altitude AM 950.

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Denver Nuggets to Host KeyBank FanFest Prior to Home Opening Game

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NBA 2k18 All-Time Nuggets Roster

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Nuggets Photos A-Z: David Thompson

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Come out to the Denver Nuggets 2022-23 Draft Party Thursday, June 23rd @ 6:00 p.m. at Tom's Watch Bar, presented by Miller Lite! 

Watch your Denver Nuggets make their pick, win team signed gear, and meet Super Mascot Rocky! For more information <a href="https://www.nba.com/nuggets/watch-parties">Click Here</a>