Full Game: The Mile High Gauntlet | Bulls vs. Nuggets (November 1, 1984)

The Bulls landed in Denver on the first of November looking for respect, but the only thing they found was the thin air of the Rockies and a Nuggets offense that didn't believe in slowing down. Coming off a 2-1 start, Chicago was still trying to determine if they were actually a playoff-caliber squad or just a team riding the high of a new superstar. Doug Moe’s Denver squad, led by the scoring duo of Kiki Vandeweghe and Alex English, provided a brutal answer at McNichols Sports Arena. Denver’s strategy was simple: run until the visitors' lungs burned. They shot a blistering 55.6 percent from the field, turning the game into a track meet the Bulls simply couldn't track. While Orlando Woolridge led the Bulls with 23 points, the team's execution was sloppy, marred by 19 turnovers and a defense that looked a step slow at altitude. It was the kind of night that reminded the league that building a winner takes more than just one transcendent rookie; it takes a roster that can survive the grind of a Western Conference road trip. Michael Jordan, playing just his fourth professional game, was a model of efficiency—8-of-13 from the floor for 17 points—but he was often a spectator to the Nuggets' layup line. He chipped in five rebounds and five assists, showing the flashes of the all-around game that would eventually revolutionize the sport, but on this night, he was just a rookie learning how long an NBA season can feel. Coach Kevin Loughery was blunt after the 129-113 loss, noting that his team wasn't good enough to survive playing badly. Yet, even in the defeat, the buzz around Jordan was the only story that mattered. Loughery admitted the kid was "really a player," a rare bit of praise in a locker room otherwise filled with the stench of a blowout. This was the early education of Michael Jordan: the realization that in the NBA, talent is everywhere, and brilliance alone doesn't always show up on the scoreboard. It was a reality check at 5,280 feet. Timestamp Index: 00:00:00 - Intro / Announcers discuss Michael Jordan 00:03:32 - Start of Game (Tip-off) 00:05:47 - Caldwell Jones slam dunk 00:06:29 - Alex English hangs in the air for the basket 00:09:46 - Nuggets steal and unmolested basket 00:10:30 - Michael Jordan shot blocked, gets it back and scores underneath 00:13:56 - Michael Jordan fine shot 00:14:15 - Michael Jordan assist to Woolridge 00:15:23 - Quentin Daley enters and scores 00:17:42 - Orlando Woolridge "Slam Dunk Contest" dunk 00:28:55 - Start of 2nd Quarter 00:30:01 - Michael Jordan "what a move" spin 00:32:20 - Quentin Daley hangs in the air and scores 00:40:43 - Orlando Woolridge great rebound and putback 00:41:54 - Quentin Daley scores (third attempt) 00:49:05 - Final Two Minutes of First Half 00:51:36 - Alex English bounce pass to Isel for the backdoor layup 00:53:31 - Start of 3rd Quarter 01:02:01 - Caldwell Jones dunk 01:03:22 - Matthews pass to Woolridge for the basket 01:07:36 - Quentin Daley "tongue jumping ability" play 01:18:42 - Start of 4th Quarter 01:25:50 - Michael Jordan dunk "His head was at rim level" 01:27:45 - Alex English breakaway "icing on the kicks" 01:35:57 - Final Two Minutes of Second Half 01:38:00 - MVP of the Game announced (Calvin Natt) 01:41:51 - Final Buzzer (Game Ends)