Cavaliers vs. Nuggets Playoffs Comparison: Summary and Year by Year
Here you can compare, side by side, the all-time postseason performance of the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Denver Nuggets, and how far these two NBA teams advanced in Playoffs each year.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have been present in the NBA Playoffs 25 times in 56 seasons while the Denver Nuggets did it 31 times in their 50 seasons. Between the two they total 2 of the 79 NBA championships (2.5%).
The Cavaliers and the Nuggets have never met each other in the NBA Playoffs.
On this page, after a summary of their Playoff history (with championships won, playoff appearances and all-time records), you can see, side by side, how far the Cavaliers and the Nuggets advanced in the postseason each year. Also, if they met that year, a note with details of the outcome of the series.
Summary of Their Playoff History | ||
Cleveland Cavaliers | Denver Nuggets | |
| Playoff Appearances: | 25 (45.5%) | 31 (63.3%) |
| Playoffs Missed: | 30 (54.5%) | 18 (36.7%) |
| NBA Titles: | 1  | 1 |
| Finals Lost: | 4 | 0 |
| All-time Playoff Record: | 136 wins 119 losses (.533) | 112 wins 144 losses (.438) |
| Total NBA Seasons: | 56 1970-71 to present | 50 1976-77 to present |
Head-to-Head in Playoffs | ||
Cleveland Cavaliers | Denver Nuggets | |
| Total Series | 0 Playoff Series | |
| Series Won | none | none |
Teams Comparison | ||
| Playoffs | Cleveland Cavaliers | Denver Nuggets |
| 2026 | TBD | TBD |
| 2025 | Lost Eastern Conference Semis | Lost Western Conference Semis |
| 2024 | Lost Eastern Conference Semis | Lost Western Conference Semis |
| 2023 | Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round |  NBA Champions |
| 2022 | DNQ (lost Play-in) | Lost Western Conference 1st Round |
| 2021 | DNQ | Lost Western Conference Semis |
| 2020 | DNQ | Lost Western Conference Finals |
| Playoffs | Cleveland Cavaliers | Denver Nuggets |
| 2019 | DNQ | Lost Western Conference Semis |
| 2018 | Lost NBA Finals | DNQ |
| 2017 | Lost NBA Finals | DNQ |
| 2016 | NBA Champions | DNQ |
| 2015 | Lost NBA Finals | DNQ |
| 2014 | DNQ | DNQ |
| 2013 | DNQ | Lost Western Conference 1st Round |
| 2012 | DNQ | Lost Western Conference 1st Round |
| 2011 | DNQ | Lost Western Conference 1st Round |
| 2010 | Lost Eastern Conference Semis | Lost Western Conference 1st Round |
| Playoffs | Cleveland Cavaliers | Denver Nuggets |
| 2009 | Lost Eastern Conference Finals | Lost Western Conference Finals |
| 2008 | Lost Eastern Conference Semis | Lost Western Conference 1st Round |
| 2007 | Lost NBA Finals | Lost Western Conference 1st Round |
| 2006 | Lost Eastern Conference Semis | Lost Western Conference 1st Round |
| 2005 | DNQ | Lost Western Conference 1st Round |
| 2004 | DNQ | Lost Western Conference 1st Round |
| 2003 | DNQ | DNQ |
| 2002 | DNQ | DNQ |
| 2001 | DNQ | DNQ |
| 2000 | DNQ | DNQ |
| Playoffs | Cleveland Cavaliers | Denver Nuggets |
| 1999 | DNQ | DNQ |
| 1998 | Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round | DNQ |
| 1997 | DNQ | DNQ |
| 1996 | Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round | DNQ |
| 1995 | Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round | Lost Western Conference 1st Round |
| 1994 | Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round | Lost Western Conference Semis |
| 1993 | Lost Eastern Conference Semis | DNQ |
| 1992 | Lost Eastern Conference Finals | DNQ |
| 1991 | DNQ | DNQ |
| 1990 | Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round | Lost Western Conference 1st Round |
| Playoffs | Cleveland Cavaliers | Denver Nuggets |
| 1989 | Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round | Lost Western Conference 1st Round |
| 1988 | Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round | Lost Western Conference Semis |
| 1987 | DNQ | Lost Western Conference 1st Round |
| 1986 | DNQ | Lost Western Conference Semis |
| 1985 | Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round | Lost Western Conference Finals |
| 1984 | DNQ | Lost Western Conference 1st Round |
| 1983 | DNQ | Lost Western Conference Semis |
| 1982 | DNQ | Lost Western Conference 1st Round |
| 1981 | DNQ | DNQ |
| 1980 | DNQ | DNQ |
| Playoffs | Cleveland Cavaliers | Denver Nuggets |
| 1979 | DNQ | Lost Western Conference 1st Round |
| 1978 | Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round | Lost Western Conference Finals |
| 1977 | Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round | Lost Western Conference Semis |
| 1976 | Lost Eastern Conference Finals | - |
| 1975 | DNQ | - |
| 1974 | DNQ | - |
| 1973 | DNQ | - |
| 1972 | DNQ | - |
| 1971 | DNQ | - |
| 1970 | - | - |
| Playoffs | Cleveland Cavaliers | Denver Nuggets |
| 1969 | - | - |
| 1968 | - | - |
| 1967 | - | - |
| 1966 | - | - |
| 1965 | - | - |
| 1964 | - | - |
| 1963 | - | - |
| 1962 | - | - |
| 1961 | - | - |
| 1960 | - | - |
| Playoffs | Cleveland Cavaliers | Denver Nuggets |
| 1959 | - | - |
| 1958 | - | - |
| 1957 | - | - |
| 1956 | - | - |
| 1955 | - | - |
| 1954 | - | - |
| 1953 | - | - |
| 1952 | - | - |
| 1951 | - | - |
| 1950 | - | - |
| Playoffs | Cleveland Cavaliers | Denver Nuggets |
| 1949 | - | - |
| 1948 | - | - |
| 1947 | - | - |