The NBA has released the new 2026-27 season schedule, and it's a much friendlier travel schedule than the Denver Nuggets received last year. But we also now know which games and dates we should have circled on the calendar that are going to be a bit more special than the rest of the 82 games.
I'm going to break down what I think are the top six unique games for the Nuggets during the new season.
Opening Night, Oct. 22nd at the Oklahoma City Thunder
Of course, opening night against one of the Nuggets' bitter rivals was going to make this list. The game will be televised nationally on ESPN at 7:30 P.M. MT, and it's the first of 28 nationally televised games on the season. We'll get to see the Nuggets challenged early on the road against a Thunder team that is expected to be at or near the top of the regular-season standings.
The Mexico City game, Nov. 7th against the Indiana Pacers
Mile High Basketball coming to Mexico City 🇲🇽 pic.twitter.com/DQ4sT6tSAS
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) April 16, 2026
The Nuggets and the Pacers are scheduled for the NBA's foray into Mexico City this year in what will be counted as a road matchup for the Nuggets. This should be a fun one to watch, and the Nuggets should turn up the fast-break tempo in this one to take advantage of the even thinner, 7350 feet in elevation air of CDMX. It's also the first game of the Nuggets' first road trip of the year. It won't be televised nationally, but it can be found on Altitude Sports on your local TV provider at 3 P.M. MT.
Christmas Day in the Bay Area, Dec. 25th at the Golden State Warriors
The Nuggets are treated to another Christmas Day game, this time heading to the Bay Area to take on Steph Curry and the Warriors in the nightcap. Last year, Nikola Jokic had an incredible performance on Christmas when he scored 56 points, including an NBA record 18 points in the overtime frame, 16 rebounds, and 15 assists. Another performance like that would be a great final stocking stuffer for the day. This game will be on ABC at 8:30 P.M. MT.
The New Year's Eve game, Dec. 31st at the Minnesota Timberwolves
The Nuggets get another matinee game, this time on the final day of 2026 against their rivals, the Timberwolves. It'll take place at 2 P.M. MT and stream on Prime, so you'll still have plenty of time to get together with friends and family before the celebrations later in the evening.
The first encounter with the Alien, Feb. 28th at the San Antonio Spurs
The Nuggets' first matchup with the Alien, Victor Wembanyama, comes late in the season, and it's the only game on the schedule in which you could have a late breakfast with the game if you wanted. It'll tip off at a shock-to-the-system (for night owls) 11 A.M. MT, and can be found on ABC.
The final game, April 11th, home vs. the Oklahoma City Thunder
Hopefully, by game 82, the standings won't matter, and the Nuggets are cruising into the playoffs. But it's still the Thunder, and marking the end of the season against them after opening the season against them seems about right. Oddly, it's not nationally televised, but you can find this one on Altitude Sports as well, and it'll be a normal 6:30 P.M. MT start.
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