How and when to watch the Denver Nuggets season opener tonight

Ladies and gentlemen, Denver Nuggets fans far and wide, the day has finally arrived; the Nuggets play regular season basketball tonight! The preseason and training camp are great, offseason rumors and speculation are fun, summer league and the Olympics helped pass the time, but this is what it’s all about.

Last season ended with a bad taste in our mouths after the Nuggets blew a 20-point lead at home in the second half of game 7, bowing out of the playoffs in round two to the Minnesota Timberwolves. It was a disappointing and somewhat embarrassing end to the team’s first attempted title defense.

To make matters worse, the team had to hear about it all offseason and be reminded about how they’ve fallen off and been passed over by teams like the Thunder, T-Wolves, Mavericks, and others. The NBA can be a cruel business and it felt like the Nuggets were on the business end all offseason.

But now, the talk is over and it’s time to play games. The only way the Nuggets can end the discourse and shift the narrative is to go out and play. The preseason games were ugly, but that’s the preseason. Now it counts. The team should be ready, hungry, and motivated, and on Thursday night they get to go out and show the world.

When do the Nuggets play their season opener?

The Nuggets will tip off their season on Thursday night at 8 PM MT at home in Ball Arena. They’re taking on last year’s number-one seed in the West and this year’s favorites to win the conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder.

How to watch Nuggets vs. Thunder on Thursday night?

The Nuggets open their season on national TV playing in the spotlight against the Thunder on TNT. The game is available to stream on the TNT App and through the NBA App. 

What to watch for in Nuggets vs. Thunder Thursday night

Despite this being a season opener for both teams, this is a huge game between two of the Western Conference favorites. Both teams have title aspirations and are led by MVP candidates in Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

For the Nuggets, I’ll be watching to see how healthy Jamal Murray looks, the impact of Russell Westbrook and Julian Strawther off the bench, and how Christian Braun handles his new starting role. The Thunder have one of the best and deepest rotations in the league, but they’ll be without their new big man Isaiah Hartenstein.