There's finally some clarity about the Denver Nuggets' season ahead, and it starts with the NBA's schedule release. Once again, a Christmas tradition continues, offering a Denver sports doubleheader. And we know the Nuggets will open their season against a familiar foe as well.
The NBA's schedule release will come in batches, and we'll get the full schedule on Aug. 13th, but bright and early this morning came the release of the marquee matchups, including the Christmas Day slate and nationally televised opening games. Of course, the Nuggets made the list.
Trip to the Bay for Christmas Day! 🎄 pic.twitter.com/ZbUU8Oy8Z3
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) August 11, 2026
However, this year, the Nuggets will be going on the road after Santa finishes the cookies and milk. They'll head to the Bay Area for the Christmas nightcap to take on the Golden State Warriors and Steph Curry and crew. Of course, it's a dreaded 8:30 P.M. Mountain Time start, but we all should be used to that by now.
However, that starting time will offer Denver fans a rare Christmas Day doubleheader to watch. The Denver Broncos will host their first-ever Christmas Day game against the Buffalo Bills at 2:30 P.M. MT.
Last year in the Christmas nightcap, Nikola Jokic had one of his finest games against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Jokic scored an NBA record 18 of his 56 points in the overtime frame to propel the Nuggets to a thrilling 142-138 victory. He also had 16 rebounds and 15 assists. The final present of the day was a good one for Nuggets fans.
The Nuggets will open the season against the Thunder
The other game announced today by the NBA is the season opener, set for Thursday, Oct, 22nd, against the Oklahoma City Thunder at 8:30 P.M. MT. I like it. The Nuggets are going to get tested in game one of 82, and we'll know right away if the new free agents and rookies are going to be able to help Jokic go toe-to-toe with one of the league's best teams.
Kicking off 2026-27 in OKC pic.twitter.com/yT6WbJ8tPF
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) August 11, 2026
It's also going to be a great chance to see if new assistant coach Dave Joerger has had any influence on any of the schemes head coach David Adelman will use. Joerger is a defensive-minded specialist, and the hope amongst Nuggets fans is that he's able to help Adelman improve on the Nuggets' 21st-ranked defense from 2025-26. The Thunder should offer the perfect opening night test.
It also means that the Nuggets are getting one of the tougher games out of the way early this year. They didn't play the Thunder for the first time until Feb. 1st last year, contributing to one of the hardest closing schedules in the entire league.
Now, we wait for the full schedule release to see if the Nuggets get a better travel schedule than they had last year.
Add us as a preferred source on Google