Friday, Nov. 22: Mavericks at Nuggets (8 p.m. MT on ESPN)
This will be Denver's second time hosting Dallas in 2024-25, but this matchup will have more meaning than the one on Nov. 10. The Nuggets are in West Group C for 2024 NBA Cup group play, and Nov. 22 will be the team's first group play home game.
Surprisingly, the Mavericks made an NBA Finals run last season, making it a step further than the Nuggets. If Game 7 of the semifinals had gone in Denver's favor, Jokic would've gotten to play his good friend Luka Doncic. Fans will have to settle for the Nuggets and Mavericks being in the same group again for what was formerly known as the In-Season Tournament.
Wednesday, Dec. 25: Nuggets at Suns (8 p.m. MT on ESPN)
Denver has another Christmas Day game this year, but it will be on the road in Phoenix. The Nuggets' past four Dec. 25 games were at home, with their last holiday away game being in 2012 against the Clippers.
Denver and Phoenix will conclude an exciting slate of games. Watching two of the best players in the league face off will be a great way to end the day.
Tuesday, Jan. 7: Celtics at Nuggets (8 p.m. MT on TNT)
The Nuggets only play the Celtics twice a year, but in 2023-24, those were two of the best games on the calendar. Many assumed those would be the last two teams standing in the NBA Finals, but Denver came up short. Boston claimed the 2024 title.
Unlike the Nuggets after their championship season, the Celtics didn't lose any key contributors. Their starting five and key role players will return. By this point in the season, fans will have an idea of the direction Denver is headed in. It'll be a great sign if the Nuggets outlast the reigning champs.