Oh, well. Might as well get a good line on the Nuggets right away for the upcoming season.
The NBA’s 2005-06 schedules were released Monday, and the Nuggets drew defending champion San Antonio for starters Nov. 1 in Texas. But that is just the beginning of what can be called the luck of a bad draw. The next night, the Los Angeles Lakers, with the return of Phil Jackson as coach, are at the Pepsi Center for the Nuggets’ home opener.
“At the end of the day, you have to play everybody, but our first two games hit us at not a good time,” Nuggets general manager Kiki Vandeweghe said Monday. “We’ll be without George Karl for both games.”
The Nuggets won’t have their coach for the first three games; Karl has to serve a three-game suspension for breaking NBA rules on scouting college players. Karl also will miss the Nov. 4 home game against Portland, but will return Nov. 6 for a game in Los Angeles against the Lakers.
The Nuggets will head east from March 9-18 for a seven-game road trip, which ties the longest in team history for the fifth time.
Vandeweghe refused comment on free-agent activity.
“It has been my policy to not comment on free agents,” Vandeweghe said. “It seems that anytime you do, it makes somebody angry. My priority right now is getting back our own players.”
The Nuggets reportedly are among teams with interest in free-agent guard Keith Bogans, who played in Charlotte last season. Atlanta, Detroit and Seattle reportedly have interest in the 6-foot-5 guard, who is considered a strong defensive player.
“We’re having some discussions,” said Bogans’ agent, Mike Higgins, concerning the Nuggets. “There’s nothing agreed to or immediate right now.”
2005-06 Nuggets schedule
Nov. 1 at San Antonio 6 p.m.
Nov. 2 L.A. Lakers 8:30 p.m.
Nov. 4 Portland 7 p.m.
Nov. 6 at L.A. Lakers 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 9 Sacramento 8:30 p.m.
Nov. 11 at Sacramento 8 p.m.
Nov. 13 Minnesota 7 p.m.
Nov. 15 at Dallas 6:30 p.m.
Nov. 16 at New Orleans 6 p.m.
Nov. 18 New York 7 p.m.
Nov. 20 Memphis 7 p.m.
Nov. 22 at Washington 5 p.m.
Nov. 23 at Detroit 5:30 p.m.
Nov. 25 L.A. Clippers 7 p.m.
Nov. 28 New Jersey 7 p.m.
Nov. 30 New Orleans 7 p.m.
Dec. 2 at Phoenix 7 p.m.
Dec. 3 Miami 7 p.m.
Dec. 6 Atlanta 7 p.m.
Dec. 9 at Miami 5:30 p.m.
Dec. 10 at Orlando 5 p.m.
Dec. 13 at Charlotte 5:30 p.m.
Dec. 15 at Cleveland 6 p.m.
Dec. 16 at New Jersey 5:30 p.m.
Dec. 18 at Atlanta noon
Dec. 21 Washington 7 p.m.
Dec. 23 Houston 7 p.m.
Dec. 26 at Golden State 8:30 p.m.
Dec. 27 Philadelphia 7 p.m.
Dec. 29 Seattle 8:30 p.m.
Dec. 31 San Antonio 7 p.m.
Jan. 2 Boston 7 p.m.
Jan. 4 Indiana 7 p.m.
Jan. 6 Dallas 7 p.m.
Jan. 8 at Houston 6:30 p.m.
Jan. 10 Phoenix 7 p.m.
Jan. 13 at Minnesota 6 p.m.
Jan. 14 at Milwaukee 6:30 p.m.
Jan. 16 at Chicago noon
Jan. 18 Cleveland 7 p.m.
Jan. 20 Utah 7 p.m.
Jan. 22 at San Antonio 11 a.m.
Jan. 23 Toronto 7 p.m.
Jan. 25 at Portland 8 p.m.
Jan. 27 L.A. Clippers 7 p.m.
Jan. 28 at L.A. Clippers 8:30 p.m.
Jan. 31 at Sacramento 8 p.m.
Feb. 1 at Utah 7 p.m.
Feb. 4 Portland 7 p.m.
Feb. 6 at Golden State 8:30 p.m.
Feb. 8 Chicago 8 p.m.
Feb. 10 Dallas 8:30 p.m.
Feb. 12 at Seattle 7 p.m.
Feb. 15 Phoenix 7 p.m.
Feb. 21 Charlotte 7 p.m.
Feb. 24 at Minnesota 6 p.m.
Feb. 27 Milwaukee 7 p.m.
Mar. 1 Detroit 7 p.m.
Mar. 3 at Houston 6:30 p.m.
Mar. 4 Orlando 7 p.m.
Mar. 6 Memphis 7 p.m.
Mar. 9 at Philadelphia 6 p.m.
Mar. 10 at Toronto 5 p.m.
Mar. 12 at Boston 4 p.m.
Mar. 13 at New York 5:30 p.m.
Mar. 15 at Indiana 5 p.m.
Mar. 17 at Memphis 6 p.m.
Mar. 18 at New Orleans 6 p.m.
Mar. 22 San Antonio 7 p.m.
Mar. 24 Seattle 7 p.m.
Mar. 25 at Phoenix 7 p.m.
Mar. 29 Utah 7 p.m.
Mar. 31 Minnesota 7 p.m.
Apr. 2 at Dallas 11 a.m.
Apr. 4 at L.A. Clippers 8:30 p.m.
Apr. 6 L.A. Lakers 8:30 p.m.
Apr. 8 Golden State 7 p.m.
Apr. 10 at Portland 8 p.m.
Apr. 12 at Utah 7 p.m.
Apr. 15 Sacramento 7 p.m.
Apr. 17 Houston 7 p.m.
Apr. 19 at Seattle 8:30 p.m.
Staff writer Marc J. Spears contributed to this report.
Irv Moss can be reached at 303-820-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com.
