All things considered, the Nuggets’ 2010-11 schedule is a forgiving one.
Missing is the grueling February or March slate that in the last couple of seasons has sent the Nuggets on massive road trips with little to no home relief. This season’s schedule, filled with national television games, is even-handed throughout the entire year, though April could be rough.
That month, the Nuggets are on the road for five of eight games. It’s a difficult close to a season that sees the Nuggets play Oklahoma City twice — home and road — plus end the season at Utah. The month also features games at Sacramento, at Dallas and at the L.A. Lakers.
If the upcoming season plays out in similar fashion to last season with no team separating itself from the others in the division, the Nuggets will play one meaningful game after another in April as they jockey for playoff positioning and a possible division crown.
In other scheduling highlights, the LeBron James and Dwyane Wade-led Miami Heat come to the Pepsi Center on Jan. 13. The Nuggets make a return trip to Miami on March 19.
The Nuggets square off against the Lakers just three times, with two of the three at the Pepsi Center. The first matchup is on Nov. 11.
The other three Western Conference teams the Nuggets play just three times are New Orleans, Memphis and Golden State.
Though the team starts at home against Utah on Oct. 27, five of its first eight games will be on the road. Overall, the Nuggets have six road trips of three games or more. Their longest road trip of the season is a five-game Eastern Conference swing from Jan. 25-31. March starts with seven of the Nuggets’ first nine games on the road but finishes with four straight home contests.
There are 19 back-to-backs on the schedule.
The Nuggets find themselves on national television 25 times in the upcoming campaign. Nine of those are on TNT, and the Nuggets are also a part of the NBA’s showcase day of games — Christmas Day, when they play at Oklahoma City.
Chris Dempsey: 303-954-1279 or cdempsey@denverpost.com
