While it’s still unknown who will be on the Nuggets’ roster when the season begins, fans now know when the season will begin — Dec. 26 at defending champion Dallas.
The NBA schedule was released Tuesday, the same day Nuggets free-agent Nene met with Pacers president Larry Bird in Denver. The big man continues to weigh options from teams such as Indiana, Houston and Denver, the lone team that can offer him a fifth contractual year.
In the meantime, players and coaches are looking forward to the 66-game schedule, which is a doozy. The Nuggets have their first of 14 back-to-backs on Dec. 28, the Pepsi Center opener against Utah and former CU star Alec Burks. The schedule also features a seven-game road trip and two back-to-back-to-backs, including a zany three-games-in-three-night stretch to bring in the New Year. Denver plays at the Lakers on Dec. 31, then hosts the Lakers on Jan. 1, followed by a home game against Milwaukee on Jan. 2.
Asked about the upcoming season, coach George Karl said: “I’m a little giggly. It’s exciting. We have a lot of decisions to make. . . . There’s going to be a lot of excitement, league gossip, league transactions. And then we’ve got 66 games in 122 days. Kind of fun. Crazy, but fun.”
As for other schedule highlights:
• Denver plays Carmelo Anthony and the Knicks just once — in New York on Jan. 21.
• The Miami Heat will come to the Pepsi Center for a game Jan. 13.
• Denver will play only six teams four times (the rest three or fewer): the Lakers, Clippers, Mavericks, Rockets, Hornets and Timberwolves.
At least 64 of Denver’s 66 games will be televised live by Altitude, while 14 games will be nationally televised — two on TNT, five on NBA TV and seven on ESPN. Perhaps the kookiest part of the schedule comes in March. From March 5-21, the Nuggets play nine consecutive home games, the longest home stretch in team history. But then they follow it with seven consecutive road games, from March 25 to April 4.
As for the Nuggets’ chances in the Western Conference, Karl said: “It’s powerful uncertainty. You have 12-13 teams, maybe even 14, who have a legitimate chance of making the playoffs. I’ll give you maybe four teams that are sure shots — L.A. Lakers, Dallas, San Antonio and Oklahoma City.
“I’m excited. People might not like our philosophy that we’re going to beat people because we’re a team and we’re going to play hard and we’re going to have a lot of depth. Do we have a superstar? I don’t know. But I think teams are better than superstars. I think Dallas proved that last year. Hopefully, we can prove it again by being one of those teams this year.”
Benjamin Hochman: 303-954-1294 or bhochman@denverpost.com
