If the Nuggets are to get off to a successful start this season, they’ll have to do so on the road.
Their 2016-17 schedule was released Thursday and the Nuggets are on the road for six of their first seven games, starting with the season opener, Oct. 26 at New Orleans. In all, they’ll play 15 of their first 25 games away from the Pepsi Center.
That opening road swing is a mix of Eastern and Western Conference teams, and will take the Nuggets’ top pick, Jamal Murray, back to his native Canada right away, on Halloween night.
A few other highlights:
— The new Kevin-Durant and Stephen Curry-led Golden State Warriors make the first of two appearances in Denver on Nov. 22. The second matchup in the Mile High City comes Feb. 13. The Nuggets only face Golden State three times this season. Their trip to Oracle Arena in Oakland is Jan. 2.
— The home opener: Oct. 29 vs. Portland, the second game of the season.
— LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers come to town March 22.
— Carmelo Anthony brings the Knicks to town Dec. 17.
— Denver and Indiana travel to the O2 Arena in London on Jan. 12.
— The Nuggets do not play games on Thanksgiving or Christmas Day. But they are in Los Angeles to face the Clippers on the day after Christmas.
— The Nuggets missed out on Dwyane Wade in free agency, but they’ll get a full dose of him Nov. 22, when he and the Chicago Bulls come to Denver.
The NBA has emphasized reducing back-to-back sets, and the Nuggets have just 16 of them this season. No team has more than one set of four games in five nights. So players will be rested this season in a way they’ve never been before. That, theoretically, should improve the chances of seeing star players when they come to town instead of teams sitting them to the chagrin of the fans.
The Nuggets’ longest homestand is four games. That happens twice during the season. They have three road trips of five or more games. The longest is a six-game road trip that spans from Dec. 3-12, and, again, is a mixture of Western and Eastern Conference foes.
There are three nationally televised games: Dec. 2 vs. Houston (ESPN), Jan. 5 vs. San Antonio (TNT) and March 13 vs. the Lakers (TNT). The Nuggets did not have a nationally televised game last season.
2016-17 Nuggets schedule
| OCTOBER | |||
| Date | Opponent | Time | TV |
| Wednesday, Oct. 26 | at New Orleans Pelicans | 6 p.m. | ALT |
| Saturday, Oct. 29 | PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS | 7 p.m. | ALT |
| Monday, Oct. 31 | at Toronto Raptors | 5:30 p.m. | ALT |
| NOVEMBER | |||
| Thursday, Nov. 3 | at Minnesota Timberwolves | 6 p.m. | ALT |
| Saturday, Nov. 5 | at Detroit Pistons | 5 p.m. | ALT |
| Sunday, Nov. 6 | at Boston Celtics | 5:30 p.m. | ALT |
| Tuesday, Nov. 8 | at Memphis Grizzlies | 6 p.m. | ALT |
| Thursday, Nov. 10 | GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS | 7 p.m. | ALT |
| Saturday, Nov. 12 | DETROIT PISTONS | 7 p.m. | ALT |
| Sunday, Nov. 13 | at Portland Trail Blazers | 7 p.m. | ALT |
| Wednesday, Nov. 16 | PHOENIX SUNS | 7 p.m. | ALT |
| Friday, Nov. 18 | TORONTO RAPTORS | 7 p.m. | ALT |
| Sunday, Nov. 20 | UTAH JAZZ | 7 p.m. | ALT |
| Tuesday, Nov. 22 | CHICAGO BULLS | 7 p.m. | ALT |
| Wednesday, Nov. 23 | at Utah Jazz | 7 p.m. | ALT |
| Friday, Nov. 25 | OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER | 7 p.m. | ALT |
| Sunday, Nov. 27 | at Phoenix Suns | 1:30 p.m. | ALT |
| Wednesday, Nov. 30 | MIAMI HEAT | 7 p.m. | ALT |
| DECEMBER | |||
| Friday, Dec. 2 | HOUSTON ROCKETS | 8:30 p.m. | ESPN/ALT |
| Saturday, Dec. 3 | at Utah Jazz | 7 p.m. | ALT |
| Monday, Dec. 5 | at Philadelphia 76ers | 5 p.m. | ALT |
| Wednesday, Dec. 7 | at Brooklyn Nets | 5:30 p.m. | ALT |
| Thursday, Dec. 8 | at Washington Wizards | 5 p.m. | ALT |
| Saturday, Dec. 10 | at Orlando Magic | 5 p.m. | ALT |
| Monday, Dec. 12 | at Dallas Mavericks | 6:30 p.m. | ALT |
| Thursday, Dec. 15 | PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS | 7 p.m. | ALT |
| Saturday, Dec. 17 | NEW YORK KNICKS | 7 p.m. | ALT |
| Monday, Dec. 19 | DALLAS MAVERICKS | 7 p.m. | ALT |
| Tuesday, Dec. 20 | at Los Angeles Clippers | 8:30 p.m. | ALT |
| Friday, Dec. 23 | ATLANTA HAWKS | 7 p.m. | ALT |
| Monday, Dec. 26 | at Los Angeles Clippers | 8:30 p.m. | ALT |
| Wednesday, Dec. 28 | MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES | 7 p.m. | ALT |
| Friday, Dec. 30 | at Philadelphia 76ers | 7 p.m. | ALT |
| JANUARY | |||
| Monday, Jan. 2 | at Golden State Warriors | 8:30 p.m. | ALT |
| Tuesday, Jan. 3 | SACRAMENTO KINGS | 7 p.m. | ALT |
| Thursday, Jan. 5 | SAN ANTONIO SPURS | 8:30 p.m. | TNT |
| Saturday, Jan. 7 | at Oklahoma City Thunder | 6 p.m. | ALT |
| Thursday, Jan. 12 | vs. Indiana Pacers (at O2 Arena in London) | 1 p.m. | ALT |
| Monday, Jan. 16 | ORLANDO MAGIC | 3 p.m. | ALT |
| Tuesday, Jan. 17 | at Los Angeles Lakers | 8:30 p.m. | ALT |
| Thursday, Jan. 19 | at San Antonio Spurs | 6:30 p.m. | ALT |
| Saturday, Jan. 21 | LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS | 7 p.m. | ALT |
| Sunday, Jan. 22 | at Minnesota Timberwolves | 5 p.m. | ALT |
| Tuesday, Jan. 24 | UTAH JAZZ | 7 p.m. | ALT |
| Thursday, Jan. 26 | PHOENIX SUNS | 7 p.m. | ALT |
| Saturday, Jan. 28 | at Phoenix Suns | 7 p.m. | ALT |
| Tuesday, Jan. 31 | at Los Angeles Lakers | 8:30 p.m. | ALT |
| FEBRUARY | |||
| Wednesday, Feb. 1 | MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES | 7 p.m. | ALT |
| Friday, Feb. 3 | MILWAUKEE BUCKS | 7 p.m. | ALT |
| Saturday, Feb. 4 | at San Antonio Spurs | 7 p.m. | ALT |
| Monday, Feb. 6 | DALLAS MAVERICKS | 7 p.m. | ALT |
| Wednesday, Feb. 8 | at Atlanta Hawks | 5:30 p.m. | ALT |
| Friday, Feb. 10 | at New York Knicks | 5:30 p.m. | ALT |
| Saturday, Feb. 11 | at Cleveland Cavaliers | 5:30 p.m. | ALT |
| Monday, Feb. 13 | GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS | 7 p.m. | ALT |
| Wednesday, Feb. 15 | MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES | 7 p.m. | ALT |
| Thursday, Feb. 23 | at Sacramento Kings | 8:30 p.m. | ALT |
| Friday, Feb. 24 | BROOKLYN NETS | 7 p.m. | ALT |
| Sunday, Feb. 26 | MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES | 3 p.m. | ALT |
| Tuesday, Feb. 28 | at Chicago Bulls | 6 p.m. | ALT |
| MARCH | |||
| Wednesday, March 1 | at Milwaukee Bucks | 6 p.m. | ALT |
| Saturday, March 4 | CHARLOTTE HORNETS | 7 p.m. | ALT |
| Monday, March 6 | SACRAMENTO KINGS | 7 p.m. | ALT |
| Wednesday, March 8 | WASHINGTON WIZARDS | 7 p.m. | ALT |
| Friday, March 10 | BOSTON CELTICS | 7 p.m. | ALT |
| Saturday, March 11 | at Sacramento Kings | 8:30 p.m. | ALT |
| Monday, March 13 | LOS ANGELES LAKERS | 8:30 p.m. | TNT |
| Thursday, March 16 | LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS | 7 p.m. | ALT |
| Saturday, March 18 | HOUSTON ROCKETS | 7:30 p.m. | ALT |
| Monday, March 20 | at Houston Rockets | 6 p.m. | ALT |
| Wednesday, March 22 | CLEVELAND CAVALIERS | 7 p.m. | ALT |
| Friday, March 24 | at Indiana Pacers | 5 p.m. | ALT |
| Sunday, March 26 | NEW ORLEANS PELICANS | 6 p.m. | ALT |
| Tuesday, March 28 | at Portland Trail Blazers | 8 p.m. | ALT |
| Friday, March 31 | at Charlotte Hornets | 5 p.m. | ALT |
| APRIL | |||
| Sunday, April 2 | at Miami Heat | 4 p.m. | ALT |
| Tuesday, April 4 | at New Orleans Pelicans | 6 p.m. | ALT |
| Wednesday, April 5 | at Houston Rockets | 6 p.m. | ALT |
| Friday, April 7 | NEW ORLEANS PELICANS | 7 p.m. | ALT |
| Sunday, April 9 | OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER | 3 p.m. | ALT |
| Tuesday, April 11 | at Dallas Mavericks | 6:30 p.m. | ALT |
| Wednesday, April 12 | at Oklahoma City Thunder | 6 p.m. | ALT |
2016-17 Nuggets schedule
| OCTOBER | |||
| Date | Opponent | Time | TV |
| Wednesday, Oct. 26 | at New Orleans Pelicans | 6 p.m. | ALT |
| Saturday, Oct. 29 | PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS | 7 p.m. | ALT |
| Monday, Oct. 31 | at Toronto Raptors | 5:30 p.m. | ALT |
| NOVEMBER | |||
| Thursday, Nov. 3 | at Minnesota Timberwolves | 6 p.m. | ALT |
| Saturday, Nov. 5 | at Detroit Pistons | 5 p.m. | ALT |
| Sunday, Nov. 6 | at Boston Celtics | 5:30 p.m. | ALT |
| Tuesday, Nov. 8 | at Memphis Grizzlies | 6 p.m. | ALT |
| Thursday, Nov. 10 | GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS | 7 p.m. | ALT |
| Saturday, Nov. 12 | DETROIT PISTONS | 7 p.m. | ALT |
| Sunday, Nov. 13 | at Portland Trail Blazers | 7 p.m. | ALT |
| Wednesday, Nov. 16 | PHOENIX SUNS | 7 p.m. | ALT |
| Friday, Nov. 18 | TORONTO RAPTORS | 7 p.m. | ALT |
| Sunday, Nov. 20 | UTAH JAZZ | 7 p.m. | ALT |
| Tuesday, Nov. 22 | CHICAGO BULLS | 7 p.m. | ALT |
| Wednesday, Nov. 23 | at Utah Jazz | 7 p.m. | ALT |
| Friday, Nov. 25 | OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER | 7 p.m. | ALT |
| Sunday, Nov. 27 | at Phoenix Suns | 1:30 p.m. | ALT |
| Wednesday, Nov. 30 | MIAMI HEAT | 7 p.m. | ALT |
| DECEMBER | |||
| Friday, Dec. 2 | HOUSTON ROCKETS | 8:30 p.m. | ESPN/ALT |
| Saturday, Dec. 3 | at Utah Jazz | 7 p.m. | ALT |
| Monday, Dec. 5 | at Philadelphia 76ers | 5 p.m. | ALT |
| Wednesday, Dec. 7 | at Brooklyn Nets | 5:30 p.m. | ALT |
| Thursday, Dec. 8 | at Washington Wizards | 5 p.m. | ALT |
| Saturday, Dec. 10 | at Orlando Magic | 5 p.m. | ALT |
| Monday, Dec. 12 | at Dallas Mavericks | 6:30 p.m. | ALT |
| Thursday, Dec. 15 | PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS | 7 p.m. | ALT |
| Saturday, Dec. 17 | NEW YORK KNICKS | 7 p.m. | ALT |
| Monday, Dec. 19 | DALLAS MAVERICKS | 7 p.m. | ALT |
| Tuesday, Dec. 20 | at Los Angeles Clippers | 8:30 p.m. | ALT |
| Friday, Dec. 23 | ATLANTA HAWKS | 7 p.m. | ALT |
| Monday, Dec. 26 | at Los Angeles Clippers | 8:30 p.m. | ALT |
| Wednesday, Dec. 28 | MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES | 7 p.m. | ALT |
| Friday, Dec. 30 | at Philadelphia 76ers | 7 p.m. | ALT |
| JANUARY | |||
| Monday, Jan. 2 | at Golden State Warriors | 8:30 p.m. | ALT |
| Tuesday, Jan. 3 | SACRAMENTO KINGS | 7 p.m. | ALT |
| Thursday, Jan. 5 | SAN ANTONIO SPURS | 8:30 p.m. | TNT |
| Saturday, Jan. 7 | at Oklahoma City Thunder | 6 p.m. | ALT |
| Thursday, Jan. 12 | vs. Indiana Pacers (at O2 Arena in London) | 1 p.m. | ALT |
| Monday, Jan. 16 | ORLANDO MAGIC | 3 p.m. | ALT |
| Tuesday, Jan. 17 | at Los Angeles Lakers | 8:30 p.m. | ALT |
| Thursday, Jan. 19 | at San Antonio Spurs | 6:30 p.m. | ALT |
| Saturday, Jan. 21 | LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS | 7 p.m. | ALT |
| Sunday, Jan. 22 | at Minnesota Timberwolves | 5 p.m. | ALT |
| Tuesday, Jan. 24 | UTAH JAZZ | 7 p.m. | ALT |
| Thursday, Jan. 26 | PHOENIX SUNS | 7 p.m. | ALT |
| Saturday, Jan. 28 | at Phoenix Suns | 7 p.m. | ALT |
| Tuesday, Jan. 31 | at Los Angeles Lakers | 8:30 p.m. | ALT |
| FEBRUARY | |||
| Wednesday, Feb. 1 | MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES | 7 p.m. | ALT |
| Friday, Feb. 3 | MILWAUKEE BUCKS | 7 p.m. | ALT |
| Saturday, Feb. 4 | at San Antonio Spurs | 7 p.m. | ALT |
| Monday, Feb. 6 | DALLAS MAVERICKS | 7 p.m. | ALT |
| Wednesday, Feb. 8 | at Atlanta Hawks | 5:30 p.m. | ALT |
| Friday, Feb. 10 | at New York Knicks | 5:30 p.m. | ALT |
| Saturday, Feb. 11 | at Cleveland Cavaliers | 5:30 p.m. | ALT |
| Monday, Feb. 13 | GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS | 7 p.m. | ALT |
| Wednesday, Feb. 15 | MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES | 7 p.m. | ALT |
| Thursday, Feb. 23 | at Sacramento Kings | 8:30 p.m. | ALT |
| Friday, Feb. 24 | BROOKLYN NETS | 7 p.m. | ALT |
| Sunday, Feb. 26 | MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES | 3 p.m. | ALT |
| Tuesday, Feb. 28 | at Chicago Bulls | 6 p.m. | ALT |
| MARCH | |||
| Wednesday, March 1 | at Milwaukee Bucks | 6 p.m. | ALT |
| Saturday, March 4 | CHARLOTTE HORNETS | 7 p.m. | ALT |
| Monday, March 6 | SACRAMENTO KINGS | 7 p.m. | ALT |
| Wednesday, March 8 | WASHINGTON WIZARDS | 7 p.m. | ALT |
| Friday, March 10 | BOSTON CELTICS | 7 p.m. | ALT |
| Saturday, March 11 | at Sacramento Kings | 8:30 p.m. | ALT |
| Monday, March 13 | LOS ANGELES LAKERS | 8:30 p.m. | TNT |
| Thursday, March 16 | LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS | 7 p.m. | ALT |
| Saturday, March 18 | HOUSTON ROCKETS | 7:30 p.m. | ALT |
| Monday, March 20 | at Houston Rockets | 6 p.m. | ALT |
| Wednesday, March 22 | CLEVELAND CAVALIERS | 7 p.m. | ALT |
| Friday, March 24 | at Indiana Pacers | 5 p.m. | ALT |
| Sunday, March 26 | NEW ORLEANS PELICANS | 6 p.m. | ALT |
| Tuesday, March 28 | at Portland Trail Blazers | 8 p.m. | ALT |
| Friday, March 31 | at Charlotte Hornets | 5 p.m. | ALT |
| APRIL | |||
| Sunday, April 2 | at Miami Heat | 4 p.m. | ALT |
| Tuesday, April 4 | at New Orleans Pelicans | 6 p.m. | ALT |
| Wednesday, April 5 | at Houston Rockets | 6 p.m. | ALT |
| Friday, April 7 | NEW ORLEANS PELICANS | 7 p.m. | ALT |
| Sunday, April 9 | OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER | 3 p.m. | ALT |
| Tuesday, April 11 | at Dallas Mavericks | 6:30 p.m. | ALT |
| Wednesday, April 12 | at Oklahoma City Thunder | 6 p.m. | ALT |
