The NBA was feeling more charitable toward Denver this year.
The Nuggets will play only 14 back-to-backs in the 2026-27 regular season — three fewer than last season. Their longest road trips will span four games — three fewer than last season, when Nikola Jokic hyperextended his knee and injuries piled up during a two-week marathon out east.
They will return to Denver for a one-game homestand only four times, and they will leave town for an awkward one-game excursion only six times — seven fewer than last season in both cases, enabling them to enjoy the comforts of home more.
The full NBA schedule was unveiled Thursday afternoon, minus two to-be-determined games for each team that will have to wait for the results of the NBA Cup group stage. Here are 10 key games for Nuggets fans to circle on the calendar — excluding the season opener at Oklahoma City and Christmas nightcap at Golden State, which were already announced Tuesday. It goes without saying that those are interesting, premier games.
Tip times are listed in MT. Nationally broadcasted games are denoted by the TV network or streaming service on which they’ll appear.
Nov. 2 vs. Portland Trail Blazers, 7 p.m.
Denver’s home opener on Oct. 24 against the Pelicans will certainly be intriguing, as fans will greet the team in a competitive environment for the first time since last season ended on the road in an abrupt and embarrassing fashion. But the third home game of the year is even more worth watching. Jokic’s pal Micah Nori has taken over as Portland’s head coach, and he’s tasked with finding a synergy between wild card newcomer Ja Morant and franchise icon Damian Lillard, who’s coming off a torn Achilles tendon and should return to the court as a Blazer for the first time since 2023, a week before this matchup.
Nov. 7 at Indiana Pacers (Mexico City), 3 p.m.
Speaking of Achilles injuries, this game is fascinating for a couple of reasons, primarily because it’s scheduled early in the NBA’s reintroduction of Tyrese Haliburton. He and Jokic might be the two greatest passers in the sport today, point gods of the highest order, following in the footsteps of Chris Paul and Russell Westbrook. They combined for 34 assists when they faced off two years ago in Indiana. Also, Mexico City is cool.
Nov. 27 at Utah Jazz, 7:30 p.m.
Denver will face the Suns (Oct. 30 in Phoenix), Rockets (Nov. 20 at home), Mavericks (Nov. 24 at home) and Jazz in the NBA Cup group stage. It’s the first time the Nuggets haven’t found themselves in a “group of death” since 2023. And this will be the grand finale, potentially with a trip to the knockout stage on the line, if you care about those things. If you don’t? Utah is still a more interesting opponent than it has been in recent years, with No. 2 overall draft pick Darryn Peterson arriving and Jaren Jackson Jr. joining the frontcourt.
Dec. 19 vs. Los Angeles Lakers, 7 p.m.
Jokic vs. Doncic is always appointment viewing, and the Lakers have reassembled their roster to better suit Luka’s needs this offseason. JJ Redick will naturally be eager to put Jokic in as many actions as possible. This will be the three-time MVP’s first time trying to defend the Doncic-Walker Kessler pick-and-roll, which Los Angeles clearly expects to be a dominant bread-and-butter play for years to come. These teams meet again in Hollywood four days later.
Dec. 28 vs. Minnesota Timberwolves, 8:30 p.m. (NBC)
And then on the other side of Christmas, on the second night of a back-to-back, the Nuggets face their first encounter with the LaMelo Ball-Anthony Edwards tandem. Bitter playoff memories could bubble to the surface in this two-game series, which begins in Denver and switches to Minnesota on New Year’s Eve. The Wolves made a big offseason change to their lineup, but Jaden McDaniels and his trash-talking ways haven’t gone anywhere.
Jan. 11 at New York Knicks, 5:30 p.m. (Peacock)
The annual trip to Madison Square Garden, which is not only the world’s most famous arena but also the home of the champions now. Jalen Brunson scored 42 points when the Nuggets visited last season, lifting the Knicks to a double-overtime win. Playing in that game was so fun, Jamal Murray said afterward, that he didn’t even notice when Peyton Watson left the floor with a hamstring injury that altered the course of Denver’s season.
Jan. 21 vs. Washington Wizards, 7 p.m.
Nobody knows what to make of the Wizards. They’re a remarkably strange team, blessed with the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft lottery (AJ Dybantsa), yet also suddenly headlined by Anthony Davis and Trae Young. Their mix of compelling young talent and overpriced star power has resulted in a wide range of predictions for their season. In any case, they should be an interesting opponent for Denver to host a couple of weeks before the trade deadline.
Feb. 28 at San Antonio Spurs, 11 a.m. (ABC)
For the second consecutive year, you’re gonna have to wait to watch Jokic and Victor Wembanyama go head-to-head in the post. They didn’t share the court until April 6 last season, due to a combination of scheduling and injury misfortune. But when they finally did match up, it was everything a hoops fan dreamt it would be. The power structure has shifted since then. Wembanyama has led San Antonio to the NBA Finals. It’s his league, not Jokic’s. Until further notice.
March 14 vs. Miami Heat, 5:30 p.m. (NBC)
Denver’s two meetings with the new-look Heat are both in March; the game in Miami is scheduled for a week after this. Will the physicality and rim protection of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bam Adebayo and Andrew Wiggins make the Nuggets’ mighty offense look bad? Or will Miami’s utter lack of spacing do the improbable and make their defense look good? A fun subplot here: Tim Hardaway Jr. returns to Ball Arena, likely to the tune of a standing ovation.
March 28 vs. Philadelphia 76ers, 8 p.m. (NBC)
If these 10 games were ranked on a scale of anticipation, rather than listed chronologically, Philly’s visit to Ball Arena would be a pretty obvious No. 1. Where to start? It might be LeBron James’ last game in Denver. It might be Joel Embiid’s first game in Denver in seven and a half years (or it might not be — great theater either way). And it’s an up-close look at the NBA’s newest superteam, featuring Jaylen Brown vs. Aaron Gordon and Tyrese Maxey vs. Jamal Murray and even a cameo from old friend Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. When the Sixers come to town, it’ll be the hottest ticket of the season.
