The NBA released its full 2026-27 schedule this afternoon, and the Denver Nuggets, shockingly, are set to play 82 games.

Well, 80 games at the outset, pending the results of the NBA Cup.

The Nuggets will open the season on the road against the Oklahoma City Thunder as previously noted on Thursday, October 22nd. They return for their home opener against the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday, October 24th.

The most important notes from the Nuggets schedule release are as follows:

Games against Rivals

  • Oklahoma City Thunder – October 22, January 30th (Rivalry Week), February 2nd, and April 11th (final game of season)
  • Minnesota Timberwolves – December 28th (home), December 31st (road), January 27th (Rivalry Week), and March 7th
  • San Antonio Spurs – February 28th, March 3rd, and April 9th, all on national television
  • Los Angeles Lakers – December 19th, December 23rd (in midst of Cali road trip), February 12th, and February 26th (first game post All-Star break)

Travel Relief

The Nuggets last season had several one-game home stands and a travel schedule that frankly just didn’t make a lot of sense. That’s drastically different this season with several longer blocks of home and road games that lead to fewer flights for the team and better rest overall.

Last year, the Nuggets had 11 one-game homestands and 13 one-game road trips. It led to a level of constant travel and the inability to rest for longer than 24 hours.

This year, the Nuggets have just four scheduled one-game homestands and six scheduled one-game road trips. That is a drastic difference and will allow the Nuggets to plan better for being at home vs on the road and prepare accordingly rather than simply hopping on a flight after every game.

In addition, Denver plays just 14 back-to-backs this season compared to what became 17 last season.

Primetime Games

The Nuggets will play 28 games on national television this year, tied for the sixth most in the NBA with the Golden State Warriors. Only the New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers, Philadelphia 76ers, San Antonio Spurs, and Oklahoma City Thunder will play more.

Some games I’m circling on the calendar for Denver:

  1. December 23rd at Los Angeles Lakers on Prime
  2. Christmas at Golden State Warriors on ESPN/ABC
  3. December 28th/31st vs/at Minnesota Timberwolves on NBC and then Prime (matinee)
  4. January 11th at New York Knicks on Peacock
  5. January 30th at Oklahoma City Thunder on ABC
  6. February 28th at San Antonio Spurs on ABC (matinee)
  7. March 28th vs Philadelphia 76ers on ABC

There will be additional schedule analysis going forward, but for now, suffice to say that the Nuggets got a much more favorable schedule from the NBA this season. There will be plenty of opportunities for the Nuggets to complain about specific stretches, but by and large, this year will be more simple from a travel and itinerary standpoint.