Nuggets Open Season Oct. 23 at Warriors

The Denver Nuggets opened their 2025–26 season on Oct. 23 at the Chase Center against the Golden State Warriors (8 p.m. ET on ESPN). Denver arrived healthy with Nikola Jokić, Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon all available and added Cam Johnson and Jonas Valančiūnas to the roster. Christian Braun signed a new five‑year extension and is expected to be a key contributor. In the opener the Warriors jumped to a 10–0 lead before Jokić and Denver answered, with Aaron Gordon helping Denver seize a 31–27 lead, illustrating how the matchup can hinge on Denver’s inside‑out attack. Golden State was missing perimeter players Moses Moody, De’Anthony Melton and Alex Toohey, though Stephen Curry was fully recovered and available. Observers still view Denver as a genuine title contender if Jokić sustains MVP‑level play and the new depth holds up, while the Nuggets’ new head coach — Michael Malone’s successor — gets an early chance to prove his approach.