Three Things to Watch For in Nuggets' Season Opener vs Thunder

The Denver Nuggets open up their season against the Oklahoma City Thunder, and after an offseason filled with question marks and uncertainty, this is a team that’s ready to contend for a championship once again. 

As the season tips off for Denver, one thing to look for against the Thunder is the production from the Nuggets’ second unit. 

This offseason, the Nuggets traded away one of their most important pieces of the team, Peyton Watson, to the Cleveland Cavaliers as part of a three-team trade that also included the Los Angeles Clippers. Now, Denver needs to find another young piece that can produce for them. 

Their most notable offseason addition will be coming off the bench for them this season. Veteran forward DeMar DeRozan signed a veteran minimum deal with the Denver Nuggets, and for now, he’ll be the leader of this second unit. 

It will be interesting to see how productive this part of the roster can be, especially now that they’re undermanned, as Julian Strawther will miss time due to a knee sprain. If this part of the roster can excel this season, they will be in good shape to make a deep playoff run. 

Another thing to watch for in this matchup for Denver is the play of Aaron Gordon. Gordon is coming off an injury-riddled season in 2025-2026, and in the past, he’s been a vital piece of this Nuggets starting lineup.  

Having him back will give Denver some much-needed versatility in the frontcourt. He has developed great chemistry with star player Nikola Jokic, and now, with their starting lineup healthy, this Nuggets team may be ready to put their disappointing playoff performance to the side and compete late in the season.  

The third thing to watch in this game is the play of both Christian Braun and Cameron Johnson. Both players were rumored to be traded once last season ended, but have stayed put in Denver. 

Braun and Johnson had a down year last season, but their success will be important for the team’s chances of winning the NBA championship. Braun and Johnson bring a lot of upside to this roster, and if they can turn it around this season, they could propel the Nuggets further than most think.  

Overall, this is a team with new energy and a sense of urgency, and if the Nuggets want to start the season on the right foot, getting a win over the Western Conference champions in their first game could set the tone for the season.