Nuggets at Thunder: Nikola Jokić opens against an Oklahoma City defense with a point to prove

Denver could hardly have drawn a more revealing first assignment. The Nuggets open their regular season Thursday, October 22, against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City. Tip-off is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. Eastern, 8:30 p.m. locally. Nikola Jokić faces a defense that powered the Thunder to the best record in the West last season; Oklahoma City meets an offense capable of exploiting almost any overcommitment to the ball.

The Thunder are already 1-0. They beat San Antonio 116-104 on Tuesday, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scoring 32 and Jared McCain adding 20, including six three-pointers. It was a pointed opening against the Spurs, who had eliminated Oklahoma City in seven games in last spring's Western Conference finals. Denver is 0-0, so its early place in the standings reflects a schedule that has not yet given it a regular-season game. A win Thursday would tell us more than today's provisional rankings.

A formidable Denver attack still needs a defense

The Nuggets finished 54-28 and third in the West in 2025-26, only to lose in the first playoff round. Jokić remains the center of their offense in every sense: he can score inside, initiate from the elbow and find a cutter after a defender turns toward him. Jamal Murray supplies perimeter creation, while Aaron Gordon's movement and finishing make even an ordinary-looking possession difficult to guard. The NBA's season preview noted that Denver had one of the league's most productive offenses last year.

Its defensive ranking was much less impressive. Denver finished 21st on that end for a second straight season, according to the NBA. Coach David Adelman now has to preserve the scoring structure while improving the resistance around it. Peyton Watson's move to Cleveland removed a versatile wing defender. Alpha Diallo, a defensive standout in the EuroLeague, is one answer; DeMar DeRozan is an experienced scorer who gives Denver another way to create a basket when its primary actions stall. Marvin Bagley III and Trevon Brazile are further additions. DeRozan could have a significant role off the bench, but that is an expected use rather than a confirmed lineup decision for tonight.

Jokić, Murray and Gordon form the established core. Adelman had not confirmed his five starters at the time of writing. Spencer Jones is questionable and Julian Strawther is out on the official injury report. Denver will need contributions beyond its leading trio, particularly during minutes when Jokić sits and the offense can no longer run through its most reliable passer.

The Thunder changed around their core

Oklahoma City went 64-18 and finished first in the West last season before San Antonio ended its playoff run. Mark Daigneault still coaches a group built around Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams, with Isaiah Hartenstein and Cason Wallace important to its defensive shape. Yet the rotation is not identical: Luguentz Dort, Aaron Wiggins and Isaiah Joe left in the summer, while newcomers include Aday Mara, Otega Oweh and Bennett Stirtz. McCain, acquired before this season, supplied an immediate perimeter boost in the opener.

The Thunder's defense remained exceptional last season even as the offense struggled in its Western finals defeats. Against Jokić, the dilemma is unusually stark. Send a second defender and Denver can find an open shooter or cutter; guard him one-on-one and he can work patiently toward a good shot. Oklahoma City's ability to make those choices without losing its own transition attack may be the contest's defining passage.

Daigneault had not named a starting five for Thursday. Gilgeous-Alexander, Holmgren, Williams, Hartenstein and Wallace are prominent options, not officially confirmed starters. Oweh, Thomas Sorber and Nikola Topić appear on the injury report as out. The final lineup should be checked nearer tip-off.

Where to watch

ESPN has the U.S. broadcast at 9:30 p.m. Eastern, 6:30 p.m. Pacific. In the United Kingdom, the start is 2:30 a.m. BST Friday, October 23; Sky Sports does not list this matchup in its current October 23 schedule, while NBA League Pass remains the league-wide live option. In Australia, ESPN2 lists the game for 12:30 p.m. AEDT Friday; the channel is carried by Disney+, Kayo, Foxtel and Fetch. Confirm the final listing with the provider before subscribing or tuning in.

One result will not settle the West. It can, however, show whether Denver's refreshed defense is closer to the level of its offense, and whether Oklahoma City's reworked supporting cast can give its stars the same platform that carried the Thunder to 64 wins.