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Nuggets vs. Thunder FREE STREAM: How to watch NBA today

October 24, 2024

DENVER – The Denver Nuggets open up the season against the Oklahoma City Thunder today – Thursday, Oct. 24 – at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. The NBA matchup is available to watch on multiple streaming services.

This season opener will be broadcast live on TNT with tipoff scheduled for 10 p.m. Eastern. (8 p.m. Mountain) Fans who have parted ways with their cable provider can catch the game at no cost by taking advantage of streaming alternatives like DirecTV Stream, which offers a free trial. Sling TV has promotional offers for new customers.

After falling short to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference semifinals last year, the Nuggets (57-25) look a little different with the addition of veteran guard Russell Westbrook. He averaged 6.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.7 assists last season with the Los Angeles Clippers.

Tenth-year head coach Mike Malone’s talented group is led by 3-time MVP Nikola Jokic, who captured the individual hardware yet again last season.

Jokic averaged 28.7 points, 13.4 rebounds and 8.7 assists while shooting 54.5% from the field. He remains elite in vision, scoring and controlling the glass. Jokic has amassed 130 career triple-doubles.

Jamal Murray remains one of the more dangerous point guards in the league. He averaged 21.2 points, 4.1 rebounds and 6.5 assists while shooting 48.1% from the field, including 42.5% from beyond the arc.

Small forward Michael Porter Jr. can also catch fire. He averaged 15.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.1 assists last season.

Denver saw some turnover with the loss of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Reggie Jackson and Justin Holiday. Dario Saric (8.0 points, 4.4. rebounds and 2.0 assists) and DaRon Holmes II enter the fray. The Nuggets’ depth took a hit this offseason, but they are more than capable of making up for it with the versatile play of Jokic.

Watch Nuggets vs. Thunder for free on DirecTV Stream

The Thunder surprised many with the top overall seed in the Western Conference last year, putting together a 57-25 campaign. It was their first playoff berth since 2020. Oklahoma City was ousted in six games by the Dallas Mavericks in the conference semifinals.

The head of the snake is shooting guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who is coming off a career year, averaging 30.4 points, 7.2 rebounds and 6.4 assists while shooting 49.6% from the field. The blossoming supernova is simply a mid-range assassin. He scored 30 or more points six times in the playoffs last year.

The towering, lanky presence of 7-foot-1 center Chet Holmgren looks to make a further leap. He averaged 15.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 2.3 blocks while shooting 49.6% as well. Holmgren gobbled up 22 double-doubles last season.

Guided by 2023-24 Coach of the Year Mark Daigneault, Oklahoma City touts many role players, including guard Luguentz Dort (10.7 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists) and a rising star in forward Jalen Williams, who amassed 18.7 points, 6.8 rebounds and 5.4 assists while shooting 46.9% from the field.

The Thunder leveled up with the additions of veteran defender Alex Caruso and a physical presence in Isaiah Hartenstein. He will miss the opener as Oklahoma City is riddled with injuries to start the season, which could expose depth down the roster.

The Thunder have won four of the last five games against the Nuggets. Oklahoma City have not won 50 or more games in back-to-back seasons since 2013-14.

Nuggets-Thunder Injury Report

Denver Nuggets: DaRon Holmes II (right achilles tendon) is out.

Oklahoma City Thunder: Isaiah Hartenstein (left hand fracture), Nikola Topic (left knee surgery), Jaylin Williams (right hamstring strain) and Kenrich Williams (right knee surgery) are all out.