The NBA is back, and it's not like a pseudo-NBA preseason where you just get a taste of a team's true rotation. No, tonight the Denver Nuggets are playing a game that matters… and what a game it will be. To open the season, Denver faced division rivals and the reigning number 1 seed in the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder. Widely considered the most talented roster in the West after OKC added more pieces to the puzzle in the offseason (Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein), the Thunder enter this year with higher expectations than ever since Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook were both on the roster. The Nuggets' expectations may be a little tempered compared to last year now that they're no longer in contention to defend their title, but they'll certainly have their hands full with a Thunder team that's unlikely to overlook them.

The essentials

WHO: Denver Nuggets (0-0) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (0-0)

When: 8:00 PM MDT

Where: The tin. Denver, CO

How to watch/listen: Denver Stiffs doesn't tolerate piracy…unless it's the romanticized 17th century kind. TNT. 92.5 FM altitude radio.

Rivals Blog: Thunderous intentions

The matchup

Injury report: DaRon Holmes II – out (Achilles); Isaiah Hartenstein – out (hand), Jaylin Williams – out (thigh), Kenrich Williams – out (knee), Nikola Topic – out (knee)

The three things

What you should pay attention to: Thunder rotation

The Thunder lost Hartenstein to a broken hand in the preseason game against Denver and played only one game after that. In this game, Cason Wallace started with a small team. This is the struggle OKC has with its roster. They are flush with depth everywhere except when it comes to big men. Mark Daigneault may actually be planning on having Wallace in his starting group, or he may have just tried some combinations given the Hartenstein injury and we could see a completely different person tonight with the normal four Thunder starters. Who knows. I expect Ousmane Dieng to get more minutes, as he's really the only other notable player on the Thunder that you can name, and I expect it to be a tough night for Chet Holmgren, who played most of the ” Try” but fails miserably in curbing Nikola Jokic’s duties.

Here's what you should remember: Healthy Denver was pretty good against OKC last season

Denver only went 1-3 against the Thunder last year and I know what you're thinking: “You call 1-3 pretty good?” If we consider the context, the answer is: Yes, I call it that. The Nuggets' only win against the Thunder came very early in the year (actually the Thunder's home opener) when Denver beat OKC en route to a 33-point blowout out of the gym. They were on track to win Game 2 against the Thunder in December, but snatched defeat from the jaws of victory by collapsing in the final two minutes of the game. Next, they were eliminated in a game just before the All-Star break in which Denver was without Aaron Gordon and the last game against OKC ended in a five-point loss for the Jokic-less Nuggets. With Hartenstein out, the Thunder can essentially bounce back with their roster tonight, and I count myself among those optimistic about the Nuggets' chances given their relatively clean bill of health.

What to bet on: Jamal Murray first field goal (+550)

Since it's the premiere, let's get a little crazier with what we can bet on. There's nothing that particularly stood out to me about this game that makes it such a good value anyway. Here are my thoughts: Jokic wins most tip-offs he's involved in (though with caveats, only one in three against Chet Holmgren last season), so there's a good chance Denver gets the first shot of the game. Add to that the talk about Jamal in the offseason, and I have a hunch that Michael Malone will want to use his starting point guard early. The first play, which involved allowing Jamal to make an easy throw, wouldn't surprise me at all. +550 obviously suggests that this is a long shot bet like all first FG bets, but if we're having fun then Jamal is my favorite to score big for the Stiffs tonight.

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The return of the Nuggets season also means the return of Stiffs Night Out at #38 in Rino! Join us on November 8th to watch the Nuggets take on the Miami Heat. There are live podcasts, prize giveaways, drink specials, great food and the best Nuggets fans in town! Number 38 offers a wide selection of beers as well as numerous other drink options. The meeting point is at 7pm and there is enough space for everyone, but be sure to arrive early to get the best seats on the terrace (weather permitting). I can't wait to see everyone there at 3560 Chestnut Pl.

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