What to Look For
- Altitude Sports Network access for local Nuggets games. The Altitude–Comcast carriage dispute that began in 2019 means bars on Comcast cable cannot receive local Nuggets broadcasts. Look for bars on DirecTV, Dish, or providers confirmed to carry Altitude — this is the defining filter for local games.
- National NBA package access for away games and playoff matchups. Games on TNT, ESPN, ABC, and ESPN2 are available on all major cable providers and are widely accessible at Denver sports bars. These national windows are easier than the Altitude local games.
- Screen count and layout for the right viewing experience. Ball Arena games have significant replay and stat elements worth watching — a bar with a large primary screen and good sightlines from most seats is preferable to one with small distributed TVs.
- A staff familiar with NBA game scheduling. NBA games run October through June on weeknights and weekends without the rigid Sunday cadence of the NFL. Bars that regularly run basketball tend to have their channel assignments sorted.
Game Day Tips
- For local Nuggets games, call ahead and confirm the bar carries Altitude Sports. Do not assume — the Comcast carriage dispute removed Altitude from a large share of Denver cable households and the bars subscribed through them.
- National games on TNT (Tuesday/Thursday) and ESPN/ABC (various nights) are easy to find at any Denver sports bar with a standard cable package. No special confirmation needed for those.
- Nuggets tip-off times at Ball Arena are typically 6:00 PM or 7:00 PM Mountain Time for weeknight home games. Away games on the East Coast may start as early as 5:30 PM Mountain.
- Use WhereToWatchSports to search for a specific Nuggets game. Bars that have confirmed Altitude access will appear in confirmed results for local broadcasts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can't some Denver bars get the Nuggets game on the local regional network?
the market's regional sports network had a prolonged carriage dispute with Comcast/Xfinity that began in 2019 and removed the channel from Comcast cable systems. Bars on Comcast without an alternate satellite or streaming provider cannot receive that regional network, which is where many local Nuggets games air.
Which Denver bars can show local Nuggets broadcasts on the regional network?
Bars that subscribe through DirecTV, Dish, or certain streaming providers that carry the regional network can show local Nuggets broadcasts. WhereToWatchSports lets you search for a specific Nuggets game — bars marked Confirmed have verified they can show it.
What channel do national NBA games air on in Denver?
National NBA games air on the major national broadcast and cable networks. These are available on all major cable and satellite providers, so any sports bar with a standard package can show them. The NBA Finals air on national broadcast television.
What are NBA game times in Denver (Mountain Time)?
Most weeknight NBA games tip off between 6:30 PM and 8:30 PM Mountain Time. Weekend games vary. Denver Nuggets home games at Ball Arena generally start at 6:00 PM or 7:00 PM Mountain Time.
Find Bars for Your Game
The Altitude carriage situation makes finding local Nuggets games in Denver more complex than it should be for a championship city. The simplest fix is to search WhereToWatchSports for the specific game — bars that are confirmed have sorted out their provider setup. For national games on TNT, ESPN, and ABC, almost any sports bar in Denver has you covered.