Game Day: Nuggets host the 4-1 Trail Blazers at Ball Arena
The Nuggets host a Portland team that's 3-0 on the road, plus where to watch, pregame and catch the train home.
Monday night basketball is back, and the Nuggets have Portland at Ball Arena tonight, November 2. Our event page lists tip at 7pm.
This one's more interesting than a random early-season Monday usually is. Portland shows up hot and the Nuggets are sitting lower in the West than anybody here wants to see.
The matchup
Per ESPN's game page (checked 2026-11-02), the Trail Blazers are 4-1, a perfect 3-0 away from home, and third in the West. ESPN's Blazers team page has them 1st in the Northwest Division, which is the Nuggets' division, so that stings a little.
Denver is 3-2 (1-1 at home) and eighth in the West, per the same game page. ESPN's headline frames it around Portland bringing its road win streak into Denver.
Names to watch, from ESPN's game page: Jamal Murray is scoring 25.8 ppg and Deni Avdija 23.0 ppg for Portland. On the glass it's Nikola Jokic at 9.8 rpg against Donovan Clingan at 9.0 rpg. Jokic versus a big who actually rebounds is the part worth the ticket price.
Watching from a bar
Run For The Roses (1801 Blake St #10, LoDo) is the closest, 0.64 miles from the arena in a straight line. Our listing tags it as a sports bar, with bourbon and cocktails. It's 4.4 stars on Google from 330 reviews (as of 2026-05-02).
Bar 404 (404 North Broadway) calls itself both a local sports bar and an independent music venue. It's $ on Google's price scale and sits at 4.5 stars from 287 reviews (as of 2026-05-02), 2.1 miles out.
Players Pub (8 S Broadway, Baker) is tagged as a sports bar with local beer. It's 4.5 stars from 249 reviews (as of 2026-05-02), 2.49 miles away. Good pick if you live south and don't have tickets.
Pregame near the venue
My Brother's Bar (2376 15th St) is 0.53 miles from the arena, a cheap dive with burgers. It's cash only, so hit an ATM first. 4.5 stars on Google from 2965 reviews (as of 2026-05-02).
Want a real dinner instead? Tavernetta (1889 16th St Mall) is Italian with pasta and a wine bar, 0.43 miles away. It's $$$, and 4.6 stars from 2511 reviews (as of 2026-05-02). Book ahead on a game night.
Getting there and home
The train is the move. Ball Arena / Elitch Gardens Station at 1700 9th Street serves the C, E and W lines, per RTD's station page (checked 2026-11-02). There's no RTD parking there, but there are bike racks.
For buses or your specific route home, plug it into RTD's trip planner before you leave.
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