A frenzied 4th quarter comeback in Macao got things started on Sunday, after a night of BIGTIME finishes above the rim back in the U.S.
5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION 🏀
Oct. 12, 2025
NBA China Games: Nets rally to beat Suns, closing out the preseason Global Games in Macao
Saturday Dunkfest: A three-game night packed plenty of posters & highlight reel jams
ESPN Doubleheader: Playoff teams clash with Cavs-Celtics & Nuggets-Clippers
League Pass Slate: Potential preseason debuts for Giannis & Luka tonight
Countdown To Amex Tip-Off: With the season 9 days away, dive into our watch guide
BUT FIRST … ⏰
A seven-game Sunday…
NBA TV Matinee & ESPN Doubleheader: Keep your Sunday going with Raptors-Wizards (3 ET, NBA TV), followed by Cavs-Celtics (7 ET, ESPN) and Nuggets-Clippers (9:30 ET, ESPN).
1. NBA CHINA GAMES: ANOTHER 4TH Q COMEBACK
Down as many as 14 points in the 4th quarter, the Brooklyn Nets stormed back with a 28-10 run to drop the Phoenix Suns, 111-109, and leave Macao with a 1-1 split in the NBA China Games. | Recap
- Back At Ya: The Suns had rallied back from 18 down to win the teams’ opener in Macao
- Brooklyn’s Tyrese Martin came up clutch, scoring 11 points in the final frame — including free throws in the final seconds to help seal the comeback
- See It From Inside: Nets rookie Danny Wolf (9 pts) hit one of his two treys at a critical time, going glass from deep to erase the 14-pt deficit in the 4th
- Cam Thomas led the scoring for the Nets, dropping 16 after posting 22 in Game 1, while offseason acquisition Michael Porter Jr. showed off his all-around game (15 pts, 4 reb, 2 stl, 3-for-7 from deep)
- Devin Booker led the way for Phoenix, putting up 18 for the second straight game (to go along with 5 reb & 5 ast)
The stars were out again in Macao, with David Beckham, Yao Ming, Vince Carter & more in the building. See who else was there.
Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images
Before Sunday’s game to close out the 2025 NBA China Games, the Nets and Suns continued to see the sights and make the most of their time in Macao.
- Pics Or It Didn’t Happen: You can’t take a trip halfway around the world and not capture the moment. Check out the Nets posing for their official team photo from Macao. ICYMI, here’s the Suns at that same spot prior to Game 1
- Hooper & Photographer: When Suns forward Ryan Dunn isn’t getting buckets, he’s taking flicks. Follow him through the streets of Macao in search of the perfect shot
- Book 🤝 Linsanity: They never met in the States, but Devin Booker and Jeremy Lin connected in Macao
- Fan Day: NBA legends Shaq, Shawn Marion, Stephon Marbury and Lin helped judge the Dunk Contest, which featured mid-air moves, tributes to Mac McClung and Aaron Gordon, and a leap over Marion
2. A SATURDAY PRESEASON DUNKFEST
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Despite having only three games on the schedule, Saturday delivered enough dunk highlights for a top 10 list. Here are a few of our favorites.
The Dunk ⬆️ … The Reaction ⬇️
Pacers 116, Thunder 101: Taelon Peter (18 pts, 5 reb, 5 ast, 4 3pm) led seven Pacers in double figures, while Obi Toppin’s windmill and Johnny Furphy’s poster dunk brought the Gainbridge Fieldhouse down, as the Pacers topped the Thunder in their first matchup since the Finals. | Recap
- Off The Charts: Furphy’s slam registered a 110.7 Dunk Score, which is the highest of the preseason and would have ranked sixth against every dunk last season
- Game Changer: After a back-and-forth 1st half, the Pacers won the 3rd quarter 29-17, including a 17-6 run to open the 2nd half and seize control of the game
- OKC Standout: Chris Youngblood had a game-high 25 points and splashed four 3s for his second 20+ point game of the preseason
Hornets 120, Mavericks 116: Miles Bridges (11 reb) and LaMelo Ball (6 ast) each posted 20 points with four 3s to lead the Hornets to their first win of the preseason, holding off Klay Thompson (14 pts, 4 3pm), Anthony Davis (12 pts, 4 reb) and the Mavs. | Recap
- College Mates ➡️ Preseason Foes: Former Duke teammates and top four draft picks – Dallas’ Cooper Flagg (11 pts, 3 reb, 4 ast, 3 stl) and Charlotte Kon Knueppel (12 pts, 4 reb) – faced each other for the first time in the NBA
- Rookies Can’t Miss: Hornets rookies Ryan Kalkbrenner (14 pts, 10 reb, 7-of-7 FG) and Liam McNeeley (5 pts, 2 reb, 2-of-2 FG) combined to shoot a perfect 9-of-9 in the win
Hawks 122, Grizzlies 116: Jalen Johnson (20 pts, 7-11 FG, 7 reb) and Zaccharie Risacher (16 pts, 6-8 FG, 2 3pm) combined for 36 points on 68.4% shooting to lead six Hawks in double figures as Atlanta held off a 4th quarter rally from Memphis for its first win of the preseason. | Recap
- New Hawks: The NBA.com GM Survey tabbed the Hawks as the team that made the best moves this offseason. Two of their additions – Kristaps Porziņģis (13 pts, 7 reb, 2 3pm) and Luke Kennard (4 pts, 6 reb, 3 ast) – combined for 17 points on 60% shooting
- Grizz Trio: Jaylen Wells and Cedric Coward – the 11th pick in the 2025 Draft – scored 15 points apiece to lead seven Grizzlies in double figures
3. ON ESPN: PLAYOFF TEAMS SQUARE OFF IN PRESEASON ACTION
Only two teams held sole possession of 1st place in the East at any point last season – the Celtics and Cavaliers.
- Boston held the title for a single day – winning the first game of their title defense in the only East matchup of opening night
- Cleveland took the title on Oct. 30 with a win (5-0) over the Lakers coupled with a Celtics loss (4-1) to the Pacers
- The Cavs and Celtics remained in 1st and 2nd place in the East from that day forward – for the final 165 days of the season
- Despite finishing 1-2 in the East, both teams were eliminated in the conference semifinals.
How close were these teams last season? The point differential in their four-game season series was a single point, with each game decided by seven points or less.
Boston was one of six teams to beat Cleveland twice last season with Jaylen Brown (23.3 pts, 5.7 reb, 5.3 ast on 50.9/46.2 shooting splits) helping lead the way.
Tonight (7 ET, ESPN), the Celtics and Cavs will meet for the first time this preseason as both teams prepare for the upcoming season, but with different expectations from league experts.
- Cleveland: The GM Survey expects another big season for the Cavs after their historic run last year. They earned 63% of the vote to finish first in the East for the second straight year
- Boston: Following the injury to Jayson Tatum and departures of Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porziņģis, the GMs have the Celtics ranked 8th in the East heading into 2025-26. But a year removed from winning the title, can the C’s surprise?
Harry How/NBAE via Getty Images
The last time the Nuggets and Clippers saw each other was Game 7 of their epic first-round matchup on May 3.
That night, Nikola Jokić (16 pts, 10 reb, 8 ast, 3 stl) led a balanced Denver offense as one of six Nuggets to score 15+ points on their way to a 120-101 win to advance to the West Semis and end LA’s season.
- Stars Shine: For the series, Jokić averaged a triple-double (24.0 ppg, 11.6 rpg, 10.1 apg) while LA’s Kawhi Leonard led all scorers at 25 ppg on 53.7% shooting
- Instant Classic: Four games were decided by six points or less, including the first buzzer-beating dunk in Playoff history by Aaron Gordon in Game 4
Tonight (9:30 ET, ESPN), the Nuggets and Clippers meet again with both teams making moves in the offseason to prepare for a deeper Playoff run.
- Denver traded for Cam Johnson and Jonas Valančiūnas, while signing Bruce Brown and Tim Hardaway Jr. to put a deeper team around Jokić
- LA added Chris Paul, Bradley Beal, Brook Lopez and John Collins to join the core built around James Harden and Leonard
4. ON NBA TV & LEAGUE PASS: POTENTIAL DEBUTS FOR GIANNIS, LUKA
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The busiest day of the preseason so far features four more games across NBA TV and League Pass.
Raptors at Wizards (3 ET, NBA TV)
- Raptors: Brandon Ingram is averaging 20 ppg on 48.1% FG and 60% 3P shooting in his first two games as the Raptors look to join the Knicks and Spurs at the first teams with three preseason wins
- Wizards: Take a first look at CJ McCollum and Cam Whitmore in DC alongside a pair of top-six picks – Tre Johnson (No. 6, 2025) and Alex Sarr (No. 2, 2024) – in Washington’s preseason opener
Heat at Magic (6 ET, League Pass)
- Magic: Wendell Carter Jr. (15 ppg, 9 rpg) leads the Magic in points and boards as they look to improve to 3-0 on the preseason with a second win over the Heat after taking their opener in Puerto Rico
- Heat: Kel’el Ware ranks 1st in the NBA in rebounding (11.3 rpg) and 10th in scoring (19 ppg) this preseason, but Miami is still seeking its first win of the preseason
Stacy Revere/NBAE via Getty Images
Bucks at Bulls (7 ET, League Pass)
- Bucks: Giannis Antetokounmpo is expected to make his preseason debut today as the Bucks look to stay perfect this preseason
- Bulls: Sophomore Matas Buzelis leads the Bulls in scoring (15 ppg) through two games – both wins over the Cavs
Warriors at Lakers (9:30 ET, League Pass)
- Warriors: Golden State seeks its second win over the Lakers this preseason as Steph Curry and the Dubs look for a 3-0 start
- Lakers: Los Angeles held Luka Dončic out of its first two preseason games – losses to Golden State and Phoenix – but the Lakers may see a bit of Luka Magic tonight in LA, where the Purple & Gold faithful are fired up for a new year
5. COUNTDOWN TO AMEX TIP-OFF: 9 DAYS TO OPENING NIGHT
We are officially less than 10 days away from the start of the 2025-26 NBA season.
On Tuesday, Oct. 21, the 80th NBA season begins in the same place the 79th season ended – Oklahoma City – as the Thunder celebrate their 2024-25 title by raising the championship banner to the rafters and passing out championship rings.
Then, it’s time to begin their title defense as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder host Kevin Durant and the Rockets (7:30 ET) to open the season, followed by Steph Curry and the Warriors visiting Luka Dončić and the Lakers (10 ET) in the nightcap.
It all goes down on NBC and Peacock as the new season brings new ways and new places to catch all of the action.
The guide above is a quick look at how the national broadcast schedule breaks down this year in general. (With an explainer right here)
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You don’t want to miss any of the must-see matchups throughout the season, beginning with American Express Tip-Off week.
Wednesday, Oct. 22 on ESPN
- Cavaliers at Knicks (7 ET): All-Star guards Donovan Mitchell and Jalen Brunson headline this matchup of East contenders
- Spurs at Mavs (9:30 ET): A matchup between the top two picks in the 2025 Draft – Dallas’ Cooper Flagg and San Antonio’s Dylan Harper – plus the beginning of Year 3 for Victor Wembanyama
Thursday, Oct. 23 on ESPN
- Thunder at Pacers (7:30 ET): A Finals rematch 123 days following the conclusion of their epic seven-game championship series
- Nuggets at Warriors (10 ET): Denver’s Nikola Jokić and Golden State’s Steph Curry – winners of five of the last 11 Kia MVPs – meet in the Bay
Friday, Oct. 24 on Prime
- Celtics at Knicks (7:30 ET): A rematch of last year’s East Semis, which Brunson and the Knicks won in six games
- Wolves at Lakers (10 ET): A rematch of last year’s West First Round series, which Anthony Edwards and the Wolves won in five
And that’s just the first four days of the season!
Below is a look at some of this season’s key dates and how to watch every moment from Start to Finish.
