Maxey vs. Brunson.
Philly vs. New York.
A classic matchup opened the NBA preseason on Thursday, nearly 7,000 miles around the world in Abu Dhabi … followed by the Pelicans playing 9,000 from home Friday morning.
5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION 🏀
Oct. 3, 2025
Knicks Win In Abu Dhabi: New York defeats Philly to open NBA preseason
First Game In Australia: NBA x NBL Melbourne Series opens with Pelicans vs. Melbourne United
Lakers Preview: Luka Dončić begins his first preseason as a Laker tonight
Suns Preview: Devin Booker leads a new-look Phoenix squad looking to rise
WNBA Finals Tip Tonight: Aces & Mercury begin first-ever best-of-seven Finals
BUT FIRST … ⏰
Celebrating the game’s pioneers…
Honoring The Pioneers: On Thursday, the NBA announced that going forward, February 1st will be known as NBA Pioneers Day – celebrating the achievements of Chuck Cooper, Nathaniel “Sweetwater” Clifton and Earl Lloyd, the league’s first Black players – and will feature the first annual NBA Pioneers Classic between the Bucks and Celtics in 2026.
New Fantasy Game: Yahoo introduced High Score as its new default fantasy basketball scoring format this season. Learn more about this new and easier way to play fantasy hoops. | How to play | Draft Strategy
Key Signings As Training Camps Open: Restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga and the Warriors agreed on a two-year deal, which led to Golden State finalizing deals with Al Horford, Seth Curry and De’Anthony Melton.
In the East, Quentin Grimes signed a one-year qualifying offer to return to Philadelphia and make him an unrestricted free agent next summer, while Nikola Jović signed a four-year rookie extension to remain in Miami.
1. NBA PRESEASON OPENS WITH KNICKS WIN OVER SIXERS IN ABU DHABI
We’ve seen and heard from the players at Media Day. We’ve seen practice clips from the opening days of training camp. And now, games are back with the preseason officially tipping off in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.
Knicks 99, Sixers 84: New York earned the first dub of the year behind a balanced effort led by Miles McBride, who had 12 points, five boards and three steals off the bench, while Karl-Anthony Towns (11 pts), Mikal Bridges (10 pts) and Jordan Clarkson (9 pts in his Knicks debut) combined to add 30 more. | Recap
- Game Changing Run: Leading by 10 at the half, the Knicks broke the game open in the 3rd quarter, closing the frame on a 26-10 run to lead 81-57. The run was fueled by New York’s bench as new coach Mike Brown sat his starters in the 2nd half
- Philly Duo: With Joel Embiid and Paul George sidelined (after getting in some pregame buckets), it was Tyrese Maxey and rookie VJ Edgecombe who led the way for the Sixers with 14 points apiece
- First Impressions: Edgecombe showed off his complete game in his preseason debut – driving to the basket, pulling up from three, dropping three dimes – including an alley-oop to Adem Bona ⬇️ – and earning praise for his defense from coach Nick Nurse
Thursday’s game – the first of seven preseason contests to be played outside the United States this month in an effort to grow the game – saw appearances from celebrities, influencers and NBA legends.
- Celeb Row featured actor Ed Westwick (aka Chuck Bass), Steve Harvey and Stephon Marbury, Chelsea soccer legend John Terry, former MVP Derrick Rose, and Fat Joe, who performed at halftime
Run It Back: The Knicks and Sixers will meet again on Saturday (11 a.m. ET, NBA TV) to close out the fourth annual NBA Abu Dhabi Games before returning to the U.S. to continue their preparations for the upcoming season – which is now just 18 days away.
2. NBA X NBA MELBOURNE SERIES OPENS WITH FIRST NBA GAME IN AUSTRALIA
Layne Murdoch Jr./NBAE via Getty Images
Pelicans 107, Melbourne United 97: As the NBA came to Australia, the Pelicans held off a spirited effort from Melbourne United, earning the victory in a competitive game that made some history on the way. | Recap
- A Close-Run Contest: Melbourne United stuck with New Orleans all night long, cutting the lead to four with 4:10 remaining. But they would get no closer, as the Pelicans reserves stood tall
- Zion Rises High: Zion Williamson (15 pts) was bouncy and efficient in his preseason debut, including starting this fast break with a rebound and ending it with a soaring alley-oop jam
- Dashing To The Future: Dash Daniels, brother of Pelicans wing Dyson Daniels and a top prospect for the 2026 NBA Draft, had 9 points for Melbourne United, showing promise against NBA talent
Layne Murdoch Jr./NBAE via Getty Images
Ahead of the first-ever NBA game played in Australia, the Pelicans held an open practice that included some fan interactions and guest appearances from NBA legends Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen before heading out to explore some of the wildlife Down Under.
- “This is like a dream … I’m a Pels fan till I die.” – said an Australian fan, who has been following the Pelicans for a decade, after meeting his idol, Zion Williamson
- Pelicans 🤝 Koalas & Kangaroos: Jordan Poole checked an item off his bucket list when the team visited the Werribee Open Range Zoo to see everything from kangaroos to emus, koalas and snakes
- New Hardware For Jose: Before WWE holds a premium live event in Australia next weekend, they were in Melbourne to present a custom WWE Pelicans championship belt to Jose Alvarado
After today’s game against Melbourne United, the Pelicans will face South East Melbourne Phoenix on Saturday night (11:00 p.m. ET, NBA TV) to close out the first-ever NBA x NBL Melbourne Series.
3. LAKERS OPEN FIRST PRESEASON WITH LUKA ON BOARD
Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images
Tonight, in Palm Desert, California, the Lakers and Suns will meet in the preseason opener for both teams (10 ET, NBA TV).
It’s the first of six preseason games for the Lakers, who enter their first full season with Luka Dončić and LeBron James sharing the court and their second under head coach JJ Redick, who has challenged his team to follow three principles this year:
- Championship habits
- Championship communication
- Championship shape
To help emphasize his last point, Redick joined his players for their final six full-court sprints to close practice on Thursday.
- Dončić on Redick’s principles: “It’s not just physical shape, it’s mental shape, too. Both are very important. We’re doing it in practice. It was great. Everybody’s in great shape. Everybody’s running a lot, so it’s been great so far.”
Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images
After finishing third in the West last season – via tiebreakers over the Nuggets and Clippers, who also finished at 50-32 – the Lakers were eliminated in the first round of the Playoffs by the sixth-seeded Wolves.
In the offseason, the Lakers achieved their primary goal by agreeing to a three-year extension with Dončić that keeps the five-time All-NBA First Teamer in purple and gold through 2028.
They also added former No. 1 pick Deandre Ayton to help on the frontline, former Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart in the backcourt and Jake LaRavia on the wing.
Tonight, we’ll see the first Lakers preseason action for Dončić, Ayton and LaRavia, while Smart (Achilles tendinopathy), James (glute nerve irritation) and rookie Adou Thiero (knee) will not play.
- Uncharted Territory: As LeBron becomes the first player to ever play a 23rd season, the Lakers are being cautious as they ramp him up for the regular season – and what they hope will be a deep Playoff run
- “The love of the game is still high,” James said at Media Day. “The love of the process is even higher. That’s what continues to push me to play this game.”
4. BOOKER LEADS NEW-LOOK SUNS INTO PRESEASON OPENER
Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images
As he enters his 11th season after being drafted by the Suns with the 13th pick in the 2015 Draft, Devin Booker has seen peaks and valleys during his tenure in The Valley.
- First Five Years: Missed the Playoffs each year, enduring sub-.500 seasons of 23, 24, 21, 19 and 34 wins
- Finals Breakthrough: The Suns snapped a 10-year Playoff drought with a run to the Finals in 2021, but fell to the Bucks in six games
- Early Playoff Exits: Phoenix was unable to return to the championship stage, being eliminated in the West Semis (2022, 2023) and the first round (2024) over the next three seasons
- Missing The Postseason: Entering 2024-25 with high expectations around the big three of Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal, the Suns were unable to find consistency all season long, finishing 36-46 and outside the Play-In field
The offseason brought major changes – Durant was traded to Houston, Beal was bought out and waived – but Booker remains the cornerstone. He will be the driving force, looking to lead a new-look Suns squad back into postseason contention.
- Booker: “Although we didn’t get it done in ‘21, I was able to see it go from the bottom almost to the top. It wasn’t easy, but just understanding that it’s an everyday grind and it starts right now… I have unfinished business here.”
Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images
Booker will try to finish that business with a new collection of young teammates, including Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks and 2025 lottery pick Khaman Maluach, who were all part of the Durant trade as well as Mark Williams, who was acquired from Charlotte.
Brooks and Maluach should make their Suns debuts tonight, while Green and Williams will not play due to injuries. The Suns also have a new voice on the sidelines as first-year head coach Jordan Ott makes his debut as well.
After last season’s model fell short of its goals, can a young group built around a foundational player in Booker help Phoenix rise once again?
5. ACES, MERCURY TIP OFF WNBA FINALS TONIGHT ON ESPN
The stage is set for the 2025 WNBA Finals presented by YouTube TV.
The Matchup: The second-seeded Las Vegas Aces will face the fourth-seeded Phoenix Mercury in the first-ever best-of-seven series in WNBA history to decide the league’s 29th champion.
Finals Schedule
- Game 1: Mercury at Aces (Friday, Oct. 3, 8 ET, ESPN)
- Game 2: Mercury at Aces (Sunday, Oct. 5, 3 ET, ABC)
- Game 3: Aces at Mercury (Wednesday, Oct. 8, 8 ET, ESPN)
- Game 4: Aces at Mercury (Friday, Oct. 10, 8 ET, ESPN)
- Game 5: Mercury at Aces (Sunday, Oct. 12, 3 ET, ABC)*
- Game 6: Aces at Mercury (Wednesday, Oct. 15, 8 ET, ESPN)*
- Game 7: Mercury at Aces (Friday, Oct. 17, 8 ET, ESPN)*
*If necessary
How They Got Here
- Aces (30-14 Reg. Season, 5-3 Playoffs): Las Vegas entered the Playoffs on a 16-game win streak, but went the distance in both Playoff rounds to return to the Finals following a one-year absence
- Mercury (27-17 Reg. Season, 5-2 Playoffs): Phoenix defeated last year’s two Finalists – the defending champion Liberty and runner-up Lynx – in the first season of their new-look squad following the retirement of Diana Taurasi and departure of Brittney Griner
What’s At Stake
- Aces: Making their third Finals appearance in last four seasons (fifth overall), and seeking third title in franchise history (2022, 2023)
- Mercury: Making their first Finals appearance since 2021 (sixth overall), and seeking fourth title in team history (2007, 2009, 2014)
Three Key Storylines
- Clash of MVP Finalists: Las Vegas’ A’ja Wilson (league leader in points and blocks) won her record 4th MVP while Phoenix’s Alyssa Thomas (league leader in assists and triple-doubles) finished third in the voting. Both stars are the centerpiece of their respective teams on both ends of the court
- Strength vs. Strength: The Aces enter the Finals as the top offense in the postseason (108.9 OffRtg, 87.0 ppg), while the Mercury tout the top defense (92.2 DefRtg, 75.9 ppg allowed)
- Home Court Advantage: The Aces will host four games this series (1, 2, 5 & 7 – if the latter two are necessary). In the regular season and Playoffs combined, they’ve gone 21-6 at home, including a 14-1 mark in their last 15 home games. The Mercury are 14-11 on the road this season, including a 2-1 mark in the Playoffs
- Want More? Dive into the full series preview for more key storylines, players to watch and X-factors that could swing the series
