James Harden scored 20 of his 24 points in the first half against the Magic.
Eight days out. A whole season in sight.
Spida’s got his eyes on the regular season, which tips off Tuesday, Oct. 20, with an NBC/Peacock tripleheader.
5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION 🏀
A Week Of Firsts: Debuts, new pairings and marquee returns highlighted the first week of preseason
Sunday Night Spotlight: Jokić triple-doubles, Wilson shines again, Harden heats up, Hornets roll
Ayo’s Impact: How Dosunmu is bringing a new edge to the Wolves, who face the Knicks tonight
Reasons For Optimism: Why every East team has reason to believe entering 2026-27
League Pass Watch List: Fifteen early-season matchups to circle on your calendar
BUT FIRST … ⏰
Monday means more hoops…
Monday brings five matchups, including the Wolves visiting the Knicks on NBA TV (7:30 ET).
Regular Season Countdown: The regular season is just over a week out, starting on Tuesday, Oct. 20, with an NBC/Peacock tripleheader.
- Celtics at Pistons (3 ET)
- 76ers at Knicks (7 ET)
- Thunder at Spurs (9:30 ET)
1. A WEEK OF FIRSTS: PRESEASON DEBUTS & ANTICIPATED RETURNS
Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images
The regular season is just eight days away, but the first full week of preseason action brought no shortage of big moments.
That included a slew of first looks, from familiar faces in new places to long-awaited returns.
Sixers Star Power: A new era has begun in Philly, and fans got their first glimpse at the team’s new starting five on Thursday, when LeBron James made his Sixers debut alongside Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid and VJ Edgecombe.
- Instant Impact: James wasted no time getting his teammates involved, dishing out 5 1st-quarter assists en route to 10 points, 4 boards and 5 dimes in the first half.
Gary Dineen + Minas Panagiotakis/NBAE via Getty Images
New Duos: Early chemistry has also been on display in Minnesota between LaMelo Ball and Anthony Edwards, while Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo have been clicking in Miami.
- Double Trouble: The Wolves are 2-1 entering tonight’s matchup against the Knicks (7:30 ET, NBA TV), with Edwards leading the team in points (16.5 ppg) and Ball pacing the team in assists (5.0 apg)
- Miami Muscle: Giannis has been a force for the Heat, including an 18-point 1st half in his last outing and a left-handed poster
David Sherman + Soobum Im/NBAE via Getty Images
Welcome Back: While new faces and pairings have generated plenty of buzz, the preseason has also brought emotional returns, highlighted by Tyrese Haliburton’s homecoming at Iowa State.
- Full Circle: 472 days after tearing his Achilles in Game 7 of the 2025 Finals, Haliburton returned to action in front of a sold-out crowd at his former college arena, posting 7 points and 6 dimes in 16 minutes as Indy beat Minnesota
- “I wouldn’t want to do it anywhere else but my second home,” said Haliburton of his return, addressing the crowd pregame. “Iowa State is so special to me.”
- Dame Time In Portland: Damian Lillard made his return from a 2025 Achilles tear that same night, scoring 15 points in his first game as a Blazer since 2023, while Ja Morant saw his first action in a Portland uniform
- “It felt like I was back where I belong,” said Lillard postgame. “Back home.”
- Also Back? Kyrie Irving, who, 19 months after tearing his ACL, returned for Dallas on Sunday, leading the Mavs to a win (17 pts in 22 mins) in the second of two NBA China Games in Macao
Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images
2. SUNDAY NIGHT SPOTLIGHT: JOKIĆ & WILSON DUEL, CAVS & HORNETS ROLL
Hours after the Mavs and Rockets wrapped up NBA China Games 2026 in Macao, three more preseason matchups tipped off Sunday night.
That included a showdown between this year’s No. 4 pick and a three-time Kia MVP.
Nuggets 133, Bulls 128: After dropping 21 points on Friday, Caleb Wilson shined again for Chicago (17 pts, 4 reb, 5 ast) and beat the buzzer before halftime to put the Bulls up 68-59.
But Nikola Jokić and the Nuggets answered with a 40-26 3rd quarter, as Jokić completed a triple-double (22 pts, 11 reb, 10 ast), before Denver held on in the 4th. | Recap
- Trading Takeoffs: Aaron Gordon (team-high 25 pts, 6 reb) slipped past Wilson to rock the rim, but the rookie answered right back, soaring down the lane for a two-handed hammer of his own
- Joker Being Joker: Jokić got in on the highlights with an overhand dime to Gordon from underneath Denver’s basket. The Joker finished the night 8-of-12 from the field, joining seven other Nuggets in double figures
- Bulls Buckets: Leonard Miller led Chicago with a game-high 26 points, including 14 in the 2nd half, as a late Bulls push fell just short
Cavaliers 119, Magic 105: James Harden netted 20 of his 24 points in the 1st half, Evan Mobley controlled the interior (14 pts, 7 reb, 2 blk) and the Cavs earned a near wire-to-wire win over Tristan da Silva (17 pts, 4 3s) and the Magic. | Recap
- Two-Way Plays: Mobley, the 2024-25 Kia Defensive Player of the Year, got up for a big-time block, while Donovan Mitchell (11 pts, 6 ast) threaded the needle to set up a Mario Hezonja jam
Hornets 105, Bucks 90: How will Naz Reid fit in with Charlotte? On Sunday, the early signs looked promising, as the newly acquired Hornet dropped 16 points in 20 minutes.
Brandon Miller added to the attack in his first preseason outing, scoring a team-high 18 points while adding 4 dimes, as the Hornets outpaced Tyler Herro (18 pts, 7 reb) and the Bucks. | Recap
3. TONIGHT: WOLVES VISIT KNICKS ON NBA TV, PLUS AYO’S EDGE
Tyler Clouse + Sarah Stier/NBAE via Getty Images
There’s a new energy in Minnesota. Tonight, the Wolves bring it to Madison Square Garden to face the defending champion Knicks (7:30 ET, NBA TV).
Much of that buzz surrounds Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball, who have already flashed their chemistry this preseason. But another member of Minnesota’s backcourt has helped set the tone: Ayo Dosunmu.
The Athletic’s Jon Krawczynski examines how Dosunmu is bringing toughness and leadership to the Wolves, including his efforts to push Edwards to another level:
“Throughout much of the summer, and for the entirety of the fall, Anthony Edwards could feel a different energy when he showed up for work at the Minnesota Timberwolves’ practice facility.
As the unquestioned face of the franchise, Edwards has the run of the place. His voice is often the loudest. His swagger is unmatched, and often unchallenged. Until recently.
Every time Edwards stepped on the court for an open run, and every time the team has gone at it during training camp, Ayo Dosunmu has been right in Edwards’ grille.” | Read More
Four more games get underway on League Pass, starting at 4 ET, when Ja Morant, Damian Lillard and the Blazers host the London Lions, the reigning back-to-back champions of England’s Super League Basketball.
Plus, this year’s No. 1 pick, AJ Dybantsa, is potentially back in action as the Wizards host the Nets (7 ET).
- Thunder at Hawks (7 ET)
- Spurs at Jazz (9 ET)
4. SCHUHMANN’S REASONS FOR OPTIMISM: EAST SPOTLIGHT
Lauren Leigh Bacho + Sarah Stier/NBAE via Getty Images
A new season brings new possibilities.
From fresh faces and emerging young talent to renewed championship aspirations, every team has reasons to be optimistic entering 2026-27.
As part of the Amex Season Preview, NBA.com’s John Schuhmann identified one of those reasons for all 30 teams. Today, we spotlight his optimistic perspectives in the East, with a quick look at four teams.
Hawks: “They were 27-14 with CJ McCollum in the lineup last season, then won more playoff games vs. the Knicks (2) than the Sixers, Cavs and Spurs combined.”
Cavaliers: “Peyton Watson might be the missing ingredient for a talented team that reached the conference finals in May.”
Bucks: “The seeds of future success have been planted, with the Bucks having six guys who were selected in the top 20 in the last five drafts.”
Wizards: “AJ Dybantsa is a future star, and the combination of Trae Young and Anthony Davis could make this the best Wizards season in several years.” | Read More
5. FIFTEEN EARLY MUST-SEE MATCHUPS ON LEAGUE PASS
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Mark your calendars. The 2026-27 season is nearly here, and the first two months are packed with must-see action on League Pass.
With so much on tap, NBA.com’s Shaun Powell highlighted 15 games to circle from the start of the regular season through New Year’s Eve. Below is a look at the first three…
Oct. 25: Pistons vs. Sixers (7:30 ET): “Philadelphia will open at home against the team with the best record in the East last season. It won’t be simple for the recharged Sixers to snatch that designation from Cade Cunningham and the Pistons, but the first hints will be dropped right away.”
David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images
Oct. 31: Wolves vs. Spurs (8 ET): “A group of players from each of these teams spent a portion of the summer training in Paris. That’s the benefit of having Victor Wembanyama (Spurs) and Rudy Gobert (Wolves) as teammates.
Those groups didn’t meet up at the Louvre, but will see each other in San Antonio on Halloween, supplying a Western Conference treat.”
Nov. 5: Heat vs. Warriors (10 ET): “Giannis Antetokounmpo was rumored to get traded to several teams last summer, the Warriors among them. Well, as we know now, he took his talents elsewhere.
Still, this is a delicious test against Stephen Curry and especially Draymond Green; the elite defender will have his hands full against Giannis or Bam Adebayo, pick your poison.” | Read More
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