Starting 5: Kawhi Leonard shines in preseason return to Toronto

Kawhi Leonard in a familiar uniform, from a familiar corner, with a familiar bounce.

The Klaw is back in the Six, and some things never change.

5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION 🏀

Court Vision: A closer look at the inspiration and details behind all 30 NBA Cup court designs

Tuesday’s Best: Kawhi drops 21 in 17 minutes, Haliburton heats up but OKC prevails in OT

Roundup: Warriors rally in Vegas, Paolo & Franz cook, Blazers stars shine

On NBA TV: DeMar & Kyrie bring their signature styles into new chapters

On League Pass: Dylan Harper eyes the next step as the Spurs host the Suns

BUT FIRST … ⏰

Seven games get underway tonight, including an NBA TV doubleheader as the Mavericks host the Pelicans (8 ET), before the Nuggets visit the Clippers (10:30 ET).

WNBA Finals Schedule Update: Games 3 & 4 of the WNBA Finals between the Golden State Valkyries and Atlanta Dream will be played at Atlanta’s State Farm Arena. Game 3 has moved to Oct. 21 (8 ET), while Game 4 remains on Oct. 24 with a new tip-off time (1 ET). | Read More

NBA ID Member Days return on Thursday and Friday (Oct. 15-16), giving NBA ID members free access to stream up to 14 preseason games on League Pass. Don’t have an NBA ID? Sign up for free now.

Regular Season Countdown: The regular season is just six days away, starting with an NBC/Peacock tripleheader on Tuesday, Oct. 20.

1. INSIDE ALL 30 EMIRATES NBA CUP COURT DESIGNS

On Tuesday, the NBA unveiled all 30 court designs for the Emirates NBA Cup 2026, bringing a fresh wave of color to the hardwood ahead of the fourth annual in-season tournament.

These courts will be featured during Group Play, the Quarterfinals and Semifinals, creating a bold and unified look for Emirates NBA Cup games.

But there’s more to these floors than eye-popping color.

• Nike “End of Ordinary” Inspiration: Inspired by Nike Basketball’s 2026 Standard Issue Collection, the courts extend the collection’s bold design approach to the playing surface, creating a connected look across the league
• Making A Statement: Oversized team wordmarks appear on both sides of the floor, while the court colors contrast with each home team’s Statement Edition uniforms
• Front & Center: Each court features the host team’s logo layered over the Emirates NBA Cup trophy at center court, with the trophy also appearing in the paint
• Personal Touches: Teams customized their out-of-bounds areas with unique details, from Boston’s signature parquet pattern and Indiana’s state outline to team-specific slogans
• The Championship Chase: The NBA Cup tagline “30 Teams. 8 Advance. 1 Champion.” also appears near the corner 3-point line of every floor

The new courts debut on Friday, Oct. 30, when Group Play opens with a 10-game slate, including a Prime Video doubleheader that will feature the Knicks visiting the Sixers (7:30 ET) and the Lakers facing the Warriors (10 ET). | Full NBA Cup Schedule

• The Road To The Cup: Eight teams will advance to the single-elimination Knockout Rounds, beginning with the Quarterfinals on Dec. 4 & 5, before the NBA Cup Championship on Dec. 11 at the historic Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis
• How It All Works: See all six groups and get a refresher on the in-season tournament format here

2. TUESDAY’S BEST: KAWHI SHINES IN TORONTO, OKC OVERCOMES HALI

The last time Kawhi Leonard suited up for the Raptors was Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals, when he helped Toronto capture its first title.

On Tuesday, he was back in Raptors colors for the first time in seven years, and it appears the rims in the Six remember him fondly.

Raptors 148, Knicks 98: Leonard needed just 17 minutes to rack up 21 points, 5 boards, 2 steals and 4 triples, including a familiar bounce on a corner 3 from nearly the same spot where he hit his legendary Game 7 buzzer-beater against Philly in 2019.

Scottie Barnes also stuffed the stat sheet (19 pts, 6 reb, 2 stl, 1 blk) as Toronto raced past New York for the win. | Recap

• Welcome Back, Klaw: Leonard received a standing ovation from the Toronto crowd during pregame introductions, then quickly knocked down a 3 for his first bucket ⬆️
• 1st-Half Flurry: He finished 4-for-8 from deep, scoring all 21 of his points before halftime to help Toronto build an 86-47 lead at the break
• Classic Kawhi: Asked if the friendly bounce brought back any déjà vu, Leonard said postgame: “No, not at all. A lot of my shots do that.” 😂

Zach Beeker + William Purnell/NBAE via Getty Images

Sixteen months ago, Tyrese Haliburton tore his Achilles at the Paycom Center in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals.

Last night, he returned to that same floor and reminded everyone what he’s capable of when healthy.

Thunder 114, Pacers 112 (OT): Back in OKC, Haliburton put on a show (24 pts, 3 ast, 2 blk, 4 3s), dueling with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (15 pts, 6 ast) in the 1st half.

But the Thunder prevailed, as Indiana’s Kobe Brown forced OT with a late game-tying layup, before Zhaire Smith hit consecutive jumpers in the extra frame to put OKC ahead for good. | Recap

• Thunder Rally: Jared McCain paced OKC with 20 points and six treys, while Jalen Williams added 16 as the Thunder erased a 20-point, 2nd-quarter deficit to get the win

3. ROUNDUP: DUBS ROAR BACK, MAGIC & BLAZERS ROLL

Speaking of 20-point rallies…

Warriors 101, Lakers 89: Austin Reaves erupted for 28 points and 7 dimes in 25 minutes, but Brandin Podziemski and Yaxel Lendeborg scored 17 apiece, fueling a 51-26 2nd half for the Dubs, who erased a 20-point deficit to beat the Lakers in Las Vegas. | Recap

• Sticky Fingers: De’Anthony Melton had six steals for Golden State, including this insane one-handed snag leading to a fastbreak bucket
• Rookie Rolling: Lendeborg, the No. 11 overall pick and 2026 Summer League MVP, has now scored 17+ points in each of his last three games

Magic 132, Cavaliers 116: Paolo Banchero (24 pts, 8 reb, 10-for-13 FG) and Franz Wagner (20 pts, 8 ast, 7-for-10 FG) each missed just three shots en route to 20-pieces, as the Magic never trailed in a win over Donovan Mitchell (15 pts, 8 ast) and the Cavs. | Recap

Blazers 110, Kings 98: Last year, Deni Avdija earned his first All-Star nod. Last night, he looked the part (26 pts, 9 reb, 4 ast), leading the Blazers past the Kings alongside Ja Morant (6 ast) and Damian Lillard (4 ast), who each added 14 points. | Recap

• And what’s a Blazers win without a highlight from Morant? ⬇️

4. TONIGHT ON NBA TV: PELICANS-MAVS, NUGGETS-CLIPPERS

Zhizhao Wu + Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images

Scoring the basketball is an art form. And like any art, it comes in all different mediums: from raw power at the rim to impossible range from deep. But some of the most gifted scorers have a way of making the game entirely their own.

Just ask DeMar DeRozan and Kyrie Irving, two offensive artists whose signature styles are as distinctive as they are effective.

One is a master of the midrange. The other, a wizard with the ball in his hands. Both have spent their careers making difficult shots look effortless.

Tonight, both could take the floor on NBA TV, bringing their unique styles into a new season with new opportunities ahead.

• Pelicans at Mavericks (8 ET)
• Nuggets at Clippers (10:30 ET)

Dustin Bradford/NBAE via Getty Images

DeMar’s Fuel: DeRozan enters Year 18 as one of the game’s most accomplished active players. He is a six-time All-Star, the Raptors’ all-time leading scorer and 16th on the NBA’s all-time scoring list.

But one thing has eluded him: the Larry O’Brien Trophy.

Now, after missing the Playoffs the last two years in Sacramento, DeRozan enters a new chapter in Denver – with his sights set on the ultimate prize.

• “My mindset is to win,” DeRozan said at Media Day. “Go out there and compete … help this team in whatever way possible to win.”

DeRozan’s shotmaking could help replace some of the scoring lost with the Nuggets’ offseason departures of Peyton Watson, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Bruce Brown.

But his offensive arsenal goes beyond getting buckets.

• Playmaking Presence: DeRozan is one of just five active players to tally 25,000+ points and 5,000+ assists – joining LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Steph Curry and James Harden – and has averaged 5.3 assists per game since 2018-19
• “He can score the ball … but I think he’s an underrated passer, too,” said Nikola Jokić at Media Day
• “I think he’s gonna maybe love to play with us, and play our style of basketball … and maybe bring some new ideas to our normal system.”

Zhizhao Wu/NBAE via Getty Images

Kyrie’s Comeback: Irving will also look to provide a boost in Dallas after missing last season with an ACL injury.

But even from the sidelines, the 14-year vet and 2016 NBA champion found ways to contribute, helping guide Cooper Flagg, a fellow No. 1 overall pick whose NBA journey was just beginning.

• “We have a lot of young guys, including Cooper, that have a world of talent,” said Irving at Media Day. “But [they] need that guidance, need that leadership, and I feel I tried to fill in that void as much as possible.”

Then came Sunday in Macao.

Back on the floor for the first time in 586 days, Irving immediately reminded fans of his scoring brilliance, pouring in 17 points in 22 minutes to help lift Dallas past Houston in the second NBA China Game.

• “It was just impressive – his physical condition, his mental condition,” said Mavs coach Dusty May of the performance. “He’s an artist. He’s a jazz musician.”

But for Irving, this stage of his career is about more than buckets.

• “When you love what you do every day, it doesn’t feel like a job,” said Irving postgame. “Basketball has rewarded me beyond measure … it’s about legacy … the purpose is bigger now. The next generation is watching.”

5. ON LEAGUE PASS: HARPER EYES NEXT STEP AS SPURS HOST SUNS

Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images

Since 1980, only two rookies have averaged 15+ points per game in an NBA Finals: Magic Johnson and Dylan Harper.

Coming off the bench, Harper elevated his game on basketball’s biggest stage, averaging 18.5 ppg in the 2026 Finals, second only to Victor Wembanyama (26 ppg) on the Spurs.

Now, as San Antonio hosts Phoenix tonight on League Pass (8 ET), Harper is looking to take another step in Year 2.

And in his first preseason start, the 20-year-old showed why he may be ready for more than just an expanded role, writes The Athletic’s Jared Weiss:

“He looked like the next evolution of someone poised to become one of the most complete guards in the NBA.

“Harper came out and put on a show as the starting point guard, scoring a game-high 16 points and dishing four assists in the first half…

“Though he still showed the stampeding downhill drive game that opened eyes across the league in the playoffs, he also looked comfortable sitting back in his pull-up game. That is a significant development …” | Read More

Four more games tip off tonight on League Pass, including another potential look at LaMelo Ball and Anthony Edwards sharing a backcourt as the Wolves face the Pistons (8 ET).

• Nets at Heat (7:30 ET)
• Hornets at Celtics (7:30 ET)
• Bulls at Bucks (8 ET)

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