Hey, Steph – who’s ready for more hoops tonight?
5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION 🏀
Oct. 6, 2025
Sunday Spotlight: New glue guy in Golden State, same old Steph, classic OKC depth and a Knueppel spark
New Cores Collide: Two revamped contenders clash as the Rockets host the Hawks
New Era In Dallas: AD & Cooper Flagg lead a retooled Mavs squad into 2025-26
More Monday Matchups: Pistons-Grizz, Bucks-Heat, NBA Canada Series and a Wemby return?
Just The Start: 2 showcases done, NBA China Games & 1st Peacock preseason game next
BUT FIRST … ⏰
Debut Day…
Eight NBA teams begin preseason play tonight, setting up the potential for a few highly anticipated debuts.
Could we see KD’s preseason opener with the Rockets as they face the Hawks (8 ET, League Pass) or perhaps Cooper Flagg’s first run with the Mavs as they host the Thunder? (8:30 ET, NBA TV)
Vegas Up 2-0 In W Finals: Led by Jackie Young (32 pts) and A’ja Wilson (28 pts, 14 ast), the Aces outlasted the Mercury 91-78 in Game 2 of the WNBA Finals to take a 2-0 series lead.
1. SUNDAY SPOTLIGHT: WARRIORS & THUNDER ROLL
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This Just In: Steph Curry is still a problem.
Warriors 111, Lakers 103: Steph splashed three triples en route to 14 points in 15 minutes – and his hot hand proved contagious, with Moses Moody going 5-of-7 from deep for a game-high 19 as the Warriors held off the Lakers. | Recap
- Full Strength Flash: Entering their first full season together, Curry, Jimmy Butler III (9 pts, 4 reb, 2 ast) and Draymond Green (2 pts, 5 ast) powered a 21-6 Dubs run to take control early
- Do-It-All Al: Meanwhile, Golden State’s newly-signed vet Al Horford was doing what he does best – whatever’s needed (3 pts, 4 reb, 3 ast, 1 stl, 3 blk)
- Laker Leaders: Gabe Vincent (16 pts, 5 ast) paced Los Angeles in scoring, while summer signee Deandre Ayton made his presence felt inside (7 pts, 7 reb, 2 blk)
- Highlight House: Bronny James elevated for a one-handed putback slam, but the play of the night was this ~ pure Warriors basketball ~ tic-tac-toe fastbreak
Kent Smith + Brock Williams-Smith/NBAE via Getty Images
Thunder 135, Hornets 114: Kon Knueppel shined in his preseason debut, dropping a team-high 18 points on four 3s, but Aaron Wiggins (23 pts, 6 ast) and Chris Youngblood (20 pts, 5 3s) were too much for Charlotte as OKC earned a wire-to-wire win. | Recap
- Never-Ending Storm: Even without their core rotation, the defending champs flexed their depth, with seven players scoring in double figures
- Topić Time: That included their 2024 lottery pick Nikola Topić (10 pts, 7 ast, 4 reb), who flashed his playmaking after missing last season with a torn ACL
- Back Ballin’: LaMelo Ball added 11 points and 3 assists for Charlotte, showing few signs of rust on this combo step-back triple… off one leg
2. NEW CORES BEGIN TITLE HUNT AS HOUSTON HOSTS ATLANTA
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Hours before the 2024-25 champion was crowned, news broke that would reshape the 2025-26 landscape: Kevin Durant was headed to Houston in a historic seven-team trade.
Tonight (8 ET, League Pass), we could see Durant take the floor for the first time in Rockets red as they host the Hawks in prime time.
- “It felt organic and natural coming into the gym, being a Houston Rocket for the first time,” said Durant at Media Day. “I’ve always had respect for this coaching staff, this fanbase, this state, this city. So it felt right.”
Blast-off: After missing the postseason in 2023-24, Houston rocketed to the West’s No. 2 seed last year behind one of the league’s brightest young cores – but fell to Golden State in the First Round.
This summer, the front office took a championship swing, sending Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks and future picks to Phoenix to land Durant.
Now, all eyes are on how the league’s 8th all-time leading scorer fits alongside Amen Thompson and Alperen Sengun – a trio blending buckets, burst and balance.
- “Unique skillsets, body types I’ve never played with before,” Durant said of his new co-stars. “Amen being a do-everything, athletic, 6-7 freak of nature…
- “And then Sengun … that skillset on the offensive side – I just can’t wait to see how we come together.”
Kenneth Richmond/NBAE via Getty Images
The Rockets’ rise coincided with breakout campaigns from Thompson and Sengun.
- Thompson, 22, put it all together as a two-way force, earning First-Team All-Defense while averaging a career-high 14.1 ppg – including dunks like this
- Sengun, 23, flourished as a playmaker, averaging 19+ points, 9+ rebounds and 4+ dimes for the second straight season – culminating in his first All-Star nod
But Houston often didn’t have have an offensive answer late, as its offense dipped 8.6 points per 100 possessions in clutch situations – the fifth-largest drop-off in the NBA.
Enter Durant, a four-time scoring champ and two-time Finals MVP who’s averaged 25+ points on over 50% shooting in each of the past 12 seasons.
- “I’m really excited to play with him,” said Sengun on KD. “Learn from him – and win games with him.”
Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images
Houston’s first test comes against another team aiming to take the next step – the revamped Hawks, led by Trae Young, Jalen Johnson and new addition Kristaps Porziņģis.
- Unicorn: Only one player shot over 40% from deep while averaging 1.5+ blocks last season – Porziņģis, who couples his rare versatility with championship experience from Boston
- And KP’s Eager To Play With Trae: “There aren’t many guys who have that kind of offensive talent,” said Porziņģis on Young, who’s coming off his second straight All-Star selection. “I think he’s going to be super fun to play with.”
- More Moves: Atlanta also added defensive ace Nickeil Alexander-Walker to pair with 2024-25 steals leader Dyson Daniels while bringing in sharpshooter Luke Kennard from Memphis, building balance for a deeper postseason push | Read More
3. NEW ERA BEGINS: MAVS OPEN PRESEASON TONIGHT vs. THUNDER
One blockbuster trade, several late-season injuries and a No. 1 pick later, the Mavericks have reached the forefront of a new era.
Their game has changed. That begins with a game-changing player in Cooper Flagg.
- Raise The Flagg: The 6-foot-8, 205-pound forward and former Naismith College Player of the Year can make his preseason debut tonight against OKC (8:30 ET, NBA TV)
- Summer Snapshot: He offered a brief glimpse of his highly-touted talents back in July, averaging 20.5 points and 5.0 rebounds through two Summer League contests
- “It’s just about being myself, really. Just going through it and not changing for anybody,” Flagg said at Media Day of his rookie campaign
Elsewhere in Dallas’ frontcourt, Anthony Davis is fully available after playing nine games last season following the Feb. 2 trade.
- The Ballin’ Brow: When healthy, Davis was an imposing force in 2024-25, averaging 24.7 points and 11.6 rebounds per game while becoming an All-Star for the 10th time
Sam Hodde/NBAE via Getty Images
D’Angelo Russell will take up the reins at point guard as Kyrie Irving recovers from a torn ACL. And he’s just one crucial cog of what the Mavericks hope will be a winning machine.
- Plug ‘N’ Play: The 11-year veteran had reduced roles with the Lakers and Nets last season, but submitted 18.0 ppg and 6.3 apg as a starter in 2023-24
- “You look at a team that has 12 or 13 of the returning guys from last year, and you plug in someone like myself,” Russell said at Media Day. “I think I can just only help.”
- Seasoned Sophomore: Klay Thompson enters his second year in Dallas after shooting 39.1% from 3-point land last season – an improvement from 38.1% the year before
On the other side, OKC eyes its second win in two days, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren potentially making their preseason debuts.
4. FIVE MORE SQUADS OPEN PRESEASON PLAY ON LEAGUE PASS
At the 2025 All-Star break, Victor Wembanyama was averaging 24.3 points, 3.1 triples and 3.8 blocks through 46 games – numbers no player had ever matched in a single NBA season.
But on Feb. 20, Wemby’s unprecedented sophomore campaign was cut short by a blood clot diagnosis – a scare that changed his perspective and sparked a worldwide summer of reflection, recovery and relentless training.
Now, the 21-year-old superstar returns bigger, stronger and more focused than ever.
- “It was traumatic,” Wemby said of the diagnosis. “But in the long run, I think it will be very beneficial … I can assure you nobody has trained like I did this summer … I feel better, I look stronger … everything is a green light.”
Tonight (8 ET, League Pass), Wemby’s Spurs open the preseason against China’s Guangzhou Loong Lions, with fans getting their first look at an even deeper young San Antonio core.
- Homegrown Hits: After producing the last two Kia Rookies of the Year – Wemby and Stephon Castle – the Spurs made another top-five selection this June in Dylan Harper (No. 2 overall), a combo guard who popped in the 2K26 Summer League
- Silver Fox: Guiding the Castle-Harper backcourt is a seasoned running mate in All-Star De’Aaron Fox – entering his first full season with the Spurs, eager to help accelerate their climb | Read More
Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images
Like Wemby, Giannis Antetokounmpo is also coming off a historic campaign – or should we say, campaigns?
- Double Dominance: In 2023-24, Giannis became the first player ever to average 30+ ppg on over 60% shooting. Last season, he did it again
- But 2025-26 Looks Different: While Giannis shows no signs of slowing down, he’ll have a new supporting cast around him, headlined by Damian Lillard’s departure and the signing of longtime Pacer Myles Turner | Read More
- Tonight (7:30 ET, LP), the retooled Bucks open their preseason against the Heat, who look to rebound from Saturday’s loss to Orlando
Three more squads begin preseason play tonight on League Pass, including the Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram-led Raptors, who take on the Nuggets in Vancouver in the NBA Canada Series (10 ET).
- Home-Country Advantage: Toronto has appeared in 14 of the first 19 games of the NBA Canada Series and carries a 12-2 record into tonight, including six straight wins
- North Pride: The matchup will feature a trio of Canadians playing on home soil in the Nuggets’ Jamal Murray and Raptors’ RJ Barrett and A.J. Lawson
- Meanwhile in Memphis, Cade Cunningham and the Pistons tip off their preseason against Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr. and the Grizzlies (7:30 ET)
5. ABU DHABI & MELBOURNE WRAP-UP, PLUS WHAT’S NEXT
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The sun has set on the Abu Dhabi Games and Mebourne Series.
In case you missed it, here’s what to know about preseason openers abroad:
- New York, New York: The Knicks defeated the 76ers twice in Abu Dhabi, first on Thursday by a 99-84 score, then by way of a 113-104 result on Saturday
- Back At It: In that latter contest, Jalen Brunson hit the hardwood for the first time since the East Finals, putting up a team-high 14 points in a sneak peek for Year 8
- Dunking Down Under: Also undefeated overseas was New Orleans, which solved Melbourne United, 107-97, on Friday and SE Melbourne Phoenix, 127-92, on Saturday
- Dreams Were Realized: A VJ Edgecombe enthusiast in Abu Dhabi got to meet the man himself, while over in Australia, a cancer survivor crossed paths with Zion Williamson
Layne Murdoch Jr./NBAE via Getty Images
After a history-making week on the international stage, even more is on the way.
- NBA China Games: The Nets and Suns meet in a pair of showdowns in Macao on Friday (8 am ET) and Sunday (7 am ET), with both games on NBA TV
- New Beginnings: Tuesday’s preseason meeting between the Bulls and Cavaliers – set for a 7 ET tipoff – will be the first-ever NBA game streamed on Peacock, its first of two exclusive preseason matchups
- An ESPN doubleheader is also in the cards this Sunday, as the Cavs visit the Celtics (7 ET), before the Nuggets face the Clippers (9:30 ET)
