Starting 5: Comeback players return, NBA China Games preview

2 superstar returns. 1 epic night. 0s are back.

5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION 🏀

NBA China Games: Everything to know before the Rockets & Mavs square off Friday in Macao

Wednesday Rewind: Hali’s homecoming return, Dame & Ja in Portland, Wilson debuts and more

Thursday Spotlight: Acuff Jr.’s strong start, potential debuts for LeBron & Dybantsa and more

Bucket-Getters: Making the case for 10 players who could compete for this year’s scoring title

Amex Season Previews: Let’s take a look at all five teams in the Northwest Division

BUT FIRST … ⏰

Thursday brings six games, including AJ Dybantsa’s potential preseason debut as the Wizards visit the Knicks on NBA TV (7:30 ET), before the Lakers and Kings square off on ESPN2 (10:30 ET).

Regular Season Countdown: Just 12 days remain until the 2026-27 NBA season begins with an NBC/Peacock tripleheader on Tuesday, Oct. 20.

1. NBA CHINA GAMES 2026: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

The stage is set in Macao.

After three days of fan events, sightseeing and practice, the Rockets and Mavericks are within 24 hours of taking the floor at The Venetian for the first of two NBA China Games, both on NBA TV.

• Friday: Mavericks vs. Rockets (8 a.m. ET, NBA TV)
• Sunday: Rockets vs. Mavericks (6 a.m. ET, NBA TV)

Houston and Dallas each traveled more than 8,000 miles from Texas to Macao for the showcase. And as they prep for the season, the two teams share more than a home state. | Mavs Season Preview | Rockets Season Preview

• Young Building Blocks: Dallas has a budding superstar in Cooper Flagg, coming off a historic Kia Rookie of the Year campaign, while Houston boasts one of the deepest young cores in the league, led by Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson
• Veteran Stars: Alongside that youth are two of the game’s most talented scorers, with 9x All-Star Kyrie Irving returning from an ACL injury for Dallas and 16x All-Star Kevin Durant guiding Houston
• The Next Step: Both teams are looking to climb higher in a loaded West. Dallas aims to return to the Playoffs for the first time since its 2024 Finals run, while Houston looks to make a deeper push after back-to-back First-Round exits

Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images

The NBA China Games are both teams’ first steps in that journey. But before they meet on the hardwood, the Rockets and Mavs have spent the week connecting with fans, giving them a rare chance to see their favorite players up close.

• Picture Packed: After the Mavs took their team photo outside The Venetian on Tuesday, it was the Rockets’ turn yesterday. And once again, fans packed the area to greet the team
• Returning The Favor: KD has been feeling the love all week and took time to show his appreciation Wednesday, signing autographs for a sea of fans decked out in Durant jerseys
• Jokić Challenge: Houston later hit the hardwood for practice, where Sengun and Thompson tried their hand at recreating Nikola Jokić’s viral dime from Sunday
• A Taste Of Macao: Beforehand, Steven Adams and Bogdan Bogdanović explored the streets of Macao, taking in the sights and sampling the local cuisine
• Global Range: Players aren’t the only familiar faces in Macao. Multiple hoops creators have also made the trip, including Lethal Shooter, who showed off his range on an LED court outside The Venetian

Now, it’s time for hoops inside The Venetian (Friday, 8 a.m. ET, NBA TV).

2. WEDNESDAY REWIND: HALI & DAME RETURN, JA DEBUTS & MORE

David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images

The last time Tyrese Haliburton stepped on an NBA floor, he suffered a torn Achilles in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals.

Sixteen months later, he made his return where his NBA dreams took shape: Iowa State’s Hilton Coliseum.

Pacers 123, Wolves 112: Haliburton looked right at home in his old college arena, posting 7 points and 6 assists in 16 minutes as the Pacers pulled away from the Wolves, despite big nights from Anthony Edwards (19 pts, 4 3s) and LaMelo Ball (14 pts, 7 ast, 4 3s). | Recap

• An Ode To Ames: As he was introduced pregame, Haliburton revealed a tribute to his alma mater, swapping his usual No. 0 for the No. 22 he wore in college as the crowd welcomed him with a standing ovation
• “It’s been 472 days since I played a game of basketball,” said Haliburton, addressing the crowd before tip-off. “I wouldn’t want to do it anywhere else but my second home … Iowa State is so special to me.”

And It Was A Special Start: Back in his No. 0, Haliburton wasted little time making his mark, scoring the Pacers’ first points to send Hilton Coliseum into a frenzy.

• All The Feels: The Pacers star added one 3 and two blocks in his 16 minutes, which all came in the 1st half, before embracing his family courtside to cap an emotional night
• “For me,” said Haliburton postgame, “to just be back on the floor is everything.”

Jaden Coleman/NBAE via Getty Images

While Haliburton celebrated his comeback in Iowa, Damian Lillard made his own return from an Achilles injury in Portland, sharing the spotlight with his new co-star Ja Morant.

Blazers 123, Warriors 118: Lillard delivered in his first game back, dropping 15 points in 19 minutes, while Morant added 8 points and 5 dimes in his first game as a Blazer, helping Portland top Miles Kelly (24 pts, 7 reb, 6 ast) and Golden State. | Recap

• He’s Back: Playing in his first game as a Blazer since 2023, Lillard sank his opening shot of the night: a 3 that brought Portland to its feet
• He’s Balling: The franchise’s all-time leading scorer finished with three triples, while Deni Avdija netted a game-high 23 points

Bulls 124, Suns 117: No. 4 overall pick Caleb Wilson paced Chicago with 15 points in his first preseason action, while Matas Buzelis, Norm Powell and two other Bulls scored 14 apiece, rallying past Dillon Brooks (24 pts) and the Suns. | Recap

Bucks 128, Thunder 126: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander didn’t miss a shot in his preseason debut (17 pts, 5 ast, 5-5 FG, 4-4 FTs, 3 3s), while rookies Aday Mara (22 pts, 6 reb, 10-10 FG) and Bennett Stirtz (20 pts, 5 reb, 4 3s) showed out for the second straight night.

But Milwaukee was too much, as Myles Turner (19 pts, 5 reb) and Kel’el Ware (18 pts, 12 reb) led seven Bucks in double figures to edge out OKC. | Recap

Magic 122, Grizzlies 118: Tristan da Silva (19 pts, 5 reb) and Paolo Banchero (11 pts, 5 ast) helped Orlando build an early lead before the Magic held on late to win their preseason opener, despite another strong showing from Memphis’ No. 3 overall pick, Cameron Boozer. | Recap

3. TONIGHT: KINGS & LAKERS RUN IT BACK ON ESPN2, MORE POTENTIAL DEBUTS

Thearon W. Henderson + Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images

Darius Acuff Jr. only needed 90 seconds on Monday to show what made him so special at Arkansas last season.

It started with a 94-foot challenge. On the Kings’ third possession of the preseason, their No. 7 overall pick was picked up full-court.

Two shakes later, Acuff was finishing at the rim. It was Sacramento’s first bucket of the preseason, opening a 17-point 1st half for the rookie against Luka Dončić’s Lakers.

Los Angeles came out with the win, but both guards left their mark. And tonight, they run it back as the Kings visit the Lakers on ESPN2 (10:30 ET).

• Rewind: Acuff finished his preseason debut with 19 points, while Dončić was just as sharp, dropping 21 and 3 dimes before halftime
• Meet The Rook: As the reigning scoring champ, Luka’s 21 felt almost routine. But who was trading buckets with the six-time All-Star? For college hoops fans, the 19-year-old needs little introduction
• Rare Air: As a freshman with the Razorbacks, Acuff earned SEC Player of the Year, joining Pete Maravich as the only players to lead the conference in points and assists in the same season
• And He Was Electric: “He’s a walking bucket,” said ESPN analyst Jay Bilas to Yahoo Sports. “You watch him in person and you’re like, ‘My God, who’s going to stop this guy?’”

Thearon W. Henderson + Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images

Now, in Sacramento, Doug Christie is seeing it up close.

The Kings head coach knows a thing or two about guard play after 15 NBA seasons and four All-Defensive Team selections. And he likes what he sees from his new playmaker.

• “He’s special, man,” said Christie of Acuff after practice Tuesday, via KCRA-TV. “He processes the game. He understands angles. Understands when to shoot, when to pass … that’s really high-level. It’s an honor to coach him.”

Stephen Gosling + Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images

Acuff may not be the only top pick to watch tonight.

AJ Dybantsa, this year’s No. 1 overall selection, could potentially make his preseason debut as the Wizards visit the defending champion Knicks on NBA TV (7:30 ET).

• “He’s ready for it,” said Anthony Davis, another former No. 1 pick, of Dybantsa at Media Day. “He’s got all the tools to be successful in this league. He’s a very special talent.”

More Potential First Looks: While the Wizards visit MSG, could we see LeBron James in Brooklyn? The Sixers visit the Nets on League Pass (7:30 ET), with James still awaiting his first preseason action with Philly.

Also on League Pass: The West champion Spurs open their preseason against the Hawks (8 ET), while Celtics-Cavs (7 ET) and Pelicans-Heat (7:30 ET) round out the night.

4. TEN PLAYERS TO WATCH FOR THE ’26-27 SCORING TITLE

Melina Pizano/NBAE via Getty Images

The objective of basketball is simple: score more points than your opponent.

In a league featuring some of the world’s best athletes, plenty have mastered that art. But only one can win the NBA scoring title.

As 2026-27 approaches, NBA.com’s Ian Dardani makes the case for 10 players who could take the crown this season. Below is a peek at half of them, starting with the reigning champ.

Luka Dončić: “Dončić posted a whopping 33.5 ppg [last season]. He also led the NBA with 44 games of 30-plus points and 16 of 40-plus … Now, following LeBron James’ departure, he enters the season with a Lakers roster reshaped around his skill set.”

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: “Wilt [Chamberlain’s] streak of 126 consecutive 20-plus point games stood for 63 years until SGA broke it last March … Even more impressive? He finished as the scoring title runner-up despite sitting out 26 4th quarters.”

Anthony Edwards: “A walking highlight, Edwards’ athleticism makes him must-see TV. But he’s become a top-echelon scorer by steadily improving his outside shot.”

Nikola Jokić: “Jokić’s passing gets so much attention that his scoring can feel like an afterthought. That’s scary when you consider he averaged 27.7 ppg last season, eighth in the NBA, while shooting 56.9% from the field.”

Victor Wembanyama: “He is unlike anything we’ve ever seen, and can seemingly do it all. So, why can’t Victor Wembanyama win a scoring title?” | Read More

5. AMEX SEASON PREVIEWS: NORTHWEST DIVISION SPOTLIGHT

Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images

Our division-by-division tour of the 2026-27 Amex Season Previews continues with the Northwest, featuring established contenders, revamped challengers and promising young talent.

NBA.com’s Steve Aschburner breaks down all five teams – including their season outlooks, potential breakout candidates and must-see matchups – with a glimpse of each preview below:

Jazz: “Utah [grabbed] Kansas guard Darryn Peterson in the Draft, adding a play-ready talent to a young group that has been ripening since the team’s last playoff appearance in 2022.” | Read More

Nuggets: “Denver has high hopes again this season, reasonable enough for a team that boasts arguably the NBA’s top player in Nikola Jokić, as well as battle-tested cohorts Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon.” | Read More

Thunder: “The Thunder have company and find themselves vying with the San Antonio Spurs for present and future dominance in the Western Conference.” | Read More

Patrick McDermott + Cameron Browne/NBAE via Getty Images

Timberwolves: “[LaMelo] Ball is a professional playmaker … and in terms of career sweet spots, he is perfectly in sync with star Anthony Edwards. Both are 25, in their early primes, to keep hope alive that the Wolves can break through.” | Read More

Trail Blazers: “The Trail Blazers poked above .500 last season and ended their four-year playoff drought. But they’ll need to be even better against West competition that looks to be dialed up for 2026-27.” | Read More

Want to share Starting 5 with a friend? Send them this link.

Shape the Starting 5.  Email us here.

Don’t have the NBA App? Download it here.