The NBA wrapped up its preseason on Friday with a 12-game slate, showcasing many highlights before the regular season begins on Tuesday, October 20, 2026. The night featured standout performances, ensuring an exciting lead-up to the start of the 2026-27 season.
Read More
In a thrilling overtime matchup, the Boston Celtics defeated the Philadelphia 76ers, 125-120, completing the preseason with an impressive 4-0 record. Highlighting Boston's comeback was Hugo González, who scored 21 points off the bench. Meanwhile, LeBron James debuted at home for the 76ers with an alley-oop dunk early in the game, finishing with eight points. Joel Embiid led Philadelphia with 27 points, contributing to a 14-point lead in the third quarter.
Nikola Jokić continued to impress in Denver’s preseason finale against the Los Angeles Lakers, throwing a behind-the-back assist for a highlight-reel play. The Nuggets won 121-106, with Jamal Murray leading Denver with 21 points. Austin Reaves topped the Lakers with 19 points.
The top picks from the 2026 Draft also shone in their final preseason performances. In a close game, the Utah Jazz secured a 119-116 victory over the Phoenix Suns, with Darryn Peterson scoring 13 points and contributing key plays down the stretch. The Memphis Grizzlies defeated the Charlotte Hornets, 116-98, with No. 3 pick Cameron Boozer scoring 19 points.
Several teams finished strong before the regular season, including the Golden State Warriors, who defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 128-118. Stephen Curry scored 20 points and showed support for the Golden State Valkyries prior to their appearance in Game 1 of the WNBA Finals.
The Milwaukee Bucks edged the Indiana Pacers, 128-127, in overtime, while the Detroit Pistons defeated the Toronto Raptors, 129-125. In other notable matches, the Orlando Magic triumphed over the Miami Heat, 136-115, and the Atlanta Hawks bested the Dallas Mavericks, 135-111.
As the regular season approaches, attention shifts to the games scheduled for the opening night tripleheader, featuring the Celtics at the Pistons (3 PM ET), 76ers at the Knicks (7 PM ET), and Thunder at Spurs (9:30 PM ET).
In fantasy discussions, breakout candidates were highlighted, including Yaxel Lendeborg from the Warriors and Kyshawn George from the Wizards. Oklahoma City's rookies Aday Mara and Bennett Stirtz also stood out, making strong cases for significant playing time in the upcoming season.