Nikola Jokić needed only five minutes to remind Denver’s preseason crowd what it looks like when the game runs through him, but Sunday belonged to Utah in Boulder and to Clippers rookie Keaton Wagler in Honolulu. With the opening slate now in the books, the next set of exhibitions brings Philadelphia’s rebuilt star group, Luka Dončić’s new-look Lakers and a possible first Minnesota appearance for LaMelo Ball.
| Preseason result | Key numbers | Notebook |
|---|---|---|
| Clippers 104, Warriors 101 | Keaton Wagler: 15 pts; Rui Hachimura: 21 first-half pts; Darius Garland: 15 pts, 6 ast | Wagler scored nine in the fourth and hit the decisive step-back with 12.8 seconds remaining. |
| Jazz 109, Nuggets 97 | Lauri Markkanen: 17 pts; Keyonte George: 15 pts, 4 reb, 3 ast; Jokić: 3 pts, 7 ast | Utah led early and never gave Denver an opening at Colorado’s CU Events Center. |
| Heat 129, Raptors 105 | Giannis Antetokounmpo: 9 pts, 7 ast in 14 min; Tim Hardaway Jr.: 14 pts | Miami’s new centerpiece went 3-for-3 in his Heat debut in Québec City. |
Wagler closes in Honolulu
The Clippers trailed by six before finishing on a 22-13 push against Golden State at the Stan Sheriff Center. Wagler, the fifth selection in the draft, handled the biggest possession of the afternoon, creating space for a go-ahead jumper with 12.8 seconds left.
The former Illinois freshman scoring leader had 15 points, with nine arriving in the final quarter. Hachimura supplied the early lift in his first Clippers preseason outing, scoring 21 before halftime on 8-of-11 shooting and 4-of-5 from 3-point range.
Garland matched Wagler’s 15 points, made all three of his attempts from deep and handed out six assists. Golden State got 12 points and eight rebounds from Charles Bassey, while Stephen Curry recorded 10 points, two assists and two 3-pointers.
Utah gets its first look at Peterson
Markkanen and George combined for 32 points as the Jazz took control quickly in Boulder. Markkanen knocked down three triples, while George added four rebounds and three assists in Utah’s 109-97 win.
Jaren Jackson Jr. posted 11 points and four boards, Ace Bailey put up 10 points and five rebounds, and Blake Hinson added 14 points. Hinson scored eight in the fourth quarter to keep the Nuggets at arm’s length.
Second overall pick Darryn Peterson made his first basket on a baseline pump fake and floater, ending with three points and six rebounds. Denver’s Julian Strawther led the club with 14 points. Jokić had only three points, but his seven assists included five in the opening quarter, highlighted by a behind-the-back feed and a full-court pass to Christian Braun.
Giannis is efficient in his Miami opening
Antetokounmpo’s first run in a Heat uniform lasted 14 minutes, enough time for nine points, seven assists and a clean 3-for-3 shooting line. His first Miami basket came through contact at the rim, and he later added another and-one finish as the Heat rolled past Toronto in the NBA Canada Game.
Hardaway was also spotless from the floor, scoring a team-high 14 on 4-for-4 shooting with three 3-pointers. Seven Heat players reached double figures. Bam Adebayo had 10 points and six rebounds, Andrew Wiggins scored 12 with four made 3s, and Nikola Jović contributed 11 points, seven rebounds and four assists.
RJ Barrett and Tyreke Key scored 15 each for Toronto. Scottie Barnes finished with 11 points, two rebounds, two assists and three steals. The Raptors played without Kawhi Leonard.
Philadelphia’s new group takes the floor
| Monday preseason schedule | Time | Where to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Knicks at 76ers | 7 p.m. ET | NBA TV |
| Grizzlies at Hawks | 7 p.m. ET | League Pass |
| Suns at Pistons | 7 p.m. ET | League Pass |
| Timberwolves at Bucks | 8 p.m. ET | League Pass |
| Lakers at Kings | 10 p.m. ET | NBA TV |
Philadelphia could unveil a loaded group when it hosts the defending champion Knicks. LeBron James, Joel Embiid, Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe are all candidates to play in the Sixers’ preseason opener.
The Blue & White scrimmage at a sold-out Xfinity Mobile Arena provided a small preview. Maxey found James for an alley-oop, Edgecombe finished a forceful dunk, Embiid converted a left-handed jam, and Brown showed both downhill pressure and perimeter shooting. James and Maxey also connected from 3.
Embiid said the adjustment is less about shrinking his own game than making sure the roster functions together. “I’m capable of doing everything on the floor,” Embiid said after the scrimmage. “The focus is making sure everybody can succeed. That’s the way we’ll win.”
The Knicks arrive with their title core back in place. Jalen Brunson framed the championship formula at media day as a collective one: the group learned it needed every player to win, and daily work eventually produces the payoff.
Philadelphia and New York will see each other again quickly. They are scheduled to open the regular season in New York on Oct. 20, with NBC and Peacock carrying the game.
Lakers start over around Dončić and Reaves
Los Angeles visits Sacramento in the late window, beginning its first preseason since James moved to Philadelphia. Dončić and Austin Reaves now sit at the center of the Lakers’ operation.
Coach JJ Redick sees Walker Kessler as a natural partner for both ballhandlers, citing the center’s rim protection and finishing. Sandro Mamukelashvili joins the frontcourt as a floor-spacing option following the exits of Deandre Ayton, Hachimura and Jaxson Hayes.
The Lakers also added Collin Sexton, Quentin Grimes and Jaden Hardy while moving on from Luke Kennard and Marcus Smart. Redick said he liked the club’s work building around Dončić and Reaves, particularly the added depth.
Sacramento enters after an injury-heavy 2025-26 season. The Kings will use the preseason to begin integrating seventh pick Darius Acuff Jr., the Arkansas guard.
Edwards and Ball could debut as Wolves teammates
Minnesota’s trip to Milwaukee could offer the first glimpse of Anthony Edwards and Ball sharing a backcourt. Edwards enters his seventh season after a fourth straight All-Star selection and a career-high 28.8 points per game, helping the Wolves reach a fifth consecutive postseason.
Minnesota acquired Ball after last spring’s Western Conference semifinal exit. The two 25-year-old guards have made 976 3-pointers combined over the past two seasons, the highest total for any current teammate pair.
Edwards said his relationship with Ball should translate easily. “We’re already close, like brothers,” he said. “Once we get on the floor, there are no egos. We’re trying to win.”
Milwaukee begins its first season without Antetokounmpo since 2012-13 and starts its reset under new coach Taylor Jenkins. Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware and Jaime Jaquez Jr. arrived in the Antetokounmpo trade, while No. 10 selection Brayden Burries and No. 13 pick Nate Ament add to the young base.
Elsewhere on League Pass, third pick Cameron Boozer could make his preseason debut when Memphis visits Atlanta. The Hawks added sixth pick Kingston Flemings and defensive specialist Lu Dort during the offseason. Phoenix, now featuring Miles Bridges, visits Detroit in the other 7 p.m. ET game.
Other opening-week notes
The WNBA semifinals began Sunday with Golden State beating Las Vegas 71-60 and Atlanta defeating New York 92-82. The Valkyries and Dream each hold a 1-0 series lead, with both Game 2s set for Wednesday.
With the NBA regular season 15 days away, Josh Hart stands out as an early fantasy value case. In 52 starts last season, Hart averaged 12.6 points, 7.6 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.6 made 3-pointers while shooting 51.5 percent from the field. With New York largely returning the group that won the title — Andre Drummond replacing Mitchell Robinson being the major exception — Hart projects to retain a starting role and heavy minutes. His Yahoo average draft position is 96 in nine-category formats.
