NBA Preseason Nears Finish as LeBron, Edwards and Lillard Set Tone

The preseason is down to its final eight days, and the league’s new combinations are already making noise: LeBron James has opened in Philadelphia, Anthony Edwards has a new running mate in Minnesota, and Tyrese Haliburton and Damian Lillard have turned Achilles recoveries into early October returns. The 2026-27 regular season begins Tuesday, Oct. 20, with a three-game NBC and Peacock slate.

Philadelphia’s first look at its revamped first unit came Thursday. James started alongside Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid and VJ Edgecombe, handing out five assists in the opening period. By halftime, James had posted 10 points, four rebounds and five assists.

Elsewhere, Minnesota’s Edwards-LaMelo Ball partnership has shown early signs of rhythm, while Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo have found a quick connection in Miami. Antetokounmpo recently scored 18 points before halftime and added a left-handed poster finish for the Heat.

Haliburton’s return carried a different kind of weight. He played at Iowa State in front of a sellout crowd, 472 days after an Achilles tear in Game 7 of the 2025 Finals. In 16 minutes against Minnesota, the Pacers guard recorded seven points and six assists in an Indiana win.

“There was no other place I wanted for it besides my second home,” Haliburton told the crowd before the game, calling Iowa State deeply important to him.

Lillard also made it back from an Achilles injury suffered in 2025, scoring 15 points in his first Portland appearance since 2023. Ja Morant, meanwhile, made his Portland debut that night. Lillard said the moment felt like a return to where he belongs: home.

Dallas added another major return Sunday in Macao. Kyrie Irving, 19 months removed from an ACL tear, put up 17 points in 22 minutes as the Mavericks won the second game of the NBA China Games against Houston.

Denver’s third-quarter swing closes out Chicago

Chicago rookie Caleb Wilson continued an encouraging preseason against Nikola Jokić and Denver. Wilson had 17 points, four rebounds and five assists, punctuating the first half with a buzzer-beater that gave the Bulls a 68-59 lead.

The Nuggets broke the game with a 40-26 third quarter. Jokić finished with 22 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists on 8-for-12 shooting, while Aaron Gordon paced Denver with 25 points and six rebounds. Gordon and Wilson traded emphatic finishes at the rim, and Jokić supplied one of the night’s cleaner passes, finding Gordon from beneath Denver’s basket with an overhand feed.

Leonard Miller scored 14 of his game-high 26 points after halftime, but Chicago’s late rally did not erase the Denver run. Eight Nuggets reached double figures.

Harden starts fast as Cleveland handles Orlando

James Harden drove Cleveland’s offense early, scoring 20 of his 24 points before halftime in a nearly wire-to-wire Cavaliers win. Evan Mobley controlled the paint with 14 points, seven rebounds and two blocks, continuing to show the defensive impact that earned him the 2024-25 Defensive Player of the Year award.

Mobley delivered a notable rejection, while Donovan Mitchell created a dunk for Mario Hezonja with a tight-window pass. Tristan da Silva led Orlando with 17 points and made four 3-pointers.

Charlotte gets an early look at Naz Reid

Naz Reid’s first preseason work with Charlotte offered a productive opening sample. The newly acquired Hornet scored 16 points in 20 minutes, while Brandon Miller made his preseason debut and led Charlotte with 18 points and four assists.

Tyler Herro finished with 18 points and seven boards for Milwaukee, but the Hornets had more than enough pace and scoring to pull away.

Wolves bring their new edge to Madison Square Garden

Minnesota visits the defending champion Knicks on Monday at 7:30 ET on NBA TV. Edwards and Ball remain the obvious preseason storyline, but Ayo Dosunmu has also become a major part of the Wolves’ camp identity.

Dosunmu has brought a confrontational competitive streak to Minnesota’s open runs and practices, repeatedly challenging Edwards rather than allowing the franchise star to coast through camp. The guard’s voice and physical presence have added an internal demand for more from Edwards.

Portland hosts the London Lions, who have won England’s Super League Basketball championship in each of the past two seasons. The Wizards could also have No. 1 overall pick AJ Dybantsa back when Brooklyn visits Washington.

East teams carry different kinds of optimism

Atlanta enters the season with a useful piece of evidence from last year: the Hawks went 27-14 when CJ McCollum played, then won two playoff games against New York. That was more postseason wins against the Knicks than Philadelphia, Cleveland and San Antonio combined.

Cleveland sees Peyton Watson as a possible missing piece after its run to the conference finals in May. Milwaukee’s longer view rests in its pipeline, with six players selected in the top 20 across the last five drafts. Washington’s upside centers on Dybantsa, along with a veteran pairing of Trae Young and Anthony Davis that could push the franchise toward its strongest season in several years.

Early League Pass dates to circle

Detroit and Philadelphia will provide an immediate Eastern Conference measuring stick on Oct. 25. The Pistons owned the East’s best record last season, and the rebuilt Sixers will quickly learn how much ground remains between them and Cade Cunningham’s group.

Minnesota’s Halloween trip to San Antonio reconnects players who spent part of the summer training in Paris, a byproduct of Victor Wembanyama and Rudy Gobert sharing French national-team ties. The Nov. 5 meeting between Miami and Golden State puts Antetokounmpo and Adebayo in front of Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, with Green facing a difficult choice in defending Miami’s frontcourt force.