NBA. Image via: Getty Images The 2025 NBA preseason is all set to begin, giving fans an early taste of what to expect before the regular season. This is the time when teams test their rosters, try out new lineups, and prepare for the long season ahead. Notably, the preseason games may not count in the standings, but they often give fans an idea about how their favorite team will perform. For young players and new signings, it is the first chance to prove themselves on the big stage. For coaches, it is the time to experiment with new strategies, and as for fans, it is the first opportunity to see fresh faces, star returns, and exciting matchups before the real action begins!
When does the 2025 NBA Preseason start?
The NBA preseason kicks off on Thursday, October 2. The opening game will be played in Abu Dhabi between the Philadelphia 76ers and the New York Knicks at 12 p.m. ET. The preseason will conclude on October 17, giving fans more than two weeks of basketball action before the regular season.
2025 NBA Preseason full schedule
Thursday, October 2Philadelphia 76ers vs. New York Knicks – 12 p.m. ETFriday, October 3Melbourne United vs. New Orleans Pelicans – 5:30 a.m. ETPhoenix Suns vs. Los Angeles Lakers – 10:00 p.m. ETSaturday, October 4New York Knicks vs. Philadelphia 76ers – 11:00 a.m. ETHapoel Jerusalem B.C. vs. Brooklyn Nets – 8:00 p.m. ETOrlando Magic vs. Miami Heat – 8:00 p.m. ETMinnesota Timberwolves vs. Denver Nuggets – 9:00 p.m. ETSouth East Melbourne Phoenix vs. New Orleans Pelicans – 11:00 p.m. ETSunday, October 5Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Charlotte Hornets – 5:00 p.m. ETLos Angeles Lakers vs. Golden State Warriors – 8:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)Monday, October 6Milwaukee Bucks vs. Miami Heat – 7:30 p.m. ETAtlanta Hawks vs. Houston Rockets – 8:00 p.m. ETDetroit Pistons vs. Memphis Grizzlies – 8:00 p.m. ETGuangzhou Loong-Lions vs. San Antonio Spurs – 8:00 p.m. ETOklahoma City Thunder vs. Dallas Mavericks – 8:30 p.m. ETDenver Nuggets vs. Toronto Raptors – 10:00 p.m. ETTuesday, October 7Chicago Bulls vs. Cleveland Cavaliers – 7:00 p.m. ET (Peacock)Indiana Pacers vs. Minnesota Timberwolves – 8:00 p.m. ETWednesday, October 8San Antonio Spurs vs. Miami Heat – 7:30 p.m. ETUtah Jazz vs. Houston Rockets – 8:00 p.m. ETBoston Celtics vs. Memphis Grizzlies – 8:00 p.m. ET (NBCSBO)Portland Trail Blazers vs. Golden State Warriors – 10:00 p.m. ETToronto Raptors vs. Sacramento Kings – 10:00 p.m. ETThursday, October 9Minnesota Timberwolves vs. New York Knicks – 7:30 p.m. ETCleveland Cavaliers vs. Chicago Bulls – 8:00 p.m. ETDetroit Pistons vs. Milwaukee Bucks – 8:00 p.m. ETCharlotte Hornets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder – 8:00 p.m. ETGuangzhou Loong-Lions vs. LA Clippers – 10:30 p.m. ETFriday, October 10Phoenix Suns vs. Brooklyn Nets – 8:00 a.m. ETBoston Celtics vs. Toronto Raptors – 7:00 p.m. ET (NBCSBO)Orlando Magic vs. Philadelphia 76ers – 7:00 p.m. ETUtah Jazz vs. San Antonio Spurs – 8:00 p.m. ETSacramento Kings vs. Portland Trail Blazers – 10:00 p.m. ETSaturday, October 11Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Indiana Pacers – 7:00 p.m. ETAtlanta Hawks vs. Memphis Grizzlies – 8:00 p.m. ETCharlotte Hornets vs. Dallas Mavericks – 8:30 p.m. ETSunday, October 12Brooklyn Nets vs. Phoenix Suns – 7:00 a.m. ETToronto Raptors vs. Washington Wizards – 3:00 p.m. ETMiami Heat vs. Orlando Magic – 6:00 p.m. ETCleveland Cavaliers vs. Boston Celtics – 7:00 p.m. ET (ESPN)Milwaukee Bucks vs. Chicago Bulls – 7:00 p.m. ETGolden State Warriors vs. Los Angeles Lakers – 9:30 p.m. ET (SNLA)Denver Nuggets vs. LA Clippers – 9:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)Monday, October 13Miami Heat vs. Atlanta Hawks – 6:00 p.m. ETSan Antonio Spurs vs. Indiana Pacers – 7:00 p.m. ETWashington Wizards vs. New York Knicks – 7:30 p.m. ETGuangzhou Loong-Lions vs. Minnesota Timberwolves – 8:00 p.m. ETDallas Mavericks vs. Utah Jazz – 9:00 p.m. ETTuesday, October 14Detroit Pistons vs. Cleveland Cavaliers – 7:00 p.m. ETHouston Rockets vs. New Orleans Pelicans – 8:00 p.m. ETOklahoma City Thunder vs. Milwaukee Bucks – 8:00 p.m. ET (Peacock)Chicago Bulls vs. Denver Nuggets – 9:00 p.m. ETGolden State Warriors vs. Portland Trail Blazers – 10:00 p.m. ETLos Angeles Lakers vs. Phoenix Suns – 10:00 p.m. ETWednesday, October 15Memphis Grizzlies vs. Charlotte Hornets – 7:00 p.m. ETToronto Raptors vs. Boston Celtics – 7:30 p.m. ET (NBCSBO)LA Clippers vs. Sacramento Kings – 10:00 p.m. ETDallas Mavericks vs. Los Angeles Lakers – 10:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)Thursday, October 16New Orleans Pelicans vs. Orlando Magic – 7:00 p.m. ETWashington Wizards vs. Detroit Pistons – 7:00 p.m. ETHouston Rockets vs. Atlanta Hawks – 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2)Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Chicago Bulls – 8:00 p.m. ETPortland Trail Blazers vs. Utah Jazz – 9:00 p.m. ETFriday, October 17Brooklyn Nets vs. Toronto Raptors – 7:00 p.m. ETMinnesota Timberwolves vs. Philadelphia 76ers – 7:00 p.m. ETCharlotte Hornets vs. New York Knicks – 7:30 p.m. ETMemphis Grizzlies vs. Miami Heat – 8:00 p.m. ETDenver Nuggets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder – 8:00 p.m. ETIndiana Pacers vs. San Antonio Spurs – 8:00 p.m. ETLA Clippers vs. Golden State Warriors – 10:00 p.m. ETSacramento Kings vs. Los Angeles Lakers – 10:30 p.m. ET
Where to watch the 2025 NBA Preseason?
Most preseason games will be broadcast live on NBA TV, regional sports networks, and NBA League Pass. A few key games will also air on ESPN, ESPN2, and TNT.
Where to stream the 2025 NBA Preseason?
Games shown on ESPN, TNT, and NBA TV can be streamed on platforms like YouTube TV or Fubo TV. The NBA League Pass will also stream many games live and on demand.Also Read: Anthony Edwards Gears Up For Stronger NBA Season After Devastating Defeat To Oklahoma City Thunder
How to watch the 2025 NBA Preseason for free?
Some teams broadcast preseason games for free. The Sacramento Kings stream games on Kings.com, while the Phoenix Suns air games on Arizona’s Family channels (KTVK, KPHE-LD). Free trials on Fubo or DIRECTV Stream also give short-term access.