Biggest threat to Thunder in West
Picking out the Western Conference teams that pose the biggest threat to the Thunder.
The Oklahoma City Thunder will begin their NBA title defense next month, hosting the first game of the regular season against the Houston Rockets on Oct. 21. However, before that, each team will get a look at their newest players and strategies they’ll deploy during the regular season in their attempts to knock the Thunder off their throne.
The preseason begins on Oct. 2, kicking off with an international showdown in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates between the New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers – two teams that could compete for an Eastern Conference title this year, barring another serious injury to Joel Embiid.
Just one day later, the new-look Phoenix Suns will see how their organization operates post-Kevin Durant when they play the Los Angeles Lakers in the Coachella Valley in Palm Desert, California. Then, Saturday, Oct. 4 will feature three games including two international affairs and a showdown between two of the Western Conference’s final four teams a season ago: the Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves.
The preseason kicks into high gear on Sunday, Oct. 4 as ESPN will televise the matchup between Lakers and Golden State Warriors, scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET (5:30 p.m. PT) at the Chase Center in San Francisco:
Here is everything you need to know about the NBA preaseason:
When does the NBA preseason begin?
The NBA preseason starts on Thursday, Oct. 2 with an international matchup between the New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Tipoff is scheduled for 12 p.m. ET. The Knicks and 76ers will play a second game in Abu Dhabi just two days later on Saturday, Oct. 4. Tipoff for that game will take place at 11 a.m. ET.
Most preseason games will be available on NBA League Pass, with at least five other games airing on ESPN or ESPN2 and at least two other games streaming on Peacock.
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When does the NBA regular season start?
The NBA regular season begins Tuesday, Oct. 21 with a doubleheader.
The season will start with the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder hanging their banner before hosting a matchup against the Houston Rockets. That game is set to begin at 7:30 p.m. ET.
That game will be followed by a classic Steph Curry vs. LeBron James matchup as the Los Angeles Lakers host the Golden State Warriors at 10 p.m. ET at Crypto.com Arena.
The NBA preseason will end on Friday, Oct. 17 with eight games scheduled.
NBA preseason international games
Outside of the two games from United Arab Emirates, the NBA is not shying away from showing off their product in international markets.
The New Orleans Pelicans will play two games against Australian NBL teams in Melbourne Park.
Meanwhile, there will be three more traditional international matchups. The Miami Heat and Orlando Magic play in San Juan, Puerto Rico on Oct. 4 to kick off their preseason matchups. Two days later, the Denver Nuggets and Toronto Raptors will play a game in Vancouver. And finally, the Phoenix Suns and Brooklyn Nets will play a pair of games in Venetian Arena in Macao, China to finish off the preseason international slate. Those games are scheduled for Friday, Oct. 10 and Sunday, Oct. 12.
Full 2025 NBA preseason schedule
All times Eastern
Thursday, Oct. 2Friday, Oct. 3Phoenix Suns at Los Angeles Lakers, 10 p.m.Saturday, Oct. 4New York Knicks vs. Philadelphia 76ers, 11 a.m. (at Abu Dhabi, UAE)Orlando Magic vs. Miami Heat, 8 p.m. (at San Juan, Puerto Rico)Minnesota Timberwolves at Denver Nuggets, 9 p.m.Sunday, Oct. 5Oklahoma City Thunder at Charlotte Hornets, 5 p.m.Los Angeles Lakers at Golden State Warriors, 8:30 p.m.Monday, Oct. 6Milwaukee Bucks at Miami Heat, 7:30 p.m.Detroit Pistons at Memphis Grizzlies, 8 p.m.Atlanta Hawks at Houston Rockets, 8 p.m.Oklahoma City Thunder at Dallas Mavericks, 8:30 p.m.Denver Nuggets vs. Toronto Raptors, 10 p.m. (at Vancouver)Tuesday, Oct. 7Wednesday, Oct. 8San Antonio Spurs at Miami Heat, 7:30 p.m.Utah Jazz at Houston Rockets, 8 p.m.Boston Celtics at Memphis Grizzlies, 8 p.m.Toronto Raptors at Sacramento Kings, 10 p.m.Portland Trail Blazers at Golden State Warriors, 10 p.m.Thursday, Oct. 9Minnesota Timberwolves at New York Knicks, 7:30 p.m.Cleveland Cavaliers at Chicago Bulls, 8 p.m.Detroit Pistons at Milwaukee Bucks, 8 p.m.Charlotte Hornets at Oklahoma City Thunder, 8 p.m.Friday, Oct. 10Phoenix Suns vs. Brooklyn Nets, 8 a.m. (at Macao, China)Boston Celtics at Toronto Raptors, 7 p.m.Orlando Magic at Philadelphia 76ers, 7 p.m.Utah Jazz at San Antonio Spurs, 8 p.m.Sacramento Kings at Portland Trail Blazers, 10 p.m.Saturday, Oct. 11Oklahoma City Thunder at Indiana Pacers, 7 p.m.Atlanta Hawks at Memphis Grizzlies, 8 p.m.Charlotte Hornets at Dallas Mavericks, 8:30 p.m.Sunday, Oct. 12Brooklyn Nets vs. Phoenix Suns, 7 a.m. (at Macao, China)Toronto Raptors at Washington Wizards, 3 p.m.Miami Heat at Orlando Magic, 6 p.m.Milwaukee Bucks at Chicago Bulls, 7 p.m.Cleveland Cavaliers at Boston Celtics, 7 p.m.Golden State Warriors at Los Angeles Lakers, 9:30 p.m.Denver Nuggets at Los Angeles Clippers, 9:30 p.m.Monday, Oct. 13Miami Heat at Atlanta Hawks, 6 p.m.San Antonio Spurs at Indiana Pacers, 7 p.m.Washington Wizards at New York Knicks, 7:30 p.m.Dallas Mavericks at Utah Jazz, 9 p.m.Tuesday, Oct. 14Detroit Pistons at Cleveland Cavaliers, 7 p.m.Oklahoma City Thunder at Milwaukee Bucks, 8 p.m.Houston Rockets at New Orleans Pelicans, 8 p.m.Chicago Bulls at Denver Nuggets, 9 p.m.Los Angeles Lakers at Phoenix Suns, 10 p.m.Golden State Warriors at Portland Trail Blazers, 10 p.m.Wednesday, Oct. 15Memphis Grizzlies at Charlotte Hornets, 7 p.m.Toronto Raptors at Boston Celtics, 7:30 p.m.Los Angeles Clippers at Sacramento Kings, 10 p.m.Dallas Mavericks at Los Angeles Lakers, 10:30 p.m.Thursday, Oct. 16Washington Wizards at Detroit Pistons, 7 p.m.New Orleans Pelicans at Orlando Magic, 7 p.m.Houston Rockets at Atlanta Hawks, 7:30 p.m.Minnesota Timberwolves at Chicago Bulls, 8 p.m.Portland Trail Blazers at Utah Jazz, 9 p.m.Friday, Oct. 17Brooklyn Nets at Toronto Raptors, 7 p.m.Minnesota Timberwolves at Philadelphia 76ers, 7 p.m.Charlotte Hornets at New York Knicks, 7:30 p.m.Indiana Pacers at San Antonio Spurs, 8 p.m.Denver Nuggets at Oklahoma City Thunder, 8 p.m.Memphis Grizzlies at Miami Heat, 8 p.m.Los Angeles Clippers at Golden State Warriors, 10 p.m.Sacramento Kings at Los Angeles Lakers, 10:30 p.m.