NBA Preseason Schedule 2025

NBA Preseason Schedule 2025 – Full Games List, Key Highlights and International Matchups

Shaan Wadhawan

Published - Sep 29, 2025, 10:09 AM

7 min

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Summary

The 2025 NBA Preseason Schedule commences Oct. 2 in Abu Dhabi and concludes on Oct. 17 with games played worldwide, such as Puerto Rico, Vancouver, and Macao.
Fans can look forward to thrilling NBA preseason games featuring high-profile matchups, international games, and an opportunity to test rosters ahead of the regular season.
Even though the NBA preseason standings don’t factor into the regular season records, they help set the tone before the regular season begins on Oct. 21.

The thrill of basketball returns prior to the formal start of the campaign with the NBA Preseason Schedule for 2025. Fans across the globe anxiously turn on the action to see their favorite teams, rookies, and superstars lace up before the start of the regular season. This year, the NBA features exciting matchups, global showcases, and the ultimate opportunity to see strategies, rotations, and new emerging talent. By the looks of the schedule, this year’s preseason appears to be one of the more global ones yet, with trips to Abu Dhabi, Puerto Rico, Vancouver, and Macao.
Below, you’ll find the complete 2025 NBA Preseason Schedule, complete with dates, service opponents, and times listed in ET, and an explanation as to why the preseason matters for these early-season matchups.

NBA Preseason Schedule 2025

The NBA preseason start is on Thursday, Oct. 2, when the Philadelphia 76ers take on the New York Knicks at noon ET in Abu Dhabi. This will be the first of more than two weeks of competitive activity. The two teams will square off again on Saturday, Oct. 4, at 11 a.m. ET in Abu Dhabi as part of the league’s international showcase.
Besides Abu Dhabi, the NBA preseason games include matches worldwide:

Game	Date	Location
Orlando Magic vs. Miami Heat	Oct. 4	San Juan, Puerto Rico
Denver Nuggets vs. Toronto Raptors	Oct. 6	Vancouver
Phoenix Suns vs. Brooklyn Nets (China Series)	Oct. 10 and Oct. 12	Macao

International Games Schedule

The preseason will finish on Friday, Oct. 17, when eight games take place, including the Los Angeles Lakers hosting the Sacramento Kings at 10:30 p.m. ET. The NBA Preseason Schedule will cover games both internationally and in the United States, allowing fans around the world to experience the new season.

Full 2025 NBA Preseason Schedule (All Times ET)

Date	Game	Time
Thursday, Oct. 2	Philadelphia 76ers vs. New York Knicks	12 p.m.

Oct 2nd Game Schedule

Date	Game	Time
Friday, Oct. 3	Phoenix Suns at Los Angeles Lakers	10 p.m.

Oct. 3 Game Schedule

Date	Game	Time
Saturday, Oct. 4	New York Knicks vs. Philadelphia 76ers	11 a.m.
Saturday, Oct. 4	Orlando Magic vs. Miami Heat	8 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 4	Minnesota Timberwolves at Denver Nuggets	9 p.m.

Oct. 4 Game Schedule

Date	Game	Time
Sunday, Oct. 5	Oklahoma City Thunder at Charlotte Hornets	5 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 5	Los Angeles Lakers at Golden State Warriors	8:30 p.m.

Oct. 5 Game Schedule

Date	Game	Time
Monday, Oct. 6	Milwaukee Bucks at Miami Heat	7:30 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 6	Detroit Pistons at Memphis Grizzlies	8 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 6	Atlanta Hawks at Houston Rockets	8 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 6	Oklahoma City Thunder at Dallas Mavericks	8:30 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 6	Denver Nuggets vs. Toronto Raptors	10 p.m.

Oct. 6 Game Schedule

Date	Game	Time
Tuesday, Oct. 7	Chicago Bulls at Cleveland Cavaliers	7 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 7	Indiana Pacers at Minnesota Timberwolves	8 p.m.

Oct. 7 Game Schedule

Date	Game	Time
Wednesday, Oct. 8	San Antonio Spurs at Miami Heat	7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 8	Utah Jazz at Houston Rockets	8 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 8	Boston Celtics at Memphis Grizzlies	8 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 8	Toronto Raptors at Sacramento Kings	10 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 8	Portland Trail Blazers at Golden State Warriors	10 p.m.

Oct. 8 Game Schedule

Date	Game	Time
Thursday, Oct. 9	Minnesota Timberwolves at New York Knicks	7:30 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 9	Cleveland Cavaliers at Chicago Bulls	8 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 9	Detroit Pistons at Milwaukee Bucks	8 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 9	Charlotte Hornets at Oklahoma City Thunder	8 p.m.

Oct. 9 Game Schedule

Date	Game	Time
Friday, Oct. 10	Phoenix Suns vs. Brooklyn Nets	7 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 10	Boston Celtics at Toronto Raptors	8 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 10	Orlando Magic at Philadelphia	7 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 10	Utah Jazz at San Antonio Spurs	8 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 10	Sacramento Kings at Portland Trail Blazers	10 p.m.

Oct. 10 Game Schedule

Date	Game	Time
Saturday, Oct. 11	Oklahoma City Thunder at Indiana Pacers	7 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 11	Atlanta Hawks at Memphis Grizzlies	8 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 11	Charlotte Hornets at Dallas Mavericks	8:30 p.m.

Oct. 11 Game Schedule

Date	Game	Time
Sunday, Oct. 12	Brooklyn Nets vs. Phoenix Suns	7 a.m.
Sunday, Oct. 12	Toronto Raptors at Washington Wizards	3 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 12	Miami Heat at Orlando Magic	6 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 12	Milwaukee Bucks at Chicago Bulls	7 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 12	Cleveland Cavaliers at Boston Celtics	7 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 12	Golden State Warriors at Los Angeles Lakers	9:30 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 12	Denver Nuggets at Los Angeles Clippers	9:30 p.m.

Oct. 12 Game Schedule

Date	Game	Time
Monday, Oct. 13	Miami Heat at Atlanta Hawks	6 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 13	San Antonio Spurs at Indiana Pacers	7 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 13	Washington Wizards at New York Knicks	7:30 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 13	Dallas Mavericks at Utah Jazz	9 p.m.

Oct. 13 Game Schedule

Date	Game	Time
Tuesday, Oct. 14	Detroit Pistons at Cleveland Cavaliers	7 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 14	Oklahoma City Thunder at Milwaukee Bucks	8.p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 14	Houston Rockets at New Orleans Pelicans	8.p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 14	Chicago Bulls at Denver Nuggets	9 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 14	Los Angeles Lakers at Phoenix Suns	10.p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 14	Golden State Warriors at Portland Trail Blazers	10.p.m.

Oct. 14 Game Schedule

Date	Game	Time
Wednesday, Oct. 15	Memphis Grizzlies at Charlotte Hornets	7 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 15	Toronto Raptors at Boston Celtics	7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 15	Los Angeles Clippers at Sacramento Kings	10 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 15	Dallas Mavericks at Los Angeles Lakers	10:30 p.m.

Oct. 15 Game Schedule

Date	Game	Time
Thursday, Oct. 16	Washington Wizards at Detroit Pistons	7 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 16	New Orleans Pelicans at Orlando Magic	7 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 16	Houston Rockets at Atlanta Hawks	7:30 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 16	Minnesota Timberwolves at Chicago Bulls	8 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 16	Portland Trail Blazers at Utah Jazz	9 p.m.

Oct. 16 Game Schedule

Date	Game	Time
Friday, Oct. 17	Brooklyn Nets at Toronto Raptors	7 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 17	Minnesota Timberwolves at Philadelphia 76ers	7 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 17	Charlotte Hornets at New York Knicks	7:30 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 17	Indiana Pacers at San Antonio Spurs	8 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 17	Denver Nuggets at Oklahoma City Thunder	8 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 17	Memphis Grizzlies at Miami Heat	8 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 17	Los Angeles Clippers at Golden State Warriors	10 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 17	Sacramento Kings at Los Angeles Lakers	10:30 p.m.

Oct. 17 Game Schedule

Why the NBA Preseason Matters?

While the results of these NBA preseason games won’t impact the regular season, the NBA Preseason Schedule is an opportunity for teams to assess their rotations, evaluate different styles of play, and help get their superstars back into the swing of things. It’s also the debut of rookie players, an opportunity for new players on your team to get familiar with their squad, and for coaches to test out different player combinations.
While the NBA preseason standings aren’t official, they still give a taste of early momentum. For fans, the preseason offers a sample of entertainment, international flavor, and a sneak peek of the regular season that begins for the NBA on October 21. Opening night will see the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder raise their banner before hosting the Houston Rockets.