Giannis shines in Heat debut
Giannis Antetokounmpo made his Miami preseason debut on Oct. 3 as the Heat beat the Raptors 129-105 in Quebec City. Giannis logged two quarters and finished with 9 points, 7 assists and 4 rebounds in limited minutes, sparking a 76-55 halftime cushion and quick chemistry with new teammates.
Source: Bleacher Report
LeBron impresses at Sixers scrimmage
At Philadelphia’s open Blue‑vs‑White scrimmage on Oct. 3, LeBron James gave fans a lively preview of the new 76ers era. Nearly 10,000 attendees cheered as LeBron (wearing a practice No. 9) threw alley‑oop passes, hit a long 3 and helped set a spirited tone in front of an enthusiastic home crowd.
Source: NBA / Associated Press
Pistons sign Jalen Duren to extension
The Detroit Pistons announced on Oct. 3 that they signed center Jalen Duren to a contract extension. The team’s release did not disclose financial terms; the statement highlighted Duren’s breakout — an All‑Star nod and career‑best per‑game marks — and called him a core part of Detroit’s future.
Source: Detroit Pistons / NBA.com
Kawhi out for Raptors’ Canada opener
Ahead of the NBA Canada preseason game in Quebec on Oct. 3, the Raptors were listed without Kawhi Leonard in the injury report. The preview noted Toronto’s projected lineup and that Kawhi would not play the exhibition as the team used the game to evaluate depth and rotate players in a new preseason setting.
Source: Sports Illustrated