Haliburton’s emotional return
On Oct. 8, 2026 Tyrese Haliburton made an emotional comeback at Hilton Coliseum, playing 16 minutes (all in the first half). He opened the scoring for Indiana, hit a three, recorded two blocks and embraced family courtside after the game — a feel‑good preseason moment.
Source: NBA.com Staff
NBA China Games preview
The NBA previewed the China Games on Oct. 8, 2026, highlighting the Rockets and Mavericks set to meet in Macao and the league’s international buildup. With the 2026‑27 regular season countdown under way (12 days left), teams are treating the showcase as part of final preseason preparations.
Source: NBA.com Staff
Trail Blazers 123, Warriors 118
Portland beat Golden State 123‑118 on Oct. 8, 2026. Damian Lillard made his return and played a key role off the bench, while the Trail Blazers closed out a competitive preseason tilt behind a balanced attack. The victory gave Portland early momentum as the regular season approaches.
Source: NBA.com
Bucks 128, Thunder 126
Milwaukee edged Oklahoma City 128‑126 in a close preseason clash on Oct. 8, 2026. The Bucks got big contributions across the roster, with veteran frontcourt scoring and physical play down the stretch helping them hold off a late Thunder rally in a high‑scoring affair.
Source: NBA.com
Magic 122, Grizzlies 118
Orlando held off Memphis 122‑118 on Oct. 8, 2026 in their preseason opener. Tristan da Silva paced the Magic with a strong scoring night and Paolo Banchero contributed across the stat sheet as Orlando built a lead and withstood a late Grizzlies push to secure the win.
Source: NBA.com
Bulls 124, Suns 117
Chicago beat Phoenix 124‑117 on Oct. 8, 2026 as several Bulls made their preseason mark. No. 4 pick Caleb Wilson paced Chicago with a strong first outing, and teammates added timely scoring to help the Bulls pull away late in a lively exhibition contest.
Source: NBA.com
Celtics 124, Cavaliers 113
Boston defeated Cleveland 124‑113 on Oct. 8, 2026, using a balanced attack to win its preseason opener. The Celtics built separation in the middle quarters and withstood a Cavs comeback attempt to finish the night with a convincing box‑score win as teams tune up before the regular season.
Source: NBA.com