Returns to familiar settings
Toronto beat New York 148-98, with Leonard producing 21 points, five rebounds, two steals and four three-pointers in seventeen minutes. Scottie Barnes added nineteen points, six rebounds, two steals and a block. In Oklahoma City, Haliburton scored 24 points with three assists, two blocks and four threes, but Indiana lost 114-112 after overtime. Kobe Brown's late layup forced the extra period before Zhaire Smith's jumpers helped the Thunder prevail. Haliburton's return carried the background of his Achilles injury at the same venue in the 2025 Finals.
Other results and NBA Cup plans
Golden State recovered from twenty down to beat the Lakers 101-89 in Las Vegas, winning the second half 51-26. Brandin Podziemski and Yaxel Lendeborg scored seventeen each, while Austin Reaves had 28 for Los Angeles. Orlando defeated Cleveland 132-116 behind Paolo Banchero's 24 points and Franz Wagner's twenty. Portland beat Sacramento 110-98 with 26 from Deni Avdija and fourteen apiece from Ja Morant and Damian Lillard. The bulletin also unveiled thirty NBA Cup court designs for group play, quarter-finals and semi-finals, due to debut on 30 October. Archive Finals imagery in the article remains separate from these preseason results.