2026 NBA Preseason Schedule: How to Watch & Live Stream Games

The 2026-27 NBA preseason campaign is well underway, setting the tone for the upcoming regular season across North American arenas and international venues alike. Functioning as a strategic bridge between training camp and 82 games of grueling competition, the preseason represents far more than mere exhibition contests.

1. Significance of the Preseason & Value to Regular Season Preparedness

• Conditioning & Injury Prevention: Allows elite starters to ramp up workload safely under real game speed, conditioning neuromuscular reflexes while managing load.
• Tactical Experimentation: Provides head coaches with a zero-stakes laboratory to test offensive spacing, defensive switches, and new roster acquisitions without impacting standings.
• Bench Depth & Final Roster Audits: Serves as the ultimate audition for two-way contract athletes, training camp invitees, and rookies fighting for the 14th and 15th guaranteed regular-season roster spots.

2. Playoff Landscape Retrospective & Early Preseason Form

Retrospective on Last Season's Playoffs

The Knicks’ Historic Championship Run: Last season culminated in glory for the New York Knicks. After overcoming Atlanta (4-2) in the opening round, the Knicks swept the Philadelphia 76ers (4-0) in the Conference Semifinals and dominated the Cleveland Cavaliers with another 4-0 sweep in the Eastern Conference Finals. Facing the emerging San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals, New York sealed the Larry O'Brien Trophy with a convincing 4-1 series victory.

Western Conference Upheaval: Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs made a historic run out of the West, dispatching the Trail Blazers (4-1), Timberwolves (4-2), and outlasting the Oklahoma City Thunder in an epic seven-game Western Conference Finals thriller (4-3). Despite consecutive sweeps over Phoenix and the Lakers (4-0), OKC fell just short of the Finals stage.

Early Preseason Performance Trends (Oct 4 – Oct 7)

Contenders Shaking Off Rust: Defending champion New York stumbled in their preseason opener, absorbing a 97-120 defeat against the 76ers. The Lakers showcased high variance, bouncing back from an opening win over Sacramento (127-103) with a heavy 98-124 loss to Golden State. The Warriors experienced similar volatility, edging the Lakers while falling in close encounters to both the Clippers (101-104) and Trail Blazers (118-123).

Offensive Explosions: High-scoring shootouts have defined early action: Memphis outgunned Atlanta 132-123, Miami dismantled Toronto 129-105, Brooklyn rolled past Charlotte 124-90, and Milwaukee survived an offensive slugfest in Oklahoma City, edging the Thunder 128-126.

3. Upcoming Schedule