Below are the important facts for the 2026 pre-season, as per NBA's official schedule. Time listed below is in Philippine time (US time is in brackets if it is different). For games, there are no time zone issues because they're listed on NBA.com by their US date, so a Saturday night game in North America appears on a Sunday morning in Manila.
| Key fact | 2026 preseason |
| Opening game | Sun, Oct 4, 7:00 AM PH (Sat, Oct 3, US): Miami Heat at Toronto Raptors, Quebec City |
| Final preseason game | Sat, Oct 17, 10:30 AM PH (Fri, Oct 16, US): Denver Nuggets at Los Angeles Lakers |
| Total preseason games | 67 |
| Games per team | 3 to 6 (most teams play 4 or 5) |
| Regular season opens | Wed, Oct 21, 3:00 AM PH (Tue, Oct 20, US): Boston Celtics at Detroit Pistons, then 76ers at Knicks and Thunder at Spurs |
| Games outside usual arenas | Quebec City and Vancouver (NBA Canada Games), Macao (NBA China Games), Honolulu, Boulder, Ames, Tulsa and Las Vegas, plus London Lions at Portland |
The regular season in the Philippines begins on Oct 21, making for a short preseason window and each match is a scouting opportunity.
The NBA preseason consists of exhibition games that are played in the weeks leading up to the regular season. These are not factors into the regular season record and do not affect playoff seeding. They are for preparation – coaches try things out, their front offices assess the rostering, and players get on-camera experience before the games begin to count.
The most significant difference is the intensity and rotation. Coaches are after wins and they'll ride their best players in the regular season. During the pre-season, minutes are carefully controlled, minutes are limited for many games, and the second half of many games are filled by bench players, rookies and camp invitees battling it out for minutes. The scoreboard is of less importance than the information that coaches collect.
| Preseason | Regular Season | |
| Counts toward record | No | Yes |
| Star minutes | Often limited or rested | Full rotation, close-game minutes |
| Roster | Larger, including camp players | Final roster only |
| Coaching goal | Test lineups, systems and rookies | Win games and protect seeding |
| Predictability | Low | Moderate to high |
The following are the three primary reasons to play teams. First, they need to bring in new players like trades and free agents from the offseason, and give them time to learn the system. Second, they scout future talent, as they get real minutes against NBA competition when they are rookies and/or two-way. Third, they condition and develop rhythm – there's no better way to do that than play at game speed. It is important to understand this purpose, as this is what all that which follows refers to, even the odds.
Teams will play a total of 3-6 preseason games in 2026. There are four games for 13 teams and five games for 12 teams. The Golden State Warriors and Minnesota Timberwolves play six games, while the LA Clippers, Cleveland Cavaliers and Houston Rockets play three games. The London Lions, a guest team, play one game, against the Portland Trail Blazers. Depending on the year and team, it can differ so always click on the official NBA schedule or our page on when the NBA preseason starts.
This year's preseason starts October 4 and runs through October 17 in the Philippines, just a couple of days before the regular season begins. Since the NBA operates in North American time zones, most games are played in the early morning to midday in Manila, with some exceptions being the Macao, China time for the Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks who have two games there. Philippine Standard Time is not daylight saving time, so during October, the difference with the U.S. Eastern is 12 hours, Central 13 hours and Pacific 15 hours. The 7:00 PM Eastern tip-off is 7:00 AM the following day in Manila.
These five are the most efficient games to play in the morning in 67 games over just two weeks. They're all selected for a game or games that are either a rare evening tip-off in Manila, a game that has been rehearsed more than once and demonstrates adjustments in game, a one-off game, or a final rehearsal game before the regular season.
| Game | Philippine tip-off | Why it is worth watching | Watch in the PH |
| Rockets vs. Mavericks (NBA China Games, Macao) | Fri, Oct 9, 8:00 PM and Sun, Oct 11, 6:00 PM | Two games in the same city between the same teams, at rare evening times for Manila. Houston plays just three preseason games, so these two are most of its preseason, and the second game shows how each coach adjusts after the first. | NBA TV Philippines (both) |
| Lakers vs. Warriors | Wed, Oct 7, 10:00 AM (San Francisco) and Wed, Oct 14, 10:00 AM (Las Vegas) | Golden State plays six preseason games, the most in the league, and meets the Lakers twice. Comparing the two games a week apart is the clearest preseason read on rotation changes. | NBA TV Philippines (both) |
| Celtics vs. 76ers | Sun, Oct 11, 8:00 AM (Boston) and Sat, Oct 17, 7:00 AM (Philadelphia) | A home-and-home pair that bookends the preseason's second week. Philadelphia opened with a 120-97 win over New York, with Jaylen Brown listed as its leading scorer (22 points) in NBA.com's data. | NBA TV Philippines (both) |
| Timberwolves at Knicks | Tue, Oct 13, 7:30 AM (New York) | Minnesota plays six games this preseason and opened with a 116-97 win at Milwaukee, while New York opened with a 97-120 loss at Philadelphia. It is a good test of whether those early results hold up. | NBA TV Philippines |
| London Lions at Trail Blazers | Tue, Oct 13, 4:00 AM (Portland) | The London Lions' only game of the preseason, and the earliest tip-off on the whole Manila schedule. Very little is known about the guest team, which makes the game hard to predict. | Not tagged on NBA.com PH listing |
Honorable mentions: the Clippers at the Raptors on an NBA Canada Game in Vancouver (Sun, Oct 11, 6:30 AM) and the preseason finale, Denver vs. the Lakers on Sat, Oct 17 at 10:30 AM, the final game before the regular season starts Oct 21.
See our full NBA preseason schedule for the full game by game schedule, all converted to Philippine time. Looking for specific dates? Read When the NBA preseason starts.
A hot start in the preseason can be interpreted as a start to a title run, and a losing start may be a red flag. Resist the urge. Preseason results take into account who played, how much time, and what the coach wanted to achieve that night.
A team with its best players rested can lose by 20 and still be in peak condition and ready to perform. Those teams that rest their big minutes may be the better team at the end of April, but they are still the down team. While preseason is a poor predictor of the regular season, it's included here for context rather than as a crystal ball. For recaps of the most recent games, consult the preseason scores and for the full picture and how to use it, consult the preseason standings page.
The initial stats reveal that exhibition basketball is a very unpredictable game. Seven preseason games have been played – Miami has taken down Toronto 129-105; the Clippers have taken down Golden State 104-101; Utah has taken down Denver 109-97; Memphis has taken down Atlanta 132-123; Detroit has taken down Phoenix 109-107; Philadelphia has taken down New York 120-97; and Minnesota has taken down Milwaukee 116-97 – with seven having concluded as of October 6 (PT). Average margins were 13 points, ranging from 2-24, and the combined scoring was 221 points per game on average, ranging from 205 to 255 points. This is a small example, but it illustrates just how great the range of possibilities is.
Filipinos watch games during breakfast time or on the way to work. Headlined by the Lakers-Warriors matchups, which will be on NBA TV Philippines, the Philippines listing tags some preseason games on the site, such as Minnesota's games against Indiana and New York, and both Rockets-Mavericks games in Macao. Games that aren't tagged for Philippine broadcast are not listed here, so please consult League Pass and your provider's listings. Rights are subject to change, please check before tip-off. The list of the NBA preseason games today on our daily page will be posted in Philippine time with the broadcast tags.
The preseason has no shortage of storylines even without standings stakes. With knowledge of what to watch, an otherwise unintelligent show becomes a valuable scouting trip.
It's the first real opportunity to see draft picks play games against the NBA defenses as preseason comes up. Focus on decision making and confidence, not just points: does the rookie fit the play in the offense, cover without fouling, and not lose his cool when the ball is taken away? That's better habits that hold up throughout the regular season than a single hot shooting night.
Trades, free-agent signings and coaching changes all create questions that only game minutes can answer. Watch how new teammates share the ball, which lineups a coach trusts late in the game, and whether any team is clearly playing a different style than last year, such as faster pace or more three-point attempts.
A returning star typically eases back with strict minutes. A few smooth, pain-free stretches are a better sign than a big box score. Any visible hesitation, or a sudden early exit, is the kind of news that moves betting markets and fantasy drafts alike.
Camp players and two-way contracts are fighting for the final spots on the roster. Late-game preseason minutes often feature these players, and the ones who stand out sometimes become useful regular-season contributors, or trade chips, within a few weeks.
Yes, sportsbooks typically have a market for preseason games, but it's typically with greater caution than regular season games. Operators know the uncertainty of minutes, rotations, markets can be limited, odds can change rapidly and the stakes can be capped. Always check the markets, limits and house rules before you lay a bet on the book you use.
We checked the public OKBET sports on October 6, 2026 around 12:50 PM (Philippine time) without logging in. This is what was on offer for NBA pre-season games at the time. Lots of markets, lines and limits will change throughout the day, so check the live information on your bet slip before you place your bet.
| Item | What OKBET showed |
| Markets listed for NBA preseason games | Moneyline, Handicap (the point spread) and Total Points: Over/Under. The 'All Markets' view for the game checked showed only these three. |
| Player props | No player-prop markets were listed on the preseason game page we checked. |
| Odds format | Decimal (Euro) odds by default. OKBET's FAQs say other formats, such as Hong Kong, Indo and Malay odds, are also supported. |
| Live (in-play) betting and Cash Out | OKBET offers In-Play betting and a Cash Out feature, which allows early settlement of all or part of a wager on eligible bets. Availability depends on the event and market. |
| Betting limits | OKBET says the minimum bet depends on your currency and bet type (single or parlay), and the maximum varies by sport and event. Exact limits appear on your bet slip after you log in, so no fixed figures are published. |
| Payout speed | OKBET says many bets are settled automatically once a market is unconditionally determined, and that it aims to settle all other bets as soon as possible after an event ends. No guaranteed payout time is published. |
| Preseason-specific promotions | None found. OKBET's Rewards page lists 18 general promotions (such as the Welcome Bundle, Task Center, VIP Rewards and casino events), and the sportsbook shows daily tasks and a 'Top-Up 60% Rebate' banner. None are tied to the NBA preseason. Check the terms of any promotion before you join. |
This is a screen shot from our check, it is only to show a snapshot of the markets. Lines change, particularly after lineup and rest news and this is not a betting tip.
| Market | Selection and odds (decimal) |
| Moneyline | Golden State Warriors 1.62 | Los Angeles Lakers 2.29 |
| Handicap (spread) | Warriors -3.5 @ 1.93, -3 @ 1.86, -4 @ 2.00 | Lakers +3.5 @ 1.91, +3 @ 1.98, +4 @ 1.84 |
| Total Points: Over/Under | Over 222.5 @ 1.88, 223 @ 1.94, 223.5 @ 1.98 | Under 222.5 @ 1.94, 223 @ 1.88, 223.5 @ 1.84 |
Also included on OKBET's picks list was the Thunder vs. Pelicans ( Wed, Oct 7, 8:00 AM PH) at 1.67 for the Thunder and 2.21 for the Pelicans on the moneyline. The only NBA preseason games in the next 24 hours are the aforementioned games at the time of check. For an explanation of what they mean, check out our NBA Preseason Odds Guide.
According to the OKBET website, the company is "PAGCOR licensed. Others like persons under 21 years of age are not allowed to register and play, as well as certain other groups such as government officers and employees who are related to government operations, members of the National Armed Forces of the Philippines or the Police and persons in the PAGCOR National Database of Restricted Persons, Gaming Employment License holders. Open and public areas are not permitted to play in. Betting responsibly and only what you can afford to lose. Take a look at PAGCOR's responsible gaming program for self-exclusion and support.
Preseason lines are shaped by uncertainty. Bookmakers don't have a clue what the playing time will be for the starters, and they pretty much work off the assumption that it's going to be short. That's a problem for bettors who are paying attention to rotation news, but sometimes it can be a good thing. To read the markets and for a detailed discussion on the markets, check out our guide to NBA preseason odds.
In search of particular angles? Our NBA Pre Season predictions page covers the teams to watch, the rookies to watch for and the bets to avoid.
Playing time is the one most critical pre-season variable. Always check the minutes, injury reports and confirmed starters before placing any wagers, particularly before making a coach's call. A good-looking line can turn into a quagmire just when a star is eliminated.
Games have no standings value, hence low motivation. It could be a drill that teams are running and that makes big stakes difficult to take a chance on. Familiarize yourself with the rotation, how a rookie controls the tempo, the way two new teammates get along, and other things that many veteran bettors do during the preseason to learn.
If the information is limited, so should be the stakes. Establish a small, non-adjustable preset budget, never try to make up for losses and view every bet as a form of entertainment and not the money.
Any wagering ought to be enjoyable and affordable. Only bet what you can afford, limit your bets and take breaks. The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) is the governing body for games in the Philippines and provides guidelines for Responsible Gaming. When gambling ceases to be fun or when you feel that you are losing control, withdraw and get help. The legal age for players is required to bet.
The NBA preseason is the best time to spot storylines early: new faces, new systems and rookie breakouts. Enjoy it for what it is, a preview rather than a verdict. Bookmark this guide, check the schedule in Philippine time, follow rotation news closely, and keep your wagers small and smart. When you are ready to follow the action, explore the OKBET sports and our full NBA preseason hub.
It started in 2026 on Sunday, October 4 in the Philippines (Saturday, October 3 in the US) and will continue until October 17. Information is here on our NBA preseason start date page.
Between 3 and 6 in 2026. Most teams face 4 or 5 and the Warriors and Timberwolves face 6.
No. Preseason results do not count towards the regular season record or playoff seeding.
Yes, many sportsbooks have pre-season markets, typically in the form of narrower limits. Check out all the options in our NBA Preseason betting guide.
Games played on NBA TV Philippines were selected by the tags in the Philippines section on the NBA.com website. Others may carry with League Pass and the regular season opener Oct 21 (PH) also includes ONE Sports for one game. Check with your provider prior to being tipped.
