NBA Preseason 2026: Final Standings, Dates and How It Works
The 2026 NBA preseason ran from October 3 to October 16. Here are the final preseason standings for all 30 teams, every key date and global game, and the answers to the questions fans ask most: do the games count, how many games are there, and where can you watch?
Yes, the 2026 NBA preseason is over. It ran from Saturday, October 3 to Friday, October 16, 2026, opening with the Miami Heat and Toronto Raptors in Quebec City. The Boston Celtics (4-0) were the only unbeaten team and the Sacramento Kings (0-5) the only winless one. The 2026-27 regular season tipped off on Tuesday, October 20.
October is when empty arenas start filling up again: two weeks of tune-up games between training camp and opening night.
The NBA preseason is the short stretch of exhibition games between training camp and opening night. Teams use it to test rotations, give rookies and fringe players real minutes and get their stars back into game shape, which is why the results matter far less than what coaches learn from them. Below you'll find how every team finished, the full 2026 calendar, and how the preseason works for anyone planning ahead for next October.
2026 NBA Preseason Final Standings
These are the final 2026 preseason records for all 30 teams, as listed by ESPN. They are ordered as ESPN ranks them within each conference. Remember that none of these games count toward the regular-season standings.
Eastern Conference
| # | Team | W-L | Pct |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston Celtics | 4-0 | 1.000 |
| 2 | Atlanta Hawks | 4-1 | .800 |
| 3 | Detroit Pistons | 3-1 | .750 |
| 4 | Brooklyn Nets | 3-1 | .750 |
| 5 | Orlando Magic | 3-1 | .750 |
| 6 | Chicago Bulls | 3-2 | .600 |
| 7 | Miami Heat | 3-2 | .600 |
| 8 | Washington Wizards | 2-2 | .500 |
| 9 | Milwaukee Bucks | 2-3 | .400 |
| 10 | Toronto Raptors | 2-3 | .400 |
| 11 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 1-2 | .333 |
| 12 | Charlotte Hornets | 1-3 | .250 |
| 13 | Philadelphia 76ers | 1-3 | .250 |
| 14 | Indiana Pacers | 1-3 | .250 |
| 15 | New York Knicks | 1-4 | .200 |
Western Conference
| # | Team | W-L | Pct |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Memphis Grizzlies | 3-1 | .750 |
| 2 | New Orleans Pelicans | 3-1 | .750 |
| 3 | Utah Jazz | 3-1 | .750 |
| 4 | Portland Trail Blazers | 3-1 | .750 |
| 5 | Golden State Warriors | 4-2 | .667 |
| 6 | LA Clippers | 2-1 | .667 |
| 7 | Houston Rockets | 2-1 | .667 |
| 8 | Denver Nuggets | 3-2 | .600 |
| 9 | Minnesota Timberwolves | 3-3 | .500 |
| 10 | San Antonio Spurs | 2-3 | .400 |
| 11 | Los Angeles Lakers | 2-3 | .400 |
| 12 | Dallas Mavericks | 1-3 | .250 |
| 13 | Phoenix Suns | 1-4 | .200 |
| 14 | Oklahoma City Thunder | 1-4 | .200 |
| 15 | Sacramento Kings | 0-5 | .000 |
What the preseason records show (and don't)
The Celtics were the only team to get through October without a loss, and the Atlanta Hawks (4-1) and Golden State Warriors (4-2) were the only other teams to reach four wins. At the other end, the Kings went 0-5, while the defending champion New York Knicks and the Oklahoma City Thunder both finished 1-4.
That last detail is the best reminder of how little these exhibition records predict. Contenders routinely limit their stars to short stints or sit them entirely, while teams with open roster spots play their deepest benches for long stretches. A 4-0 or 0-5 October tells you more about who was on the floor than about who will be good in April.
2026 NBA Preseason Key Dates
Here is the full 2026 preseason calendar, from the first training camps to opening night, based on the NBA's official key dates:
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Sept. 22 | Training camps open for the two teams playing preseason games outside North America (Houston and Dallas) |
| Sept. 28 | Media day for the remaining 28 teams |
| Sept. 29 | NBA training camps open |
| Oct. 3 | Preseason begins: Heat vs. Raptors in Quebec City (NBA Canada Games) |
| Oct. 9 | NBA China Games: Mavericks vs. Rockets in Macao |
| Oct. 10 | NBA Canada Games: Raptors vs. Clippers in Vancouver |
| Oct. 11 | NBA China Games: Mavericks vs. Rockets in Macao |
| Oct. 15-16 | NBA ID Member Days with preseason action |
| Oct. 16 | Preseason ends |
| Oct. 19 | Opening-day rosters due (5 p.m. ET) |
| Oct. 20 | Regular season begins with an NBC tripleheader |
2026 NBA Preseason Global and Neutral-Site Games
The league uses its exhibition schedule to take games to fans who rarely see the league in person. In 2026 that meant two international series and a pair of neutral-site games in the United States:
- NBA Canada Games: the Raptors opened the exhibition slate against the Heat at Videotron Centre in Quebec City on October 3, then faced the Clippers at Rogers Arena in Vancouver on October 10.
- NBA China Games: the Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets played twice at The Venetian Arena in Macao, on October 9 and October 11. Both teams opened camp a week early to make the trip.
- Honolulu: the Golden State Warriors and LA Clippers met in Hawaii on October 4.
- Boulder, Colorado: the Utah Jazz and Denver Nuggets played a college-town game on October 4.
When Does the NBA Preseason Start?
The NBA preseason starts in early October, a few days after training camps open at the end of September. It typically lasts about two weeks and wraps up a few days before opening night, leaving teams time to set their final rosters.
In 2026 that meant tune-up games from October 3 to October 16, with media day on September 28, camps opening September 29 and the regular season starting October 20. The 2027 preseason should follow the same early-October pattern, with exact dates confirmed when the NBA releases its schedule, which usually happens in August. Check back here, and we'll update this guide with the 2027 dates as soon as they're official.
How Does the NBA Preseason Work?
It's a series of exhibition games played after training camp opens. Teams usually schedule a handful of them, typically four to six. Going by the final standings above, 2026 teams played anywhere from three games (Cleveland, the Clippers and Houston) to six (Golden State and Minnesota).
Those games serve a few clear purposes:
- Roster decisions: camp invitees, two-way candidates and veterans fighting for the last spots get real game minutes in front of the coaching staff before rosters are due the day before opening night.
- Rotations and new systems: new coaches install their schemes, and teams with offseason additions see how lineups fit together against real opponents.
- Conditioning and load management: established stars ramp up gradually. Many play limited minutes or skip some games entirely, especially veterans and players coming back from injuries.
- Taking the game to new markets: international and neutral-site games, like the 2026 trips to Macao, Quebec City, Vancouver and Honolulu, help the league reach fans outside NBA cities.
Do NBA Preseason Games Count?
No. These games are exhibitions. Wins and losses don't count toward the regular-season standings, and individual stats don't count toward season or career totals, statistical titles or awards. That's why a team can go 0-5 in October and still be a contender: the slate is wiped clean on opening night.
The NBA Cup is a different case. Its group-stage games are part of the regular season and do count in the standings, but the Cup only starts after opening night and has nothing to do with these October exhibitions.
How to Watch NBA Preseason Games
Most preseason games aren't on national TV, so where you watch depends on the game and where you live. In 2026, the games aired on:
- NBA TV: the main national home of these games, including the opener in Quebec City.
- ESPN and ESPN2: selected national games.
- NBC and Peacock: selected national games, part of NBC's first seasons back with the NBA.
- NBA League Pass: out-of-market preseason games.
- Regional sports networks and local channels, which carry many teams' exhibition games in their home markets.
To stream without cable, live TV services such as YouTube TV carry NBA TV, ESPN and NBC, and Peacock streams the NBC games. For the regular season, see our full guide on how to watch NBA games live. If you just want the best plays, the NBA posts preseason highlights on its official app and YouTube channel shortly after each game.
The regular season opened October 20 with Celtics at Pistons, 76ers at Knicks and Thunder at Spurs. Get every key date in our 2026-27 NBA schedule guide, see tonight's games on the NBA Games hub, or plan your fantasy lineups with the games-per-week schedule grid.
NBA Preseason FAQ
Is the NBA preseason over?
Yes. The 2026 NBA preseason ended on Friday, October 16, 2026, and the 2026-27 regular season began on Tuesday, October 20.
When did the 2026 NBA preseason start?
The 2026 NBA preseason started on Saturday, October 3, 2026, with the Miami Heat facing the Toronto Raptors in Quebec City as part of the NBA Canada Games.
When did the 2026-27 NBA regular season start?
The 2026-27 regular season started on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, with an NBC tripleheader: Celtics at Pistons, 76ers at Knicks and Thunder at Spurs.
How many preseason games does each NBA team play?
Most NBA teams play four to six preseason games. In 2026, teams played between three and six, with Golden State and Minnesota playing the most (six each).
Do NBA preseason games count?
No. Preseason games are exhibitions: the wins, losses and individual stats do not count toward the regular-season standings, statistical records or awards.
Who had the best record in the 2026 NBA preseason?
The Boston Celtics had the best record in the 2026 NBA preseason at 4-0, the only team to finish unbeaten. The Sacramento Kings were the only winless team at 0-5.
Where can I watch NBA preseason games?
Preseason games air on NBA TV, ESPN, ESPN2, NBC and Peacock for selected national games, on NBA League Pass for out-of-market games, and on regional sports networks locally.
