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Starry Night: Preseason hoops begin for 2024-2025
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Starry Night: Preseason hoops begin for 2024-2025

Starry Night: Preseason hoops begin for 2024-2025

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The action doesn’t stop after the Celtics and Nuggets tipped off the opening game of the 2024-2025 preseason in Abu Dhabi. There are two more matchups on Friday to get the preseason underway as the New Zealand Breakers take on the Jazz before the T-Wolves take on the Lakers.

New Zealand Breakers on Jazz (9 ET, NBA League Pass): How will one of the best teams in Australia’s National Basketball League (NBL) fare against Lauri Markkanen and the Jazz?

  • Recent history: 2024-2025 marks the third straight preseason with at least one NBL-versus-NBA match, with the NBA leading the series 5-1
  • Round 2: Tonight’s meeting will be a rematch of last season, when Utah defeated New Zealand 114-94 behind Markkanen’s 15 points and seven boards.
  • Players to watch: Three notable 2024 Draft picks are expected to suit up for Utah: Cody Williams (pick No. 10), the younger brother of OKC star Jalen Williams; Isaiah Collier (No. 29), a standout guard from USC; and former Duke All-American Kyle Filipowski (No. 32)

Timberwolves at Lakers (10:30 ET, NBA TV): What can we expect as Anthony Edwards and the new Wolves take on LeBron James, Anthony Davis and the Lakers, with Bronny James expected to make his preseason debut?

  • Setting the stage: The Lakers selected Bronny with the No. 55 pick in the 2024 Draft, becoming the NBA’s first active father-son duo. No father-son combination has ever played in an NBA game together
  • Measuring stick: Now entering his 22nd NBA season, LeBron will look to help the Lakers bounce back from last year’s first-round playoff exit and will get an early test tonight against last year’s Western Conference finalists.
  • New in the package: On the other hand, the Wolves will make their first appearance since trading Karl-Anthony Towns to the Knicks for fellow All-Star Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo, whose availability for tonight is unknown.

Preseason hoops continues tomorrow in Honolulu, while Stephen Curry and the Warriors make their first appearance of the 2024-2025 season against James Harden and the Clippers in a standalone game on Saturday.

  • Warriors vs. Clippers (7 ET, NBA TV | Honolulu, HI)

Sunday will result in a series of five games to conclude the weekend, culminating in the second and final match from Abu Dhabi and the 10th edition of the Canada Series.

  • Nuggets vs. Celtics (10 a.m. ET, NBA TV | NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2024)
  • Knicks at Hornets (5 ET, NBA TV)
  • Wizards vs. Raptors (7:30 ET, NBA League Pass | NBA Canada Series)
  • Bucks at Pistons (8 ET, ESPN)
  • Sunbathing at Lakers (9:30 ET, NBA League Pass)