The NBA is back on the court, but the games being played right now are preseason contests, not regular-season matchups. On October 4, two NBA games are scheduled as teams continue preparing for the 2026–27 campaign.
Why Are NBA Games Being Played Before the Regular Season?
The answer is preseason preparation.
NBA teams use these games to evaluate rotations, test lineups and give players an opportunity to build rhythm before competitive games begin. Coaches can also assess younger players and determine which combinations work best.
The 2026–27 regular season does not officially begin until October 20. The NBA has already released the complete regular-season schedule, including nationally televised games and Emirates NBA Cup fixtures.
That makes the current schedule an important part of the buildup rather than the beginning of the regular-season standings race.
Which NBA Games Are Scheduled Today?
Two preseason games are scheduled for Sunday, October 4.
The Utah Jazz visit the Denver Nuggets, with the game scheduled for 7 p.m. Eastern Time at the CU Events Center in Boulder, Colorado. The venue is significant because this preseason matchup gives basketball fans in Boulder a chance to see NBA competition in person. The University of Colorado confirmed the event as a Nuggets-Jazz preseason game.
The second matchup is the Golden State Warriors against the Los Angeles Clippers. That game is scheduled for the same 7 p.m. Eastern start and is being played at the Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu, Hawaii.
These are scheduled games, so final scores and player statistics are not available before tipoff.
What Happened in the Previous NBA Game?
The previous day’s NBA preseason action produced one completed game.
On October 3, the Miami Heat defeated the Toronto Raptors 129–105 in the NBA Canada Game at Centre Videotron in Quebec City. The result is already listed on the official NBA schedule.
That game offered an early look at teams preparing for the regular season. But preseason results should be interpreted carefully because teams may experiment with rotations and player minutes.
A preseason win therefore does not automatically indicate how a team will perform once the games begin to count.
When Does the 2026–27 NBA Regular Season Start?
The regular season begins on October 20, 2026.
The opening day features a three-game national television lineup. The Boston Celtics visit the Detroit Pistons, the defending champion New York Knicks host the Philadelphia 76ers, and the San Antonio Spurs meet the Oklahoma City Thunder.
That opening night is where the competitive record officially begins.
The distinction between preseason and regular-season NBA games is important for anyone searching today’s scores, standings or player statistics. Preseason games can reveal trends, but they do not determine the final standings.
What Makes the New Season Different?
The 2026–27 schedule contains several notable changes and storylines.
The NBA will continue its Emirates NBA Cup, with Group Play beginning October 30. The league also has an expanded national broadcasting arrangement involving Disney, NBCUniversal and Amazon.
Christmas Day will again feature five NBA games. The schedule includes a 2026 NBA Finals rematch between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs, followed by several other nationally televised matchups.
The season will ultimately conclude with all 30 teams playing on April 11, 2027, before the postseason continues toward the NBA championship.
What Should Fans Watch in Preseason NBA Games?
Preseason is less about the final score and more about what happens around it.
Coaches can use the games to test starting combinations. Young players can compete for larger roles. Veterans can work themselves back into game condition.
That means a player who scores heavily in preseason is not automatically guaranteed a major regular-season role. Likewise, a star receiving limited minutes does not necessarily indicate a problem.
No official source can predict from one preseason game which teams will ultimately contend for the championship. Any claim otherwise is working from assumption rather than evidence.
NBA Games: The Bigger Picture
Today’s NBA schedule provides another step toward the start of the 2026–27 regular season. The Utah-Denver and Golden State-Los Angeles matchups are preparation games, while the October 20 opening night will mark the beginning of the official campaign.
The mystery around preseason is therefore not simply who wins. It is what coaches discover before the games begin to count.
For fans following NBA games, the next few weeks will provide the first clues about rotations, new arrivals and potential contenders. The answers, however, will only become clearer once the regular season begins.
