A Historic NBA Moment: Father and Son Make Starting 5 Debut, Oct. 7

LeBron James and Bronny James were all smiles during warmups just moments before making history as the first father-son duo to play together in an NBA preseason game.

THE LINEUP

What’s inside today’s edition?

Historic Moment: LeBron and Bronny James became the first father-son duo to share the court in a preseason game

Abu Dhabi Sweep: Defending champion Celtics leave the UAE 2-0 in the preseason

Roundup: New-look Knicks, Raptors and Pistons open preseason with wins

WNBA Semifinals: Liberty reach 2nd straight Finals; Sun force decisive Game 5

More Debuts On Tap: 16 teams (and plenty of new faces) open the preseason this week

BUT FIRST … ⏰

Start your week with more preseason hoops…

A pair of former No. 1 picks out of Duke – New Orleans’ Zion Williamson (2019) and Orlando’s Paolo Banchero (2022) – will face off to open their preseasons in a Monday matinee (1:30 ET, NBA League Pass) to open a five-game slate.

1. LEBRON & BRONNY JAMES OFFER A PREVIEW OF NBA HISTORY

Entering his 22nd NBA season, there aren’t many NBA firsts for LeBron James to accomplish.

However, on Sunday night in Palm Desert, when the Lakers took the court to open the 2nd quarter against the Suns, LeBron and his eldest son, Bronny, stood side-by-side – marking the first time in NBA history that a father and son have played in an NBA preseason game together.

It served as a preview for the official moment that could come during the regular season. That can happen as early as Oct. 22 when the Lakers host the Wolves in the nightcap of the 2024-25 season’s opening night.

LeBron Postgame via X: WOW THAT WAS SURREAL!!

The LeBron and Bronny moment came during a 1st half that saw the Lakers build a 69-57 lead behind a combined 36 points from LeBron (19 pts) and Anthony Davis (17 pts) before the All-Stars sat in the 2nd half.

The Lakers led by as many as 16 points in the 3rd quarter before the Suns rallied to set up a back-and-forth 4th quarter before Phoenix prevailed 118-114. | Stats

Josh Okogie (15 pts, 5 reb, 2 3s) led Phoenix off the bench, while starters Kevin Durant (6 pts, 3-10 FG), Devin Booker (12 pts, 4-12 FG) and Bradley Beal (11 pts, 2-7 FG) combined for 29 points on 31% shooting. The Suns’ bench outscored the Lakers’ bench 76-42.

2. CELTICS COMPLETE ABU DHABI SWEEP

Boston’s win over Denver in the 2024 preseason opener on Friday was its first in 693 days – dating all the way back to Nov. 2022.

On Sunday, Jaylen Brown (21 pts, 3 ast) and Jayson Tatum (17 pts, 4 ast) combined for 38 points to lead the Celtics to their second win over the Nuggets in just three days. | Stats

An Abu Dhabi Sweep: In a clash of the past two NBA title holders, the 2024 champs took both games in Abu Dhabi, following a 107-103 win on Friday with a 130-104 win on SundayDecisive 3rd Quarter: Boston led by seven at the half the outscored the Nuggets 42-16 in the 3rd behind a familiar spark off the bench – Payton PritchardEncore: After leading all scorers on Friday (21 pts, 6 3s), Pritchard scored all 14 of his points (5-7 FG, 2-3 3P) in the 3rd quarter on Sunday as the Celtics pulled awayPoetry In Motion:

Check out the

handles and tough fadeaway bucket

from Brown through the slow-mo lens

Nikola Jokic paced the Nuggets with 20 points, seven boards and three assists in 18 minutes. Both Jokic and Jamal Murray did not play in the 2nd half as Denver let their young players get some extended run.

Young Nuggs: Second-year guard Julian Strawther scored 17 points, undrafted rookie Trey Alexander added 12 points and five dimes, and 2023 second-round pick Hunter Tyson (8 pts, 10 reb) nearly put up a double-doubleShorthanded Squad:

Veterans Michael Porter Jr., Aaron Gordon, Russell Westbrook, DeAndre Jordan and 2024 first-round pick DaRon Holmes II were inactive for Denver

Headed Home: After a successful trip, Tatum and the Celtics boarded a 14-hour flight back to Boston to see their families and resume camp … but not before tossing the fans a few souvenirs on the walk off the court

Tatum: “Basketball has allowed us to go places and travel the world… to have the opportunity to come over here was special. It was an incredible trip.”

3. NEW-LOOK KNICKS, RAPTORS, PISTONS OPEN PRESEASON WITH Ws

Knicks 111, Hornets 109: In a game featuring the Knicks debuts of Karl-Anthony Towns (10 pts, 4 reb, first bucket), Mikal Bridges (4 pts, first bucket) and Landry Shamet (16 pts, 4 3s), it was Deuce McBride (22 pts, 4 3s) that led the Knicks past the Hornets.

PG Battle: LaMelo Ball (18 pts, 7 ast, 4 3s in 19 minutes) was back on the court for Charlotte for the first time since Jan. 26, while Jalen Brunson (12 pts, 3 ast in 15 min) played only the 1st half, as did KAT and Bridges

Raptors 125, Wizards 98: RJ Barrett (17 pts, 7-10 FG) and Chris Boucher (13 pts, 6 reb) combined for 30 points to lead the Raptors to a win in Montreal as part of the NBA Canada Series

Magic Number Is 10: Five Raptors scored exactly 10 points in the win: Gradey Dick, Jamal Shead, Kelly Olynyk, Jahmi’us Ramsey and Jamison BattleNo. 2 Pick Debuts: Alex Sarr finished with 15 points, four assists and three 3s in 22 minutes in his preseason debutCanada Loves Vince:

Former Raptor and soon-to-be Hall of Famer Vince Carter

received a standing ovation

from the Montreal crowd

Pistons 120, Bucks 87: Detroit led 60-58 at the half, then outscored the Bucks 60-29 in the 2nd half behind Jaden Ivey (22 pts, 3 3s), Cade Cunningham (13 pts, 4 reb, 4 ast) and Ron Holland (10 pts, 6 reb, 5 ast in his debut).

1st Half Only: Damian Lillard (15 pts, 4 ast, 4 3s) and Bobby Portis (16 pts, 4 3s) led the Bucks while sitting the 2nd half. Meanwhile, Giannis Antetokounmpo did not play for Milwaukee

4. WNBA: LIBERTY RETURN TO FINALS, SUN FORCE GAME 5

Liberty 76, Aces 62 (NY Wins 3-1): Two days after being held to a Playoff career-low four points in New York’s Game 3 loss in Las Vegas, Sabrina Ionescu had 22 points with five 3-pointers to lead the Liberty to a series-clinching win over the Aces. | Recap

All Together: Breanna Stewart (19 pts, 14 reb, 5 ast, 4 blk) stuffed the stat sheet for the Liberty. Jonquel Jones added 14 points, while rookie Leonie Fiebich (11 pts, 7 reb) was a plus-28 in 28 minutesAces Streak(s) Snapped: Las Vegas’ record 12-game home Playoff win streak was snapped and the Aces’ hopes of becoming the second team to three-peat came to an endA’ja’s Historic Season Ends: The unanimous MVP closed the 2024 season leading the Aces in points (19), rebounds (10) and blocks (5) in the lossBack To The Finals: The Liberty are headed back to the WNBA Finals for the second straight season – and sixth time overall – now three wins away from their first-ever WNBA championshipAs the No. 1 seed,

the Liberty will host Game 1 of 2024 WNBA Finals on Thursday (8 ET, ESPN) from Barclays Center in Brooklyn

Sun 92, Lynx 82 (Series Tied 2-2): The Liberty will have to wait two more days to find out who their Finals opponent will be as Connecticut used a dominant 2nd half to stave off elimination and force a winner-take-all Game 5 on Tuesday in Minneapolis (8 ET, ESPN2). | Recap

2nd Half Surge: Whatever was said in the Connecticut locker room at halftime worked because the Sun dominated the 3rd quarter (25-13) to take control and won the 4th (24-19) to seal the winTy-riffic: Tyasha Harris rolled her ankle in the first round and was scoreless in just 13 total minutes played in the semifinals entering Game 4. The ankle looked fine on Sunday as she got the start and scored a team-high 20 points with four 3sBalanced Effort:

DeWanna Bonner and Alyssa Thomas added 18 points each (with AT adding a game-high 11 dimes), while DiJonai Carrington and Marina Mabrey added 15 and 10 points, respectively

5. WHAT’S IN STORE THIS WEEK? KEY DEBUTS TO WATCH

The opening weekend of the preseason gave us an historic father-son moment (with the LeBron and Bronny) and a game-winning buzzer-beater (courtesy of Golden State’s Lindsay Waters).

We also witnessed standout rookie performances (from Rob Dillingham and Dalton Knecht) as well as our first glimpses of new-look squads (see Russell Westbrook with Denver, KAT and Bridges with NY, Donte DiVincezno in Minnesota).

And that was with less than half the league in action. This week, the remaining 16 teams will also hit the hardwood, giving us plenty of games to circle on the calendar.

Monday

Pelicans vs. Magic (1:30 ET, LP): New-team preseason debuts for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope for Orlando and Dejounte Murray for NOLASixers vs. NZ Breakers (7 ET, LP): First-look at Paul George and Caleb Martin alongside Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey for PhillyMavs vs. Grizzlies (8 ET, LP): How many 3s will Klay Thompson splash in his preseason debut in Dallas?Spurs vs. Thunder (8 ET, NBA TV): The new-look Thunder debut Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein in the preseason, while the Spurs will feature No. 4 pick Stephon Castle as Victor Wembanyama and Chris Paul are not expected to playJazz vs. Rockets (9 ET, LP):

No. 3 draft pick Reed Sheppard debuts after a strong Summer League showing

Tuesday

Hornets vs. Heat (7 ET, LP): A pair of All-Summer Leaguers for the Heat – first round pick Kel’el Ware makes his debut while Jaime Jaquez Jr. begins Year 2Cavs vs. Bulls (7 ET, LP): Josh Giddey’s preseason debuts for the Bulls against a Cavs squad that is running it back with nearly all of last year’s rosterPistons vs. Suns (7 ET, LP): The second preseason game for both teams but the only one in East Lansing, MIHawks vs. Pacers (7:30 ET, NBA TV): The preseason debut of No. 1 overall pick Zaccharie Risacher with the Hawks, while the No. 2 pick from 2020, James Wiseman, suits up for the Pacers for the first timeClippers vs. Nets (10:30 ET, LP):

After opening the preseason in Hawaii, the Clippers will play in Oceanside on Tuesday and Seattle on Friday before debuting the Intuit Dome on Monday, Oct. 14

Wednesday

Kings vs. Warriors (10:30 ET, ESPN): The Kings will see the debut of DeMar DeRozan against a familiar foe – a Warriors team the Kings knocked out in the Play-In Tournament last spring

Friday

Blazers vs. Clippers (10:30 ET, LP): The final team to open the preseason, Portland, will see the debut of No. 7 pick Donovan Clingan and offseason additions Deni Avdija and Devonte’ Graham

Reminder: Lineups change quickly in the preseason. Stay up to date at the NBA App.