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Giannis Antetokounmpo began his 2025 NBA preseason with a strong performance, achieving a double-double that propelled the Milwaukee Bucks to a 127-121 victory over the Chicago Bulls at United Center.
On October 22, I will be ready to play, regardless of how I feel—be it good or bad. The real focus is on the 82 games that lie ahead. The most important ability is being available,” remarked the 30-year-old point forward, who placed greater emphasis on gearing up for the upcoming 2025-26 Regular Season rather than dwelling on his initial exhibition game.
During his 21 minutes and 28 seconds on the court in Chicago, the Greek athlete scored 13 points with an efficient 6-of-10 shooting on two-pointers, alongside ten rebounds and three assists. His sibling, Thanasis, did not participate in the match for Doc Rivers’ squad. For the Bulls, Lithuanian player Matas Buzelis led their scoring with 19 points, while Montenegrin Nikola Vucevic contributed six points, nine rebounds, and three assists. French player Noa Essengue added five points, along with three steals, two rebounds, and one assist.
In the Intuit Dome, Serbian Nikola Jokic recorded 12 points, nine rebounds, and six assists, aiding the Denver Nuggets in their 102-94 triumph over the Los Angeles Clippers. Lithuanian Jonas Valanciunas added ten points and nine rebounds. The Clippers’ Bogdan Bogdanovic was unavailable, but Croatian Ivica Zubac achieved a double-double with 11 points and ten rebounds, while Swiss Yanic Konan Niederhauser contributed four points and Nicolas Batum was held scoreless.
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Lakers postponed Slovenian Luka Doncic’s preseason debut but managed to defeat the Golden State Warriors 126-116 at crypto.com Arena. German player Maxi Kleber and Lithuanian Augustas Marciulionis were also out of action. The only European presence for the Warriors was Dutch player Quinten Post, who scored nine points.
The Toronto Raptors snatched a thrilling 113-112 win against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena with a buzzer-beating shot from Frenchman Olivier Sarr, marking a special moment for the team coached by Serbian Darko Rajakovic, as it interrupted the first game of his younger brother, Alex Sarr, since recovering from a calf injury sustained during EuroBasket 2025.
“It was really enjoyable,” the 20-year-old center reflected on playing against his brother. “I’m still coming to terms with the fact that I was on the court with him, but the short time we spent together was just wonderful.”
Olivier Sarr ended the game with four points, three rebounds, and three assists. Georgian starter Sandro Mamukelashvili recorded nine points, eight rebounds, three assists, and two steals, while Austrian Jakob Poeltl did not play. The Wizards’ Sarr scored 12 points, Swiss player Kyshawn George grabbed 11 points alongside nine rebounds, and Serbian Tristan Vukcevic added another nine, but French player Bilal Coulibaly was absent.
In Kia Center, German Franz Wagner led the Orlando Magic to a convincing 120-104 victory against the Miami Heat, scoring a team-high 17 points. Fellow German starter, Tristan da Silva, added 11 points, while French player Noah Penda contributed seven and Georgian Goga Bitadze chipped in with two points. Moritz Wagner, another German player, did not participate.
Head coach Erik Spoelstra was without Serbian Nikola Jovic, Italian Simone Fontecchio, and Russian Vladislav Goldin, while Lithuanian Kasparas Jakucionis had to exit early due to hip soreness. Conversely, Swedish player Pelle Larsson, who started, managed to score 14 points.
At TD Garden, the Boston Celtics defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers decisively, 138-107, with European contributions ranging from Bosnian Luka Garza’s seven points to the four points each from Spanish Hugo Gonzalez, Portuguese Neemias Queta, British Amari Williams, and Ukrainian Max Shulga.
For the Cavaliers, French player Killian Hayes scored ten points, and Dutch Tristan Enaruna tallied seven points.
In the Venetian Arena of Macao, the Brooklyn Nets narrowly defeated the Phoenix Suns, 111-109, in the NBA China Games 2025, securing a split after meeting twice over the weekend as the league returned to China after six years.
Under the leadership of Spanish coach Jordi Fernandez, Israeli Danny Wolf scored nine points while Ben Saraf recorded four points along with 11 assists. French player Nolan Traore also contributed four points. Russian Egor Demin was unable to play due to injury.
Additionally, the Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks were announced as participants for the 2026 edition of the China Games.
