Published October 6, 2026

Detroit erased a 19-point deficit with a rookie's late layup, while Philadelphia opened with a 23-point win and Memphis poured in 132 on the road. Jaylen Brown's 22-point Sixers debut led the individual scoring, but the night's most revealing turns came from a finish in Detroit and a first look at Minnesota's new backcourt.

Preseason basketball is supposed to be a controlled first step. Detroit spent its opener chasing a game that had already started to get away.

A rookie gives Detroit the last possession

Phoenix Suns @ Detroit Pistons

On October 5, Detroit Pistons 109, Phoenix Suns 107. The Pistons trailed by 19, then finished the comeback with Ebuka Okorie's layup with 5.8 seconds left and a defensive stop on the other end. The game report has Okorie forcing the final miss after scoring the go-ahead basket.

Detroit's defensive activity set up the recovery: it recorded 21 steals to Phoenix's 12. The Suns still shot better from three, making 14 of 35 attempts (40%) against Detroit's 13 of 36 (36%), and won the glass 47-35. But the Pistons made 26 of 41 free throws, compared with Phoenix's 17 of 33, a nine-point advantage at the line that kept the home side within reach. Those team numbers are in the box score.

Memphis turns passing into a burst

Memphis Grizzlies @ Atlanta Hawks

On October 5, Memphis Grizzlies 132, Atlanta Hawks 123. The visitors handed out 32 assists to Atlanta's 25, finding the next option instead of asking one player to solve every possession. Memphis made 18 of 43 three-pointers (42%), while Atlanta went 14 of 43 (33%). The Grizzlies also collected 13 steals to the Hawks' 11, though Atlanta held a 45-41 rebounding edge. The box score records the team totals.

Memphis first fell behind by 11, then scored 81 points in the first half and carried a 20-point lead into the break, according to a local game recap. Atlanta trimmed the margin after halftime, but Memphis' recovery was the game's decisive turn.

Jaylen Brown gives Philadelphia the scoring headline

New York Knicks @ Philadelphia 76ers

On October 5, Philadelphia 76ers 120, New York Knicks 97. Jaylen Brown led all scorers with 22 points in his Sixers debut. Philadelphia made 16 of 46 threes (35%); New York hit 8 of 41 (20%). The 76ers also converted 22 of 28 free throws (79%), compared with 19 of 32 (59%) for the Knicks, and took 53 rebounds to New York's 51. The box score supplies the team totals, while a Philadelphia game report details Brown's debut.

This was an exhibition, and several of Philadelphia's regulars sat. The sharper note is that Brown's scoring arrived alongside a 16-make three-point night and only 10 turnovers against New York's 13.

Minnesota wins the turnover margin in Milwaukee

Minnesota Timberwolves @ Milwaukee Bucks

On October 5, Minnesota Timberwolves 116, Milwaukee Bucks 97. Minnesota finished with 13 turnovers to Milwaukee's 18, then added a 51-47 edge on the boards. The Wolves were not the sharper three-point team: they made 9 of 35 (26%), while the Bucks made 16 of 47 (34%). The final box score shows how the visitors offset that gap.

LaMelo Ball's first Minnesota appearance was a chemistry check as much as a box-score exercise. He had 11 points, four rebounds, and three assists in 17 minutes, according to the game box score, and said after the game:

"I think the more we play, the easier and easier it's going to get and the more and more chemistry we're going to get. But that being the first game, and the little practices we got under our belt, I think it was solid."

The postgame clip captured Ball describing the value of more time together. Milwaukee coach Taylor Jenkins focused on the defensive gap after the loss in a postgame press-conference report:

"It felt like our defense was really lacking for 48 minutes. We had spurts of it. We had some good possessions, but too often, with no pressure on the ball, no shift was held. They were getting downhill. […] We got to do a better job of guarding without fouling. Just a lack of communication. […] We've got to get better."

Ball saw chemistry to build; Jenkins saw a defensive standard to meet. The next preseason games offer an early check on both.

The first injury note arrives in Memphis

The night's clearest non-score development came from Grizzlies center Isaiah Stewart, who left after a hard fall on October 5 and was listed as doubtful to return with a left ankle injury. The injury report described the incident; there is no reason to project beyond that status.

Four preseason results offered four early markers: Detroit's ability to recover, Memphis' shared offense, Philadelphia's new scoring option, and Minnesota's ball security. Brown owned the top line, but Okorie owned the finish. October's useful evidence is still small; the details that travel are the ones a team can repeat.