Leonard Miller scored the night's high with 26, but Denver's five-point win over Chicago was the clearest reminder that one brilliant line does not decide an exhibition. Dallas supplied the broader story, beating Houston as Kyrie Irving returned to NBA action after 586 days away.
Chicago Bulls @ Denver Nuggets: Miller's scoring deserved a closer look
Chicago Bulls @ Denver Nuggets finished Denver Nuggets 133, Chicago Bulls 128. Chicago made 21 three-pointers to Denver's 13, but the Bulls also committed 18 turnovers against Denver's 15. They went 13-for-18 at the free-throw line, an efficient return that still could not quite bridge the gap. The ESPN box score records the five-point finish and team totals.
Miller's 26 points led the slate, and he needed only 14 field-goal attempts to get there. Aaron Gordon answered with 25 for Denver, while Nikola Jokić handed out 10 assists. Chicago had the more prolific three-point night; Denver had enough scoring balance to make it count. The final box score puts those individual lines alongside the result.
Milwaukee Bucks @ Charlotte Hornets: Charlotte built its margin on the glass
The Hornets won the rebounding count 54-48 in a 105-90 home win. They also made 17 of 51 three-pointers to Milwaukee's 15 of 46, then protected the ball a little better, finishing with 14 turnovers against the Bucks' 15. Those are small advantages in isolation, but Charlotte stacked them across the game rather than asking one stretch of shooting to carry the result. The ESPN game summary lists the final and team figures.
Orlando Magic @ Cleveland Cavaliers: Cleveland kept getting to the line
Cleveland converted 26 of 30 free throws; Orlando made 18 of 25. That was the cleanest gap in the Cavaliers' 119-105 win, and it came with a 15-for-37 night from three against the Magic's 13-for-38. Cleveland also finished with 49 rebounds to Orlando's 45. The ESPN box score has James Harden leading Cleveland with 24 points, while Tristan da Silva paced Orlando with 17.
The margin was substantial, but Orlando's perimeter return kept the game from becoming a one-stat story. The Cavaliers paired their better work at the line with enough boards and outside shooting to hold a steady advantage.
Dallas Mavericks @ Houston Rockets: ball security broke the tie
Houston's 22 turnovers to Dallas' 16 were the clearest separation in the Mavericks' 132-115 win. Dallas made 15 of 40 three-pointers, Houston 14 of 47, and the Mavericks converted 35 of 39 free throws to the Rockets' 27 of 36. The ESPN game page lists the team totals and Marcus Smart's 20 points for Houston.
The box score was only part of the story. Irving finished with 17 points in 22 minutes in his first game action in 586 days, after missing last season while recovering from a torn ACL in his left knee. ESPN reported on his return, a meaningful milestone for Dallas that does not need a forecast attached to it.
The wider preseason picture
Three of the four home teams won, and only Denver-Chicago finished within five points. The slate offered different early markers: Charlotte's rebounding, Cleveland's trips to the line, Dallas' cleaner possessions, and a high-scoring finish in Denver. Those are observations from one preseason night, not a verdict on what will hold when the games count. The more durable headline belongs to Irving's return, with Miller's scoring line the night's sharpest individual performance.
