Three teams, three preseason slates, and a little bit of early calendar planning for the 2026/27 season.
Orlando, Boston and Sacramento all revealed their preseason schedules on Monday, giving fans their first look at what October will bring before the regular season gets rolling.
The Magic are set for four exhibition games, according to Jason Beede of The Orlando Sentinel. Orlando’s schedule opens on October 7 at Memphis at 8 pm ET, then continues with road games at Cleveland on Oct. 11 at 7 pm ET and a home rematch with Cleveland on Oct. 13 at 7 pm ET. The Magic wrap up their preseason on Oct. 16 at home against Miami at 7 pm ET.
Broadcast plans for Orlando still haven’t been finalized. Beede reported that the team has not yet announced how the games will be shown after the parent company of FanDuel Sports Network went bankrupt, though that announcement is expected in the “near future,” according to Beede.
Boston will also play four preseason games, Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe tweeted, and two of those matchups come against the Sixers, Jaylen Brown’s new team. All four Celtics preseason games will air on NBC Sports Boston.
Sacramento is taking the busiest route of the three, with five preseason games ahead of the ’26/27 regular season, according to Sean Cunningham of KCRA News. Jason Anderson of The Sacramento Bee relayed that every Kings preseason game will be televised on NBC Sports California.
Here’s Sacramento’s full preseason schedule:
In Other News...
Paolo Banchero Just Sent A Clear Message About Orlandos Next Step
Paolo Bancheros offseason has been shaped by the same frustration that followed Orlando out of the spring, and he made it clear the Magic are treating this summer like a turning point. The forward said the group has been working with a sharper edge after another playoff disappointment, with the focus now on turning all that talent into a run that lasts longer than a first-round exit.
Banchero also pointed to the work being done away from the spotlight, including time spent with teammates in offseason workouts, as part of a broader push to raise the standard. Orlando has spent the past year learning how thin the margin is in the postseason, and Bancheros message was simple enough: the next step is not just getting back there, but being ready to stay there. [Read more 🡒]
Paolo Banchero Knows What This Magic Season Has To Prove
The Magic are heading into 2026 with much of the same core intact, but a new voice on the sideline in Sean Sweeney and a familiar burden on Paolo Bancheros shoulders. Banchero has talked about approaching the season with a fresh mindset, focused on the next step in his own growth and on the pressure he puts on himself to keep improving. For Orlando, that matters because the roster stability brings expectation with it, and Banchero remains the player most tied to whether this group can turn promising seasons into something more.
The conversation around him has also gotten more pointed because the raw production has never been the issue so much as the efficiency and the overall impact when he is on the floor. He has already helped get Orlando into the playoffs, but the real test now is whether he can push the Magic beyond the first round and into a deeper run. A torn oblique in 2025 and a strained groin in 2026 have interrupted parts of that climb, which only adds to the sense that this season is about more than numbers. [Read more 🡒]
Orlando Magic Dreamers Get Big Boost For Central Florida Kids
The Orlando Magic Dreamers got a meaningful infusion of support this week, with two grants helping cover the costs that can keep youth wheelchair basketball out of reach for some Central Florida families. The money is earmarked for travel, equipment, uniforms and basketballs, a practical boost for a program built around giving kids a chance to play and compete.
One of the grants came from Dicks Sporting Goods, with Orange County adding another layer of backing for the teams needs. For a sport where the specialized chairs alone can carry a hefty price tag, the funding should make a real difference in keeping the Dreamers more affordable and accessible for players who want to be part of it. [Read more 🡒]