With the 2026–27 NBA season tipping off on October 20, the final days of preseason have brought plenty of action, from Cameron Johnson’s Flagrant 2 ejection against the Lakers to an injury scare involving Warriors forward Gui Santos. Elsewhere, LeBron James received a warm welcome in Philadelphia, Victor Wembanyama delivered a highlight-reel dunk for the Spurs, and the Milwaukee Bucks continued exploring trade options ahead of the roster deadline. With opening night fast approaching, here’s a closer look at the biggest moments and developments from around the league.

Cameron Johnson ejected after Flagrant 2 elbow on Austin Reaves

The Denver Nuggets closed out their 2026–27 preseason schedule with a 121–106 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena, but the evening ended a little earlier than that for starting wing Cam Johnson.

Midway through the third quarter, while cutting across the paint as Jamal Murray posted up, Johnson caught Lakers guard Austin Reaves in the face with an elbow. Though initial contact appeared incidental, game officials reviewed it at length. They deemed the contact “unnecessary and excessive” and upgraded the whistle to a Flagrant 2 foul, prompting Johnson’s immediate ejection.

The upgrade caught players, fans, and broadcast crews off guard. Even Austin Reaves showed visible surprise over the harsh ruling. Taking the decision in stride, the 30-year-old forward shook hands with his teammates before walking off the floor without protest.

Before his departure, Johnson put together an efficient night, scoring 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting and 2-of-4 from deep alongside three rebounds, one assist, and a steal in 23 minutes.

Led by 21 points from Jamal Murray and 17 from Nikola Jokic, Denver finalized its exhibition slate with a 3–2 record as they shift focus to their regular-season opener against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Gui Santos suffers early knee injury vs. Trail Blazers

The Golden State Warriors faced an early injury scare during Friday night’s 128–118 preseason finale victory over the Portland Trail Blazers at Chase Center. Forward Gui Santos limped off the court midway through the opening quarter.

With 5:03 remaining in the first quarter and Portland holding a slight 17–15 lead, Santos collided knees with Trail Blazers guard Sidy Cissoko while attempting to contest a shot near the rim. The 24-year-old forward immediately winced, favoring his left knee as he limped toward the sideline.

Medical personnel evaluated Santos on the bench before assisting him down the tunnel into the Warriors’ locker room for further examination. The setback initially sparked concern for Golden State’s reserve rotation, given that any missed time for Santos could open up rotational opportunities for veterans like Georges Niang and Will Richard.

However, the team received encouraging news later in the contest when Santos returned to the bench with a heavy wrap on his left knee. He briefly returned to the floor before being held out for the remainder of the game as a precaution. Santos finished with seven points, one rebound, and one assist in 21 minutes.

Having started three of Golden State’s five exhibition games prior to Friday’s second-unit appearance, Santos will be closely monitored ahead of the team’s regular-season opener.

While Santos’ injury provided a worrying moment for Golden State, the Warriors’ preseason finale also produced a lighter scene involving their head coach.

Steve Kerr sees double in Chase Center

Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr (and some fans) found himself doing a double take during the Warriors’ preseason victory over the Portland Trail Blazers at Chase Center. Fans cameras spotted ‘Kerr’ going a few rows behind the sidelines only for the real Steve Kerr to stand up, turn around and find his uncanny look-alike sitting in the crowd directly behind the home bench.

Kerr’s reaction to his new doppelgänger was to stand and stare for a long time while the game continued behind him. His hilarious reaction has already gone viral and fans are trying to identify the Kerr lookalike from tonight.

It’s not even the first time. One of the most famous Kerr lookalikes was identified as Las Vegas high school English teacher and volleyball coach Steve Gillis. He attended a Warriors game in 2024 and quickly went viral across social media as broadcast cameras caught Kerr’s amused reaction to seeing his near-identical twin in the arena two years ago.

The viral moment was not the only highlight from Friday’s preseason action, as another young star in the Western Conference gave fans a glimpse of what he can do in transition.

Victor Wembanyama’s coast-to-coast dunk leaves fans stunned

The San Antonio Spurs closed out their preseason with a commanding 126–97 win over the Sacramento Kings, but Victor Wembanyama’s early-game dunk became one of the night’s standout highlights.

Wembanyama turned defense into offense, taking the ball from one end of the court to the other before finishing with a self-lob slam. The play put San Antonio ahead 5–2 and showcased how the 7-foot-4 center can use his mobility and length to create a scoring opportunity in the open court.

The highlight drew reactions from fans online. One called Wembanyama a “beast,” while another wondered, “What do you even do when this is already in motion dawg.” Others suggested that his combination of size and athleticism could make him increasingly difficult for opponents to contain.

Wembanyama finished with 14 points and eight rebounds in the win. The result also gave San Antonio a positive finish to its preseason ahead of its regular-season opener against the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Spurs’ win offered a glimpse of Wembanyama’s transition threat, while events in Philadelphia put the spotlight on another superstar preparing for a new chapter with a new team.

LeBron James makes his Philadelphia preseason debut

LeBron James received a roaring welcome in Philadelphia on Friday as he made his first preseason appearance in front of 76ers fans at home. The 41-year-old performed his signature chalk toss before being introduced to a sellout crowd of 19,746 at the team’s final preseason game against the Boston Celtics.

James gave the crowd an early highlight when Tyrese Maxey launched a half-court lob in his direction. James caught the pass and finished with a two-handed dunk, prompting a loud reaction from the arena. The connection was particularly notable given Maxey’s close relationship with James and his reported role in persuading the veteran to join Philadelphia.

“This is a connection that we have,” James said. “Some of the best things for us offensively is going to be to get up the floor.”

James finished with eight points and eight rebounds, with the dunk providing the defining moment of his Philadelphia home debut. The exhibition result, however, went Boston’s way, as the Celtics secured a 125–120 overtime win.

The game also offered a first look at the challenge facing Philadelphia as it brings together James, Maxey, Joel Embiid, and Jaylen Brown. James acknowledged that the group still has work to do to find its rhythm before the regular season begins.

“We’re getting there,” James said. “We’re a couple of weeks in. We’re still working on our rhythm, working on our kinks. It’s not going to be perfect. Obviously, we’re just getting together, so it’s not going to be perfect. But we’ve got some things we can build on.”

James also addressed the attention surrounding his helicopter commute between New York and the 76ers’ training facility in New Jersey, dismissing the fuss around it. “I’ve done it before,” he said. “Just another way of transportation. That’s all.”

Philadelphia opens its regular season against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on October 20, before hosting Cleveland for its home opener on October 22.

While LeBron’s Philadelphia debut offered a glimpse of the team’s new on-court combinations, the Celtics-76ers matchup also brought Jaylen Brown face-to-face with the teammates he left behind in Boston.

Jaylen Brown reunites with former Celtics teammates

Following the Boston Celtics’ defeating the Philadelphia 76ers 125-120 in preseason action, Boston sideline reporter Abby Chin caught up with Celtics forward Ron Harper Jr. to discuss reuniting with former teammate Jaylen Brown. Brown, who was traded from Boston to Philadelphia in a blockbuster offseason deal, made it a point to catch up with his former locker room mates after the final buzzer.

When Chin asked what Brown had to say to his former teammates upon meeting up, Harper Jr. smiled and shared Brown’s lighthearted, affectionate trash talk.

“Jaylen’s a good dude, bro. But he’s a funny one. He came up to us, he said, ‘We still ugly,’ that just means he misses us.”

The humorous exchange highlights the lingering bond between Brown and his former teammates despite the major roster shakeup that sent the All-Star wing to Philadelphia earlier this summer. However, the friendly reunion does not establish whether there is any tension between Brown and former on-court partner Jayson Tatum. Previous reporting has explored speculation about their relationship, but the exchange with Harper Jr. is not evidence of a rift.

Milwaukee Bucks weighing trade options for veterans

As players settle into new roles on the court, Milwaukee’s front office is still working to resolve its own roster questions before the regular season begins. With the October 19 deadline to trim rosters to 15 standard contracts approaching, the Bucks are reportedly exploring trade scenarios for veteran guards Caris LeVert and Kevin Porter Jr.

According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, Milwaukee currently holds 17 standard contracts and is seeking trade pathways to resolve its backcourt congestion rather than outright waiving players under contract.

Beyond exploratory talks involving center Jericho Sims and Los Angeles Lakers guard Dalton Knecht, Fischer reports that front offices around the league are monitoring Milwaukee’s willingness to move LeVert and Porter Jr. Both players are entering the final year of their respective contracts, making them potential salary-matching candidates for teams seeking backcourt depth.

The discussions remain exploratory, and no deal should be treated as imminent without confirmation. With the roster deadline approaching, Milwaukee must weigh the value of retaining its veterans against the need to meet roster limits and preserve flexibility for the regular season.