Doubleheader on Thursday: The competitors meet on TNT

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The penultimate day of the 2024-25 preseason delivers a packed seven-game slate highlighted by a star-studded doubleheader on TNT.

Bucks at Mavericks (7:30 ET, TNT): Could we see Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson on the floor together for the first time in the Mavs' preseason finale when they host Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard and the Bucks in Dallas?

• Dallas duo: While Irving (1 game played) and Thompson (2 games played) made their preseason debuts last Thursday, Doncic has yet to appear for Dallas due to a bruised left calf
• Best Vs. Best? The duel could feature two of the best players at their position, according to the NBA GM poll: Doncic was voted the league's best point guard (37% of the vote), while Antetokounmpo was voted the best power forward (77%).
• Scoring Spotlight: Through two preseason games, Giannis is averaging 22.0 ppg – tied with Coby White for the highest in the NBA – while Jaden Hardy leads Dallas with 16.3 ppg
• Mavs All Access: Go to Mavs training camp where Luka gets the best out of Dereck Lively II on defense and lets him experience it through play

Lakers at Suns (10 ET, TNT): In a matchup featuring two of the league's top scorers, LeBron James and the Lakers will visit the Valley to take on Kevin Durant and the Suns for an early preview of the regular season.

• Rematch: In its first preseason game on October 6, Phoenix defeated Los Angeles 118-114, with Devin Booker (12 points) and Bradley Beal (11 points) combining for 23 points in the first half
• Just the beginning: This is the second of four October duels between Los Angeles and Phoenix. They will meet in eight days for a regular season bout on October 25th and then face off again on October 28th
• What the GMs think: According to the GM poll, the Lakers' success this season is the hardest to predict among all 30 teams (17% of the vote), while the Suns' success is the fourth hardest to predict (10%).
• Towers on the road to success: Los Angeles' No. 17 overall pick Dalton Knecht (13.8 ppg) is second on the team through four games, while Suns' No. 28 pick Ryan Dunn (11.0 ppg) follows Durant (15.0 ppg). ) connects. Beal (13.3) and Booker (11.0) are Phoenix's best scorers