Québec City hosts the first exhibition of the new season
The Toronto Raptors and Miami Heat open the NBA preseason at Videotron Centre in Québec City on Saturday, October 3, at 7 p.m. Eastern. For Philippine viewers, tip-off is Sunday, October 4, at 7 a.m. The exhibition begins the teams’ preparations against outside opposition and does not count toward the regular-season standings.
Both clubs enter with major additions: Kawhi Leonard has returned to Toronto, while Giannis Antetokounmpo has joined Miami. Their presence on the rosters does not guarantee that either will appear in this first game. The latest reporting checked on October 3, Philippine time, had not confirmed both players’ participation.
The Canadian Press reported that Raptors coach Darko Rajaković expects most of his regulars to play. Leonard remains a separate question as Toronto gradually increases his workload. Sportsnet reported that he had taken part in camp but had been held out of live-contact work.
For Toronto, the opener offers a first test of its combinations against another team. Miami begins the same process with a roster reorganized around Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo. Early substitutions and experimental lineups will matter more as preparation than as evidence of a settled rotation.
The NBA lists NBA TV for the game in the United States. Philippine viewers should check their local service’s game listing rather than assume that a US channel listing applies locally. Final availability and starting lineups remain the key updates to follow before tip-off.