The NBA confirmed that the Los Angeles Lakers’ preseason matchup against the Dallas Mavericks will now be televised nationally.
The game, set for October 15 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, has been moved to a 9:30 p.m. CT tip on ESPN.
This matchup marks one of the most anticipated contests of the preseason, as it will feature Luka Doncic facing his former team for the first time since being traded to Los Angeles last February.
The preseason slate will feature Lakers roster led by LeBron James, Doncic, and newly acquired Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart.
Dallas, meanwhile, is preparing for its first exhibition run without Doncic, with Kyrie Irving sidelined with an ACL injury that cut short his 2024–25 season.
The October 15 meeting comes on the second night of back-to-back games for the Lakers, who will visit the Phoenix Suns the night before.
Los Angeles opens its six-game preseason schedule on October 3 in Palm Desert against Phoenix. The Lakers then travel to San Francisco to meet the Golden State Warriors on October 5, before returning home to Crypto.com Arena on October 12 for a rematch with Golden State.
Following the clash with Dallas in Las Vegas, Los Angeles will wrap up preseason action on October 17 against the Sacramento Kings.
