This NBA preview November 3 covers four of Tuesday morning’s biggest games in Philippine time, led by the Oklahoma City Thunder’s visit to the Cleveland Cavaliers. It’s the second Peacock NBA Monday game of the season in the US, and it tips off at 8:00 AM PHT.
Records below are through the games of October 28 in the US, so check the latest standings on our NBA news page before tip-off. US clocks go back an hour on November 1, so these games start an hour later in Philippine time than the same US evening slots did in October.
| Tip-off (PHT) | Game | Venue | US broadcast |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8:00 AM | Thunder at Cavaliers | Rocket Arena, Cleveland | Peacock, NBCSN |
| 9:00 AM | Bucks at Timberwolves | Target Center, Minneapolis | Regional TV |
| 9:30 AM | Celtics at Rockets | Toyota Center, Houston | Regional TV |
| 11:00 AM | Heat at Lakers | Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles | Regional TV |
All four games are on Tuesday, November 3, in Philippine time, which is Monday night in the US. Philippine broadcast details weren’t confirmed when this preview was written, so check local listings and NBA League Pass.
Thunder at Cavaliers, 8:00 AM PHT
The headline game pairs two of last season’s best teams. Oklahoma City went 64-18 for the league’s best record for a second straight season, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander won his second straight MVP award. Cleveland went 52-30, beat Detroit in a seven-game East semifinal, and reached the Eastern Conference Finals before losing to the Knicks.
The Thunder are 4-1, but they arrive without two key players. Jalen Williams fractured his left fibula and dislocated his left ankle on October 25 and needs surgery, and guard Cason Wallace also needs surgery. Their absence puts even more on Gilgeous-Alexander, who scored 32 in the opener against San Antonio, as covered in our Thunder vs Spurs preview.
Cleveland has been strong at home early, winning its first three games at Rocket Arena. The Cavaliers did suffer one of the week’s most painful losses, blowing a 29-point lead in a road loss at Philadelphia.
Key takeaway
How the Thunder replace Jalen Williams’ scoring and defense on the wing is the biggest question in this game and for their season.
Bucks at Timberwolves, 9:00 AM PHT
Minnesota was the story of the first week, winning its first three games by at least 20 points each, only the third team in NBA history to do that. The Timberwolves are 3-2 after two straight losses, so this home game is a chance to get back on track.
LaMelo Ball, acquired from Charlotte in the offseason, has given Minnesota a second creator alongside Anthony Edwards. Milwaukee, by contrast, is starting over. The Bucks went 32-50 last season, traded Giannis Antetokounmpo to Miami in the offseason, and are 1-4 so far.
Celtics at Rockets, 9:30 AM PHT
Houston is unbeaten at 5-0. The Rockets went 52-30 last season and lost to the Lakers in the first round, and they have opened this season as one of the West’s most complete teams, with Kevin Durant and the return of guard Fred VanVleet from a torn ACL.
Boston is 3-1, winning three straight since losing its opener in Detroit, including a 107-103 win over the defending champion Knicks. The Celtics’ retooled roster pairs Jayson Tatum with Paul George, who made his Boston debut in the preseason, as covered in our Celtics vs 76ers preseason recap. Boston went 56-26 last season.
This is a test for both teams: Houston’s unbeaten start against a contender, and Boston’s ability to win on the road, where it has played only once so far.
Heat at Lakers, 11:00 AM PHT
Miami’s season has started slowly. The Heat lost their first four games, the first 0-3 start of Erik Spoelstra’s 19 seasons as head coach, before picking up their first win, and they are 1-4.
Giannis Antetokounmpo has delivered individually, scoring 35 and 36 points in his first two games with Miami. He now faces a Lakers team that is 4-1 and led by Luka Dončić. Los Angeles went 53-29 last season and beat Houston in the first round of the playoffs.
Last season’s records at a glance
These 2025-26 records show where each team started from before this season’s offseason moves.
| Team | 2025-26 record | Team | 2025-26 record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City Thunder | 64-18 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 52-30 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | 49-33 | Milwaukee Bucks | 32-50 |
| Houston Rockets | 52-30 | Boston Celtics | 56-26 |
| Los Angeles Lakers | 53-29 | Miami Heat | 43-39 |
What to watch on November 3
The morning starts with the Thunder’s first big road test without Jalen Williams and ends with Antetokounmpo against Dončić in Los Angeles. In between, Houston puts its unbeaten record on the line against Boston, and Minnesota looks to bounce back against a rebuilding Milwaukee team.
Injury reports often change on game day, so check each team’s final status before tip-off.
