London Lions will step into uncharted territory when they face the Portland Trail Blazers in an NBA pre-season game on Monday 12 October 2026. The Lions say they will become the first British club to play an NBA team, making the fixture a landmark occasion for the club game in this country.[1]
The contest takes place at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon, with tip-off scheduled for 1pm Pacific Daylight Time. That converts to 9pm BST in the UK. Both the NBA game page and Portland’s official schedule list the game at the Blazers’ home arena, while the Lions’ own fixture page also gives a 9pm BST start.[2][3][4]
London Lions v Portland Trail Blazers: key details
- Fixture: Portland Trail Blazers v London Lions
- Competition: NBA pre-season
- Date: Monday 12 October 2026
- UK tip-off time: 9pm BST
- Local tip-off time: 1pm PDT
- Venue: Moda Center, Portland, Oregon
- UK TV/stream: No UK broadcaster has been confirmed as of 2 October 2026
How to watch in the UK
There is no confirmed UK television broadcaster or UK-specific stream at the time of writing. The NBA game page carries a general NBA League Pass prompt, but its game-information section does not name a broadcaster. Portland’s schedule lists BlazerVision for television and Rip City Radio 620 for radio; those are the Blazers’ local US services, not confirmation of UK coverage.[2][3]
Supporters should therefore check the London Lions’ official channels, the NBA game page and NBA League Pass nearer tip-off. Availability can vary by location and may change, so a generic watch prompt should not be treated as proof that this particular game will be shown live in the UK.
Why the game is historic
The significance is precise: this is set to be the first time a British club side has faced an NBA franchise. It is not the NBA’s first connection with British basketball, nor is it a competitive fixture, but it would be a new benchmark for a domestic club.[1]
London arrive as reigning Super League Basketball champions after what the club describes as a clean sweep in 2025/26, and they have also returned to BKT EuroCup competition. Portland, by contrast, compete in the world’s leading professional league. The gap in resources, roster construction and athletic depth makes the afternoon an unusually demanding pre-season test for the Lions.[1]
That competitive context matters. The result will not count towards either team’s regular-season record, and one October exhibition cannot measure the long-term strength of British club basketball. What it can provide is a rare direct comparison, greater visibility for the Lions and an experience their players cannot reproduce in domestic competition.
The Sabonis connection
The fixture also has a strong Portland link through London head coach Tautvydas Sabonis. His father, Arvydas Sabonis, played seven seasons for the Trail Blazers between 1995 and 2003 and remains closely associated with the franchise.[1]
For Tautvydas Sabonis, leading London at the Moda Center turns a major professional assignment into a family homecoming. He called the match a chance for his players to test themselves against NBA opposition and highlighted what it could mean for the growth of British basketball.[1]
General manager Martynas Purlys framed the invitation in similarly broad terms, describing it as recognition of London’s progress and ambition. The scale of the occasion supports that view, although the most useful sporting takeaway will be how the Lions handle NBA size, speed and pressure rather than the final margin alone.[1]
What to look for
Pre-season rotations can be fluid, so supporters should wait for confirmed game-day availability before assuming which Portland players will feature or how many minutes the Blazers’ leading names will play. For London, the priorities are clearer: value the ball, cope with transition pace, compete on the glass and use the occasion as preparation rather than allowing its historic billing to overwhelm the basketball.
The calendar adds another layer. London are balancing domestic and EuroCup commitments around the trip, making workload management important. The Moda Center game is a showcase, but it also lands during a demanding club season rather than a standalone summer tour.
Whatever the score, the fixture creates a first for the British club game and gives UK fans a rare prime-time opportunity to follow a domestic team on an NBA floor. The practical details are settled — 9pm BST, Monday 12 October, at the Moda Center — but viewers should keep checking official listings because UK broadcast arrangements remain unconfirmed.
Sources
[1] London Lions to make history against Portland Trail Blazers in NBA preseason
[2] London Lions vs Portland Trail Blazers game summary