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NEW YORK, USA – The National Basketball Association (NBA) announced Thursday, April 10 that as part of its effort to connect with its fans globally, NBA teams will play 5 preseason games in 4 countries this October as part of NBA Global Games 2014.
As part of the schedule, 5 teams – the Brooklyn Nets, Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, Sacramento Kings, and San Antonio Spurs – will play a series of games in 5 cities in Brazil, China, Germany, and Turkey. NBA Global Games will also include regular-season games to be announced at a later date.
Along with the oncourt action, NBA Global Games 2014 will feature a variety of off-the-court activities, including NBA Cares community programs and interactive fan events in each city. The games will also be supported by a variety of marketing and merchandising partners, and will be available to fans globally on television, digital, and social media.
“As the passion for the game continues to grow globally we are focused on finding unique and meaningful ways to connect with fans worldwide, and the NBA Global Games are part of those efforts,” said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. “Basketball brings people together across cultural and geographic lines, and these games are a great opportunity for our fans to experience the excitement of the NBA first-hand.”
In 2013, the NBA held a game in the Philippines at the Mall of Asia Arena between the Houston Rockerts and the Indiana Pacers. The Rockets defeated the Pacers, 116-96.
NBA Global Games 2014 will tip off when the San Antonio Spurs travel to Europe for two games against teams from longtime partner Euroleague Basketball. The Spurs will open the international schedule in Berlin, Germany on Oct. 8 with a game against 8-time German champions Alba Berlin at O2 World Berlin. San Antonio will then travel to Istanbul, Turkey to take on 5-time Turkish champions Fenerbahçe Ülker Istanbul at the Ülker Sports Arena.
The Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat will play the NBA’s second game ever in South America when the teams meet on Oct. 11, at HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. As part of the game, Cavaliers center Anderson Varejão will play an NBA game in front of his countrymen for the first time.
The NBA Global Games preseason schedule will conclude two games in China between the Brooklyn Nets and Sacramento Kings. The teams will play on Oct. 12 at the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Shanghai, then travel to Beijing for a game on Oct. 15 at the MasterCard Center. – Rappler.com
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