Celtics, Nuggets to play in Abu Dhabi in two preseason games in October
The Boston Celtics and Denver Nuggets will play in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on Oct. 4 and 6 in preseason games ahead of next season, the NBA announced Wednesday.
“We’re excited to bring two of the best teams in the NBA to Abu Dhabi in the Celtics and the Nuggets,” NBA Deputy Commissioner and COO Mark Tatum said in a statement. “There is incredible momentum around basketball in the UAE and across the Middle East, and we believe these games as well as our year-round grassroots development and fan engagement efforts will be a catalyst for the continued growth of the game in the region.”
The NBA said the two games will reach people in more than 200 countries and territories on television, digital media and social media.
They are part of a multiyear collaboration between the NBA and Abu Dhabi’s Department of Culture and Tourism.
Cavs F Mobley out one week with sprained ankle
ATLANTA – Cleveland Cavaliers power forward Evan Mobley is expected to miss at least one week with a sprained left ankle.
The Cavaliers said tests in Cleveland on Wednesday confirmed Mobley suffered the sprain in the third quarter of Cleveland’s 105104 home win over Boston on Tuesday night. The team said Mobley will be evaluated in about one week.
The 6-foot-11 Mobley is averaging 15.6 points and 10.2 rebounds.
Cleveland also was still without All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell with a left knee bone bruise and guard Max Strus (right knee strain) against Atlanta.
Wednesday’s games
Magic 119, Wizards 109: Franz Wagner (Michigan) scored 28 points, Paolo Banchero added 25 and the visiting Magic rallied from a 21-point second-quarter deficit to hand the Wizards their 16th consecutive loss. Jordan Poole (U-M) scored 26 points for Washington, which hasn’t won since a victory at San Antonio on Jan. 29. Kyle Kuzma (Burton Bendle) added 25 points for the Wizards, who haven’t won at home since Dec. 29 against Brooklyn.
Hawks 112, Cavaliers 101: Former Piston Saddiq Bey scored 23 points and the host Hawks recovered after losing a 21-point lead. Bogdan Bogdanovic also scored 23 points for the Hawks, who prevented the Cavaliers from sweeping the four-game season series. Jarrett Allen led Cleveland with 18 points and 19 rebounds.
Grizzlies 115, 76ers 109: Jaren Jackson Jr. (Michigan State) had 30 points, 11 rebounds and six blocks and Jake LaRavia had 19 points and 13 rebounds as the visiting Grizzlies used an 11-0 run late in the fourth quarter to rally. Kelly Oubre Jr. led the 76ers with 25 points and Paul Reed had 17 points and 11 rebounds.
Clippers 122, Rockets 116: Kawhi Leonard had 28 points, and Paul George and James Harden each scored 21 as the visiting Clippers rallied after trailing by as many as 20. Los Angeles overcame another big night from Houston big man Alperen Sengun, who had 23 points, a season-high 19 rebounds and 14 assists for his fourth career triple-double.