The NBA preseason will tip off on Oct. 5 when the Oklahoma City Thunder travel to Istanbul to face Turkish basketball power Fenerbahce Ulker, the NBA announced Thursday. That day will also include Dwight Howard's debut in Houston as the Rockets host the rebranded New Orleans Pelicans.
NBA preseason schedule: Thunder open in Istanbul in 1 of 8 overseas games
The Oklahoma City Thunder will play in the NBA’s first preseason game of 2013 and face a Turkish power led by familiar face Linas Kleiza.
Kevin Jairaj-US PRESSWIRE
Kevin Durant and company will open in Turkey but against familiar faces. Fenerbahce signed Linas Kleiza away from the NBA after the Toronto Raptors used their amnesty provision on the forward this offseason, and the contract is reportedly one of the largest in Europe. The Lithuanian is joined by Romain Sato, a Xavier Musketeers product who was a second-round draft pick of the San Antonio Spurs in 2004, and Croatian forward Bojan Bogdanovic, the Nets' 2011 second-round pick who almost signed with Brooklyn this offseason.
Welcome to Loud City: More on the Thunder
Oklahoma City isn't the only team playing in unfamiliar territory this offseason. The Philadelphia 76ers will open in Bilbao, Spain, on Oct. 6 as part of eight overseas games before facing the Thunder on Oct. 8 in England.
Here’s a look at all the international games:
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Fenerbahce Ulker Istanbul | Oct. 5 | Istanbul, Turkey | Ulker Sports Arena |
Philadelphia 76ers vs. Uxue Bilbao Basket | Oct. 6 | Bilbao, Spain | Bizkaia Arena at the BEC |
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Philadelphia 76ers | Oct. 8 | Manchester, England | Manchester Arena |
Houston Rockets vs. Indiana Pacers | Oct. 10 | Manila, Philippines | Mall of Asia Arena |
Houston Rockets vs. Indiana Pacers | Oct. 13 | Taipei, Taiwan | Taipei Arena |
Chicago Bulls vs. Washington Wizards | Oct. 12 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | HSBC Arena |
Oct. 15 | Beijing, China | MasterCard Center | |
Golden State Warriors vs. Los Angeles Lakers | Oct. 18 | Shanghai, China | Mercedes-Benz Arena |
Additionally, a number of teams will play in non-NBA cities. The New York Knicks announced their preseason schedule on Thursday, which includes a game in Green Bay, Wisc., against the Milwaukee Bucks, a Baltimore outing against the Washington Wizards, and games against the Celtics in Providence, R.I., and Manchester, N.H.
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