August 28, 2008

2008 NBA Preseason Begins Sat., Oct. 5

Tampa Bay Sports Net

NEW YORK – The NBA’s 115-game preseason schedule for 2008 tips off on Oct. 5 and features 33 games in non-NBA cities and is highlighted by NBA Europe Live presented by EA SPORTS™; NBA China Games 2008; the Euroleague American Tour, featuring three Euroleague teams participating in NBA preseason games; and a game played on an outdoor court.

The Miami Heat, New Jersey Nets, New Orleans Hornets and Washington Wizards play preseason games in Barcelona, Berlin, London and Paris as part of NBA Europe Live presented by EA SPORTS™.

The Heat, featuring Olympian Dwyane Wade and Michael Beasley, the second overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, takes on the Vince Carter-led Nets at the Palais Omnisports de Paris Bercy in Paris Oct. 9. The teams’ second game is in London on Oct.12 at The O2 Arena. The O2 World in Berlin serves as host for a match pitting Olympian Chris Paul and the Hornets against the triumvirate of Gilbert Arenas, Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison and the Wizards on Oct. 14. The two teams play the final game on the tour in Barcelona on Oct. 17 at the Palau Sant Jordi.

ESPN will televise NBA China Games 2008, which will feature the Milwaukee Bucks and Olympians Michael Redd and Andrew Bogut matching up against the high-flying Golden State Warriors, the NBA’s highest scoring team last season. The Bucks and Warriors play at the Guangzhou Gymnasium in Guangzhuo on Oct. 15, and at the Beijing Olympic Basketball Arena on Oct. 18, with ESPN televising both games.

TNT’s preseason coverage will feature Carmelo Anthony and the Denver Nuggets taking on Steve Nash and the Phoenix Suns in an outdoor game at Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Palm Springs, CA on October 11 on TNT.

The Euroleague American Tour features 2008 Euroleague champion CSKA Moscow (Russia), FC Barcelona (Spain) and Lietuvos Rytas (Lithuania) playing in five preseason games. CSKA Moscow plays the Magic in Orlando on Oct. 10, followed by a game in Toronto against the Raptors on Oct. 14. FC Barcelona participates in the L.A. Shootout -- against the Lakers on Oct. 18, and against either the Raptors or Clippers on Oct. 19. Lietuvos Rytas visits the Golden State Warriors on Oct. 21.

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