2008 NBA Europe Live | Oct. 9-17, 2008

[Elano]

The Miami Heat, New Jersey Nets, New Orleans Hornets and Washington Wizards will play preseason games in Barcelona, Berlin, London and Paris in October as part of NBA Europe Live.

“Our third consecutive year of NBA Europe Live is another step in our ongoing effort to bring the excitement of the NBA to our growing fan base,” said NBA Commissioner David Stern. “Through the support of our partners, including EA SPORTS, the Heat, Nets, Hornets and Wizards will compete and extend our global commitment to community service in four European cities where basketball's popularity is increasing.”

Following NBA Europe Live 2008, NBA teams will have played 48 games in 18 different cities in Europe over the past two decades. Last year’s seven NBA Europe Live games drew more than 10.3 million viewers, 75,000 spectators, and were supported by 23 marketing partners.

NBA Europe Live 2008 will include the 2006 NBA champion Heat taking on the Nets at the Palais Omnisports de Paris Bercy in Paris on Oct. 9. The teams will then travel to London for their second contest on Oct.12 at The O2 Arena.

The O2 World in Berlin, Germany will host the match up between the Hornets and the Wizards on Oct. 14. The arena will open this fall and mirrors the groundbreaking O2 Arena in London. Following the game in Berlin, the two teams will play the final game on the tour in Barcelona on Oct. 17 at the Palau Sant Jordi.

“Euroleague Basketball is always seeking to participate and help in making the sport of basketball grow across the globe and, for the third consecutive year, we are happy to be participating and making the bridges between Europe and the USA stronger,” said Jordi Bertomeu, CEO of Euroleague Basketball. “The NBA Europe Live program offers fans the possibility of watching great basketball, and is one in a series of ideas that can bring basketball to the forefront of world sports.”

2008 NBA EUROPE LIVE GAMES SCHEDULE

Oct. 9, Paris: Nets vs Heat. Arena: Palais Omnisports Paris Bercy
Oct. 12, London: Nets vs Heat. Arena: The O2
Oct. 14, Berlin: Wizards vs Hornets. Arena: O2 World
Oct. 17, Barcelona: Wizards vs Hornets. Arena: Palau Sant Jordi