? Toronto Raptors and New Jersey Nets meet in March
? Move part of plan to develop basketball for London 2012
The NBA will play two regular season games in London next March, part of a push to bring professional basketball to the city before it hosts the 2012 Olympics, the NBA commissioner David Stern confirmed today.
The matches, to be held on 4 and 5 March, will feature the Toronto Raptors and the New Jersey Nets and will represent one home date and one away fixture for both teams.
"The staging of our first regular-season games in Europe is a milestone for the NBA and the ongoing development of basketball in the region," said Stern. "By bringing these two young and exciting teams to London, we are fulfilling our commitment to schedule a regular-season game in the UK prior to the 2012 Olympics - a natural progression given the overwhelming response to the many friendlies we have played to sold-out crowds over the years."
The league has played a handful of regular season games outside North America since holding its first in Japan in 1990.It follows the example of the NFL, which has staged annual gridiron fixtures at Wembley Stadium since 2007.
Rhona Mitra Kelly Rowland Danica Patrick Josie Maran Leighton Meester
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