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NBA to stage two league games at O2- 10 Aug 2010 00:00:00

America’s NBA has revealed that it will play two regular-season games in London at the O2 Arena for the first time.

NBA commissioner David Stern hinted that the idea was in place last year after Chicago Bulls took on Utah at the O2.

Stern now says the Toronto Raptors will face the New Jersey Nets in back-to back games on 4th and 5th March at the O2 Arena.



The NBA has been looking to expand overseas for a long time, and Stern has said in the past he would like to play a competitive game in London before it hosts the Olympics in 2012.



‘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,’ said Stern.



The O2 has hosted NBA pre-season exhibition games in October for the past three years and all have been sell-outs.

Before this season starts the Los Angeles Lakers will face the Minnesota Timberwolves at the O2 Arena in London on 4th October as part of the European Tour.