ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates – NBA preseason action heats up at this scorching part of the globe as the past two league champions face off in a pair of exhibition games this weekend.
The Boston Celtics, the defending champions, and the Denver Nuggets, the 2023 titlists, clash in the NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2024 at the Etihad Arena, which had also hosted the USA Basketball showcase prior to the Paris Olympics.
Games tip off on Friday, October 4, at 8 pm (Saturday, October 5, 12 am Manila time), and Sunday, October 6, at 6 pm (10 pm, Manila time), where fans are expected to be treated to a blockbuster duel between two of the league’s best basketball teams.
“I expect a little rustiness, and I expect us to work on the things that we covered during training camp, the details that are important — defensively, and the different details on the offensive end, our execution,” said Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla.
“Get off to a rusty start, then we’ll ease ourselves back into it, and hopefully we can execute the details that are important to us on both sides of the ball,” he added.
NBA | WATCH:
Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla on defending the NBA championship. | @RapplerSports pic.twitter.com/5iA3bxLprY
— ℙ𝕙𝕚𝕝𝕚𝕡 𝕄𝕒𝕣𝕥𝕚𝕟 𝕄𝕒𝕥𝕖𝕝 (@philipptionary) October 3, 2024
Boston returns with a virtually intact roster led by Jayson Tatum, 2024 NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Jaylen Brown, Jrue Holiday, and Derrick White.
Center Kristaps Porzingis is not expected to play as he continues to recover from an injury.
Also in the roster is Filipino-American guard Ron Harper Jr. — son of former Chicago Bulls guard Ron Harper and Maria Pizarro, who has Filipino roots — signed with the team on an Exhibit 10 deal (one-year, minimum contract).
NBA | WATCH:
Derrick White on having a great 2024 — winning the NBA title and an Olympic gold medal. | @RapplerSports pic.twitter.com/pJTGsVYbQN
— ℙ𝕙𝕚𝕝𝕚𝕡 𝕄𝕒𝕣𝕥𝕚𝕟 𝕄𝕒𝕥𝕖𝕝 (@philipptionary) October 3, 2024
Three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic still leads the pack for the Nuggets, who will continue to have Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon in the fold.
Denver signed NBA MVP Russell Westbrook, and big man Dario Saric to respective deals during the offseason.
“We expect great games, it’s a great experience, obviously, in this part of the world, the Middle East,” said Saric, a Croatian stretch big.
“Facing the Celtics, the champs, it’s obviously going to be great games for the fans, we can see Nikola, Jamal, Jayson, and Brown, but for us, it’s trying to get to know more on the court and about each other,” he added.
NBA | WATCH:
Three-time NBA Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic talks about horse racing and playing in the offseason for Serbia in the Olympics. | @RapplerSports pic.twitter.com/Wf1fJOhVla
— ℙ𝕙𝕚𝕝𝕚𝕡 𝕄𝕒𝕣𝕥𝕚𝕟 𝕄𝕒𝕥𝕖𝕝 (@philipptionary) October 3, 2024
The 2024-2025 NBA regular season rolls off on October 22 (October 23, Manila time) with the Celtics — who will be raising a league-record 18th banner at the TD Garden — facing the revamped New York Knicks.
LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers, meanwhile, host recent Western Conference finalists Minnesota Timberwolves in the other opening duel. – Rappler.com
