Basketball fever is set to draw in crowds to Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Arena which will feature the first NBA preseason game with current champions Boston Celtics going tete-e-tete with the Denver Nuggets on October 4.
The Celtics, 2023-2024 champions, take on the Nuggets who won the championship the year prior, in two matches taking place on October 4 and 6.
As the Nuggets work on rebuilding around regular season MVPs Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, the Celtics are set to run it back with their roster featuring their own MVP from the finals, Jaylen Brown. It is expected that main rosters from both teams will feature during the game.
Preseason games act as a testing ground for teams to test their roster, new players, build chemistry and try new tactics, in addition to helping prepare for the upcoming regular season. With it significantly lighter workload during the preseason, this acts as the perfect medium to enable key rotation players, ensuring that main features remain uninjured or get enough rest. Preseason is set to last until October 19.
The first regular season game will take place in TD Garden, Celtics’ home court against the New York Knicks on the 23rd of October. The ring ceremony will take place before the match, crowning Boston’s players with their Championship Ring.
Over the years, the UAE capital has played host to one of the world’s favorite sports, bringing in a plethora of new fans as well as giving die-hard basketball fanatics the opportunity to see the game live locally.
