Nets, Raptors to Play Regular Season Games in London

Bad food, bad weather, and bad basketball. Gotta love it: “The New Jersey Nets and Toronto Raptors will play the first-ever NBA regular season games in Europe at the O2 Arena in London, England on March 4 and 5. ‘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 NBA commissioner David 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 staged one preseason game in London in each season starting in 2007 as part of its NBA Europe Live series. The Nets took on the Miami Heat in 2008, while this year’s game features the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers and Minnesota Timberwolves.”