On Friday, the first ever NBA game was played in India, and Sacramento Kings and Indiana Pacers put on a exhilarating show consisting of pacy turnovers, precision shooting and powerplay under the board. With this Mumbai became the first city to hold an NBA match and the NBA India Games 2019 got off to a blistering start at the NSCI indoor stadium.
The Pacers managed to get past the Kings 132-131 in the first pre-season game in India. The development came after the sides were locked 118-all in regulation time, leading to overtime.
The game took off in NBA-style atmosphere, recreated in Mumbai, mixed with a fusion of music and dance at the breaks. Dikembe Mumtombo, the Congolese-American who made a name in the league with Houston Rockets, made an appearance during a break and guarded the basket as girls from the NBA Junior programme tried to evade the lanky figure under lights.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and Nita Ambani, Reliance Foundation chairperson, walked out before the tip-off to present the match ball to the Kings and the Pacers.
Results:
Indiana Pacers 132 (Domantas Sabonis 22, Jeremy Lamb 20, Malcolm Brodgon 15) bt Sacramento Pacers 131 (Buddy Hield 28, Harrison Barnes 21, DeArron Fox 16). (Regulation time 118-118).
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