The Atlanta Hawks beat the Milwaukee Bucks 123-113 Thursday at the “Al Ittihad Arena” in Abu Dhabi, in a pre-season game of the NBA.
The two teams meet once more in the second match on Saturday.
The two matches in the UAE capital are part of a years-long partnership between the National Basketball Association and the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism.
Two countries have been identified for preparatory matches, namely the UAE and Japan, while Paris and Mexico City will host matches in the regular season.
NBA teams have played more than 200 games in more than 20 countries outside US and Canadian cities since 1978.
The match was exciting on the field and the stands, and following falling behind in the first quarter by a point (32-33), Atlanta ended the first half in favor of 71-67, thanks to the brilliance of Degonte Murray (19 points) and Trae Young (16), while the Greeks Yanis Antetokounmpo and Jevon scored Carter of Milwaukee 14 points each in the first two quarters.
The Hawks continued their control of the third quarter and finished 101-94, scoring 22 points in the fourth quarter, compared to 19 for the Bucks to decide the match in their favour.
Murray was the best scorer for Atlanta and the match with 25 points with 9 assists, Young added 22 points and Deandre Hunter (17).
As for Milwaukee, Antetokounmpo was the best with 19 points.
“It’s been a long time” regarding his last visit to the area, NFL Commissioner Adam Silver told reporters before the game.
“We believe that, in the history of the NBA, we have had approximately 25 players from the Middle East and North Africa region,” he added.
“Hopefully we can continue to play matches here and broadcast the matches on TV… that will encourage more young people, frankly boys and girls, whether they aspire to play in the NBA or the WTAs, to keep playing.”
