The NBA has not yet fully resumed but it is already exporting. This Thursday, then Saturday, the Atlanta Hawks and the Milwaukee Bucks face off in Abu Dhabi. A brief overview of the forces involved.
After showing the tip of its nose in London, Tokyo or even Paris (where it will return in January), the NBA invites itself to a new country: the United Arab Emirates, and more precisely their capital Abu Dhabi. Next step in the League’s internationalization effort, the Abu-Dhabi NBA Games will see the Milwaukee Bucks and the Atlanta Hawks face off. They will play two games there: premiere today at 6 p.m.it’s cool we’ll be able to watch this without having to keep our eyelids open with tape, and the second Saturday at the same timesay we are lucky.
For certain preseason games, the franchises do not hesitate to put their best players to rest, just to be sure that the small injuries do not become big, and to allow all these beautiful people to have playing time. But here, when it comes to a partnership with a country, it’s a safe bet that we’ll see everyone. Finally those who are in good condition at least.
Already having fun in Abu Dhabi. ????@jrnb | #AbuDhabiGames pic.twitter.com/hjqYxHEff4
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) October 4, 2022
On the Bucks side, Giannis Antetokounmpo, who did not participate in his team’s first meeting against the Grizzlies, will indeed be present. Jrue Holiday, Grayson Allen and Brook Lopez, approached in the five major this season, will accompany him. Missing a mark, Khris Middleton is not sufficiently recovered from a wrist injury and should be replaced by Bobby Portis. Joe Ingles is still struggling with his knee and won’t be in the rotation either. Note the uncertainty around Pat Connaughton and Wes Matthews, listed day-to-day.
For the Hawks, it’s time for the big recovery, the first preseason game and therefore the first time that we will be entitled to the Trae Young / Dejounte Murray association. Which is quite exciting all the same and should serve as an appetizer for the regular season. Especially since the five major should be reunited: De’Andre Hunter, John Collins and Clint Capela will all be there and ready to fight. As for absences, we note those of young Jalen Johnson and Trent Forrest, sick, as well as Bogdan Bogdanovic, present with the group but not quite ready to play.
Trae Young was mic’d up during the @ATLHawks practice in Abu Dhabi!#NBAinAbuDhabi: 10/6, 10/8 on NBA TV pic.twitter.com/Wi423tqDZh
— NBA (@NBA) October 4, 2022
The Abu-Dhabi NBA Games is between the Hawks and the Bucks and it starts today, at 6 p.m. to follow on beIN Sports 1. The second meeting will take place on Saturday. The opportunity to see how the Falcons organize themselves with their new backcourt, facing a favorite for the title.