Sacramento Kings and Indiana Pacers put on a breathtaking show laced with pacy turnovers, precision shooting and powerplay under the board as the NBA India Games 2019 got off to a blistering start at the NSCI indoor stadium.
The Pacers sneaked past the Kings 132-131 in the first pre-season game in India. The sides were locked 118-all in regulation time, leading to overtime.
NBA-style atmosphere
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.
The crowd stood in deference as the national anthems of India and the United States was sung, following which the stands erupted into a roar. 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.
The 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) .
