NBA pre-season games are coming to Europe this fall for the third year in a row.

"Our third consecutive year of the NBA Europe Live is another step in our ongoing efforts to bring the excitement of the NBA to our loyal and passionate fans across Europe," said the NBA commissioner David Stern.

This year will be the Miami Heat versus the New Jersey Nets in Paris on Oct. 9 and in London three days later, and the Washington Wizards against Chris Paul and the New Orleans Hornets in Berlin on Oct. 14 and again in Barcelona three days later.

Stern hoped it to repeat last year's sellout as four NBA teams played in seven pre-season games across six European cities including Rome and Istanbul.

(Xinhua News Agency March 28, 2008)