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Milwaukee Bucks, Atlanta Hawks to play preseason games in Abu Dhabi

Spoiler:

The Milwaukee Bucks and Atlanta Hawks will have two preseason matchups at Abu Dhabi in October, marking the NBA's first games in the United Arab Emirates and on the Arabian Gulf.

The two exhibitions will take place Oct. 6 and Oct. 8 at Etihad Arena on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. The NBA announced the games Tuesday in conjunction with the department of culture and tourism of Abu Dhabi.

They are the third and fourth international preseason games known to be on next season's schedule.

The last time the NBA traveled overseas for preseason contests was October 2019, when Sacramento and Indiana played twice in Mumbai, Houston and Toronto played twice in Saitama and the Los Angeles Lakers and Brooklyn played a pair of games in China.

The teams going overseas for preseason games typically are allowed to open training camps a few days before the rest of the league. Most teams are expecting camps to begin Sept. 26, which -- assuming the schedule is typical -- would put the league on target to hold opening night next season on Oct. 18.

The Bucks-Hawks exhibitions, billed as the NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2022, are part of a multiyear partnership between the NBA and Abu Dhabi's department of culture and tourism.