Mexico City, London named as 2014 NBA Global Games regular season sites

The Nets blew out the Hawks in last year's game played at London's O2 Arena. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

The Milwaukee Bucks will take on the New York Knicks on January 15 in London and the Minnesota Timberwolves are slated to play the Houston Rockets in Mexico City on November 12, both as part of the NBA's Global Games series, the NBA announced Thursday.

In last year's game at London's O2 arena, the Brooklyn Nets beat the Atlanta Hawks 127-110 behind 29 points from guard Joe Johnson.

The NBA was also supposed to hold a game in Mexico City pitting the San Antonio Spurs and the Minnesota Timberwolves in December.

The game never got underway because of a malfunctioning generator inside the Mexico City Arena, which caused the arena to fill with smoke 45 minutes before tipoff. The game was postponed until April and moved to the Target Center in Minneapolis, where the Timberwolves defeated the Spurs 110-91.

"While London and Mexico City each have their own unique culture, they both have rich sports traditions and share a great passion for the NBA," said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. "These regular-season games will bring the excitement and incredible competition of our league to more fans in Europe and Latin America."

The Bucks had the NBA's worst record last season, and the Knicks failed to make the playoffs after winning 54 games the previous season.  The Timberwolves also did not make the playoffs, and the Rockets were ousted in the first round by the Portland Trail Blazers.

Five preseason games will also be played overseas in Brazil, China, Germany and Turkey. Those games will feature the Nets, Spurs, Cavs, Kings and Heat.

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