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On this day in 1997, the NBA announced the first regular-season game in Mexico would take place between the Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets on Dec. 6, 1997.
The announcement resulted in Mexico becoming the third country to host an NBA regular-season game outside of the United States, joining Japan and Canada. Behind 19 points and 17 rebounds from Charles Barkley, the Rockets defeated the Mavericks in Mexico City.
According to the Washington Post, the matchup between the Rockets and Mavericks drew a sellout crowd of 20,635, the largest basketball crowd ever in Mexico at the time. Tickets for the game went for $11 and were sold-out two days in advance.
The NBA has since staged several regular-season games in Mexico City.
The NBA Mexico City Games 2019, featuring the Dallas Mavericks, Detroit Pistons, Phoenix Suns and San Antonio Spurs, marked the first time that four teams played in the country during one season. The country has been home to the most regular-season games outside of the U.S. and Canada.
In December, the NBA announced that it will bring a 29th team into the G League to be based in Mexico City in a landmark partnership with Capitanes, a professional basketball team in Mexico. The original plan was for Capitanes to make its debut starting with the 2020-21 season.
Capitanes will be the first team based outside of the U.S. and Canada.
[lawrence-related id=8452,3800,17984]