NBA Preseason Schedule Announced <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">NBA China Games 2004, which features the Sacramento Kings vs. the Houston Rockets and Yao Ming?s return to China, highlights the league?s 119-game preseason schedule for 2004. The NBA?s preseason slate, which showcases games in 35 non-NBA cities including international trips to Shanghai and Beijing, China and Moscow, Russia, tips off live on NBA TV on October 8 at the Universal Sport Hall in Russia where the Utah Jazz visit CSKA Moscow at 12:30 p.m. ET. The league then makes a historic trip to China when Yao brings his Rockets teammates to his homeland for two games in four days against the Sacramento Kings. NBA China Games 2004 will air live on ESPN with the first matchup scheduled for October 14 at 7:30 a.m. ET from Shanghai Stadium and the second contest slated for October 17 at 12:01 a.m. ET from Capital Indoor Stadium in Beijing. TNT will begin its preseason game coverage on October 22, when the Miami Heat, led by offseason acquisition Shaquille O?Neal, meet the Atlanta Hawks at Philips Arena at 8 p.m. ET followed by the Los Angeles Lakers hosting the Los Angeles Clippers at 10:30 p.m. ET. ESPN concludes the preseason with a doubleheader on October 29, featuring the defending NBA champion Detroit Pistons and the Minnesota Timberwolves from the Target Center at 8 p.m. ET, followed by the Phoenix Suns and Sacramento Kings from Arco Arena at 10:30 p.m. ET. The NBA returns to Charlotte on October 14 when the expansion Charlotte Bobcats welcome the Washington Wizards to the Charlotte Coliseum for a 7 p.m. tip. Other preseason highlights include the opening of Memphis? new arena, FedExForum, on October 14, when the Grizzlies host the Cleveland Cavaliers and a visit to Toronto by Benetton Treviso (Italy) on October 20. On October 27, the Atlanta Hawks face the Charlotte Bobcats in Fayetteville, N.C., home of the National Basketball Development League?s (NBDL) Fayetteville Patriots.</div> <div align="center">Preseason Schedule</div>
