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Atlanta Hawks power past Milwaukee in NBA’s UAE debut

 

The new NBA season starts on October 18 and all the teams have been participating in pre-season friendlies. However, the league saved the best for last when the Atlanta Hawks took on reigning champions Milwaukee Bucks at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on Thursday night.

In a thrilling contest, the two NBA giants provided a spectacular end-to-end contest with the Hawks winning the first of two matches by 123-113 in NBA’s UAE debut.

There was a buzz in the air ahead of the clash and the excitement grew when nine-time NBA All-Star Dominique Wilkins, one of the most acrobatic slam dunkers in NBA history, was invited on court to take a lap of honour.

He was followed by Chris Bosh, a highly decorated power forward of his era but the biggest cheer of the night was reserved for Shaquille O’Neal, the four-time champion and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer and official NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2022 Ambassador. Fans grabbed photos with the icons and also of the Larry O’Brien trophy, which is awarded to the NBA champions. It was a carnival-like atmosphere inside and outside the stadium and when the match started the noise reached deafening levels.

Point guard Trae Young said he would put on a dazzling display for NBA’s UAE debut and the Atlanta Hawks star, who led the league in total points and assists last season, which has not been done in 45 years. He was true to his word.

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The No 11 put in a solid shift and he proved to be a menace all night for the Bucks’ defence with his meandering runs much to the delight of the 18,000 spectators packed inside the sprawling venue. “We’ve been trying to build some chemistry in the team while we have been here Abu Dhabi,” said Young. “It’s been great here.

But we are here to practice and improve for the new season. The more we play together the more I hope it will show on court.”

The teams are set to do it all again on Saturday evening and if the match is anything as exciting as Thursday night’s, then basketball fans will be in for a realty.

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