UK: BASKETBALL: Boston Celtics and Minnesota Timberwolves meet in London as NBA (National Basketball Association) look to expand game in Europe

It may have been Kevin Garnett's former team, but it was team mate Ray Allen's stellar play that helped the Boston Celtics notch a pre-season win against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday (October 11). Allen sank three 3-pointers to go along with a game-high 28 points in a 92-81 victory in front of a sell-out crowd which included Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton and soccer player Didier Drogba at London's O2 arena, the last stop on the Celtics' European tour. Speaking before the game, NBA Commissioner David Stern talked about his hopes of expanding the game in Europe. "We're planning to do whatever we can to grow the game of basketball in Great Britain, including anything we can do about training, coaching, games, preparation, you name it. We think that's a good thing to do," said Stern. Stern also spoke about referee Tim Donaghy, who has plead guilty to betting on games, including some he worked on. "We're analysing interviews with 60 officials and I'll have more to say before the regular season begins, which is what my schedule was to do. But we remain, based on all the information that we have, of the strong view that Donaghy was an isolated instance of criminal activity." Playing against his former team for the first time Garnett, a 10-time All-Star and the league's most valuable player in 2004, had only nine points and six rebounds on the night. The 6 ft 11 ins (2.11-metre) power forward was traded to Boston this summer in a record 7-for-1 trade after spending 12 seasons with the Timberwolves. "When it comes to the players in the team I have no hard feelings, Garnett told reporters. "I've been forced into coming to a great organisation, that being Boston, and I'm just focusing on what's in front of me and the team I'm in now. The past is the past and I view this as a new chapter in my life." Minnesota's Ricky Davis led his team with 18 points, 16 of which were scored in the first quarter. "It was definitely a different experience seeing Kev in the green," Davis said of his former team mate. "I almost threw him the ball but I realised he had on a green jersey, so it was different."

ITN Source | October 12, 2007

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