NBA Outdoors!

On October 11, 2008 the NBA hosted the first outdoor game of the modern era which featured a preseason showcase between the Phoenix Suns and Denver Nuggets at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.  The sold out event, known as the AutoTrader.com Open, saw the Denver Nuggets outlast the Phoenix Suns, 77-72.  The Golden State Warriors defeated the Phoenix Suns 104-101 in the second AutoTrader.com Open held on October 10, 2009.

Prior to the 2008 historical outdoor match-up, the Phoenix Suns also played in the only other NBA game to be played outdoors in Puerto Rico against the Milwaukee Bucks over 35 years ago.  Led by Connie Hawkins, Dick Van Arsdale and Neal Walk, the Suns defeated Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Oscar Robertson and the Bucks, 116-103, in a preseason game on September 24, 1972 at a baseball stadium in San Juan.

This year, the Phoenix Suns will take on the Dallas Mavericks at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, Saturday, October 9th beginning at 6:30pm.

Tickets are on sale online at ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster outlets, and at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden box office.  Prices range from $10 to $100.  Tickets to catch all the action in person are available by calling  calling 1-800-4NBA-Tix, online at Ticketmaster or in person at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden Box Office Monday through Friday from 10am - 5pm.

In addition, six Coachella Valley high school basketball teams will be selling discounted upper level tickets with a portion of the proceeds benefiting their school.  Tickets are $28.  Each team participating in the program will have the opportunity to play in a match-up on the Suns court prior to the game.  Games will be played on Wednesday, October 6 and Thursday, October 7.  Exact times are still to be determined.  Schools interested in hosting a fundraiser by selling discounted tickets to the game should contact Lawrence Levine at 602-379-7837 for more information.