By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
The Toronto Raptors beat the Houston Rockets 134 – 129 in the first of the two preseason games that are planned to be held in Saitama Super Arena, Japan, as part of the “NBA Japan Games 2019”.
Paskal Siakam posted a double-double of 24 points and 18 rebounds while Spanish big man Serge Ibaka added 18 points for the Raptors. James Harden scored 34 and dished out seven assists to pace the Rockets. Swiss center Clint Capela had 12 points and six boards.
The match was held amidst the controversy created by Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey’s now-deleted tweet of support to Hong Kong protesters. In his latest comments on the matter, NBA commissioner Adam Silver issued a previous statement, saying that he regrets that “so many people are upset, including millions and millions of our fans” while “not apologizing for Daryl exercising his freedom of expression,” per ESPN’s Rachel Nichols.
While Chinese’s State Television has canceled the broadcast of NBA games, Silver also mentioned that he plans to meet with Chinese Basketball Association president and former longtime Rockets player Yao Ming to discuss the situation. “He’s extremely hot at the moment,” Silver said he hopes to find an “accommodation” with Ming who is ‘extremely hot at the moment” following Morey’s now-deleted tweet.