Only three National Basketball Association (NBA) games have ever been played outdoors. The first outdoor game was played between thePhoenix Suns and the Milwaukee Bucks on September 24, 1972 on a baseball park in San Juan, Puerto Rico during that year's preseason. The Suns defeated the Bucks, 116–103.[1]
The NBA has not scheduled another outdoor game after that, citing weather as a major obstacle.[2] In 2008, the Phoenix Suns planned to play a preseason game outdoors at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, California. The idea reportedly came from Suns part-owner Dick Heckmann, who presented it to Suns president and CEO Rick Welts.[3] The game was played on October 11, 2008 between the Suns and the Denver Nuggets at the tennis arena. Both teams, affected by low temperature (around 64 °F / 18 °C) and high wind (at 15 miles per hour / 24 kilometres per hour), struggled from the field as they shot below 40 percent and hit only 3 out of 27 from the three-point line. Key players including Carmelo Anthony, Allen Iverson and Amar'e Stoudemire missed the game due to injury. In the end, the Nuggets defeated the Suns, 77–72.
Due to the success of the 2008 game, the Suns decided to schedule more outdoor games in upcoming preseasons. On October 10, 2009, the Suns met the Golden State Warriors at Indian Wells. Both teams again struggled to find the basket as they shot just above 40 percent. Warriors' Anthony Morrow had the game high 30 points while Channing Frye led the Suns with 16 points. The Warriors won the game 104–101.[4]
The 2010 game will be played on October 9, 2010 between the Suns and the Dallas Mavericks.
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