NBA teams
Ohm Youngmisuk, ESPN Staff Writer 6y

76ers, Mavericks headed to China for NBA China Games 2018

NBA, Philadelphia 76ers, Dallas Mavericks

The Process will be heading to China as the Philadelphia 76ers will face the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA China Games 2018.

The Mavericks and Sixers will meet twice in preseason contests, on Oct. 5 in Shanghai and Oct. 8 in Shenzhen. It will mark the first time the Mavericks and Sixers play in China.

"These games will not only bring the excitement of NBA action directly to our passionate Chinese fans, but also provide our teams and players an opportunity to experience the rich culture and history of the country," NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. "The Mavericks and 76ers, both playing in China for the first time, will be able to encounter firsthand the incredible support of our Chinese fans and bond with one another through projects and events in the local community."

The 25th and 26th NBA games in China will feature Philadelphia's rising core of Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons against Dallas' Dirk Nowitzki, Harrison Barnes and Dennis Smith Jr.

The Mavericks recently changed their Chinese name to translate to "Lone Ranger Heroes," since their Mavericks name in Chinese is translated as "Little Cows."

"When I played in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, I witnessed China's enthusiasm for basketball firsthand," Nowitzki said in a statement. "It will be a fantastic experience for our franchise to play in China for the first time. We're also excited about the possibility of reconnecting with two great Chinese players who played for the Mavericks -- Wang Zhizhi and Yi Jianlian."

Embiid offered his take.

"It will be an honor to be the first 76ers team to play in front of the amazing fan base in China in October," he said.

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