Unfortunately for the Wolves, Spurs, and the NBA, it just didn’t work out last night.
In what was supposed to be the league’s 2013-14 kickoff to the Global Games and Minnesota’s third-ever regular season international game, the arena filled with smoke due to a malfunctioning generator, cancelling the contest.
The make up date will see the Wolves and Spurs play in Minnesota, so poor Mexico will go 0-for-1 on the year with NBA games.
Here’s the bizarre scene at Mexico City Arena last night, and a bit of the reaction flowing in the morning after what can only be described as a perplexing event.
Here’s ESPN’s reaction following the cancellation, and their thoughts on how this effects the future of the NBA in Mexico.
FOX sports version of the event.
Alan Horton of Wolves radio said there was something significantly burning in the arena.
USA Today in the other hand, called the Wolves-Spurs the perfect game to play internationally. Huh.
Wolves President Chris Wright spoke on behalf of the team.
On behalf of the Timberwolves I want to say how sorry we are that tonight's game was not played in front of the 1000s of Wolves/Mexican fans
— Chris Wright (@WolvesPrez) December 5, 2013
Marc Stein of ESPN doesn’t believe this will deter games from being played abroad in the future.
Joe Schmit of KSTP-TV doesn’t seem worried either, as he brought the noise with the clubhouse leader for line of the night.
https://twitter.com/joe_schmit/status/408415565959553025
Should more reaction roll in, we’ll have it here.
