The 2013 NBA Canada Series brings Celtics vs Timberwolves game to Montreal

The National Basketball Association (NBA) will hold its second annual NBA Canada Series when the Boston Celtics and Minnesota Timberwolves play a preseason game at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, on October 20.

The NBA Canada Series, which tipped off for the first time last season with a game between the Toronto Raptors and New York Knicks in Montreal and the Minnesota Timberwolves and Detroit Pistons in Winnipeg, will once again celebrate basketball with live NBA action, interactive fan events, and community outreach programs designed to develop the game in Canada.

“The NBA Canada Series captures the unique experience of a live NBA game for our fans outside of Toronto, and helps fuel the increasing interest in our game across the country,” said Dan MacKenzie, Vice President and General Manager, NBA Canada. “Montreal is a great sporting city and we look forward to returning this year with another exciting match-up.”

The Boston Celtics tipped-off their 2012 season with preseason games in Turkey and Italy as part of NBA Europe Live, which they also participated in in 2007 on their way to winning the 2008 NBA Finals. The Celtics also played two preseason games in Spain in 1988.

The Minnesota Timberwolves played a preseason game in Winnipeg as part of the 2012 NBA Canada Series. The team has also played preseason games in the Dominican Republic, Turkey, UK, and France, as well as regular season games in Japan.

The 2012-13 NBA season featured eight Canadians on team rosters, and 21 total Canadians have played in the NBA with five drafted into the league in the last two years.