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NBA fans can rejoice, as the first game of the 2012-13 NBA season will take place Friday. Unfortunately, it's only a preseason affair between the Boston Celtics and Turkish squad Fenerbahce Ulker, but the long offseason is nearly over.
The Celtics open their preseason schedule with a pair of games overseas, beginning with today's game in Istanbul, moving next to Milan.
Fenerbahce is perennially one of Turkey's best sides, having produced such NBA players as Omer Asik, Enes Kanter, and former Boston player Semih Erden. Their roster this year has several NBA-caliber players, such as David Andersen, who most recently played with the New Orleans Hornets in 2011 and had a decent run with Australia in the Olympics this year. They're led by Bo McCalebb, the 6-foot guard from New Orleans who never had a chance in the NBA but has turned into one of Europe's best players.
Friday's game will begin at 2 p.m. ET and be broadcast on NBA TV and Comcast Sports Net-New England.
Preseason play begins in earnest Saturday with four games, including the first matchup of two NBA teams, as the Celtics are not the only team to open their schedule with games against European squads.