NBA-Wizards to take on Knicks in London

(Reuters) - The Washington Wizards and New York Knicks will play the NBA's ninth regular season game in London when they meet at the O2 Arena in January, the league announced on Wednesday. The meeting will mark the third time the Knicks have played in London after visits in 2013 and 2015 but it will be the first game there for the Wizards. The game is part of the NBA's efforts to expand its brand globally and will be carried by its broadcast partners across Europe, the Middle East and Africa and on NBA League Pass International. "Bringing regular season NBA games to London has become a staple of the sports calendar," Benjamin Morel, the NBA's senior vice president for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, said in a release. "And is testament to the popularity of our league that fans from across Europe will descend on The O2 for another great game." The previous eight games have sold out and Knicks' guard Tim Hardaway Jr. said he was looking forward to playing in front of the London crowd again. "I am excited to return to London," he said. "We had a great experience during our last visit in 2015 playing in front of passionate fans and are looking forward to another trip overseas." (Reporting by Rory Carroll in Los Angeles; Editing by Peter Rutherford)