The BOK Center will get a workout as the Houston Rockets and Orlando Magic drop into Tulsa to deliver a dose of NBA hoops October 13, 2008. 

Tulsans will watch the professional confrontation in the state-of-the-art BOK Center.  Though both teams will no doubt play it safe and limit their starters during this pre-season matchup the game should be an enjoyable show for spectators and proponents of bringing an NBA team to Oklahoma.

The Rockets, led by All-Star center Yao Ming and famed swingman Tracy McGraddy, will, hopefully, be welcoming Yao back from Tuesday’s season-ending stress fracture in his left foot.  The injury may curb the Rockets’ championship aspirations for the ‘07-‘08 season, but Tulsans will get a glimpse of the right components needed for a deep run into the playoffs in the ‘08-‘09 season in coach Rick Adelman’s second season with the Rockets.

The Magic bring up-and-coming talent and All-Star forward Dwight Howard (this year’s slam-dunk champion) and dynamic outside threat Rashard Lewis to the shooting match.  Early runs of success for Orlando and their new head coach Stan Van Gundy set Orlando up for disappointments in the middle of this season, especially given Lewis’ lofty contract.  However, they’re widely expected to press deep into the East’s soft playoff race in ‘07-’08.

Efforts of Oklahoma City businessman and Seattle SuperSonics part-owner Clay Bennett’s to bring the Sonics to Oklahoma City continue.  Fueled by Bennett’s occasional out-of-turn comment and the Sonic’s inability to arrive at an agreement for a new arena in Seattle, the talk of an Oklahoma NBA team makes the Houston-Orlando preseason matchup a natural step in gauging interest in college-hoop oriented Oklahoma – even 100 miles from OKC.

Tickets go on sale Monday, March 10th at 10:00am and will be available at the Tulsa Convention Center Box Office, online at http://www.bokcenter.com/, or charge by phone at 877-TULSA-CC or at participating tickets.com outlets.  Ticket prices start at $27.00.

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