Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The NBA made its return to the Persian Gulf for the third consecutive year on Friday, kicking off the 2023-24 preseason with a thrilling matchup between the Boston Celtics vs Nuggets. The Celtics edged out the Nuggets 107-103 in a game featuring the two most recent championship teams.

The Celtics vs Nuggets will conclude their two-game series in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.

In a strategic move, Denver opted to rest its starters during the second half, while Boston sat four of its five starters, with Luke Kornet as the only exception. A total of 36 players were utilized, 18 from each team.

Payton Pritchard led Boston with a game-high 21 points, contributing to the Celtics’ 20-of-61 performance from beyond the arc. The team’s trio of Olympic gold medalists from this summer’s Paris Games—Jayson Tatum, Jrue Holiday, and Derrick White—combined for 25 points, while Jaylen Brown added eight.

For Denver, reigning NBA MVP Nikola Jokic scored 14 points, with Russell Westbrook making his debut with the Nuggets, contributing 12 points. Michael Porter Jr. also scored 12, and Jamal Murray, who was sidelined in street clothes by the end of the game, managed just three points in 15 minutes of play.

Since 2021, the NBA has partnered with Abu Dhabi tourism officials to bring teams to the region for preseason games. The series began with the Milwaukee Bucks and Atlanta Hawks in 2022, followed by the Dallas Mavericks and Minnesota Timberwolves last year.

Additionally, USA Basketball has held games in Abu Dhabi for the past two summers, serving as part of their preparations for the 2023 Basketball World Cup in the Philippines and the upcoming Paris Games.