As the NBA prepares for its 35th game in Mexico, let’s look back at the league’s rich history of games in the country, dating back to 1992.
1992
- Rockets 104, Mavericks 102 (Preseason, Oct. 27, Mexico City, Mexico)
In the first NBA Mexico Game, Houston defeated Dallas behind Hakeem Olajuwon’s game-high 28 points.
1993
- Knicks 103, Rockets 93 (Preseason, Oct. 23, Mexico City)
The Rockets weren’t as fortunate the following year, falling to the Knicks in their second NBA Mexico Game. New York’s Patrick Ewing and Charles Smith led with 20 points each.
1994
Marking the third straight year that the NBA held a preseason game in Mexico City, the Spurs took on the Rockets as part of the 1994 NBA Challenge. San Antonio’s Sean Elliott scored 27 points to lead the Spurs to victory.
- Spurs 121, Rockets 112 (Preseason, Oct. 28, Mexico City)
- SuperSonics 133, Clippers 105 (Preseason, Oct. 28, Mexico City)
- SuperSonics 124, Spurs 95 (Preseason, Oct. 29, Mexico City)
- Rockets 111, Clippers 103 (Preseason, Oct. 29, Mexico City)
The NBA Challenge in Mexico City featured four teams competing in a two-day tournament, showcasing the league’s efforts to expand its international presence and grow its global fan base. The SuperSonics defeated the Spurs in the championship game, while the Rockets beat the Clippers to claim third place.
1995
- Spurs 125, Bullets 107 (Preseason, Oct. 28, Mexico City)
- Pistons 110, Bullets 99 (Preseason, Oct. 29, Mexico City)
The second edition of the NBA Challenge featured three teams. San Antonio’s David Robinson scored 30 points in 30 minutes to lead the Spurs past the Bullets.
1996
- Cavaliers 104, Suns 92 (Preseason, Oct. 26, Mexico City)
- Mavericks 107, Jazz 102 (Preseason, Oct. 26, Mexico City)
- Jazz 111, Suns 105 (Preseason, Oct. 27, Mexico City)
- Mavericks 88, Cavaliers 86 (Preseason, Oct. 27, Mexico City)
Back in tournament style, Jason Kidd and the Mavericks defeated the Cavaliers to secure the NBA Challenge championship.
1997
- Rockets 108, Mavericks 106 (Dec. 6, Mexico City)
The NBA hosted its first regular-season game in Mexico, in which Charles Barkley led the Rockets to a win with 19 points and 17 rebounds.
1999
- Warriors 117, Nets 91 (Preseason, Oct. 24, Mexico City)
Golden State’s Antawn Jamison led the Warriors in the preseason victory over the Nets.
2000
- 76ers 84, Wizards 80 (Preseason, Oct. 14, Mexico City)
Philadelphia’s Allen Iverson posted 24 points as the 76ers defeated the Wizards.
2003
- Jazz 90, Mavericks 85 (Preseason, Oct. 5, Mexico City)
As the Mavericks got the victory, Eduardo Nájera scored 8 points in 33 minutes in front of his home crowd.
2006
- Warriors 121, Nuggets 115 (Preseason, Oct. 14, Monterrey, Mexico)
Hosted at Arena de Monterrey, this was the first time NBA Mexico Games didn’t take place in Palacio de los Deportes.
2009
- 76ers 116, Suns 94 (Preseason, Oct. 18, Monterrey)
Monterrey hosted another NBA preseason game in 2009 with Philadelphia’s Andre Iguodala scoring 23 points in the win.
2010
- Spurs 100, Clippers 99 (Preseason, Oct. 12, Mexico City)
Back at Palacio de los Deportes, San Antonio’s Dejuan Blair scored 21 in the win.
2012
- Hornets 85, Magic 80 (Preseason, Oct. 7, Mexico City)
2012 No. 1 overall pick Anthony Davis made his preseason debut.
2014
In the first regular season game in Mexico since 1997, Houston’s Dwight Howard took over, going for 22 points and 10 rebounds, leading the Rockets to the 113-101 victory over Minnesota in November of 2014.
- Rockets 113, Timberwolves 101 (Nov. 12, Mexico City)
The first regular-season game played in Mexico since 1997. James Harden had 23 points and 10 assists in front of fans in Mexico City Arena.
2015
- Celtics 114, Kings 97 (Dec. 3, Mexico City)
Boston’s Isaiah Thomas led the Celtics with 21 points.
2017
NBA Global Games Mexico 2017 marked the 25th anniversary of the NBA’s games in Mexico.
- Mavericks 113, Suns 108 (Jan. 12, Mexico City)
- Suns 108, Spurs 105 (Jan. 14, Mexico City)
- Nets 100, Thunder 95 (Dec. 7, Mexico City)
- Heat 101, Nets 89 (Dec. 9, Mexico City)
First year Mexico hosted four regular-season games in a calendar year.
2018
- Magic 97, Bulls 91 (Dec.13, Mexico City)
- Magic 96, Jazz 89 (Dec. 15, Mexico City)
Orlando won both regular-season games in Mexico, led by Nikola Vučević and Evan Fournier.
2019
- Mavericks 122, Pistons 111 (Dec. 12, Mexico City)
- Spurs 121, Suns 119 (Dec. 14, Mexico City)
Luka Dončić (41 points, 12 rebounds, 11 assists) recorded the first-ever triple-double in an NBA game played in Mexico.
– First player in @NBAHistory to post a triple-double in a game played outside of the USA/Canada
– First player in @NBAHistory with multiple 40-point triple-doubles before turning 21Luka Doncic earns #SAPStatLineOfTheNight in Mexico City. pic.twitter.com/1Tmg4rjszk
— NBA.com/Stats (@nbastats) December 13, 2019
2022
- Heat 111, Spurs 101 (Dec. 17, Mexico City)
Jimmy Butler led the Heat with 26 points on the 30th anniversary of the first NBA game played in Mexico.
2023
- Hawks 120, Magic 119 (Nov. 9, Mexico City)
Trae Young dropped 41 points and eight assists, along with a game-winning dime to Dejounte Murray with 30 seconds left in the Hawks’ victory.
Trae Young put on a SHOW in the NBA's Mexico City Game ‼️ 🤩
41 PTS
8 AST
5 3PM
1 Win@ATLHawks pulled out the late-game THRILLER to move to 5-3! #NBAenMéxico pic.twitter.com/KsJXqm2rjz— NBA (@NBA) November 10, 2023
2024
- Heat 118, Wizards 98 (Nov. 2, Mexico City)
Bam Adebayo scored 32 points and 14 rebounds and Jaime Jaquez Jr. recorded 8 points and 10 rebounds in his father’s home country.
2025
- Pistons 122, Mavericks 110 (Nov. 1, Mexico City)
Jalen Duren (33 points and 10 rebounds) and Cade Cunningham (21 points and career-high 18 assists) were a spectacular tandem in Detroit’s win in Mexico City.
A CAREER NIGHT FOR JALEN DUREN 🤩
▪️ 33 PTS (career-high)
▪️ 13-16 FGM (81.2 FG%)
▪️ 10 REB
▪️ 29 MIN
▪️ 1 W in Mexico City pic.twitter.com/LWSHMQU9zY— NBA (@NBA) November 2, 2025
