NBA: Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers to play in London

The Denver Nuggets and the Indiana Pacers are headed to London.

The teams will play a regular-season game at the O2 Arena on January 12, the NBA announced Thursday.

The game - part of NBA Global Games London - will mark both teams' first trip to the United Kingdom.

"We are thrilled to return for our seventh regular-season game in London," NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a release.

"With almost 25 per cent of players in the NBA born outside of the United States, we are seeing firsthand the global growth of our game, which has never been more popular in the UK."

The Nuggets' roster features Italy's Danilo Gallinari, who led the team in scoring last season with an average of 19.5 points per game, and Kenneth Faried, a 2014 FIBA World Cup gold medalist with Spain.

Gallinari said he is eager for the game: "It will be a true honor and a great experience to represent both the Nuggets and the NBA in London as part of the NBA Global Games in 2017.

"Our entire team and organisation are looking forward to this opportunity to showcase our league to fans overseas."

The Pacers are led by three-time NBA All-Star and 2016 USA Basketball team member Paul George and 2015 All-Star Jeff Teague.

"This is great exposure for our team and our franchise," George said. "I think it will be a great experience for us and the fans in attendance."