The Houston Rockets and New Orleans Pelicans will square off in an NBA preseason game on Oct. 12 at Legacy Arena in Birmingham.

The game brings the Pelicans back to the home of New Orleans’ NBA Gatorade League affiliate, the Birmingham Squadron. Last year, the Pelicans defeated the Atlanta Hawks 120-111 in a preseason game at Legacy Arena before an announced crowd of 15,486.

“We want to thank the City of Birmingham, the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex and everyone involved that allows for the Pelicans to make our second preseason appearance at Legacy Arena,” said Gayle Benson, the NBA team’s owner. “The decision to launch the Squadron was a commitment by the Pelicans organization to invest in the Birmingham community, and we are humbled to have the team play another preseason game in Birmingham to kick off our season.”

The teams will tip off at 7 p.m. CDT Oct. 12, the Pelicans announced on Monday.

Squadron season-ticket holders will receive complimentary tickets in their seat location for the NBA preseason game and will be able to purchase additional tickets at a special season-ticket holder rate. Season-ticket membership plans for the Squadron’s 2023-24 season are on sale now.

Group plans for 10 or more people also are available for the preseason game. Individual tickets will go on sale at a later date through the Squadron’s ticket office and Ticketmaster. For more information, fans call the ticket office at (205)719-0850.

“We are thrilled to once again bring the Pelicans and NBA basketball to the Magic City,” Birmingham Squadron general manager Leslie Claybrook said. “I know Birmingham will bring the same level of excitement and energy as it did for last year’s sold-out preseason game and provide the Squadron great momentum going into Year 3.”

The Pelicans posted a 42-40 record last season. Former Alabama standouts Herb Jones and Kira Lewis Jr. are under contract with New Orleans for next season. Jones and Lewis also are former Alabama prep stars – Jones at Hale County and Lewis at Hazel Green.

The Rockets went 22-60 in the 2022-23 NBA campaign. Former Auburn star Jabari Smith Jr. joined Houston as the third pick in the 2022 NBA Draft and was a member of the NBA’s All-Rookie second team.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.