With hopes to actually play the game, the Rockets and Minnesota Timberwolves will bring the NBA back to Mexico City next November, a season after the Timberwolves and Spurs had their game canceled because of smoke in the arena.

The Rockets will face the Wolves Nov. 12 in a regular-season game, the second time the Rockets have played a regular-season game outside of the United States and Canada. The Rockets and Seattle SuperSonics opened the 1992-93 season in Japan.

The Timberwolves will be the home team and lose one home game from its schedule.

The game could feature Timberwolves star Kevin Love going against Rockets coach Kevin McHale, who acquired Love for the Wolves when he was the general manager of the Wolves. But the Timberwolves are expected to evaluate trade options for Love with the Rockets among the teams certain to make a run at the star power forward.

The Knicks will face the Bucks in the other international regular-season game next season, Jan. 15 in London.

The NBA game in Mexico City last season was canceled when a generator malfunctioned about 45 minutes before tipoff, sending smoke into the arena.