“This game will provide us with the unique opportunity to play a quality opponent while benefiting a worthwhile cause,” Knicks President, Basketball Operations and Head Coach Isiah Thomas said. “Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv has long had a renowned international presence in the game of basketball and has demonstrated the ability to compete with teams in the NBA; we look forward to the match-up.”

"We are thrilled that the first ever game between Israel's Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv and the New York Knicks will benefit the children of Migdal Ohr,” Max Thurm, President of the Board of American Friends of Migdal Ohr said. “This groundbreaking charity initiative offers a tremendous opportunity to celebrate Israel's athletes, highlight the strong bond between our two countries and most importantly enable Rabbi Grossman and his staff at Migdal Ohr to continue their incredible work on behalf of orphaned, impoverished, underprivileged and new immigrant children in Israel. Isiah Thomas and the New York Knicks and Tal Brody and Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv have been remarkable partners and we look forward to a great game.”

The game will mark the first time the Knicks will face an international opponent at Madison Square Garden, as well as on United States soil in exhibition play. New York defeated a pair of Spanish clubs as part of the 1990 McDonald’s Open in Barcelona, Spain in their only previous games versus international competition.

Tickets for the exhibition go on sale to the general public tomorrow at 9:00 a.m. and can be purchased at the Madison Square Garden Box Office, nyknicks.com and TicketMaster outlets. Those interested in purchasing lower level and courtside seating can call (212) 397-3700 or e-mail basketballvip@migdalohrusa.org. A complete Knicks preseason schedule will be released at a later date.

In 2005, Maccabi Elite became the first international team to win on North American soil when they defeated the Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre.

Migdal Ohr, Hebrew for “Tower of Light,” operates Israel’s largest youth village, providing much-needed support to more than 6,500 orphaned, abused, underprivileged and new immigrant children in Israel. The organization runs a network of schools, providing academic and vocational studies while integrating new immigrant children into Israeli society through specialized curricula and after-school programs. The organization was founded in 1972 by Israel Prize Laureate Rabbi Yitzchak David Grossman. For more information about Migdal Ohr please visit www.migdalohrusa.org.

The NBA’s New York Knickerbockers basketball team, entering into its 62nd year of operation, is part of Madison Square Garden, L.P. Cablevision Systems Corporation owns Madison Square Garden, L.P., which includes the New York Knicks (NBA); the New York Rangers (NHL); the New York Liberty (WNBA); the Hartford Wolf Pack (American Hockey League); MSG Entertainment, which includes concerts and events at Radio City Music Hall, Madison Square Garden, The WaMu Theater at Madison Square Garden, and the Beacon Theatre; MSG Media, which is comprised of MSG and FSN New York; fuse, the music television network; and the Madison Square Garden arena complex, located in the heart of the New York metropolitan area.