Japan, which was to host the Mariners' first two games this season before the trip was cancelled because of the Iraq war, is scheduled to receive another export from Seattle.

The Sonics will play a two-game set against the Los Angeles Clippers to start both teams' 2003-04 regular season. The games will be played Oct. 30 and Nov. 1 at a 20,000-seat arena in Saitama, a suburb 62 miles north of Tokyo.

The NBA is expected to formally make the announcement during a news conference this morning.

"Wally (Walker) and the marketing people took it to (coach Nate McMillan) and Nate felt it was a positive thing," Sonics general manager Rick Sund said. "So we wanted to look into it."