Fire Alarm, Evacuation Halt Defending Champion Bucks' Preseason Opener

"He's on fire!" "Boomshakalaka!" In a made-for NBA Jam moment, last night's Bucks - Grizzlies game was suspend and fans were evacuated before either team had a chance to heat up. A pre-fourth-quarter fire alarm was the source of the game's suspension, evacuating fans and confusing players in the process.

"A very unique experience tonight," said Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins following the game. "No one could have foreshadowed that that would have happened. Great collaboration between both teams and the league. A lot of dialogue. And it was definitely unique."

In their first action since hoisting the Larry O'Brien trophy in late June, Milwaukee's exhibition season opener was stopped with the defending champs trailing Memphis just before the start of the final quarter.

As the teams readied to finish off the preseason tilt, a FedExForum fire alarm sounded, sending players to the locker rooms and fans to the exits. After delaying the game for more than an hour, the  cause of distress was deemed to be a "false alarm," though they NBA opted not to finish the game.

"With the lengthy delay, the league, in consultation with the Bucks and the Grizzlies, has determined not to complete the game in the interest of player safety," said a statement released by the league.

Amidst the madness, Bucks guard Grayson Allen, who finished with 13 points, told Bally Sports Wisconsin's broadcast, “This is wild. This is a crazy story you tell somebody and they don’t believe.”

The fire alarm ended up being the nail in the coffin for Milwaukee, who trailed Memphis 87-77 when the game was suspended.