Sport: Chicago Bulls v Utah Jazz NBA game at London's O2 Arena

Fans enter the O2 Arena ahead of the match between the six-times NBA champions Chicago Bulls and the team they defeated in successive finals in 1997 and 1998, Utah Jazz Photograph: Tom Jenkins/Tom Jenkins

Bulls player Luol Deng - born in Sudan and, having moved to London aged nine, now the spearhead of the British team - is the man the fans have come to see tonight Photograph: Tom Jenkins/Tom Jenkins

Chicago merchandise for sale including the No9 jersey of Luol Deng Photograph: Tom Jenkins/Tom Jenkins

A Jazz coach watches the warm-up Photograph: Tom Jenkins/Tom Jenkins

The Sunderland striker Darren Bent watches Chicago prepare Photograph: Tom Jenkins/Tom Jenkins

And he's by no means the only footballer in the crowd ... in the front row are Tom Huddlestone, Michael Dawson and Sol Campbell. Behind them, Joe Cole and Ross Turnbull Photograph: Tom Jenkins/Tom Jenkins

Spectacular slam-dunks are performed before the match, albeit with the aid of a trampoline Photograph: Tom Jenkins/Tom Jenkins

Eager fans look for the players to come out Photograph: Tom Jenkins/Tom Jenkins

... while others grab some quick snaps Photograph: Tom Jenkins/Tom Jenkins

The lights go down and Deng and his cohorts enter the court for the game Photograph: Tom Jenkins/Tom Jenkins

The Bulls team huddle up Photograph: Tom Jenkins/Tom Jenkins

Deng, the 6ft 9in small forward, rises and scores two points as the Jazz defender Paul Millsap attemps a half-hearted block Photograph: Tom Jenkins/Tom Jenkins

Triple jump world champion Phillips Idowu enjoys the action Photograph: Tom Jenkins/Tom Jenkins

On defensive duty, Deng watches the ball closely as Ronnie Brewer looks to make his move Photograph: Tom Jenkins/Tom Jenkins

But it's tiring work for the 24-year-old Photograph: Tom Jenkins/Tom Jenkins

... as a close-up of the sweat dribbling down his face proves Photograph: Tom Jenkins/Tom Jenkins

The stands are packed for this rare glimpse of the NBA in London Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Deron Williams tries to block Deng as the Jazz gain an upper hand in the first quarter Photograph: Tom Jenkins/Tom Jenkins

Boxer David Haye among the crowds Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Carlos Boozer of Utah marks Taj Gibson of Chicago at a free-throw Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Boozer and Gibson wrestle for the rebound Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Deng soars above Boozer to score Photograph: Tom Jenkins

The Jazz dancers run on to throw t-shirts to the crowd Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Utah's Eric Maynor jumps and scores in front of Joakim Noah Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Sweat drips off the tattooed shoulder of Boozer Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Chicago trail by just one point with 25 seconds left on the clock in the fourth quarter ... and after two spurned opportunities, James Johnson launches a last-ditch jump-shot as the final buzzer sounds ... Photograph: Tom Jenkins

And it's good! The ball drops through the hoop to hand Chicago the victory (102-101) and Chris Richard runs off in celebration Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Noah and his Bulls team-mates go wild ... and to think, this is just an exhibition Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Deng is all smiles after the dramatic finale Photograph: Tom Jenkins

The Londoner is congratulated by his team-mates Photograph: Tom Jenkins