HAGEN (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers) - Germany's third home game in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers will truly be a home game for the country's biggest star as the German Basketball Federation (DBB) announced that Braunschweig - the home city for Dennis Schroder - will host the game on June 29, 2018 against Austria. 

Schroder is from Braunschweig, home to about 250,000 people, while fellow NBA player Daniel Theis will feel right at home as well as he hails from Salzgitter, a city of 100,000 people located about 20 kilometers from Braunschweig. Both Schroder and Theis, who should be available to Germany for the Group G game unless they are injured, played for the local Braunschweig club in their pre-NBA days.

"We are very excited about the game against Austria and will have excellent conditions in Braunschweig," DBB vice president Armin Andres said. "No one should believe that this game will be a cakewalk after the clear victory in the away game. We have been very warned against that by previous games."

Germany beat Austria 90-49 in their second Qualifier in Schwechat in November to improve their record in Group G to 2-0. 

"Of course we will do everything we can to present our fans with the strongest German team, including our NBA players. I am optimistic that we will experience a real basketball festival in Braunschweig," Andres added. 

The game will be hosted in the Volkswagen Halle in Braunschweig. It will be the 17th official German game played in Braunschweig. Germany have won nine times with the last game dating back to Germany's 74-53 victory over Serbia on August 15, 2009.

"Of course we will do everything we can to present our fans with the strongest German team, including our NBA players. I am optimistic that we will experience a real basketball festival in Braunschweig."Armin AndresArmin Andres

In the second window, Germany will host Serbia in Frankfurt on February 23, 2018 in a battle of undefeated teams, after which the Germans will play in Georgia on February 25, 2018.

It is expected that fellow NBA players Paul Zipser and Maxi Kleber will be available to German head coach Henrik Rodl for the June/July 2018 window. Germany's final Qualifier will be on July 2, 2018 in Serbia.  

The Austrians will likely have some support in Braunschweig as well since Austrian guard Thomas Klepeisz plays for the former Schroder and Theis club Basketball Lowen Braunschweig and star center Rasid Mahalbasic also plays in Germany for EWE Baskets Oldenburg.

Germany and Austria have faced off 30 times in official games with the Germans winning 20 times. Germany's last defeat was 40 years ago, a 92-76 loss on April 22, 1977. The Germans have won their last 10 encounters with their neighbors to the south.

FIBA