Looks like streaming fans from around the world will be going online this Friday to watch the Dallas Mavericks take on the Sacramento Kings.

The basketball game, scheduled to begin at 8:30pm EST, will be available to both broadband and narrowband Internet users on RealVideo for free on NBA.com and Real.com, exclusively using RealPlayer from Seattle-based RealNetworks.

Don't be surprised if you here: "Buenos noches seniores y senioritas". The game, produced by NBA Entertainment, will be available in both English and Spanish.

And what does the commish have to say about all of this?

"We are proud to participate with RealNetworks to make the first live professional sports game available online to fans on a global basis," says David Stern. The NBA and RealNetworks announced their multi-year partnership this past January.

According to Mavericks Owner Mark Cuban, it is very exciting to be part of the first stream broadcast of an NBA game.

"The ability to watch an NBA game from almost any Internet-enabled device opens the NBA to fans worldwide. This is just the beginning and I'm proud that the NBA is on the forefront of the digital delivery of content and that the Mavs are a part of this watershed event."

Bringing the NBA to the world wide web actually makes a lot of sense. More than one-third of NBA.com's traffic comes from outside the United States and the webcast is expected to draw a large international audience as the two teams feature several international players, such as the Mavericks' Steve Nash (Canada)and Wang Zhizhi (China).

Although this first game is for free, it will be interesting to see if the NBA will follow suit with the decision by the Major League Baseball to offer Webcasts on a subscription basis.