HOUSTON, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Consul General in Houston Li Qiangmin and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner sent greetings for the Chinese Lunar New Year here on Wednesday night during a basketball game.

Li and Turner watched the NBA game between Houston Rockets and Sacramento Kings. During half-time, each official gave a short speech, sending Chinese Lunar New Year greetings and wishing strengthening of the China-U.S. relations in the coming year.

Feb. 16 will be the Chinese Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival. Wednesday's match took place in downtown Houston's Toyota Center which was decorated in red for this special occasion.

On the big screen in the field, the "Happy New Year" greeting, written in Chinese characters were flashed time and again. A short video was also shown with the Rockets players reciting their greetings in the Chinese language.

Moreover, the Rockets players also wore red jackets, with "Rockets" written in Chinese characters on the chest.

Interviewed by Xinhua, Li said that sports is a good channel to build people-to-people exchange.

"We are celebrating the Chinese New Year Eve in this special place. We believe that sports is an excellent platform to build understanding, deepen communication as well as widen exchange and cooperation between our two countries," Li said.

At the final whistle, Rockets beat Kings 100 to 91.