London Lightning vs Halifax Hurricanes - January 21st Game Recap

Two of the biggest NBL Canada inter-divisional rivals met in the Scotiabank Centre on Tuesday night.

Though there is a long history between the Lightning and the Hurricanes, this time there was a big divide between the teams - London were at the head of the Central Division while Halifax are struggling at the bottom. The hosts went into this game looking to change their fortunes while the Lightning were hoping to continue their form and six-game win streak.

When the game got underway, the Lightning played the higher percentage basketball in the first quarter, giving them a nine-point lead, though the Halifax offence, led by Joel Kindred, narrowed the gap but could not swing the advantage back to them.

In the second quarter Halifax saw two players take over on offence: CJ Washington and Chris Johnson, who came off the bench, and they lifted the Hurricanes into the lead and they ended the first half ahead by one point.

London quickly re-took the lead when the game re-started, and built on that lead having the better chances in a stilted third quarter. In the fourth, Xavier Moon led the Lightning offence in growing that lead, despite the efforts of Washington and Antoine Mason in crunch time.

Washington finished as the game’s top scorer with 31 points and 10 rebounds, while Kindred also posted a double-double with 17 points and 10 boards and Chris Johnson had 18 off the bench. For the victorious London Lightning, Mareik Isom had an amazing 24 bench points, ahead of the leading starter Moon, who had 21 in comparison.

London are back in action on Thursday, taking on defending champions Moncton, while Halifax will go in search of a win on Friday against the St. John's Edge.