B.League Game of the Week: Tense Times in Clash of Title Contenders
In a packed day of top flight basketball in Japan but one, with the story behind it and the drama that unfolded on the night, stood out. League-leading Ryukyu Golden Kings hosted the second place Nagoya Diamond Dolphins in a match-up that was fitting of the two teams locked in a title fight.
Ryukyu went 8-0 up early on, but the visiting Dolphins were quick to tighten the score line and for two quarters there was little between the teams as they matched each other on all spots on the court. On offence both shot 51% from the field and had fourteen three-pointers on the contest.
Nagoya trailed for large parts of the game until they made their height advantage felt in the second half, going nine points in front ahead of the final stretch but, led by Keita Imamura, Ryukyu closed down the gap and tied the scored with seconds left, forcing overtime.
The game remained tight throughout OT, Nagoya had the late lead which was tied by the Kings' Victor Law, it all came down to a final three-point attempt by Yutaroh Suda.
Nagoya's defence was the difference maker in this incredible close-fought thriller in Okinawa. Imamura had a game-high 33 points for Ryukyu, who also saw sixteen points and twelve total boards from Victor Law in the loss. Scott Eatherton and Takumi Saito both finished with double-doubles for Nagoya in the narrow win, though the top spot in the B.League is still the Golden Kings'.
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