NBLC Playoffs 2022: Game 1 Full Recap
There are so many stories in the 2022 NBL Canada playoffs. For one, the top-seeded London Lightning are going in search of a fifth championship - they would have won half of all awarded league titles if so. They face the lowly Windsor Express who will need to put together a massive upset and eliminate the NBLC's best team - and their longest rivals - if they are to keep their season alive.
Elsewhere two unpredictable teams would be facing off in another best-of-five series. Both the Sudbury Five and KW Titans had eventful regular seasons and rolled into the playoffs with some of the league's most productive and dynamic players who were all ready to make sparks fly in this series which could go either way.
All made for a tantalizing fight for one of the two places available in the final.
KW Titans @ Sudbury Five
Sudbury began game one with a 13-0 run, it took three minutes for Jesse Jones to put KWs first points on the board. The team then closed the gap from three-point territory and Eric Ferguson gave the Titans their first lead, they then began the next period with seven points and, connecting from three point territory, that advantage grew to double digits.
Jaylen Bland and Jeremy Harris led Sudbury in their attempt to get themselves back into the game, but unable to contain Titans they kept allowing then open looks every time they tried to instigate something. Sudbury brought the gap down to five in the last minute, but did not make enough of their chances in the remaining time to reduce the deficit any further.
Braylon Rayson had a team-high 32 points for Sudbury with Dexter Williams finishing with 26 and 13 rebounds in the loss. Eric Ferguson was outstanding with 35 points and 17 boards as the Titans claimed game one of the series 122 points to 116.
Windsor Express @ London Lightning
After five lead changes to start the game, Windsor had ten points without reply. Jermaine Haley and Cameron Forte started closed the gap, then the latter putting the Lightning back in front, leading by one at the end of ten minutes.
Windsor attempted to keep it tight in the second, where London outscored them by ten, ending first half leading by double digits. The Express hit three from beyond the arc to begin the second half, bringing the gap down with London fighting to hold on to their lead. The inside play of Billy White, Akeem Ellis and Jachai Taylor kept it tight but they and Quinnel Brown combined to put Windsor in front at the end of the third quarter.
London were then fighting for the lead and finally went back in front with five minutes left on the clock, courtesy of Mareik Isom from beyond the arc. On the other end Jachai Taylor had a three with three minutes left - Windsor did not get another shot off in that remaining time. London were left with an open door for the win and, behind Amir Williams' 22 points, 19 off the bench from Chris Jones and 12 and 14 rebounds from Terry Thomas, the Lightning coasted home to victory 106-99. Jachai Taylor had a game-high 23 and Billy White followed with 18 points and eight total boards in the loss.
The Titans and the Lightning then both claimed first blood in the NBLC post-season but there's still plenty of time for further developments and everything still has the potential to turn on its head following the opening act. Check back here for updates and find out more on the official NBL Canada wesbite.
