NBLC Playoffs 2022: Game 3 Recaps
Game three meant very different things for all four teams contesting the 2022 NBL Canada playoffs: for the Windsor Express it meant do or die, with the London Lightning needing just one more win to secure their finals place without having dropped a game. Elsewhere the battle between the KW Titans and Sudbury Five moved to Kitchener to see if the two teams could be separated.
So it was all to play for at this pivotal part of the NBLC post-season. Here is everything that happened in both match-ups:
Sudbury Five @ KW Titans
Following a back and forth start the Titans went on an 8-0 run, with Jabari Craig and Joel Kindred both keeping them firmly in front. Jason Calliste closed the gap for Sudbury from the three-point line, the Titans quickly responded, building a seven-point lead.
Sudbury went in front with nine points without reply but their lead was short-lived; KW began the third quarter with nine unanswered points and after six more they had a double-digit lead, largely down to Jesse Jones and Kindred.
Jeremy Harris and Dexter Williams close the gap in the final stretch and it became a one-point game ahead of the fourth quarter, the Titans then increased their lead in the low post before Williams and Harris brought it down to a three-point game. Jones and Kindred kept interrupting the Five's rhythm, with twelve points from both in last three minutes ensuring the Titans win 132-126.
There was some good news for Harris in Sudbury's loss: scoring forty points, while Kindred put up forty-three, both franchise records. Still the Titans were the most upbeat at the final buzzer, they are now just one game away from their first NBLC finals.
London Lightning @ Windsor Express
Jermaine Haley and Cameron Forte opened the game for London with eight points unanswered, only for Windsor to quickly level the score line and kept doing so every time the Lightning tried to add to their advantage.
Threes from Akeem Ellis and Nick Garth gave the Express their first lead of the game; they, Jachai Taylor and William Claiborne all contributed to a high-energy start to second quarter, eventually earning Windsor a double-digit lead. Chris Jones hit nine in a row for London and the gap stood at one point by the end of the half.
London had nine points to begin the second half, Garth was on hand to keep the gap small as possible with Marcus Anderson returning the lead back to Windsor. It was a single-possession game for the last four minutes of third quarter, at the end Windsor were leading by four and when play resumed they went on to lead by double-digits.
With six minutes left the Express started to look the more comfortable team, but London still put it back to a single possession standing between the teams in the final stretch. Jordan Burns tied the scores and Amir Williams put London in front with time running out. Garth made last ditch attempts to save the Express but could only get them within a point of London. A final Williams layup sealed it: London won the game and swept the series, Windsor fought valiantly but in the end their 2022 season is over.
Garth led all with 35 points with his team mate Claiborn registering 24 points and 16 rebounds in Windsor's loss. Jordan Burns was London's top scorer with 29 points while Williams and Thomas both finished with double-doubles as the Lightning move on to the finals and are now just waiting to see who they will be meeting there for their shot at the title.
Check back here for ongoing updates of the 2022 NBL Canada playoffs and see more over on the official NBLC website.
