Read the full story on SportsLook - Golden Kings Outlast Jets in Double Overtime in Game 1 of the B.League Finals
YOKOHAMA ― "One more" were the final words out of veteran forward Allen Durham's mouth during his on-court interview after Game 1 of the B.League Finals.
In the best-of-three championship series opener, the Ryukyu Golden Kings (Durham's team) defeated the Chiba Jets 96-93 in double overtime.
Game 2 is set to tip off at 1:10 PM on Sunday, May 28 at Yokohama Arena.
The Golden Kings, the B.League runners-up in the 2021-22 playoffs, moved within one game of completing their oft-stated goal this season before an enthusiastic crowd of 11,410.
"First of all, as per the game plan, we were able to keep the Chiba Jets' transition [offense] and 3-point shooting in check," Ryukyu coach Dai Oketani told reporters after the game. "On offense, sometimes the ball would stop moving [for us], but we were able to make better offensive choices to win.
"We got a lot of bench points and I think we were able to show the Kings' strengths," added Oketani, "so I would like to continue to do so tomorrow."
The Golden Kings' backups outscored the Jets' bench 45-4, including Durham's 26-point effort.
Jets Express Determination to Bounce Back in Game 2
Meanwhile, the Jets, who had a league-best 53-7 record in the regular season and never lost two games in a row, were left to rue how the game ended.
That said, the team's floor leader, veteran guard Yuki Togashi, who had a game-high 31 points and eight assists, insisted the Jets, who won the 2020-21 B.League title, are still in the fight.
"It's not over at all, and I'm still confident in this [team]," Togashi told reporters later.
Jets coach John Patrick echoed Togashi's confidence, noting the team advanced to the semifinals in mid-May after dropping Game 1 of the quarterfinals against the visiting Hiroshima Dragonflies, then winning the next two games.
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Author: Ed Odeven
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