Things are starting to fall into place for the Sendai 89ers.
After missing five straight games, center Dzaflo Larkai returned from a knee injury on Nov. 30. And since then, the 89ers have quietly continued their climb in the Eastern Conference playoff race.
Sendai (9-9) now sits in sixth place, the final playoff position, in the 11-team East after beating the visiting Aomori Wat's 90-70 on Sunday at Xebio Arena.