The defending champion Hamamatsu Higashimikawa Phoenix extended their winning streak to 12 games on Saturday, beating the host Saitama Broncos 73-71.

Wayne Arnold and Jeffrey Parmer scored 17 points apiece and Ray Nixon had 14 for the Phoenix (14-1), whose import players scored all but seven of the team's points.

Kenny Satterfield paced the Broncos (4-11) with 22 points and six assists, while Gordon Klaiber scored 14 and Bobby Nash had 11. Kazuya Hatano had nine points and a game-high 12 rebounds in Kasukabe, Saitama, Prefecture.