Sunday's bj-league competition highlighted the two-time reigning champion Hamamatsu Higashimikawa Phoenix's standard of excellence — a 100-86 win over the host Chiba Jets that improved their record to 29-13 — as they became the first Eastern Conference team to clinch a playoff berth this season.
On Sunday, the Takamatsu Five Arrows' atrocious season also grabbed the spotlight. The Five Arrows (2-38) lost their 13th consecutive game, a 109-64 decision to the visiting Rizing Fukuoka.
Kevin Palmer paced Fukuoka (26-14) with 28 points, Jermaine Dearman added 23 points, 17 rebounds and six assists and Akitomo Takeno scored 21 points. Carlos Dixon finished with 17 points, eight boards and six blocked shots for the Rizing and Masahiro Kano scored 12 points.