There was a storybook finish to Sunday's Chiba Jets-Miyazaki Shining Suns game. But unlike a Disney-like fantasy for the hosts, the Shining Suns authored a riveting last-second finish, winning 78-76.
Dexter Lyons' buzzer-beating layup accounted for the game's final points. Miyazaki coach Koto Toyama had drawn up a play during a timeout seconds earlier and guard Taishiro Shimizu, who delivered a high lob to Lyons in the post, and Lyons completed it to perfection.
This came just after Maurice Hargrow's jumper had knotted the score at 76-76, sending the Jets fans into a wild frenzy with 2.3 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter at Funabashi Arena.