The Hamamatsu Higashimikawa Phoenix have created a logjam at the top of the Western Conference on Saturday.
By beating the visiting Kyoto Hannaryz 76-65, the Phoenix are now one of four West teams with two losses. But Kyoto (11-2) sits atop the conference due to its top winning percentage — and boosted by the fact it has played more games than Hamamatsu (9-2), Ryukyu (10-2) and Shiga (7-2).
Reigning champion Ryukyu is back in action in a rare Monday-Tuesday bj-league series against the visiting Gunma Crane Thunders.