Basketball Jan 14, 2021
Brave Thunders step up late to beat Jets in quarterfinals
by Kaz Nagatsuka
Kawasaki booked a spot in the semifinals alongside the Alvark Tokyo, Utsunomiya Brex and SeaHorses Mikawa.
Basketball / B. League Jan 19, 2019
Shooting guard Naoto Tsuji's return from shoulder injury a big boost for Brave Thunders
by Kaz Nagatsuka
The Kawasaki Brave Thunders desperately needed this man to make a championship run — Naoto Tsuji. Tsuji returned to the court for the first time in an official B. League game on Wednesday since suffering a dislocated left shoulder in a Nov. 23 contest against ...
Basketball Aug 23, 2018
The Japan men's basketball team was back in action at the Asian Games on Wednesday, earning an 88-82 victory over Hong Kong, in its first game since the Japanese Olympic Committee announced it had kicked out four players for rule violations. Players among the remaining ...
Basketball / B. League Apr 20, 2018
Brave Thunders pounce on Brex; Orange Vikings' Chehales Tapscott drops 50 on Wat's
by Ed Odeven
Naoto Tsuji had the hot hand early. The Kawasaki Brave Thunders shooting guard sparked the hosts in the opening quarter and finished with a game-high 20 points in an 89-61 thrashing of the Tochigi Brex on Friday night. Tsuji sank 4 of 5 3-point attempts in ...
Basketball / B. League Mar 16, 2018
Brave Thunders run past Lakestars
by Ed Odeven
The Kawasaki Brave Thunders had more points through three quarters than the visiting Shiga Lakestars accumulated in Friday's game. Not a good sign for the Lakestars. Kawasaki cruised to an 83-60 victory in the series opener at Todoroki Arena. The Brave Thunders improved to 15-7 at ...
Basketball Feb 22, 2018
Japan falls to 0-3 in Asian qualifiers with one-point loss to Taiwan
by Kaz Nagatsuka
The Akatsuki Five remain winless in the Asian qualifiers first round for the 2019 World Cup after a 70-69 loss to Taiwan at Yokohama International Swimming Pool on Thursday night. Taiwan posted its first win of the tournament after it fell to Australia and the ...
Basketball / B. League Jan 26, 2018
Victorious Brave Thunders see large lead evaporate down the stretch against rival Jets
by Ed Odeven
The Kawasaki Brave Thunders jumped out to a big lead in the second and third quarters, then held off the pesky Chiba Jets Funabashi down the stretch on Friday. The Brave Thunders recorded an 87-80 victory over their East Division rival at Todoroki Arena. Chiba, which ...
Basketball / B. League Dec 9, 2017
Brave Thunders avenge loss to rival SeaHorses
by Ed Odeven
After a high-scoring loss on Friday night, the Kawasaki Brave Thunders regrouped and salvaged a series split the next day. Reigning B. League MVP Nick Fazekas scored 25 points, grabbed 14 rebounds and made a game-high four steals in the Brave Thunders' 89-58 rout of ...
Basketball / B. League Dec 8, 2017
Nagoya's Justin Burrell provides clutch performance at free-throw line in OT victory over Hokkaido
by Ed Odeven
Justin Burrell displayed poise time after time at the free-throw line on Friday night. It paid off for the visiting Nagoya Diamond Dolphins. Burrell sank 16 of 18 foul shots as Nagoya outlasted the Levanga Hokkaido 92-89 in overtime in their series opener in Sapporo. The St. ...
Basketball / B. League Oct 27, 2017
Crisp offensive execution, tight defense propel Jets past Golden Kings
by Ed Odeven
Sometimes, it's all about the numbers. Case in point: The Chiba Jets shot the ball nearly 20 percent better than the host Ryukyu Golden Kings on Friday night from 2-point range. That proved to be a significant factor in the Jets' 72-61 victory in Okinawa City. Gavin ...
Basketball / B. League Sep 28, 2017
Brave Thunders focused on positive start to season
by Kaz Nagatsuka
There might not be many teams that are as motivated as the Kawasaki Brave Thunders to have a great start to the 2017-18 season. Kawasaki was the runner-up to the Tochigi Brex in the inaugural B. League Championship in May. On Friday night, the Brave Thunders ...
Basketball / B. League May 18, 2017
Brave Thunders, Alvark renew rivalry with trip to title game on the line
by Kaz Nagatsuka
When the Kawasaki Brave Thunders and Alvark Tokyo square off in the B. League Championship semifinals on Friday and Saturday, expect the foes to display physical, hard-nosed basketball. But it's not just because it's the postseason, but also because of their longtime rivalry. Japanese players are ...