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The game beginsThe game continuesPause
Yuta Watanabe hit a 2-point shot
Jones hit a 2-point shotNaoki Tashiro defensive reboundShuta Hara missed a 3-point jumperNaoki Tashiro offensive reboundNaoki Tashiro hit a 2-point shotBrackchiar missed a 2-point shot in the paintBrakhiar offensive reboundPauseBrakhiar hit a 2-point shotBrooks committed a personal foulBrakhiar missed the free throwBrakciar scored on a shotHogg defensive reboundThe game continuesHogg missed a 2-point shot in the paintHogg offensive reboundHogg missed a 2-point shot in the paintThe team has a team-wide defensive reboundPauseThe game continuesJones missed a 3-point jumperBrooks defensive reboundTakuto Nakamura committed a personal foulHara Shuta was fouledThe game continuesPauseShuta Hara received an assist from Yuta Watanabe and hit a two-point layup in the paintTakuto Nakamura hit a 2-point jumperNaoki Tashiro missed a 3-point jumperBrakciar defensive reboundNaoto Tsuji missed a 3-point jumperGunma Leihe rebounded the whole teamPauseThe game continuesPauseHogg committed a personal foul and was awarded two free throwsBrakchiar was fouledBrakhiar missed the free throwBrakhiar hit a free throwBrooks defensive reboundThe game continuesHogg made a mistakeNaoto Tsuji stealsYuma Fujii received an assist from Brackhiar and hit a 3-point shotHara Shuta made a mistakeTakuto Nakamura stealsPauseYuma Fujii offensive foulYuma Fujii made a mistakeBrooks was fouledYuki Togashi came on, Little came on, and Hogg went downFrippin came on the field, and Takuto Nakamura came off the fieldNaoki Tashiro went offThe game continuesYuta Watanabe missed a 3-point jumperNaoto Tsuji defensive reboundFrippin missed a 2-point shot in the paintYuma Fujii offensive reboundPauseLittle committed a personal foulYuma Fujii was fouledThe game continuesJones hit a two-point layup in the paintYuan Shuta missed a 2-point shot in the paint areaFrippin defensive reboundsBrackchiar received an assist from Frippin and hit a two-point layup in the paintChiba jets suspendedPauseJin Jinlian came on the field, and Yuan Xiu Tai went downKenny Asano came on, Ikki Hosokawa came on, Jones came off, and Naoto Tsuji came offThe game continuesLittle missed a 2-point shot in the paintBrakciar defensive reboundIkki Hosokawa received an assist from Frippin and hit a 3-point shotKim Geun-ryun received an assist from Little and hit a 3-point shotYuma Fujii missed a 3-point jumperBrakhiar offensive reboundIkki Hosokawa missed a 3-point jumperBrooks defensive reboundKenny Asano committed a personal foulLittle was fouledHogg came on and Brooks went downJones came on and Brakchiar went offThe game continuesPauseLittle received an assist from Kim Geun-ryeo and hit a two-point shotIkki Hosokawa received an assist from Jones and hit a 3-point shotYuki Togashi hit a 2-point layup in the paintFrippin missed a 2-point shot in the paintHogg defensive reboundYuki Togashi received an assist from Hogg and hit a 3-point shotPauseHogg committed a personal foulFrippin was fouledNaoki Tashiro came on and Hogg came offTakuto Nakamura came on the field, Yuma Fujii came offThe game continuesJones made a mistakeLittle stealsFrippin committed a personal foulLittle was fouledBrakchiar came on and Kenny Asano came offThe game continuesThe game continuesPausePausePausePauseYuta Watanabe made an errorThe game continuesBrackchiar missed a 2-point shot in the paintYuta Watanabe defensive reboundLittle received an assist from Kim Geun-ryeo and hit a two-point shotBrackchiar missed a 2-point shot in the paintJin Jinlian defensive reboundLittle missed a 2-point shot in the paintHosokawa Ikki defensive reboundPauseJones made a mistakeYuki Togashi missed a 3-point jumperThe game continuesPauseThe first quarter endsChiba Jets edge out Gunma Crane Thunders in a tight B1 League battle
The Chiba Jets secured a hard-fought 71-66 victory over the Gunma Crane Thunders on May 11, 2026, in a B1 League contest that showcased defensive intensity and clutch execution down the stretch. Playing on home court, the Jets improved their record behind a balanced scoring effort and a pivotal fourth-quarter surge, while the Crane Thunders saw their comeback hopes fall short in the final minutes.
Match Overview
From the opening tip, both teams struggled to establish rhythm, with each side committing early turnovers and missing several open looks. The first quarter ended with Chiba holding a narrow 18-16 lead, thanks to strong interior play from their frontcourt. Gunma responded in the second period by tightening their perimeter defense and converting fast-break opportunities, taking a 35-34 advantage into halftime. The game remained on a knife’s edge throughout the third quarter, as neither team could build a lead larger than five points.
Key Moments
- Third-quarter turnaround: Chiba opened the second half with an 8-2 run, reclaiming the lead at 42-37. Guard Yuki Togashi knocked down a crucial three-pointer to ignite the home crowd.
- Gunma’s fourth-quarter fight: Trailing 54-48 with under eight minutes left, the Crane Thunders stormed back with a 10-2 spurt, tying the game at 58-58 on a Ryan Kelly jumper.
- Clutch free throws: With the score locked at 66-66 and 1:15 remaining, Chiba’s John Mooney drew a foul and calmly sank both free throws. A defensive stop followed, and Togashi added two more from the stripe to seal the win.
Tactical Story: Defense Decides
Both teams entered the contest known for their uptempo styles, but the game devolved into a grind-it-out affair. Chiba’s zone defense disrupted Gunma’s ball movement, forcing the Crane Thunders into 16 turnovers. The Jets, meanwhile, relied on pick-and-roll actions to generate high-percentage looks near the rim. The decisive factor proved to be rebounding: Chiba grabbed 12 offensive boards, converting them into 14 second-chance points, while Gunma managed only six.
Standout Players
- John Mooney (Chiba): The American forward posted a double-double with 18 points and 13 rebounds, dominating the paint on both ends. His presence inside anchored the Jets’ defensive scheme.
- Yuki Togashi (Chiba): The veteran point guard contributed 16 points and 5 assists, including the back-breaking free throws in the final minute. His leadership was vital in managing the game tempo.
- Ryan Kelly (Gunma): The former NBA big man led all scorers with 22 points and added 8 rebounds, but his efforts were not enough to overcome the Jets’ collective resolve.
Season and Table Impact
The victory moved the Chiba Jets into contention for top spot in the B1 League Eastern Conference, improving their record to 22-10. The Gunma Crane Thunders, now 18-14, slipped to fifth place, putting pressure on their playoff positioning. With the regular season entering its final stretch, every win carries extra weight, and Chiba’s ability to close out tight games bodes well for their postseason aspirations.
Both teams will look to build on this performance as the B1 League schedule continues. Chiba faces the Yokohama B-Corsairs next, while Gunma returns home to take on the Shinshu Brave Warriors.