Kawasaki Brave Thunders 91, Nagasaki Velca 89 — The Kawasaki Brave Thunders survived a frantic final possession to beat the Nagasaki Velca 91-89 in Club Friendship action at Todoroki Arena on Sunday, September 13, 2026. A two-point game at the buzzer, decided by a stop rather than a shot, gave the home crowd the tightest finish of the day and handed Kawasaki a valuable confidence boost ahead of the new campaign.

Match Overview

The contest tipped off at 13:00 in front of a lively afternoon crowd, and it delivered almost everything a preseason showcase could ask for: pace, physicality, a double-digit swing and a finish that came down to the last three seconds. Kawasaki led by as many as eight in the opening period, trailed by nine in the second, and entered the fourth quarter locked at 67-67 before edging ahead in the closing minutes.

The Brave Thunders finished with a 91-point night built on balanced scoring and efficient half-court execution, while the Velca answered with a transition-heavy attack that kept the game in the balance until the final horn. Neither side looked like a team still finding its rhythm, which made the two-point margin feel entirely deserved.

Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown

• First quarter: Kawasaki 24, Nagasaki 21 — the Brave Thunders set the tone with early three-point shooting and quick ball movement.
• Second quarter: Nagasaki 26, Kawasaki 20 — the Velca flipped the game with a 12-2 run and took a 47-44 lead into the break.
• Third quarter: Kawasaki 23, Nagasaki 20 — Kawasaki chipped away at the deficit to level the score at 67-67.
• Fourth quarter: Kawasaki 24, Nagasaki 22 — a back-and-forth finish that Kawasaki sealed with defense on the last possession.

How the Game Unfolded

Kawasaki came out sharp, knocking down three of their first five attempts from beyond the arc and forcing Nagasaki into two early turnovers. The Velca, however, adjusted quickly, pushing the tempo off long rebounds and attacking the rim before the Brave Thunders' half-court defense could set. By the middle of the second quarter, Nagasaki had turned a small deficit into a 44-35 cushion, prompting a Kawasaki timeout.

The response was immediate. Kawasaki closed the first half on a 9-3 surge, then opened the third quarter with a renewed emphasis on screening actions at the top of the key. The lead changed hands seven times in the second half, and neither team led by more than five points after the interval. With under a minute to play, Kawasaki converted a tough contested layup to go up 91-89, and the Velca's final three-point attempt rimmed out as the buzzer sounded.

Key Moments

The turning point arrived late in the third quarter, when Kawasaki's second unit produced a 7-0 run in under two minutes to erase a five-point Nagasaki lead. That stretch flipped the momentum permanently and forced the Velca into a more deliberate, half-court style in the fourth quarter — a style that suited Kawasaki's size inside.

Defensively, the decisive play came on the game's final possession. Nagasaki isolated on the wing, drew a switch, and got a clean look from three, but the closeout was quick enough to alter the release. The miss sealed a win that Kawasaki's coaching staff will treat as a real measurement of late-game composure.

Tactical Story

Kawasaki's offense ran through high pick-and-roll actions, with the ball handler consistently finding the roll man or spraying passes to the corners. The Brave Thunders assisted on a large share of their made baskets and punished Nagasaki's help defense with skip passes. On the other end, Nagasaki's best stretches came when they rebounded and ran, scoring in transition before Kawasaki could organize.

The rebounding battle was close, but Kawasaki's edge on the offensive glass produced second-chance points that proved decisive in a two-point game. Nagasaki's switching scheme created some disruption but also generated mismatches in the paint that Kawasaki exploited late.

Standout Players

• Yuta Kanamori (Kawasaki): 22 points and 7 assists, controlling tempo in the fourth quarter.
• Marcus Hale (Kawasaki): 18 points and 11 rebounds, a constant presence on the interior.
• Darius Coleman (Nagasaki): 24 points, including four three-pointers, keeping the Velca in front for long stretches.
• Ryota Shimizu (Nagasaki): 17 points and 5 assists, the primary engine of the Velca's transition attack.

Season Impact

For Kawasaki, the result is less about the scoreboard and more about the evidence: a team that can win a close game without its best shooting night, and a bench that can change a game. For Nagasaki, the 91-89 loss offers a clear teachin