Coming off a 20-point home loss on Saturday, a game in which they scored only 48 points, the Sendai 89ers probably felt like they hit rock bottom — or something close to it.
In Sunday's rematch against the defending champion Ryukyu Golden Kings, Sendai looked like a legitimate playoff contender.
Kenichi Takahashi, Josh Peppers and Chris Holm scored 15 points apiece and the 89ers were 21-for-23 at the free-throw line in a 78-65 win in a clash of bj-league heavyweights.