The Akita Northern Happinets became the bj-league's second Eastern Conference team to clinch a playoff spot this season by defeating the visiting Saitama Broncos 97-87 on Sunday.
Kyle Swanston scored a team-high 21 points for Akita (27-17) and Ricky Woods finished with 20 points, 11 assists, eight rebounds and three steals.
Happinets coach Kazuo Nakamura's former team, the two-time defending champion Hamamatsu Higashimikawa Phoenix (29-13), locked up a playoff spot last weekend.