Kawasaki spoils Kiefer Ravena's birthday, downs Shiga

Kiefer Ravena will end his birthday with a taste of defeat after the Shiga Lakestars bowed 91-74 against the Kawasaki Brave Thunders on Wednesday in the Japan Professional Basketball League.

It was a dominant game for Kawasaki, leading by as many as 19 points before the halfway mark of the third period, 59-40.

Kiefer and the Lakestars tried to close the gap, but the Thunders continued their rampage, mounting another 19-point lead in the 4:23 mark of the fourth period, 81-62.

That was enough to give the Thunders a comfortable cushion and eventually seal the win despite the Lakestars' late rally which cut their deficit to just 11 with 1:45 remaining.

Ravena, who earlier received cake and flowers from his teammates, dropped 13 points in his birthday game.

The Thunders waxed hot early in the game and made 27 points against Shiga's 17. Both teams scored 19 points in the second period to maintain the distance at 10 points at the end of the first half, 46-36.

Nick Fazekas stuffed the stat sheet for Kawasaki with 14 points, eight rebounds, and five assists. Jordan Heath added 13 markers and 11 boards, while Yuma Fujii had ten points.

Ovie Soko and Novar Gadson both registered 17 points and eight rebounds for Shiga.

The Lakestars, now at 6-3, will be back in action against the Chiba Jet Funabashi on November 6.

—MGP, GMA News