Lightning Finals Schedule Released
May 15, 2023 - National Basketball League of Canada (NBL Canada)
London Lightning News Release
(LONDON, ON) - After their comeback fell short in Game Three of the Opening Round against the Kitchener-Waterloo Titans, the London Lightning take care of business, defeating the Titans 95-89, to earn the 3-1 series victory and move on to the 2023 National Basketball League of Canada Finals.
The dynamic duo of Mike Nuga and Jeremiah Mordi led the way for the Bolts with both players scoring season-highs of 25 points and 8 rebounds apiece. Canadians Diego Kapelan and Jermaine Haley Jr both pitched in 13 points in the contest to help the Lightning close out the series.
With the victory, the Lightning advance to the National Basketball League of Canada Finals for the seventh time in franchise history (2012, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022), having won the league title in five of their previous six visits including last season.
London will now take on the Windsor Express in a best-of-five series starting Thursday, May 18th at the Budweiser Gardens. Windsor earned their third Finals berth (2014, 2015) after defeating the heavily favorited Sudbury Five 3-2 in their best-of-five opening round.
The 2023 Finals marks the fifth time London and Windsor have met in the playoffs with this being the first time in league history that both teams will meet in the finals. London currently holds a 3-1 record in head-to-head playoff matchups. Game two of the series will mark the 100th matchup between the two teams since the Express' inaugural season in 2012-13. The Lightning is 62-36 all-time versus the Express including a 14-6 post season record. Windsor has not won a playoff game against the Bolts since 2016 nor a playoff series since 2014
2023 NBL Canada Finals Schedule
Game 1 - Thursday, May 18 vs Windsor Express (Budweiser Gardens - 7:00 PM EST)
Game 2 - Saturday, May 20 vs Windsor Express (Budweiser Gardens - 7:00 PM EST)
Game 3 - Tuesday, May 23 at Windsor Express (WFCU Center - 7:00 PM EST)
Game 4* - Thursday, May 25 at Windsor Express (WFCU Center - 7:00 PM EST)
Game 5* - Friday, May 26 vs Windsor Express (Budweiser Gardens - 7:00 PM EST)
*= if necessary
Make sure to stay up to date with team news by following the team on social media or through the team website at www.lightningbasketball.ca.
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