A strong effort in the middle of the game helped the London Lightning to beat the St. John’s Edge 116-103 on Sunday afternoon at Budweiser Gardens.
After losing back-to-back games in Newfoundland just under two weeks ago, the Lightning seemed rejuvenated by a seven-day break and by the addition of Kyle Johnson, who brought his outside shooting ability back to London after spending the summer in “the other London” as part of Great Britain’s national basketball team.
Johnson came off the bench and scored 31 points, nabbed seven rebounds and added three assists and two steals.
Lightning head coach Keith Vassell was suitably impressed.
“Fantastic addition … You don’t know what you are missing until you see it.”
READ MORE: Kyle Johnson back with the London Lightning
Vassell was also happy with how his team responded after falling behind 34-21 in the first quarter to the Central Division leading Edge.
When the London offence wasn’t being sparked by Johnson, Ryan Anderson stepped in. He recorded his first NBL Canada triple-double with 14 points, 13 rebounds and 13 assists.
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Anderson claimed that the Lightning went into Sunday’s game looking to play with a different attitude.
“The last few games we have been struggling to hit shots,” said Anderson, last year’s Finals MVP. “I just wanted to get my teammates shots, we have been working hard, we wanted to have fun and get the win today.”
The victory improved London’s record to 3-5 on the season. That leaves them a game behind the Windsor Express for third place in the Central, although Kitchener is a bit of a wild card at the moment. The Titans have between four and six games in hand on everyone in the division, having only played four games on the year.
The Lightning will now host the Niagara River Lions on Friday at 7 p.m. at Budweiser Gardens.
London beat the River Lions 108-96 on Dec. 8.
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