Aomori Wat's Edge Kanazawa Samuraiz 80-74 with Late Fourth-Quarter Push

Aomori Wat's secured an important 80-74 road victory over Kanazawa Samuraiz in B2 League action on October 18, 2026, breaking open a tightly contested game with a decisive run in the final quarter. The visitors trailed at halftime and were level after three periods, but their execution down the stretch proved the difference in a result that carries early-season significance in the B2 League standings.

Kanazawa had the home crowd behind them and matched Aomori for long stretches, but the Samuraiz could not find enough offense in the closing minutes. Aomori, by contrast, stayed composed, attacked the paint, and converted key free throws to close out the win.

Match Overview

The game was balanced through the opening three quarters. Kanazawa held a narrow 20-19 lead after the first period, before Aomori responded with a 21-18 second quarter to take a 40-38 advantage into halftime. The Samuraiz fought back in the third, winning that period 19-17 to level the score at 57-57 heading into the fourth.

• Q1: Kanazawa 20-19
• Q2: Kanazawa 18-21
• Q3: Kanazawa 19-17
• Q4: Kanazawa 17-23
• Final: Kanazawa Samuraiz 74, Aomori Wat's 80

With the score tied entering the final ten minutes, the game became a test of half-court execution and rebounding. Aomori passed that test more convincingly, outscoring Kanazawa 23-17 in the fourth quarter.

Key Moments

The turning point arrived with the score tied at 60-60 midway through the fourth quarter. Aomori reeled off eight unanswered points, capped by a transition layup from guard Takumi Ishida and a strong finish inside from import forward Darius McNeal. That burst forced Kanazawa into catch-up mode and silenced the home crowd.

Kanazawa trimmed the deficit to four points late, but Aomori answered each time with either a second-chance basket or a pair of free throws. The Samuraiz were forced to foul in the final minute, and Aomori calmly extended the margin to the final six-point gap.

Tactical Story

Aomori's rebounding advantage was one of the defining features of the game. The Wat's generated extra possessions with 12 offensive rebounds and turned those into valuable second-chance points. Kanazawa, meanwhile, struggled from beyond the arc after halftime, making just two of its final 12 three-point attempts.

Defensively, Aomori did a better job of protecting the paint in the fourth quarter. Kanazawa's guards were able to create looks early, but Aomori adjusted its help defense and forced the Samuraiz into contested jump shots. On the other end, Aomori repeatedly attacked the basket and drew fouls, finishing with a clear edge at the free-throw line.

Standout Players

Darius McNeal led Aomori with 21 points and 10 rebounds, giving the Wat's a reliable inside presence on both ends. Takumi Ishida added 18 points, including eight in the fourth quarter, while Shohei Kudo contributed 12 points and steady ball-handling against Kanazawa's pressure.

For Kanazawa, Ryohei Nakamura finished with 16 points and seven assists, while Kenta Morita added 15 points and eight rebounds. Yuta Fujii chipped in 11 points, but the Samuraiz lacked the same late-game balance that Aomori showed in the final minutes.

What the Result Means

The win gives Aomori a valuable road result early in the B2 League campaign and reinforces their ability to close out tight games. For Kanazawa, the loss is a frustrating one because the Samuraiz were level after three quarters and had chances to take control in the fourth. Their late-game offense and three-point shooting will be areas to address as the season progresses.

Aomori will look to carry the momentum into their next fixture, while Kanazawa will focus on executing better in the final five minutes of close games.