Former bj-league MVP Justin Burrell had a game-best 29 points, seven rebounds and five assists to lead the Nagoya Diamond Dolphins to an 81-74 victory over the visiting Kyoto Hannaryz in the teams' season-opening game.
Burrell, a St. John's University alum who helped the Yokohama B-Corsairs reach the bj-league Final Four as a first-year franchise during his 2011-12 MVP season, sank 7 of 9 free throws and was 11-for-16 from the field on the first full day of games in the first B. League season.
Nagoya, a former NBL club, outscored Kyoto 26-11 in the fourth quarter at Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium.