2015 NBL Canada Finals
| 2015 NBL Canada Finals | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| League | NBL Canada |
| Sport | Basketball |
| Duration | April 15–30, 2015 |
| Number of teams | 2 |
| Finals | |
| Champions | Windsor Express |
| Runners-up | Halifax Rainmen |
| Finals MVP | Kirk Williams |
The 2015 NBL Canada Finals was the championship series of the 2014–15 National Basketball League of Canada season and the conclusion of the season's playoffs. The Central Conference champions Windsor Express controversially won the title after Atlantic Conference champions Halifax Rainmen forfeited Game 7. The Finals began on April 15, and ended on April 30. The Express claimed their second straight title, and Kirk Williams was named Finals MVP.
The Express defeated the Rainmen 113–104, taking the 1–0 lead in the series. The Express got off to a strong start, holding a 28–22 lead at the end of the 1st quarter. The Rainmen, who had not played a game in 16 days, greatly struggled with fouls throughout the game. Point guard Cliff Clinkscales committed three in his first 12 minutes on the court. With nearly six minutes remaining in the second quarter, the Express led by as much as 15 points. However, following a free throw from Jermaine Dailey, the Rainmen went on a 33–20 run, taking a one-point lead in the middle of the third quarter. A three-pointer from Chris Commons with four minutes left in the third helped the Express regain their momentum and keep the game tight. At the start of the fourth quarter, the Rainmen were still only down by 3 points, and a field goal from Cliff Clinkscales tied the game with only a few minutes left in regulation. Despite the fouling out of DeAndre Thomas, the Express capped the rest of the game off by outscoring their opponents by 9 points.
Midway through the final quarter, the Rainmen's Liam McMorrow fell hard on his left shoulder and his neck snapped back. He had to be taken off the court on a stretcher and would undergo a CT scan and an MRI because he felt tingling in the injured area. Halifax, as a team, greatly struggled with fouls throughout the game. Cliff Clinkscales committed three in his first 12 minutes on the court, and every player that appeared in the game was called for more than two penalties. The Rainmen recorded a total of 48 fouls, allowing the Express to make 43 of their 55 free throw attempts. Windsor took over 10 more free throws than field goals.
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