The London Lightning will have home court advantage when the semifinal round of the playoffs in the National Basketball League of Canada begins on Saturday.
The schedule for the first round playoff series was released late Tuesday afternoon. It has the Bolts and K-W Titans playing the first two games of the series at Budweiser Gardens. The series then shifts to the Memorial Auditorium in Kitchener for Game 3 and (if needed) Game 4. Should the first round require a fifth game, play will shift back to London.
The defending NBL champions closed out the regular season Tuesday with a 106-101 win over the Sudbury Five. The win brought their latest win streak to seven. London is number one in the overall standings having won 24 games and lost only six.
When the Lightning and Titans faced off during last season's playoff final, it was a clean three-game sweep by the Bolts.
Tickets for the first round are available at the Budweiser Gardens Box Office or online through www.lightningbasketball.ca.
SCHEDULE - ROUND 1:
*If necessary Game 1: Saturday, May 6 - 7 p.m. @ Budweiser Gardens in London Game 2: Tuesday, May 9 - 7 p.m. @ Budweiser Gardens in London Game 3: Thursday, May 11 - 7 p.m. @ Memorial Auditorium in Kitchener *Game 4: Sunday, May 14 - 7 p.m. @ Memorial Auditorium in Kitchener *Game 5: Tuesday, May 15 - 7 p.m. @ Budweiser Gardens in London
