There’s only room for one King in the EASL.
There’s only room for one King.
Jeremy Lin tapped into some “Linsanity” magic, drilling a booming three in the clutch as New Taipei asserted its dominance in the East Asia Super League,
scoring a close 67-63 win over the B.League champion Ryukyu Golden Kings Wednesday at the New Taipei Xinzhuang Gymnasium.
Holding on to a one-point lead, Lin beat the shot clock buzzer with a trey over Keita Imamura, giving the Kings the 67-63 lead with 26.8 left. It was Lin’s only three-point make all game.
With the win, stretched its perfect Group B run to four games, joining Japan’s Chiba Jets in the semifinals.
The New Taipei victory also spoiled Carl Tamayo’s strong performance for the Golden Kings.
Playing a starting role, Tamayo connected on four triples for 16 points, his most in a Ryukyu uniform across B.League and EASL play.
(B.LEAGUE file photo)
Kenny Manigault led New Taipei with a strong double-double of 16 points and 13 rebounds, while Lin added 15 points and six assists.
The Kings had to dig deep to pull out the win, in a game that got testy late.
After Tamayo's fourth triple put Ryukyu up 58-57 with 3:25 left, Lin and Manigault teamed up for a crucial New Taipei stretch, scoring three straight baskets. With the Kings up 63-60, Ryukyu coach Dai Oketani was called for a technical foul, contesting a supposed non-call on one of their offensive possessions.
With 1:32 remaining, Lin put the Kings up four with the bonus free throw, a cushion New Taipei would need as Ryukyu stayed persistent with its own free throws, cutting the deficit to one inside the final minute, which later set up the "Linsanity" end-game magic.
Aside from Tamayo, Imamura (13 points), Ryuichi Kishimoto (10 points), and Jack Cooley (10 points) scored in double figures for the Golden Kings, who dropped to 2-3 with their second-straight loss.