Kings fight off Knights to emerge victorious in EASL debut

November 8, 2023 – Xinzhuang Gymnasium, New Taipei City, Chinese Taipei

‍

New Taipei Kings won their East Asia Super League 2023-24 Season debut 90-72, handing Seoul SK Knights their second loss. The Kings’ victory came off the back of a 22-point effort from Kenny Manigault.

‍

‍

Post-game triple

1. Linsanity was contained, Manigault was not

Former NBA star Jeremy Lin made his Kings debut this evening. But the Knights’ defense showed Lin up, as he turned the ball over six times and shot a disappointing 35 percent from the field. He finished the game with 12 points, nine dimes, and eight boards.

By contrast, Lin’s teammate Kenny Manigault was electrifying. As the Kings were trailing in the second quarter, Manigault picked off a pass and wowed the crowd with an incredible windmill dunk. That was one of his five steals of the game, as he finished with a 22-point, 11-rebound double-double.

2. Warney: SK’s lone soldier

Seoul SK Knights center Jameel Warney was a force to be reckoned with, unleashing a 45-point barrage on the Kings.

Unfortunately for SK, he was the only Knight their opponents could not contain. Warney outscored the rest of his team 45-27.

While the American import went 18 for 35, for 51 percent from the field, the rest of his team went 11 for 35, for 31 percent.

3. Joseph outshines Jeremy

While all eyes were on Jeremy Lin, his younger brother Joseph made a bigger impact in this game.

Joseph, entering his second season with the team, was one point off the team-high with 21 points. He was also lethal from deep, going five of seven from beyond the arc, while also adding six dimes and two swipes in the game.

‍

EASL Player of the Game: Kenny Manigault, New Taipei Kings

Kenny Manigault was the EASL Player of the Game after recording a team-high 22 points, hitting 60 percent from the field, while adding 11 rebounds and five steals.

Manigault showcased his all-around game this evening, just as he did last season in the P. LEAGUE+. That last P. LEAGUE+ campaign saw him becoming just the twelfth player in professional basketball history to record a quadruple-double in a game.

‍

‍

Stats of the day

The New Taipei Kings shot the ball incredibly well, going 54 percent from the field.

Their Korean counterparts had a different story. Seoul SK Knights came out flying, hitting 62 percent of their shots in the first quarter. But it went downhill from there, as the team shot 35 percent in the second, 37 percent in the third, and a dismal 25 percent in the final frame, finishing the game on 41 percent.

‍

Post-game press conference

‍

Next games: 

New Taipei Kings: home vs. Meralco Bolts (November 29)

Seoul SK Knights: away vs. Meralco Bolts (December 27)

‍