NEW TAIPEI KINGS GET THEIR FIRST EASL WIN IN MACAU CLASSIC

December 11, 2024 – Studio City Event Center, Macau SAR

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The New Taipei Kings secured their first EASL victory of the season with a commanding 114-95 win over the local favorites, the Macau Black Bears, during the second slate of the 2024 Macau Classic.

The Kings made a statement early, surging to a 33-17 lead after the first quarter. They maintained their momentum, outscoring Macau 35-17 in the third quarter en route to a dominant 19-point victory.

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Former NBA star Jeremy Lin earned his first EASL Player of the Game honors of the season, leading the Kings with 27 points.

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Post-Game Triple:

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1. Revenge is Sweet

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During halftime, New Taipei Kings head coach Ryan Marchand emphasized the importance of this game: “We’re trying to win. In EASL, you probably need to get four wins to move on, so we know we’re in trouble if we lose this game.”

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The Kings were laser-focused from the opening tip, shooting 69% from the field in the first quarter. In contrast, the Black Bears struggled to find their rhythm, shooting a dismal 23% during the opening frame.

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New Taipei never looked back, avenging their previous loss with a decisive 19-point victory.

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2. New Black Bears Disappoint

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The Black Bears introduced new players to their lineup, with Adonis Thomas, Johnny Wang and Lei Cheong making their EASL debuts on Wednesday.

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Head coach Garrett Kelly experimented with different rotations following the departures of key players Jeantal Cylla and Will Artino. Unlike their October victory, when only eight players participated, all 12 active players saw action on Wednesday.

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“We brought in some talent, and they’re just trying to get used to each other,” said Kelly during a halftime interview. “We tried the best we could during practice, but really, you’ve got to do it in front of a great crowd like this and against a really good team. They’re learning on the fly right now.”

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Unfortunately for Macau, the new additions struggled to integrate with the existing roster. Wang and Lei both went scoreless, while Thomas managed just 13 points on 33% shooting.

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3. Efficient night for New Taipei

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The Kings delivered an efficient performance in the Macau Classic.

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After shooting only 47% from the field in their season-opening loss to the Black Bears, the Kings improved significantly, converting 60% of their shots on Wednesday. Five players scored in double digits.

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Jeremy Lin led the charge with 27 points on 54% shooting. Sani Sakakini and Kenny Manigault each added 21 points, while former NBA champion Austin Daye provided a spark off the bench with 16 points on 50% shooting.

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EASL Player of the Game: Jeremy Lin - New Taipei Kings

Fan-favorite Jeremy Lin earned EASL Player of the Game honors after a stellar performance, scoring a team-high 27 points to help the Kings secure their first win of the season.

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Lin set the tone early, scoring 13 points in the first quarter alone. He also contributed in other areas, grabbing a team-high seven rebounds and dishing out six assists.

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Stat of the Game: 48%-24%

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In their first matchup, the Black Bears shot an impressive 51% from 3-point range, while the Kings managed just 20%. This time, the roles reversed.

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The reigning P. LEAGUE+ champions found their shooting touch in Macau, hitting 48% of their threes. Meanwhile, the Black Bears struggled, converting just 24% of their attempts from beyond the arc—a stark 27% difference from their previous encounter.

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2024 P. LEAGUE+ Finals MVP Lee Kai-Yan led the way for the Kings, shooting 3-for-4 from 3-point range for an impressive 75% accuracy.

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Quotes of the Game: 

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Jeremy Lin on helping the Kings get back to the Finals Four:

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“It’s going to be hard. I feel that EASL has gotten better. They also added a fifth team to each group, so for us, we see the competition is getting better and better. And for us, it comes to execution and details. This is high-quality basketball being played and you have the best teams from other leagues, so when it comes to execution, playing against different styles, different imports, different elite players, it just comes down to doing what the coach wants us to do.”

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Jeremy Lin on playing in the Macau Classic in Studio City Macau:

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“I just want to thank everybody for coming out. It wasn’t easy because it was a 9 o’clock game. Thank you everybody for taking the time, the money, to come out. You know, I appreciate it. EASL, for me, has been really special, because it feels like wherever I go, we have the home-court advantage. And we’re here in Macau today as the away team, but I honestly felt like the home team tonight. So thank you to all you fans who came out. I see all of the different jerseys you are wearing. I’m very grateful from the bottom of my heart.

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Next Games:

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Macau Black Bears: Away vs. Busan KCC Egis (KBL) - Jan. 15, 2025

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New Taipei Kings: Away vs. Ryukyu Golden Kings (B.LEAGUE) - Dec. 25, 2024

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