What Happened 

The New Taipei Kings defeated the Changwon LG Sakers 93–87 at Xinzhuang Gymnasium to sweep the season series against the reigning KBL champions and improve to 2-2. The Kings climb to second place in Group C, while LG stays at the bottom at 0–3.

The Sakers kept it close through three quarters but were outscored 21–16 in the final frame, ending any hopes of a comeback. Despite winning the rebounding battle 39–28, LG could not cash in on its second-chance looks and hurt itself with 16 turnovers.

New Taipei, playing without starting point guard and EASL all-time assists leader Joseph Lin, delivered arguably its best team performance of the season, racking up a season-high 27 assists. That ball movement powered 20-point nights from imports Sani Sakakini, Austin Daye, and Jayden Gardner. Sakakini also joined elite company again, becoming just the fourth player in EASL history to reach 100 rebounds, after hitting the 200-point mark in his previous outing against the Xac Broncos on November 1. 

For LG, Assem Marei turned in another big game with 19 points and 16 rebounds, while Michael Eric posted a team-high 21 points. To their credit, the Sakers stayed competitive despite missing their starting backcourt of Yu Ki Sang and Yang Jun Seok, and with star import Carl Tamayo listed but not seeing the floor.

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What It Means

New Taipei’s win tonight means they’re currently in a spot to qualify for the Final 6 yet only have two more EASL games to play, becoming the second-quickest team in the 2025-26 season to reach four games played behind the Meralco Bolts. 

For Changwon LG, a third straight loss doesn’t mean that they’re out of contention for the postseason yet, but they’re the first team this season to lose three straight. Now, at the midway point of the season and 0-3, another loss for the Sakers could very well mean that their season could potentially end there. 

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EASL Player of the Game: Lee Kai Yan 

Lee Kai Yan’s 13 points led all locals on the night, and his nine assists were a game high in New Taipei’s win. Making his fourth consecutive start of the 2025-26 season, Lee finished one point shy of his season high while tying the second-most assists in a single EASL game this year.

The highlight of Lee’s night came late in the third quarter with LG leading 71-69. After grabbing an outlet pass off a Michael Eric miss, the NTK guard went coast to coast, absorbed contact at the rim, and finished for an and-one, then sank the free throw. The three-point play put New Taipei ahead 73-72 going into the final period, a lead it held for the rest of the game.

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Super Statistic: 27 

New Taipei’s 27 assists on the night marked a single-game EASL season high by a team, tying the reigning B.LEAGUE champions Utsunomiya Brex, who had 27 in their 97-89 win over the Seoul SK Knights on Oct. 22.

Lee Kai Yan led all players with nine assists on a night where three Kings finished with five or more. Lin Yan Ting had six, Jayden Gardner dished five, and Sani Sakakini and Austin Daye combined for seven.

New Taipei moved the ball quickly to find open shooters and fed its big men well around the rim. The standout dime came early in the first half when Daye fired a football-style pass downcourt to Gardner for a two-handed slam. It was some of the Kings’ best team basketball all season, helping them bounce back from a road loss and get back to .500.

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Next Up 

New Taipei and LG’s contest was the final EASL game before the FIBA international break. League action resumes on December 6 with a doubleheader, featuring one game in the Philippines and another back at Xinzhuang Gymnasium.

New Taipei returns to the floor at home that day against Mongolia’s Xac Broncos, looking to even the season series at 1-1 after falling at M Bank Arena in Ulaanbaatar on November 1.

LG’s next outing comes on December 9, also against the Xac Broncos, in what will be the Sakers’ first home game since their season opener on October 30.