The New Taipei Kings cruised past the Ryukyu Golden Kings 99-63 at XinZhuang Gymnasium on Wednesday. Despite losing the first matchup between the two teams on Christmas Day, New Taipei bounced back in impressive fashion, taking control with a dominant second and third quarter to secure the win.

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Jeremy Lin led the charge with a game-high 26 points, supported by three other Kings players scoring in double figures. New Taipei shot an impressive 55.2% from the field, while Ryukyu struggled, finishing with a season-low 34.9%. Although the teams were only separated by seven points after the first quarter, New Taipei extended its lead to 39-22 by halftime and maintained a comfortable advantage throughout the second half.

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Post-game Triple 

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Undefeated No More 

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The Ryukyu Golden Kings appeared unbeatable after improving to 4-0 with a victory over the New Taipei Kings on Christmas Day. That win also secured them a Final Four spot, making them the first team in the 2024-25 season to do so. However, everything changed on Wednesday.

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Despite trailing 19-12 in a low-scoring first quarter, Ryukyu faltered in the next two periods and was unable to recover. The team that had previously dominated top clubs from South Korea, the Philippines, and a tough Macau squad appeared unrecognizable, far from its usual dominant form. Even with star imports Jack Cooley and Vic Law combining for 22 points and 19 rebounds, New Taipei was never seriously challenged.

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At the start of the season, Ryukyu appeared to be the team most likely to remain undefeated. While the Golden Kings still lead Group B with a 4-1 record, New Taipei exposed vulnerabilities in the B.LEAGUE powerhouse that can be exploited.

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Daye Steps Up 

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In their second matchup of the season against Ryukyu, New Taipei head coach Ryan Marchand chose to field Austin Daye as one of the team's two imports. This marked Daye's first appearance in East Asia Super League action since Dec. 11, as he had been sidelined in favor of 6-foot-10 center Jason Washburn during New Taipei's Christmas Day game against the Golden Kings.

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While Washburn contributed 15 points and six rebounds in a losing effort at Okinawa Arena, Daye was the standout performer in this game. He scored 22 points on an efficient 66.7% shooting, including five 3-pointers, and grabbed eight rebounds. Whether in transition or off catch-and-shoot opportunities, Daye's shooting was pivotal in securing the win.

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One memorable play came with just three seconds remaining in the third quarter, when New Taipei held a commanding 67-32 lead. Daye drilled a difficult side-step 3-pointer over Ryukyu center Alex Kirk. At that point, with Ryukyu already on the verge of defeat, Daye's shot-making seemed to seal their fate.

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Sakakini, Manigault Remain Reliable

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New Taipei forwards Sani Sakakini and Kenny Manigault Jr. continued their recent string of strong performances against Ryukyu, combining for 33 points and 17 rebounds.

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Manigault Jr., now in his second consecutive EASL season with the Kings, has arguably been the team’s best player. He currently averages 21.7 points, eight rebounds, and an impressive four steals per game. Sakakini, who joined the team as an Asian import in mid-October 2024, has also been a key contributor, averaging 16 points and eight rebounds.

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Although Sakakini and Manigault Jr. may not receive the same attention as stars like Lin or the team’s newly signed import, Jason Washburn, they play a crucial role in the team’s success. Both players are consistently called upon to guard the toughest matchups and bring energy on both ends of the court. With two regular-season games remaining, their performances will be vital as New Taipei makes a final push for the Final Four.

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

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Jeremy Lin was instrumental in New Taipei's crucial victory over Ryukyu on Wednesday. From the opening tip, Lin controlled the game’s pace, making key defensive stops and pushing his team to run the fast break while also knocking down several perimeter shots on offense.

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Lin finished with a game-high 26 points, five rebounds, seven assists, and three steals, earning his second EASL Player of the Game honor this month.

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While Lin had several standout moments in front of the home crowd, one stretch in the third quarter stood out. On two of three consecutive possessions late in the period, Lin used a hesitation dribble to freeze his defenders before calmly sinking two deep 3-pointers — a move reminiscent of his NBA days with the New York Knicks.

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Stat of the Game: 10 

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Ryukyu delivered its worst performance of the season on Wednesday, with several uncharacteristic statistics standing out. The most shocking of these was the Golden Kings' season-low scoring in a single quarter—just 10 points. To make matters worse, they managed only 10 points in two consecutive periods, allowing New Taipei to build an insurmountable lead.

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There were multiple reasons for this offensive collapse. Ryukyu shot a dismal 14.3% from beyond the arc, setting another season-low, surpassing their previous worst of 21.7% against the Busan KCC Egis on Dec. 4. Throughout the game, the Golden Kings' offense was stagnant, recording a season-low 14 assists on made baskets and committing another season-low 17 turnovers.

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Before their struggles against New Taipei, Ryukyu's worst scoring quarter had been 11 points. At one point, it trailed 19-12. But by the time they managed just 20 points across the second and third quarters Ryukyu found itself down 70-32 heading into the fourth. 

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Next Games: 

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New Taipei Kings 

• Away vs. Busan KCC Egis (KBL) — Jan. 21, 2025 

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Ryukyu Golden Kings 

• Away vs. Meralco Bolts (PBA) — Jan. 22, 2025