Riding Lin "The Beast" Chih-jeh's newfound three-point shooting touch on a 9-for-14 night, Taiwan Beer outscored the Bank of Taiwan in a 119-115 shootout at the Taipei Physical Education College Gymnasium on Saturday for its second straight 100-plus point game.
After a late-season slump that saw Lin's usually point production fall from 25.6 points per game (PPG) during his first 24 games to just 15 PPG over a recent three-game stretch, which clearly cost him a chance to win his third straight scoring title, the brewers icon rose to the occasion to help deliver the crucial victory.
The high-scoring affair began with both teams sticking to their normal half-court offense that ended the first quarter in a 28-21 Taiwan Beer lead. Then came an unstoppable beer run of 40 points resulting in a commanding 68-45 first-half lead, in which Lin was 4-for-4 from beyond the arc.
PHOTO COURTESY OF SBL
Thirty-eight third-quarter points by the bankers against mostly Taiwan Beer reserve players cut the Taiwan Beer lead to as little as seven points before the brew crew once again kicked it up a notch.
Several scoring records were shattered during the contest with the combined scoring of 234 topping the previous high of 224, which was set in an overtime bankers' win (114-110) over the Taiwan Beer on Feb. 26.
The brewers's 40 points in the second quarter also beat out the previous single-quarter scoring mark of 38 that had been shared by the bankers and the Yulon Dinos.
Taiwan Beer's 68 first-half points and the bankers' 70 second-half points also cleared previous league highs in single-half scoring.
Player of the Week winner Jien Ming-fu of the Bank of Taiwan led his team with 23 points, nine assists, five rebounds and four steals in another fine all-around effort, even though the bankers failed to come up with the win.
Antelopes 88, Hunters 67
The hunted became the hunters in Saturday night's second game as the ETTV Antelopes out-hustled the Videoland Hunters during the second half to claim an 88-67 win in both team's final regular-season game.
After an evenly fought first half that had the Antelopes clinging to a 40-36 lead, the streaky wild creatures suddenly turned loose in the third quarter on a 14-0 run to build a 19-point cushion.
Veteran point guard Chou Jung-san turned in his best performance of the season with 14 points and a game-high seven assists.
NBA
Dwight Howard scored a season-high 28 points and grabbed a career-high 26 rebounds to lift Orlando over Philadelphia 102-97 Saturday, keeping the Magic's playoff hopes alive and further damaging the 76ers'.
Allen Iverson had 36 points and five assists, while Chris Webber added 20 points and 11 rebounds for the 76ers.
Philadelphia has lost two in a row, falling 1 1/2 games behind idle Chicago with two to play. The win was the Magic's eighth in a row overall and 12th straight at home, and leaves them 2 1/2 games behind the Bulls. The Magic have two games left and the Bulls have three.
Jameer Nelson had 21 points and eight assists for Orlando, while Turkoglu added 23 points.
Bobcats 92, Pacers 91
At Charlotte, North Carolina, Primoz Brezec scored 18 points, including the basket that forced overtime, and Alan Anderson hit a free throw with 59 seconds left in the extra period to Charlotte the win.
The Pacers still clinched a playoff berth when Philadelphia lost to Orlando.
Raymond Felton added 16 points and 13 assists as the Bobcats won their second straight game.
Jermaine O'Neal had 30 points and eight rebounds, while Peja Stojakovic and Stephen Jackson each had 18 points for the Pacers, who lost their ninth straight road game.
Grizzlies 93, Rockets 81
At Houston, Mike Miller scored 25 points, Shane Battier hit his first eight shots and added 19, and Memphis completed the franchise's first season sweep of Houston.
Pau Gasol added 16 points and 10 rebounds for playoff-bound Memphis, which won for the sixth time in seven games.
Juwan Howard scored 16 points on 5-for-18 shooting for the Rockets, who've dropped seven of their last eight as they limp to the end of their injury-ravaged season.
With two games left, Houston is already assured of its worst record since the 2001-2002 team finished 28-54. The Rockets' home record fell to 15-25, their most losses at home since 1982-1983, when they lost 32 during a 14-68 season.
Hawks 120, Bucks 114
At Milwaukee, Josh Smith scored a career-high 28 points and Marvin Williams added 19 for Atlanta, but Milwaukee qualified for the playoffs despite the loss.
Atlanta snapped an 11-game road losing streak by getting 16 points from Zaza Pachulia, 15 points each from Donta Smith and Joe Johnson, and 14 from Tyronn Lue.
The Hawks overcame Andrew Bogut's career-high 24 points to go with 12 rebounds. Michael Redd scored 36 points, Bobby Simmons 18 and Charlie Bell 10 as Milwaukee made the playoffs just before halftime when Orlando beat Philadelphia 102-97 earlier in the night.
The Bucks can still earn the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference if they win all their remaining games -- home against Detroit on Monday and at Washington on Tuesday.
Kings 100, Nuggets 82
At Denver, Mike Bibby scored 23 points and Sacramento downed Denver to inch closer to its eighth straight playoff berth.
Kenny Thomas added 18 points for Sacramento, which moved 1 1/2 games ahead of Utah for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. A win in the Kings' final two games or a loss by Utah, which has three games left, will secure the playoff spot for Sacramento.
Ruben Patterson scored 20 points to lead the Nuggets, who trailed the entire second half despite the returns of Kenyon Martin (knee) and Marcus Camby (back).
Warriors 86, Trail Blazers 81
At Portland, Oregon, Ike Diogu had 15 points and eight rebounds to lead short-handed Golden State past Portland. Juan Dixon and Martell Webster each scored 17 points for the Blazers, who have lost 17 of their last 18 games and have the worst record in the NBA.
Andris Biedrins had 14 points and 10 rebounds and Mike Dunleavy added 12 points, seven rebounds and five assists for the Warriors, who have won three straight but are in last place in the Pacific Division.
The Major League Baseball World Series trophy is headed to Los Angeles, but the party is extending all the way to Japan. People milled around local train stations yesterday morning in Tokyo as newspaper extras were ready to roll off the presses, proclaiming Japanese stars Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto as world champions along with their Dodgers teammates after a stirring Game 5 victory over the New York Yankees. The 30-year-old is a national hero in Japan whose face adorns billboards and TV adverts all over the country. Ohtani this year became the first player in history to hit 50 home runs and
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