BASKETBALL/New Taipei Kings' Jeremy Lin, Lee Kai-yan out for 1st time this season

Taipei, Jan. 6 (CNA) The New Taipei Kings will have to navigate Saturday's road game against the league-leading Formosa Dreamers without mainstays Jeremy Lin (林書豪) and Lee Kai-yan (李愷諺), who are both out for the first time this season through injury.

The former NBA combo guard will not be registered in the game at Changhua County Gymnasium starting at 2:30 p.m. due to discomfort in the left ankle, the Kings told a media event at noon, describing it as a "day-to-day" injury.

The Kings played three games in five days between Dec. 30, 2023, and Wednesday, including two P.LEAGUE+ (PLG) games at Xinzhuang Gymnasium and an East Asia Super League (EASL) matchup against the Meralco Bolts in Metro Manila.

In the Philippines, point guard Lee Kai-yan (李愷諺) also suffered a knee injury that ruled out for Saturday, the franchise added.

Although the Kings are one of the most talented teams in the PLG, their reliance on the two is notable.

As of Friday, Lin, who leads the Kings in scoring with 21.8 points per game, is one of the three Kings who played all 12 PLG games and three EASL games.

The 35-year-old veteran, the fifth oldest on his team, averaged nearly 34.5 minutes per PLG game to top his team and was on the floor for a total of 98 minutes and 58 seconds over the past three games.

Lee, who has not missed a single game as of Friday either, played nearly 31 minutes per game, the fifth most on the team.

The Kings are currently placed second with an 8-4 record, but the team lost four of its past five PLG games and is on a three-game skid.

The pair's absence on Saturday will put New Taipei's backcourt to the test, demanding a third player coming off the bench to fill the gap when Kenny Manigault or Joseph Lin (林書緯) is not on the court.

The Kings are 3-1 on the road this season, while the Dreamers, seeking to tie the PLG winning streak record of 10 on Saturday, are 4-1 at home going into Saturday's game.

In their sole match this season on Dec. 24, 2023, in New Taipei, the Dreamers defeated the Kings 120-104.

Update

Jan. 10: New Taipei Kings advance to EASL Final four on Jeremy Lin's clutch three