Joseph Lin Drops 23 as Kings Sink DEA to Stay in TPBL Playoff Hunt

NEW TAIPEI, May 5 (CNA) — The New Taipei Kings defeated the CTBC DEA 102-86 in the TPBL postseason play-in series at Xinzhuang Gymnasium on Wednesday, fueled by Joseph Lin''s 23-point performance. Lin''s stellar night was capped by a long-range three-pointer with 94 seconds remaining, helping the Kings secure the victory and keep their playoff hopes alive. Following the conclusion of the Taiwan Professional Basketball League (TPBL) regular season, the top three teams automatically qualified for the playoffs, while the fourth and fifth seeds compete in a best-of-three play-in series, with the higher seed starting with a one-game advantage. Facing a must-win situation, the Kings dominated early with a strong defensive effort, leading 24-14 after the first quarter and maintaining a narrow 47-45 lead at halftime. Although the lead narrowed to just one point after three quarters, CTBC DEA''s shooting faltered in the final period, hitting only 3 of 17 three-point attempts. Lin''s heroics sealed the deal, including a remarkable one-handed long-range shot with his non-dominant right hand near the half-court line as the shot clock expired. Lin finished with a team-high 23 points, nine assists, and seven rebounds without a single turnover. Hsieh Ya-hsuan led CTBC DEA with 28 points, while Nemanja Radovic contributed 14 points and 13 rebounds. The two teams will meet again tomorrow to decide the final postseason berth.