“Common Sense Magic”: Samsung Has Truly Transformed, Riding an Unstoppable Six-Game Winning Streak... Rout KCC 97-86

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

Under head coach Kim Sang-sik, Seoul Samsung has maintained its sole top spot by riding an unstoppable six-game winning streak. Samsung, which demonstrated stable strength in both offense and defense, defeated the formidable Busan KCC to continue its unbeaten run since the season opener.

On the 21st, at a home game in Round 1 of the 2026-2027 KCC Pro Basketball regular season held at Jamsil Student Gymnasium, Samsung defeated Busan KCC 97-86.

Samsung, which has remained unbeaten since the opener, is on a six-game winning streak and is running away in sole first place with a record of six wins and no losses. Meanwhile, KCC recorded two wins and five losses.

On this day, Kerem Kanter became the primary contributor to the victory by completely dominating the paint with 30 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and four steals. Lee Gwan-hee led the perimeter with 17 points, including three three-pointers, along with four rebounds and four assists, while Lee Gyu-tae (15 points, three rebounds, two assists) and Chris McCullar (15 points, seven rebounds) also contributed double-digit scoring. On the other hand, although Louis King (21 points) and Sean Long (21 points, 15 rebounds) fought hard for KCC, the poor shooting from outside by Heo Woong (11 points, 1-of-7 from three-point range) and Heo Hoon (13 points, seven assists, 1-of-6 from three-point range) proved costly.

Samsung seized the initiative with perimeter shooting right from the start of the game. Early in the contest, Lee Gwan-hee received a pass from Han Ho-bin to hit the opening three-pointer, and Lee Gyu-tae added another shot from outside to give Samsung a 6-2 lead. As KCC responded with a basket by Jang Jae-seok and a three-pointer by Yoon Gi-chan, Lee Gwan-hee answered with his second three-pointer. When KCC took a 13-9 lead through Sean Long’s inside attack and free throws, Samsung flipped the game back to an 18-16 advantage as consecutive three-pointers by Choi Sung-mo, Lee Gyu-tae, and Lee Gwan-hee found their way into the hoop. Following that, Samsung pulled away with free throws by Kanter and a fast-break layup by Justin Gutong, and finished the first quarter ahead after adding inside baskets by Choi Sung-mo and McCullar near the end of the period.

In the second quarter, KCC’s pursuit intensified. Following scores by Heo Hoon and Heo Woong, King hit consecutive jumpers to close in on Samsung. Although Samsung tried to break the momentum with baskets by Gutong and Han Ho-bin, KCC took a 35-34 lead through outside shots by Kim Dong-hyeon and King.

After ceding the lead, Samsung immediately reclaimed it with a dunk by McCullar, and tied the game at 39-39 with a three-pointer by McCullar. Subsequently, Kanter’s inside basket and consecutive dunks by McCullar followed, and Kanter added four more points in a row to widen the gap again. As KCC closed in with a dunk by Sean Long and a late three-pointer by King, the first half ended with Samsung holding a narrow lead.

Early in the third quarter, KCC closed the gap with a three-pointer by Kim Dong-hyeon, but Samsung put out the fire with a three-pointer by Lee Gyu-tae off a pass from Choi Sung-mo. Following that, Samsung widened the margin with a two-point shot by Lee Gyu-tae off a pass from McCullar and a fast break following a steal by Kanter. Samsung did not miss opportunities from opponent errors, steadily adding points through a mid-range shot by Lee Gwan-hee, an inside finish by Lee Gyu-tae, free throws by Choi Sung-mo, and consecutive inside shots by Kanter. Although KCC countered with scores by King and Yoon Gi-chan, Samsung ended the third quarter with a double-digit lead after McCullar scored inside off a pass from Kanter just before the end of the period.

Early in the fourth quarter, as Samsung opened the scoring with a fast-break dunk by Lee Gyu-tae, KCC narrowed the gap to eight points through consecutive scores by Sean Long and Heo Woong, along with an inside shot by Jang Jae-seok. In the crisis, Han Ho-bin hit a two-point shot, and after a steal by Kanter, Gutong scored consecutively inside to widen the gap again. Subsequently, a dunk by Gutong and a three-pointer by Kanter went through the hoop in succession, securing the winning momentum. KCC attempted a final counterattack with a three-pointer by Heo Hoon and a dunk by Sean Long, but Samsung protected its lead with free-throw points by Kanter and defensive rebounds to finish the game 97-86.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original