Professional basketball’s Wonju DB upset title favorite Busan KCC, a team often referred to as a “super team,” to win its opening three games in a row.

DB defeated KCC 101-90 in a home game of the 2023-2024 regular season at Wonju General Gymnasium on the 28th.

After knocking off Goyang Sono and Changwon LG in the opening round, DB defeated KCC, the “No. 1 favorite” in the home opener, to win three straight games and move into a tie for first place with Ulsan Hyundai Mobis.

The victory was even more meaningful as the retirement ceremony of ‘one-club man’ Yoon Ho-young, who played his entire professional career in a DB uniform from 2008 to last season, was held at halftime.

On the other hand, KCC, which showed off the majesty of its luxury corps by defeating Seoul Samsung in its first game in its new home city of Busan on the 22nd, was unable to extend its winning streak and went 1-1.

KCC’s fast-paced offense, led by Alize DeShawn Johnson, opened up a double-digit lead in the first quarter.

After four 3-pointers in the first quarter by Chung Chang-young, KCC jumped out to a 32-17 lead, and Heo Woong and Lee Geun-hwi were hot in the second quarter, giving KCC a 49-31 lead with 3:20 left.

However, DB, led by Dedrick Lawson, fought back at the end of the first half to cut the deficit to 10 points, 44-54, midway through the third quarter, but back-to-back baskets by Lawson and Minsoo Seok to cut the deficit to 59-65 set the tone for the rest of the quarter.

With Lawson and Johnson trading baskets, the score was 76-71 in favor of KCC at the end of the third quarter.

DB scored the first points of the fourth quarter in a full-blown seesaw game, with Lee Albano scoring on a breakaway layup to tie the game at 83-83 with 7:03 left, and Lawson scoring off an offensive rebound with 6:16 to go to make it 85-83.

After a series of unsuccessful offensive attempts by Johnson, who was locked in by the opponent’s cooperative defense, DB went up 93-83 with 4:20 left on a three-pointer by Kang Sang-jae and a three-point play by Albano.

KCC then pulled Johnson and inserted LaGuernea to try to put out the fire, but could not reverse the momentum.

Lawson poured in 38 points and 10 rebounds, followed by Kang with 20 points, seven assists and six rebounds and Albano with 18 points and nine assists.

For KCC, Johnson led the way with 23 points and 21 rebounds, but was unable to escape the blame for the loss as he committed six turnovers.

Last season’s unified champions Anyang won 63-59 on the road against Suwon KT.

It was the first win of the season for the team, which was swept by Seoul SK in its official opening game on Nov. 21.

Lenz Abando’s 11 points were the team’s top scorer, but nine players scored in double figures to share the win.

Despite Paris Bass’ 28 points and 15 rebounds, it wasn’t enough for KT, who fell to 1-2 on the season, including their second straight loss.

Moon Sung-gon, who switched to KT’s jersey as a free agent after leading Chung Kwan-jang to the championship last season, was absent due to a sore leg muscle, making the matchup between the two teams a “Moon Sung-gon Derby without Moon Sung-gon”.

At Daegu Gymnasium, LG defeated Daegu KOGAS 92-83 to record its first win after three straight losses to open the season.

Asem Marei recorded a double-double with 20 points and 14 rebounds, while transfer Yang Hong-seok added 15 points, including four 3-pointers, and Justin Gutang chipped in 12 points.

Gasworks fell to their second straight loss, unable to capitalize on Andrew Nicholson’s 31-point, 10-rebound performance. 스포츠토토