Samsung Beats Defending Champions LG to Extend Opening Win Streak to Four Games

Seoul Samsung has extended its winning streak to four games at the start of the season after defeating championship contender Changwon LG.

Samsung defeated LG 93-86 in their home game of the 2026-2027 KCC Professional Basketball regular season at Jamsil Student Gymnasium in Seoul on October 15.

With this victory, Samsung has secured sole possession of first place, extending its unbeaten run to four games since the opening of the season.

Following previous wins over Suwon KT, Anyang JungKwanJang, and Goyang Sono, Samsung's four-game winning streak—culminating in today's victory over LG—marks a milestone achieved for the first time in 23 years since the 2003-2004 season.

This momentum completely breaks the team's long-running stigma of being the perennial bottom-feeder, having finished in last place (10th) for five consecutive seasons from the 2021-2022 season until last season.

On the other hand, LG went into the away match dealing with the blow of key foreign player Assem Marei being sidelined due to an eye injury, falling to its second consecutive loss.

With a season record of 2 wins and 3 losses, LG is now tied for fifth place alongside Busan KCC and Daegu KOGAS Pegasus.

Samsung took the early initiative in the game.

In the first quarter, Kerem Kanter poured in 14 points, while Han Ho-bin sparked the team's momentum by sinking a deep 3-pointer.

However, pursued by LG's fierce counterattack led by Archie Goodwin, Samsung finished the first quarter ahead by just 1 point at 22-21.

The momentum shifted at the start of the second quarter.

LG scored 7 consecutive points early in the quarter, followed by 5 straight points including a 3-pointer by Carl Tamayo, quickly pulling ahead to 33-24.

While Samsung faltered with consecutive turnovers, LG's firepower led by Goodwin and Tamayo shone, finishing the first half with a 48-41 lead.

However, Samsung mounted a counterattack right at the start of the third quarter, fueled by an advantage in rebounds.

Sparked by four free throws from Kanter, Samsung shut out LG's offense completely while unleashing 11 unanswered points to overturn the game to 56-52 in a flash.

LG closed the gap to 65-64 near the end of the quarter thanks to Yang Joon-seok's perimeter shot, but Samsung fended them off with 5 straight points to end the third quarter leading 70-64.

In the final fourth quarter, the game's momentum fluctuated wildly as Samsung was rattled by successive turnovers.

LG successfully turned the game around to 75-74 with 6 minutes and 11 seconds left in regulation, as Yang Hong-seok hit two 3-pointers in the fourth quarter alone.

Samsung's Lee Geun-hwi immediately answered with a 3-pointer to retake the lead, but Yang Joon-seok stole the ball following another Samsung turnover and connected it to Yang Hong-seok for a paint score, tying the game back up at 77-77 with 4 minutes and 8 seconds remaining.

In the tense tie game, the side that showed greater closing grit was Samsung.

Kanter successfully converted a crucial and-one play to widen the gap again to 82-78, and consecutive perimeter shots by Lee Kwan-hee with 2 minutes and 8 seconds left in the game put them ahead 88-82.

As LG faltered by missing three free throws over the span of about a minute, Lee Geun-hwi sank a 3-pointer with 1 minute and 13 seconds left on the clock to make it 91-83, all but sealing the victory.

On this day, Kanter dominated the court by scoring 42 points—breaking his personal record for most points in a single game—alongside 14 rebounds and 6 assists.

Chris McCullough also contributed to the win by posting a double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds.

Meanwhile, LG's Archie Goodwin (34 points), Carl Tamayo (24 points), and Yang Hong-seok (18 points) put up a valiant fight, but it was in vain as the team lost.

(Photo: Provided by KBL, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.