By Kang Seung-woo
Staff Reporter
The Dream defeated the Magic 138-127 in the Korean Basketball League (KBL) All-Star Game Sunday.
In a star-studded match at Jamsil Student Gymnasium in Seoul, Daegu Orions power forward Lee Dong-joon scored 27 points, including nine points in the final quarter, and grabbed six rebounds on his way to the Most Valuable Player (MVP).
The 29-year-old also added four assists and two steals.
Adding another victory, the Dream is on a three-game winning streak.
Since the teams were divided by regional locations ― East and West in 2004, the Dream, comprised of Eastern sides ― the Dongbu Promy, Ulsan Mobis, LG Sakers, KTF MagicWings and the Orions, has held a 3-2 edge over the Magic, for which the Samsung Thunders, SK Knights, ET Land BlackSlamer, KT&G Kites and KCC Egis play.
Promy forward Kim Joo-sung, a reigning All-Star Game MVP, was selected as a starter, but a sore ankle limited him to playing just 24 seconds after the tip-off.
Despite a loss of its key player, the Dream took early command of the game.
Lee's dunk put his side ahead of 21-14 and Promy import Wendell White, Kim's replacement in the game, hit a three-pointer to make it 33-22.
Midway through the second quarter with the Dream up 50-34, the Magic started its charge with a stingy defense.
They held the Dream scoreless, while putting up 15 points on four each from Kites guards Joo Hee-jung and Yang Hee-jong to pull within one point.
In addition, 2.21-meter Egis center Ha Seung-jin, a former Portland Trail Blazer in the National Basketball Association (NBA), made a shot from beyond the arc to make it 53-52.
After finishing the hard-fought first half 63-62, Ha delivered a dunk to give the Magic an 67-65 advantage, but the opponents did not sit back and tied it at 81 and re-gained an 87-81 lead thanks to Sakers foreign player Brandon Crump six consecutive points.
In the final period, the Dream's offense never loosened up, as Sakers forward Cho Sang-hyun drained three 3-point shots to put his squad, headed by Promy head coach Chung Chang-jin, ahead for good.
Mobis guard Kim Hyo-bum stole the spotlight as the No. 2 pick in the 2005 draft won both slam dunk contest and three-point shootout.
White also became the No. 1 slam-dunk on the imports' side after beating out Terrence Shannon of the Knights.
The KBL will resume its schedule on Feb. 10.