Despite the absence of Jeff Newton from the lineup on Sunday, the Ryukyu Golden Kings earned a series split in the season-opening battle of the bj-league's Western Conference powers.
Big man George Leach, acquired in the offseason to give the team more depth at center, scored 24 points and pulled down nine rebounds to lead Ryukyu to an 81-74 win over Osaka at the Okinawa Convention Center.
Newton, the league's 2008-09 regular-season and playoff MVP, played 34 minutes in Saturday's six-point loss to Osaka. He sprained his ankle early in the game, but true to his tough demeanor he remained in the contest. On Sunday, Newton sat on the bench, getting a closeup view of the teams with all of the bj-league's championships: Osaka (three, 2005-06, 2006-07 and 2007-08) and Ryukyu (one, last season).