The Xinjiang Flying Tigers soared to a 95-86 victory over the Qingdao Eagles in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) Club Cup game held in Qingdao, east China’s Shandong Province, on Saturday.
The match began with both teams exchanging leads multiple times in a fiercely contested first quarter, which concluded with Qingdao holding a narrow 27-23 advantage.
At the outset of the second quarter, Xinjiang faced a setback when starting guard Zhao Rui exited the game due to an ankle injury. This was Zhao’s second appearance since returning from injuries that have limited his playtime since joining the team in 2023. Despite his brief stint of less than five minutes, during which he scored three points, Zhao’s departure did not deter the Flying Tigers.
Demonstrating resilience, Xinjiang outscored Qingdao 30-18 in the second quarter, seizing a 53-48 lead by halftime. The momentum remained with the visitors as they embarked on a 12-0 run in the third quarter, extending their lead to 16 points at 80-64 by the end of the period.
Qingdao launched a spirited comeback in the fourth quarter, capitalizing on a scoring drought by Xinjiang to narrow the deficit to 87-84. However, the Flying Tigers quickly regrouped and responded with a decisive 15-0 run.
In the final moments, Xinjiang’s Qin Lin and QJ Peterson sealed the victory by completing a four-point and a three-point play, respectively, ensuring the team maintained their dominance in the tournament.
Reference(s):
Xinjiang Flying Tigers reject comeback efforts by Qingdao Eagles
cgtn.com
