The Liaoning Flying Leopards secured a hard-fought 112-99 victory over the Jilin Northeast Tigers in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) on Wednesday, fueled by a career-defining performance from star guard Zhao Jiwei. The win marks Liaoning’s second consecutive triumph, solidifying their position as playoff contenders.
Zhao Jiwei delivered a masterclass in playmaking, scoring 23 points with seven three-pointers and dishing out nine assists. His efforts catapulted him past former teammate Guo Ailun as Liaoning’s all-time assists leader, setting up 2,581 field goals during his tenure. “He controlled the tempo perfectly,” one analyst noted. “When Zhao is in rhythm, Liaoning becomes unstoppable.”
Jilin fought valiantly, with Dominique Jones dropping a game-high 42 points and Tomas Kyzlink electrifying the second quarter with a steal-and-dunk combo. However, Liaoning’s Kyle Fogg matched Jones’ intensity, and Zhang Zhenlin’s aggressive drives in the third quarter shifted momentum. A decisive 11-3 run led by Zhao in the final quarter sealed Jilin’s fate.
In other CBA action, the league-leading Guangsha Lions edged the Nanjing Monkey Kings 105-98, snapping a two-game skid. Nanjing’s Barry Brown Jr. exploded for 38 points in a losing effort.
