The Xinjiang Flying Tigers soared to a resounding 125-105 victory over the reigning champions, the Liaoning Flying Leopards, on Wednesday night in Urumqi, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. This triumph not only delighted the home crowd but also ended a 10-game losing streak against their formidable rivals in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA).
From the tip-off, Xinjiang displayed unwavering determination. They quickly established a 14-7 lead in the first quarter, but Liaoning remained in close pursuit. Zhang Zhenlin inspired the visitors by sinking two consecutive three-pointers, narrowing Xinjiang’s advantage to 23-20. While Quentin Peterson responded with a smooth jumper to keep Xinjiang ahead, Dez Wells answered back with a deep three, leveling the score at 25-25 by the end of the quarter.
In the second quarter, Xinjiang intensified their offensive efforts. Capitalizing on a nearly two-minute scoring drought from Liaoning, the home team expanded their lead through precise shots from beyond the arc, taking a 45-35 advantage. Despite Liaoning’s timeout and strategic adjustments, Peterson proved unstoppable, consistently making jumpers and pushing Xinjiang’s lead to an impressive 65-47 by halftime.
Liaoning mounted a spirited comeback in the third quarter, outscoring Xinjiang 32-21. Wells’ successful free throws saw the visitors tie the game at 73-73. However, Xinjiang’s Qi Lin stepped up in the final minutes, draining two pivotal three-pointers that ensured an 86-79 lead heading into the final quarter.
The fourth quarter belonged to Zhao Rui, who emerged as Xinjiang’s hero by scoring all 14 of his points in this decisive period. His dominant performance helped the Flying Tigers rapidly extend their lead to double digits, sealing the game beyond Liaoning’s reach.
“Although we won the game, I think we still need to recognize the mistakes we made on the court so that we can make targeted improvements next time we play against each other,” Zhao Rui shared with CGTN Sports Scene’s Liu Jiaqi after the victory.
Liaoning’s head coach, Yang Ming, acknowledged Xinjiang’s evolution this season, stating, “Under the guidance of Liu Wei, Xinjiang’s tough style of play, especially in rebounding, defense, and transition, is indeed very unique. It can also be seen that this change has not been made by other teams.”
This victory marks a significant milestone for Xinjiang as they break a long-standing losing streak against Liaoning, signaling a potential shift in the balance of power within the CBA.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
