The Shanghai Sharks extended their remarkable winning streak to 15 games with a commanding 112-81 victory over the Guangzhou Loong Lions at home on Friday in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA).
Shanghai started strong, with Li Tianrong assisting Li Hongquan for a layup that set the pace for an early 11-5 lead. However, Guangzhou responded, and a three-pointer from Yuan Zhaoyao put them ahead by five points.
In a tightly contested match, Kenneth Lofton Jr. tied the score at 63-63 with a second-chance layup. The former NBA forward then connected with Wang Zhelin, whose layup gave the Sharks a two-point advantage later in the second quarter.
Li Tianrong was pivotal in extending Shanghai’s lead, nailing a corner three-pointer to put them up by 23 points. Eric Bledsoe assisted him for another triple, contributing to Li’s career-high 31 points in the game.
Yuan Tangwen’s long-range three-pointer further increased the home side’s lead to 27. Maintaining their momentum, the Sharks secured a resounding 31-point victory, leaving them sitting in 12th place in the standings despite their impressive winning streak.
Elsewhere, the first-placed Guangsha Lions dominated the second-placed Shanxi Loongs with a 111-78 home victory. Despite an early surge from Shanxi, led by Brandon Goodwin’s pair of layups that gave the visitors a nine-point lead in the second quarter, Guangsha turned the tide.
Barry Brown Jr. was instrumental for the Lions, sinking a long-distance three-pointer to cut the deficit to six. Assisted by Sun Minghui, Brown added another triple, helping the hosts lead 50-41 at halftime.
Brown continued his impressive performance after the break, finishing with a game-high 38 points, including seven three-pointers. Zhao Yanhao’s assist to Josh Carlton for a layup sealed the Lions’ emphatic 33-point victory.
Guangsha’s win marks their sixth consecutive victory and extends their undefeated home record to 16 games. Despite the loss, Shanxi remains in second place in the standings.
Reference(s):
CBA: Shanghai claims 15th straight win, Guangsha defeats Shanxi
cgtn.com
