In a thrilling game on Tuesday night, the Jiangsu Dragons snapped their six-game losing streak by defeating the Tianjin Pioneers 99-93 in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province. The victory brought much-needed relief to the Dragons and their fans as they look to climb up the standings in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA).
Jiangsu started strong, with James Thompson dominating the paint and propelling the home team to a 21-10 lead halfway through the first quarter. However, Tianjin's Lin Ting-Chien electrified the court by knocking down four three-pointers in the quarter, sparking a 17-5 run that allowed the Pioneers to seize the lead. Thompson and Li Chengyao responded for the Dragons, combining for seven points in the final minute to ensure a narrow lead at 30-27 by the end of the first quarter.
The closely contested battle continued into the second quarter. Thompson and Franklin Jackson served as the main offensive weapons for Jiangsu, while Lin, Zheng Haoran, and Marcus LoVett Jr. kept Tianjin within striking distance. The Pioneers trailed by just one point at halftime, with the score at 52-51 in favor of the Dragons.
Tianjin's offensive rhythm faltered midway through the third quarter. After Lin tied the game at 66-66 with a jumper, the Pioneers managed only one field goal—a layup by Zheng—while Jiangsu seized the opportunity to outscore them 11-2. This surge gave the Dragons a nine-point advantage heading into the final quarter, leading 77-68.
Jiangsu extended their lead in the fourth quarter, with multiple players contributing to a maximum 14-point cushion. Despite a late rally by Tianjin, where Zheng and Lin combined to hit three consecutive three-pointers in the final 30 seconds, the Dragons held on to secure the win. The Pioneers' efforts were not enough to prevent their 24th loss of the season.
In another matchup on Tuesday, the Shandong Hi-Speed Kirin defeated the Ningbo Rockets 112-102 in Jinan, east China's Shandong Province. This victory extended Ningbo's losing streak to ten games. Shandong built a commanding lead early on, at one point ahead by 25 points with a 63-38 advantage before halftime.
Despite a standout performance from Ningbo's American guard Ronald March, who scored a season-high 60 points—including seven three-pointers and 13 free throws—the Rockets could not overcome the deficit. Shandong's balanced attack and solid defense kept Ningbo at bay throughout the game.
With this victory, Shandong climbed to second place in the league standings, trailing only the Guangsha Lions. The team looks to maintain their momentum as the season progresses, eyeing a strong position heading into the playoffs.
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Jiangsu Dragons beat Tianjin Pioneers to end six-game losing streak
cgtn.com
