In a thrilling CBA showdown, the Shanghai Sharks pulled off a stunning 92-88 victory over the league-leading Guangsha Lions on Friday, handing their rivals their first consecutive losses this season. The game, held at Shanghai's home court, saw standout performances from Li Tianrong and NBA veteran Kenneth Lofton Jr., who combined early to establish an 8-0 lead.
Despite missing star guard Sun Minghui, Guangsha fought back with balanced offense, briefly tying the score at 16-16. Shanghai’s veteran center Wang Zhelin closed the first quarter with four critical points, setting the tone for a physical battle dominated by aggressive drives to the basket. Both teams struggled from three-point range early, sinking just 3 of 16 combined attempts in the opening period.
The Sharks extended their lead to 22 points in the third quarter behind Lofton Jr.’s dominance and Wang’s defensive steals. Guangsha rallied late with a fourth-quarter three-point barrage led by Zhao Jiaren and Barry Brown, cutting the deficit to 92-88 with 15 seconds remaining – but ran out of time to complete the comeback.
The loss leaves Guangsha at 38-6 overall, while Shanghai strengthens its playoff position at 25-19. Other Friday results saw Liaoning Flying Leopards crush Qingdao Eagles 121-93, while the Guangdong Southern Tigers fell 117-115 to Shanxi Loongs in a nail-biter.
