The Xinjiang Flying Tigers secured a crucial 137-120 victory over the Jilin Northeast Tigers in the 34th round of the Chinese Basketball Association on Thursday night, booking their place in the playoffs.
Quentin Peterson delivered a standout performance against his former team, igniting Xinjiang's offense with 35 points. Peterson was unstoppable in the first half, sinking five three-pointers and propelling Xinjiang to a 67-54 lead at halftime.
Maintaining their momentum after the break, Xinjiang showcased a balanced inside-outside attack. A late three-pointer by Zhao Rui extended the visitors' advantage to 25 points, sealing the win. Despite a stellar 45-point effort from Czech player Tomas Kyzlink, Jilin couldn't overcome the deficit.
In another marquee matchup, the defending champion Liaoning Flying Leopards faced off against the league-leading Zhejiang Lions. Liaoning held an early 10-point lead, but Zhejiang's Hu Jinqiu turned the tide with a clutch performance. Hu led Zhejiang with 27 points and nine rebounds, guiding the hosts to a 108-93 victory after pulling away in the fourth quarter.
Elsewhere in the league, the Jiangsu Dragons edged the Tianjin Pioneers 99-93, while the Shandong Heroes defeated the Ningbo Rockets 112-102. The Zhejiang Golden Bulls overwhelmed the Fujian Sturgeons 134-112, and the Shanghai Sharks dominated the Guangdong Southern Tigers with a 115-81 win.
The Beijing Ducks secured a 104-86 victory over the Shenzhen Leopards, and the Beijing Royal Fighters narrowly beat the Guangzhou Loong Lions 116-113. Rounding out the action, the Qingdao Eagles topped the Sichuan Blue Whales 104-93.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
