The Liaoning Flying Leopards strengthened their bid for a fourth consecutive Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) title with a decisive 105-96 victory over the Xinjiang Flying Tigers in Game 2 of their playoff quarterfinals. The home triumph gives Liaoning a commanding 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series, leaving them one win away from the semifinals.
Star guard Zhao Jiwei powered the champions with a triple-double (21 points, 12 assists, 10 rebounds), while center Han Dejun dominated the paint with 25 points. Xinjiang, missing key players to injuries, saw Abudushalamu contribute 23 points in a spirited but ultimately unsuccessful effort.
Meanwhile, the Zhejiang Guangsha Lions and Qingdao Eagles remain deadlocked at 1-1 after a thrilling 102-99 Guangsha road win. The series shifts to Qingdao for Game 3 on Thursday, with both teams vying for their first semifinal appearance in three seasons.
The CBA playoffs continue drawing record viewership across Asia, underscoring basketball's growing popularity in the region and the league's rising status as a talent incubator for international competitions.
