The Xinjiang Flying Tigers delivered a heart-stopping performance Sunday night, overcoming the Fujian Sturgeons 111-108 in overtime during a Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) clash that kept fans on edge until the final buzzer. The road victory came despite a dominant 41-point, 12-assist showcase from Fujian's Travis Trice, who nearly willed his team to victory through sheer offensive brilliance.
Xinjiang faced early adversity with head coach Liu Wei absent for personal reasons, leaving assistant Kang Jung-soo to orchestrate the comeback. Team captain Qi Lin emerged as the Tigers' linchpin, scoring 19 of his team-high 26 points in the second half before suffering a late fourth-quarter ankle injury that nearly derailed the visitors' efforts.
"When Qi went down, we knew others needed to step up," said Kang during post-game comments. His players answered the call in overtime as Elfuratt Mohetaner and Abdusalam Abdurexit combined for nine crucial points in the extra period, overcoming Trice's dramatic game-tying jumper that forced overtime.
The night's drama extended to Tianjin, where the Guangzhou Loong Lions outlasted the Pioneers 108-106 in another overtime spectacle. Lindell Wigginton's 15-point overtime explosion, including decisive free throws, sealed Guangzhou's second straight win despite Lin Ting-Chien's 30-point effort for Tianjin.
