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E-mail Xinhua, March 20, 2024
The Liaoning Flying Leopards remain top of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league after edging the Shanxi Loongs 117-111 through overtime, while the Sichuan Blue Whales suffered their 15th straight loss after a 93-76 defeat to the Jilin Northeast Tigers on Tuesday.
As defending champions and current leaders of the 2023-2024 regular season, Liaoning had long been regarded as one of the favorites in the 20-team league.
Against Shanxi, the three-time CBA champions endured a difficult battle. Neither side was able to establish a double-digit advantage in the first three quarters. Liaoning were 102-89 ahead with less than five minutes left in the final period, only to see Shanxi level the scores after a 13-0 run.
In overtime, Liaoning forwards Zhang Zhenlin and Cong Mingchen made straight baskets beyond the arc to push Liaoning ahead again, and Shanxi failed to respond, resulting in Liaoning's second straight victory.
Zhang Zhenlin shot down 43 points for Liaoning. Star point guard Zhao Jiwei added 31 points and nine assists. Zhang and Zhao combined for 13 three-pointers throughout the game.
"Shanxi is a play-off team," said Liaoning head coach Yang Ming. "We had a good start, but our opponents found a good rhythm as the game went on."
"The 0-13 run in the fourth quarter was dangerous for us, so we had to watch the replay to find out what was going on."
Shanxi's Zhang Ning and Bennie Boatwright got 37 points apiece.
Sichuan toiled in trying to end their losing streak, but Jilin shooter Quentin Peterson's 34 points was too much for Sichuan.
Four other Jilin players scored in double digits, and the northeast side made six fewer turnovers than Sichuan.
Sichuan remain bottom of the league with 4-41 win-loss record.
Elsewhere, the Zhejiang Lions beat the Fujian Sturgeons 125-108, the Guangzhou Loong Lions eased past the Jiangsu Dragons 101-79, the Shenzhen Aviators defeated the Ningbo Rockets 109-91, and the Beijing Royal Fighters breezed past the Tianjin Pioneers 125-107.
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