Sylven Landesberg (L2) of Zhejiang Golden Bulls plays against Zhai Xiaochuan (R2) of Beijing Ducks during a CBA game, Beijing, China, December 20, 2019.
Sylven Landesberg scored 40 points to help the Zhejiang Golden Bulls smash title contenders the Beijing Ducks with a 112-93 victory in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) on Friday.
Zhejiang, who ranked 10th on the table, opened the game with an 28-7 run. Beijing pulled within seven points midway through the second quarter before the visitors rebuilt a 19 point lead at the break that Beijing never recovered from.
Jeremy Lin had 21 points. Ekpe Udoh finished with 24 points and six blocks for Beijing.
Defending champions the Guangdong Southeast Tigers overturned the Tianjin Pioneers 121-101 as Marshon Brooks posted a game-high 36 points and seven rebounds.
Marshon Brooks (L) of Guangdong Southeast Tigers in action during a CBA against Tianjin Pioneers, Dongguan, Guangdong Province, China, December 20, 2019.
Guandong had six players scoring in double figures, Ren Junfei and Sonny Weems scored 17 and 16 respectively, while Yi Jianlian contributed 15 points and nine rebounds.
After a sluggish first half, Guangzhou turned the game into a rout by outscoring Tianjin 37-22 in the third quarter. Shi Deshuai led Tianjin with 23 points, while Marko Todorovic had 22 points and 12 rebounds.
Elsewhere, the Fujian Sturgeons defeated the Jilin Northeast Tigers 121-114, the Shanxi Loongs beat the Shenzhen Aviators 99-87, and the Shanghai Sharks saw off the Bayi Rockets 106-93.
(With input from Xinhua News Agency)