The Liaoning Flying Leopards beat Zhejiang Lions 101-96 in the final round of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league to win the 2023-2024 regular season on Saturday.
As the defending champion and three-time winner, Liaoning was seen as one of the top favorites in this season's race to the trophy. The star-studded team has secured the top place of the regular season before the match. However, their meeting with the Lions, a possible opponent in the playoffs, still made it attractive enough.
Playing on home court, Liaoning had a good start, establishing an 11-point lead by the half-time whistle. The Lions managed to level the score 94-94 in the final minutes of the fourth period, only to see Liaoning wrap up the victory with a 7-2 run.
A screenshot of Chinese Basketball's Weibo post on April 6 about Eric Moreland. /Chinese Basketball
Liaoning center Eric Moreland had the game-high double of 30 points and 25 rebounds. Star point guard Zhao Jiwei contributed 12 points along with 12 assists. Talent forward Zhang Zhenlin added 18.
Quinndary Weatherspoon had a team-high 21 points for the Lions.
The Xinjiang Flying Tigers booked the second place with an overwhelming 121-74 victory over the Jiangsu Dragons. Abdusalam Abdurexit and Mitchell Creek had 23 points each for Xinjiang.
The 2023-2024 CBA playoffs matchups. /CBA via Weibo
Elsewhere, the Qingdao Eagles defeated the Sichuan Blue Whales 87-70, the Guangzhou Loong Lions breezed past the Nanjing Monkey Kings 109-87, the Jilin Northeast Tigers took down the Fujian Sturgeons 107-96, the Tianjin Pioneers edged the Guangdong Southern Tigers 113-112, the Beijing Ducks moved over the Shenzhen Aviators 107-102, the Shandong Heroes smashed the Ningbo Rockets 128-104, the Shanxi Loongs overcame the Beijing Royal Fighters 117-103 and the Zhejiang Golden Bulls overwhelmed the Shanghai Sharks 128-95.
The playoffs will start on Wednesday.