Zhang Ning makes key free throws for Shanxi to end Beijing's winning streak

The Shanxi Loongs defeated the Beijing Ducks 106-101 in Taiyuan on Monday, north China's Shanxi Province, ending the Ducks' six-game winning streak.

The home team began the first quarter with a 7-0 run, but Beijing immediately replied with an 11-0 drive of their own. Shanxi struggled to make shots when their starters took a break on the bench, but Richard Solomon and Zhang Cairen extended the visitors' sharp offensive firepower by knocking down shots from downtown. Their side led 28-21 after the first quarter.

Brandon Goodwin and Ibrahima Faye began to charge Beijing's paint with great resolution when they came back to the court in the second quarter. It took Shanxi three minutes into this quarter to tie the score at 33. Beijing counted on the athleticism and size advantage in Solomon and Zhou Qi in response. Both sides committed a lot of fouls to stop the opponents from attacking the hoop. The visitors finished the first quarter with a one-point lead, 57-56.

The physicality continued in the third quarter as most of the two teams' players were sent to the free throw line at least twice. Beijing went on an 11-0 run when there were five minutes left, but Hamidou Diallo drew three shooting fouls and made four free throws at the end of the quarter to cut Shanxi's deficit to three points, 85-82.

Diallo was joined by Liu Chuanxing in causing trouble for Beijing in the paint as the fourth quarter began. Their team jumped on top 89-87 after Liu's jumper ended a two-minute scoring drought for both sides at 7:22. Neither Beijing nor Shanxi could leave the other far behind as the game went on. Zhou Qi's hook shot tied the score 97 when there were less than two minutes left. Zhang Ning then went to the free throw line six times and made all of his attempts. Meanwhile, both Zeng Fanbo and Eugene German missed key triples. Beijing had to watch their winning streak end on the road.