Shanxi beat defending champions Liaoning and climb to second place

In the Chinese Basketball Association, the Shanxi Loongs beat three-time defending champions the Liaoning Flying Leopards by the narrowest of margins with a 95-94 victory at home and climbed to second place with their fifth win in a row.

Zhang Zhenlin found Dezmine Wells who nailed a triple and Liaoning led by 2 in the first quarter. Zhang Ning scored a team-high 22 points for Shanxi, including a fade away jumper while being fouled by Wells.

Ibrahima Fall Faye aimed to finish a lay-up but was blocked by Han Dejun, before Zhang Zhenlin's two-handed jam made it 48-46 Liaoning. Zhang dribbles in for a powerful dunk but Liaoning trailed 87-79 in the fourth quarter.

Wells went coast to coast and through weak defense en route to his game 40 points. Brandon Goodwin found Liu Chuanxing, put Shanxi ahead 95-92 with 46 seconds to go. 

Liaoning were one point behind with three seconds left, but Goodwin made a key steal to seal the 95-94 victory for hosts Shanxi.

In other results, the Beijing Ducks eased past the Tianjin Pioneers, the Shanghai Sharks overpowered the Guangzhou Loong Lions, the Qingdao Eagles crushed the Nanjing Monkey Kings 118-88, and the Guangdong Southern Tigers defeated the Jiangsu Dragons.