CBA roundup: Guangsha stun Liaoning, Shanghai rally for 13th straight win

The high-flying CBA outfit the Guangsha Lions tamed the three-time defending champions the Liaoning Flying Leopards with a decisive 101-88 victory on the road, marking their fourth consecutive win. Meanwhile, the Shanghai Sharks mounted an impressive comeback to defeat the Tianjin Pioneers 132-108, extending their winning streak to an astonishing 13 games.

The matchup between Guangsha and Liaoning was the highlight of the round. In the first half, both teams battled to a standstill, with Liaoning trailing by just four points at halftime. However, things took a dramatic turn in the third quarter, as Liaoning suddenly faltered, struggling on both offense and defense and managing to score only 14 points. In stark contrast, Guangsha unleashed a barrage of scoring, racking up 36 points in the quarter and outpacing Liaoning by a remarkable 22 points. Despite a slight resurgence from Liaoning in the final quarter, it proved too little, too late, and they ultimately succumbed to a 13-point defeat.

In the earlier game, concerns arose for Shanghai as Tianjin's star forward, David James, sank three three-pointers, helping the home team build a double-digit lead. However, Shanghai's top scorer Kenneth Lofton Jr. stepped up when it mattered most. While maintaining his composure proved challenging at times for the strong interior attacker, he delivered an extraordinary performance, scoring a season-high 43 points.

In other action, the Guangdong Southern Tigers narrowly defeated the Shenzhen Leopards 91-84, while the Shandong Kylins triumphed over the Nanjing Monkey Kings 129-116, despite the absence of their core shooting guard, Lin Wei. The Beikong Royal Fighters also enjoyed a comfortable victory, cruising to a 109-92 win against the Jilin Northeast Tigers.