CBA: Shanghai claims 15th straight win, Guangsha defeats Shanxi

The Shanghai Sharks cruised past the Guangzhou Loong Lions 112-81 at home and, fueled by a dominant second half, grabbed their 15th straight victory in the Chinese Basketball Association on Friday.

Li Tianrong dished to Li Hongquan for a layup to give Shanghai an early 11-5 lead. But Guangzhou recovered and went in front by five after a three-pointer from Yuan Zhaoyao.

Kenneth Lofton Jr. converted a second-chance layup to tie the score at 63-63. The former NBA forward then found Wang Zhelin, whose layup put the Sharks in front by two, later in the second quarter.

Li Tianrong drilled a corner triple to increase Shanghai's lead to 23, before Eric Bledsoe set him up for three more of his career-high 31 points.

Yuan Tangwen's long-distance three extended the home side's edge to 27, and the Sharks went on to win by 31, with their 15th consecutive victory leaving them sitting in 12th place in the standings.

In other action, the first-placed Guangsha Lions brushed aside the second-placed Shanxi Loongs 111-78 at home, but not until after Brandon Goodwin gave Shanxi some early momentum with a pair of layups that left the visitors ahead by nine points in the second quarter.

Barry Brown Jr. sank a long-distance three-pointer to help the Lions cut the deficit to six, before Sun Minghui set up the American guard for another triple, and the hosts led 50-41 at halftime.

Brown drilled another three after the break, en route to a game-high 38 points including seven triples for Guangsha.

Zhao Yanhao found Josh Carlton for a layup and the Lions went on to win by 33 points. Guangsha claimed a sixth straight win, and 16th in a row at home, while Shanxi remained in second place after the defeat.