Li Xiaoxu's block helps Liaoning end Shanghai's 16-game winning streak in CBA

The Liaoning Flying Leopards defeated the Shanghai Sharks 117-114 in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, on Tuesday, ending the visiting team's 16-game winning streak in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA).

The home side was on fire from the start, as Kyle Fogg and Li Xiaoxu combined to sink a trio of three-pointers to spark Liaoning to an 11-0 run and 17-5 lead, just five minutes into the first quarter. Wang Zhelin and Eric Bledsoe both worked hard to cut into the deficit for Shanghai, but the visitors committed a series of turnovers that left trailing by 10 points, 35-25, as the opening period ended.

The second quarter began with center Han Dejun making his presence felt on offense for the Flying Leopards, drawing fouls in the paint as the hosts extended their advantage to 15 points. Li Tianrong and Liu Cheng both drained shots from downtown to keep the Sharks in striking distance. Just before halftime, Bledsoe stole the ball from Zhao Jiwei and made a buzzer-beating layup to trim the margin to seven points, at 60-53.

With more players making shots outside the three-point line in the third quarter, Shanghai began to chip away on offense. Improved spacing also helped Bledsoe drive inside with better efficiency. After Bledsoe dished to D.J. Wilson for a three-pointer, the visitors led 89-88, but Fogg's jumper put Liaoning back in front, 90-89, going into the final quarter.

Bledsoe continued to carry the Sharks on offense as the fourth quarter got underway, but turnovers cost his side again and the Flying Leopards exploited the miscues to increase their lead to five points, at 101-96. Midway through the period, Bledsoe was ejected after a technical foul for flopping, but the visitors kept things close thanks to Li Hongquan's outside shooting. After Wang completed a three-point play in the paint, Shanghai led 114-112 with less than two minutes to go.

Fogg stepped up to save the day for Liaoning by drilling back-to-back jumpers, putting the hosts back in front 116-114. The Sharks called a timeout to draw up a clutch play, but Li Xiaoxu rejected Li Tianrong's layup on the following possession. Li Tianrong had to foul on Han to stop the clock, and although the veteran big man only made one of his two free throws, Li Hongquan missed a desperation triple at the buzzer as Shanghai watched its winning streak come to an end.

In the night's other game, the Xinjiang Flying Tigers beat the Jiangsu Dragons 92-82 on the road. Xinjiang guard Zhao Rui came back from suspension and contributed 20 points, four rebounds and four assists to help the Flying Tigers avoid a third consecutive loss.