Zhejiang roars to victory to cement CBA lead, Nanjing edge Liaoning

The Zhejiang Guangsha Lions proved their mettle by beating the Jilin Northeast Tigers 118-103 on Tuesday night, marking their second consecutive victory and maintaining their position at the top of the CBA standings.

Zhejiang came out firing on all cylinders, establishing an impressive 34-19 lead in the first quarter, which set the tone for a commanding performance. Despite the absence of Sun Minghui, other players stepped up, particularly Barry Brown Jr. Meanwhile, Jilin star Dominique Jones faced tight defense, leaving him with few opportunities for easy shots.

Zhejiang's advantage grew even more pronounced in the second quarter, as they launched a 9-4 run that pushed their lead to 20 points. Although Jilin attempted a comeback in the final quarter, they struggled to make a significant dent in Zhejiang's lead. Ultimately, the more explosive Zhejiang secured the victory on the road.

Elsewhere, the Nanjing Tongxi Monkey King overcame a deficit in the first two quarters to edge the Liaoning Dinosaurs 106-97. In the opening quarter, Liaoning displayed an aggressive offensive strategy, with Zhao Jiwei, James Webb, and Dezmine Wells consistently sinking three-pointers. However, on the defensive end, Liaoning's containment of Kendric Davis and T.J. Leaf was less impressive, allowing the duo to carry much of Nanjing's scoring load, Davis scored 18 points in the first half alone. At halftime, Nanjing trailed 53-60.

Shortly after the third quarter began, Nanjing went on a 7-point run to tie the game. Liaoning struggled with their outside shooting in the third quarter, relying solely on offensive rebounds for points. Nanjing seized the opportunity, with Davis's driving layup allowing them to regain the lead, entering the fourth quarter with a 7-point advantage.

In the final quarter, Liaoning attempted to close the gap through consistent scoring. However, Leaf and Guo Haowen combined efforts to help Nanjing maintain their lead and ultimately clinched the victory at home.