Liaoning takes 2-0 lead over Xinjiang in CBA Playoffs, Guangsha tied 1-1 with Qingdao

Three-time defending champions the Liaoning Flying Leopards moved one step closer to the last four of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) Playoffs with 105-96 home win over the shorthanded Xinjiang Flying Tigers on Tuesday, taking a 2-0 lead in their best-of-five quarterfinal series.

Already missing several key players, Xinjiang was dealt another blow when captain Abdusalam Abdurexit was ruled out due to a neck injury incurred in Game One. The Flying Tigers also remained without Li Yanzhe, Zhao Rui, Qi Lin, and Sindarius Thornwell, leaving the visitors with five significant absences.

Game Two host Liaoning capitalized early with a dominant performance in Shenyang, sparked by Zhang Zhenlin. The titleholders went on to build a lead that rose as high as 23 points.

But the undermanned Xinjiang squad refused to fold.

In the fourth quarter, rising stars Xerzat Samat and Elfuratt Mohetanar sparked a spirited comeback, hitting back-to-back three-pointers to cut the deficit to just three. But veteran Kyle Fogg responded with a timely bucket for the Flying Leopards, and Xinjiang's offense stalled out in the closing minutes.

Zhang finished with 18 points for Liaoning, while Elfuratt led all scorers with 25.

In the night's other quarterfinal matchup, the eighth-ranked Qingdao Eagles stunned the top-seeded Guangsha Lions 116-96 in Hangzhou, leveling the best-of-five series at 1-1.

Qingdao's American duo of Jordan Mickey and Quinndary Weatherspoon dominated throughout, combining for 65 points. The pair led a decisive second-quarter run, outscoring Guangsha 33-14 in the period before maintaining control the rest of the way, to help the Eagles complete a stunning victory on the road.

Lions guard Sun Minghui struggled in his second game back from a foot injury, shooting just 2-for-11 from the field and finishing with seven points, although he also distributed eight assists.