He Xining shines with 43 points as Shenzhen Leopards fall Short to Shanghai Sharks

Despite a dazzling season-high performance from He Xining, who poured in 43 points, the Shenzhen Leopards succumbed to the Shanghai Sharks 101-92 on the road in the CBA, snapping their five-game winning streak.

The Leopards started strong, with He sinking an early three-pointer to establish an 11-5 lead. In the second quarter, Kyle Fogg's missed triple was quickly converted into points by Kenneth Lofton, cutting the deficit to one. He continued to impress during the first half, banking another long-range shot as part of his 23-point tally, but Xie Liyongwei's fadeaway jumper just before halftime leveled the score at 51-all.

After the break, Hassan Whiteside made his presence felt, delivering a monumental block on Markell Johnson. He quickly followed it up with a score through contact, finishing with a double-double of 24 points and 18 rebounds. The Sharks established a 13-point lead in the fourth, looking formidable.

However, He wasn't done yet, landing one of his six three-pointers to narrow the gap to seven. Following that, he drove in for a tough lay-up, bringing the visitors back to level terms at 91 with just three minutes remaining.  

But in the clutch moments, the Sharks surged ahead, executing a decisive 10-1 run that sealed the victory. Shanghai climbed to second place in the standings, while Shenzhen locked in at fourth.