CBA Finals: Guangdong get better of Xinjiang to lead series 2-0

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Guangdong Southern Tigers crushed Xinjiang Flying Tigers 116-97 to take a 2-0 lead in the best of seven Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) Finals on Sunday.

Guangdong are seeking a record-breaking ninth league title, and fourth at the expense of the Xinjiang Flying Tigers, who they beat by 19 points in Game One.

The second contest was a similar story for Sonny Weems and the hosts as they looked to take firm control right from the word go.

Zeng Lingxu recovered a ball to give Xinjiang the all-important opening basket.

Jarnell Stokes then added three of his 24 points, and the Flying Tigers had a quick 5-0 lead.

Guangdong's MarShon Brooks (2nd, L) tries to score in the Game 2 of the CBA Finals against Xinjiang at Dongguan Arena in Dongguan, China's southern Guangdong Province, April 28, 2019. /VCG Photo

But Guangdong came right back as MarShon Brooks made a series of moves in the paint, and two of his 24 points cut the deficit to one.

Sonny Weems later found Yi Jianlian for the alley-oop.

Kay Felder then brought Xinjiang back in the second, by banking in a couple of his 24. The Southern Tigers made another run as Weems drilled three of his game-high 25 before Yi added a long jumper on his way to 17. The hosts were led by 12 at that stage.

Guangdong's head coach Du Feng told his men not to settle for jumpers and that strategy forced Xinjiang into 35 fouls as well as gave Guangdong 42 free throws, to Adiljan Suleyman's displeasure.

The eight-time champions were in total command late in the fourth quarter when Weems found Ren Junfei for an easy lay-up.

The Southern Tigers held on to their lead and went on to win by 19 again to make an all-winning start to the finals. Game 3 will be played at Xinjiang's home court in Urumqi on Wednesday.