Darius Adams scores 52 as Xinjiang edge off Guangdong

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Darius Adams scored a game-high 52 points, helping Xinjiang Flying Tigers secure their sixth win in seven games by beating league leaders Guangdong Southern Tigers 130-126 in a Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) game on Tuesday night.

Guangdong came in seeking their fifth straight victory, as Sonny Weems put the visitors ahead by eight in the first quarter, before making it a dozen with two more of his team-high 35 points.

The two teams battled hard on every possession, including a rebound contested by Hamed Haddadi and Malcolm Delaney.

Adams stepped up to drill a long three-pointer late in the second for the Flying Tigers, before stealing the inbounds pass and canning another triple, which cut the deficit to three less than two minutes before half-time.

The hosts took charge after the break, as Abdusalam set the tone by knocking down the go-ahead bucket.

Adams soon put Xinjiang in front by nine, before the American drilled another of his eight long balls later in the third quarter, which put the Flying Tigers lead by 18.

But Guangdong battled back in the fourth, as Yi Jianlian stepped behind the arc and buried three of his 23 points, trimming the margin to six.

Xinjiang remained on the front foot as Adams stopped and popped for an edge of eight. And then Abdusalam stole and scored for the Flying Tigers, on his way to contributing 26.

The Southern Tigers' final rally fell short as Xinjiang hanged on to win by four, dropping Guangdong's record to 24 and 3.