Shanxi Loongs Overcome Fujian Sturgeons in Foul-Filled Thriller
In a game marked by intense competition and a staggering number of fouls, the Shanxi Loongs edged past the Fujian Sturgeons 122-117 on Tuesday night in Taiyuan, north China’s Shanxi Province. The Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) clash saw a total of 60 fouls and 73 free throws, keeping fans on the edge of their seats.
Despite sitting at the bottom of the CBA standings, the Fujian Sturgeons came out with fierce offensive aggression, surprising the second-ranked Shanxi Loongs in the first half. By five minutes into the second quarter, Fujian led in free throws 20-5, showcasing their dominance on the court.
Fujian’s impressive 14-0 run early in the second quarter pushed their lead to 44-27, prompting a desperate timeout from the home team. Though Shanxi battled back with a 7-0 run led by Hamidou Diallo and Ge Zhaobao, they still trailed 62-52 heading into halftime.
Refusing to back down, Shanxi adjusted their strategy in the second half, matching Fujian’s aggression. Brandon Goodwin and Zhang Ning spearheaded a 12-2 surge over two minutes, allowing Shanxi to seize the lead and extend it to 80-74 after a smooth layup from Goodwin. However, a series of quick fouls against Shanxi shifted momentum back to Fujian, who capitalized with a 6-0 run. The third quarter concluded with Fujian holding a narrow 91-88 advantage.
The fourth quarter saw Zhang Ning find his shooting touch from beyond the arc, sinking three crucial three-pointers. His 12-point performance in the final quarter, along with key contributions from Goodwin and Yuan Shuai, helped Shanxi outscore Fujian 34-26. Despite Joseph Young’s valiant efforts to keep Fujian in contention, defensive rebounding woes allowed Shanxi to secure vital offensive boards in the closing seconds, sealing their victory.
In other CBA action, the Guangzhou Loong Lions snapped their 11-game losing streak by defeating the Jiangsu Dragons 100-91 on the road.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
