The Shanghai Sharks clinched their fourth consecutive victory by defeating the Shanxi Loongs 100-93 in a thrilling Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) matchup on Wednesday in Shanghai.
The Sharks showcased a balanced attack with five players scoring in double figures. Standouts Li Tianrong and Wang Zhelin led the way with 18 points each. Li was on fire from beyond the arc, hitting four of his seven three-point attempts. Wang, a two-time league Most Valuable Player, notched a double-double by adding 10 rebounds before leaving the game due to an apparent knee injury in the fourth quarter.
The game was tightly contested in the first half. Li’s sharp shooting helped Shanghai edge ahead 29-26 by the end of the first quarter. However, the Loongs fought back in the second quarter with strong performances from Brandon Goodwin and Hamidou Diallo. A last-second three-pointer by Zhang Ning gave Shanxi a narrow 53-52 lead at halftime.
In the third quarter, Wang dominated inside, sinking six of seven shots in the paint and even knocking down a rare three-pointer. His 13 points in the period propelled the Sharks to an 81-74 advantage heading into the final quarter.
Early in the fourth, Diallo delivered an impressive block on Wang during a fast break, but inadvertently fell onto Wang’s knees. Wang limped off the court and did not return. Despite his absence, Li Tianrong and Li Hongquan stepped up, draining crucial three-pointers that extended Shanghai’s lead to 97-82.
The Loongs attempted a comeback but missed multiple outside shots. With this loss, second-placed Shanxi suffered their ninth defeat of the regular season. The Sharks, having won 20 of their last 22 games—including 12 straight at home—remain in 10th place in the CBA standings.
