The Beijing Ducks ended the Shanghai Sharks’ four-game winning streak with a thrilling 108-98 victory at home on Thursday night in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). The win also marked the Ducks’ third consecutive triumph, showcasing their growing momentum this season.
Newly-signed American guard Zachary Nutall made an impressive debut for the Ducks, contributing 20 points and eight assists. His energetic performance was instrumental in the Ducks’ offensive push, quickly becoming a fan favorite in the capital.
The game started with Beijing’s center Zhou Qi aggressively attacking the paint, drawing early fouls from Shanghai’s Kenneth Lofton Jr. Despite missing their starting center and two-time CBA Most Valuable Player Wang Zhelin, the Sharks stayed competitive in the opening quarter. Eric Bledsoe and Li Hongquan combined for three three-pointers, giving the Sharks a 24-19 lead. However, Nutall’s six straight points helped the Ducks close the gap to 29-28 by the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, Eugene German and Richard Solomon found their rhythm from beyond the arc, fueling an 11-0 run that forced the Sharks to call a timeout. While Li Hongquan and Li Tianrong attempted to rally for Shanghai, the Ducks outscored their opponents 33-23 in the quarter, leading 61-52 at halftime.
The Ducks extended their lead in the third quarter, with Solomon and German each adding another three-pointer, pushing the advantage to as much as 14 points at 75-61. The Sharks responded with a 13-2 run, thanks to efforts from Bledsoe, Liu Zheng, and Li Hongquan, narrowing the deficit to just two points at 78-76 as the quarter concluded.
The fourth quarter saw intense exchanges between the teams. Bledsoe and Li Tianrong hit three shots from downtown for the Sharks, but the Ducks countered with strong inside plays from Zhou Qi, Zeng Fanbo, and Zhai Xiaochuan. Defensively, Zhou and Zhai dominated around the rim, blocking several attempts from Lofton Jr. and Bledsoe. Nutall sealed the victory for Beijing with a final layup, bringing the score to 108-98.
“It was a great team effort,” Nutall said after the game. “I’m happy to contribute and look forward to more wins with the team.”
The Beijing Ducks will aim to extend their winning streak as they face their next opponents, while the Shanghai Sharks will look to bounce back from this loss.
