The Xinjiang Flying Tigers overcame a fierce comeback from the Nanjing Monkey Kings to secure a 118-111 victory in Game One of their Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) Playoffs first-round series on Friday. Playing at home in Urumqi, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, the Flying Tigers now lead the best-of-three series 1-0.
Xinjiang, a longtime powerhouse and 2017 league champions, started strong by building an 11-point lead at 25-14 in the first quarter. A 14-3 run led by Qi Lin, Li Yanzhe, and Dedric Lawson set the pace early. Nanjing fought back near the end of the period with Zhu Mingzhen, Tian Yuheng, and T.J. Leaf sinking consecutive three-pointers, closing the gap to 32-27 by the buzzer.
In the second quarter, Xinjiang’s American big man Montrezl Harrell showcased his skills in the paint, delivering powerful dunks that extended the Flying Tigers’ lead to over 20 points. The Monkey Kings responded as Lin Wei and Leaf combined for a 10-2 run, trimming the deficit to 15 points and ending the half at 66-51.
Nanjing maintained their momentum in the third quarter. Lin and Leaf continued their offensive push, joined by Guo Haowen, who aggressively attacked the paint. Their efforts cut Xinjiang’s lead to seven points at 80-73. However, crucial three-pointers from Qi and Sindarius Thornwell helped the Flying Tigers regain a 95-85 advantage by the end of the quarter.
The fourth quarter brought a scare for Xinjiang when Zhao Rui exited the game with a knee injury and was stretchered off the court. Seizing the opportunity, Lin and Zhu hit a series of triples, bringing the Monkey Kings within three points at 114-111 with less than two minutes remaining. Despite the pressure, Xinjiang’s defense held firm, preventing Nanjing from scoring again and securing the victory.
Lin Wei delivered a career-high 37 points and 11 assists for Nanjing, but his standout performance wasn’t enough to turn the tide. The Monkey Kings will return home seeking redemption in Game Two on Monday.
In another playoff clash, the Qingdao Eagles soared past the Zhejiang Golden Bulls with a 112-96 win at home, taking a 1-0 lead in their series. Wang Ruize was instrumental in Qingdao’s victory, shooting 13-for-20 from the field and finishing with a game-high 36 points, including six threes. The Eagles pulled away in the fourth quarter with a decisive 22-2 run over seven minutes. Game Two will take place in Yiwu, east China’s Zhejiang Province, on Monday.
