Kenneth Lofton delivered a stellar performance, recording a triple-double to lead the Shanghai Sharks to a thrilling 103-99 victory over the Shenzhen Leopards in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). The Sharks secured their sixth consecutive win, moving up to 15th place in the standings.
The game started with the Leopards taking an early lead, as He Xining and Markell Johnson both sank three-pointers, putting Shenzhen ahead by five points in the first quarter. However, the Sharks found their stride in the second quarter, with Lofton spearheading the comeback. His efforts on both ends of the court helped Shanghai overturn the deficit and take a six-point advantage into halftime.
In the third quarter, Shanghai extended their lead with three-point shots from Lofton and D.J. Wilson. Shenzhen’s Zhou Peng responded with a triple of his own, narrowing the gap to three points. But Lofton continued to dominate, driving in for crucial layups that kept the Sharks ahead.
With less than a minute remaining, Lofton’s decisive layup solidified the victory for Shanghai. The Sharks emerged victorious by a margin of four points, while the Leopards dropped to 18th place after the hard-fought contest.
Lofton’s impressive stat line of 22 points, 18 rebounds, and 10 assists was instrumental in securing the win. The Sharks’ recent performance signals their rising momentum in the league as they aim for higher standings in the CBA.
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Lofton tallies triple-double to hand Shanghai 6th straight victory
cgtn.com
