The Shanghai Sharks delivered a stunning 92-88 victory over the Guangsha Lions on Friday night in east China’s Shanghai Municipality, handing the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) leaders their first losing streak of the season.
The game started with a bang as Li Tianrong and Kenneth Lofton Jr. propelled the Sharks to an early 8-0 lead. The Lions, missing their star point guard Sun Minghui, fought back with multiple players contributing offensively, leveling the score at 16-16. Shanghai’s Wang Zhelin ensured his team closed the first quarter ahead, scoring the final four points to secure a 20-16 advantage.
Both teams struggled from beyond the arc in the first quarter, missing 13 of their 16 three-point attempts. Adjusting their strategies, they focused on attacking the rim. Wang and Lofton Jr.’s dominance in the paint sparked a 9-2 run for the Sharks, forcing a timeout from Guangsha. Li Hongquan’s two three-pointers extended Shanghai’s lead to 45-37 by halftime.
The Sharks continued their momentum in the third quarter. Lofton Jr. and Li Hongquan tormented the Lions’ defense, while Wang and Eric Bledsoe capitalized on steals to score easy transition baskets. Shanghai surged ahead by as much as 22 points, leading 63-41. Despite a spirited 11-0 run by Guangsha led by Hu Jinqiu and Zhao Jiaren, the Lions trailed 73-59 entering the final quarter.
In a thrilling fourth quarter, Zhao and Barry Brown sparked a comeback for the Lions, hitting crucial shots from beyond the arc. They narrowed the deficit to just four points, 92-88, with 15 seconds remaining. However, the Sharks held their nerve, and the Lions’ rally fell short, resulting in a hard-fought loss for the visitors.
