The Zhejiang Guangsha Lions showcased their dominance Tuesday night, overpowering the Jilin Northeast Tigers 118-103 to secure their place at the top of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) standings.
Starting strong, Zhejiang unleashed a 34-19 lead in the first quarter, setting a pace that Jilin struggled to match. Despite missing key player Sun Minghui, the Lions found strength in their roster, with Barry Brown Jr. stepping up impressively. Jilin’s star, Dominique Jones, faced relentless defense, limiting his offensive impact.
Expanding their advantage, Zhejiang launched a 9-4 run in the second quarter, extending the lead to 20 points. Jilin attempted a late comeback in the final period but couldn’t overcome the deficit, as Zhejiang’s explosive offense sealed the away victory.
In another exciting matchup, the Nanjing Tongxi Monkey King rallied from an early deficit to defeat the Liaoning Dinosaurs 106-97. Liaoning came out aggressive, with Zhao Jiwei, James Webb, and Dezmine Wells hitting consistent three-pointers. However, their defense faltered against Nanjing’s Kendric Davis and T.J. Leaf, who carried the scoring load. Davis alone posted 18 points in the first half, with Nanjing trailing 53-60 at halftime.
The momentum shifted in the third quarter as Nanjing tied the game with a 7-point run. Liaoning struggled with their shooting, relying mainly on offensive rebounds. Seizing the opportunity, Nanjing took the lead with Davis’s driving layup and entered the fourth quarter up by seven.
Despite Liaoning’s efforts to close the gap, Leaf and Guo Haowen combined forces to maintain Nanjing’s lead, securing a satisfying home victory.
