In an electrifying CBA matchup, the Shanghai Sharks triumphed over the Guangsha Lions with a final score of 92-88 on Friday night in Shanghai Municipality, handing Guangsha their first losing streak of the season.
The game kicked off with Li Tianrong and Kenneth Lofton Jr. leading Shanghai to an early 8-0 advantage. Despite the absence of their star point guard, Sun Minghui, Guangsha rallied with multiple players stepping up, tying the game at 16-16. Shanghai's Wang Zhelin secured the first quarter with a four-point lead, finishing it at 20-16.
Both teams struggled with long-range shots, missing 13 of 16 attempts from downtown in the first quarter. Undeterred, both teams focused on driving to the rim, with Wang and Lofton Jr. dominating under the basket, leading Shanghai to a significant 9-2 run. Li Hongquan contributed two triples, propelling Shanghai to an eight-point halftime lead of 45-37.
In the third quarter, Lofton Jr. and Li Hongquan continued to break down Guangsha's defense. Shanghai's Wang and Bledsoe made key steals, fueling easy baskets and expanding their lead to 22 points at 63-41. Though Guangsha's Hu Jinqiu and Zhao Jiaren mounted an 11-0 run, the gap remained at 73-59.
The fourth quarter saw Zhao and Barry Brown ignite a comeback for Guangsha, cutting the deficit to just four points (92-88) with 15 seconds left on the clock. However, Shanghai held firm, securing the win and marking a pivotal moment in the CBA season.
Other notable CBA results from the night include:
- Ningbo Rockets 110-101 Fujian Sturgeons
- Nanjing Monkey Kings 115-93 Jilin Northeast Tigers
- Liaoning Flying Leopards 121-93 Qingdao Eagles
- Shanxi Loongs 117-115 Guangdong Southern Tigers
- Beijing Ducks 99-83 Sichuan Blue Whales
Reference(s):
Shanghai give CBA leaders Guangsha first losing streak of season
cgtn.com
