In CBA Playoffs, Liaoning ahead of Xinjiang; Guangsha even with Qingdao
The Liaoning Flying Leopards, three-time defending champions, took a significant step towards the Final Four of the Chinese Basketball Association Playoffs with a 105-96 home victory over the shorthanded Xinjiang Flying Tigers on Tuesday. This...
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The Liaoning Flying Leopards, three-time defending champions, took a significant step towards the Final Four of the Chinese Basketball Association Playoffs with a 105-96 home victory over the shorthanded Xinjiang Flying Tigers on Tuesday. This win gives Liaoning a 2-0 lead in their best-of-five quarterfinal series.
Xinjiang, already missing several key players, faced another setback when captain Abdusalam Abdurexit was sidelined due to a neck injury sustained in Game One. The Flying Tigers were also without Li Yanzhe, Zhao Rui, Qi Lin, and Sindarius Thornwell, resulting in five critical absences for the visitors.
In Game Two, the home team Liaoning took early advantage with an impressive showing in Shenyang, led by Zhang Zhenlin. The titleholders built a lead that reached as high as 23 points.
However, the undermanned Xinjiang team refused to give in. In the fourth quarter, emerging talents Xerzat Samat and Elfuratt Mohetanar ignited a spirited comeback, hitting consecutive three-pointers to narrow the deficit to just three points. Yet, veteran Kyle Fogg answered back with a crucial basket for the Flying Leopards, and Xinjiang's offense faltered in the final minutes.
Zhang concluded the game with 18 points for Liaoning, while Elfuratt topped the scoring charts with 25 points.
In a different quarterfinal game that evening, the eighth-seeded Qingdao Eagles pulled off a surprise by defeating the top-seeded Guangsha Lions 116-96 in Hangzhou, evening the best-of-five series at 1-1.
Qingdao's American duo, Jordan Mickey and Quinndary Weatherspoon, excelled throughout the match, combining for 65 points. The duo spearheaded a pivotal second-quarter surge, outscoring Guangsha 33-14 during the frame and maintaining their dominance for the remainder of the game to secure a remarkable road victory.
On the other hand, Lions guard Sun Minghui struggled in his second game back from injury, managing only 2-for-11 shooting from the field for a total of seven points, although he did contribute eight assists.
Alejandro Jose Martinez for TROIB News
Xinjiang, already missing several key players, faced another setback when captain Abdusalam Abdurexit was sidelined due to a neck injury sustained in Game One. The Flying Tigers were also without Li Yanzhe, Zhao Rui, Qi Lin, and Sindarius Thornwell, resulting in five critical absences for the visitors.
In Game Two, the home team Liaoning took early advantage with an impressive showing in Shenyang, led by Zhang Zhenlin. The titleholders built a lead that reached as high as 23 points.
However, the undermanned Xinjiang team refused to give in. In the fourth quarter, emerging talents Xerzat Samat and Elfuratt Mohetanar ignited a spirited comeback, hitting consecutive three-pointers to narrow the deficit to just three points. Yet, veteran Kyle Fogg answered back with a crucial basket for the Flying Leopards, and Xinjiang's offense faltered in the final minutes.
Zhang concluded the game with 18 points for Liaoning, while Elfuratt topped the scoring charts with 25 points.
In a different quarterfinal game that evening, the eighth-seeded Qingdao Eagles pulled off a surprise by defeating the top-seeded Guangsha Lions 116-96 in Hangzhou, evening the best-of-five series at 1-1.
Qingdao's American duo, Jordan Mickey and Quinndary Weatherspoon, excelled throughout the match, combining for 65 points. The duo spearheaded a pivotal second-quarter surge, outscoring Guangsha 33-14 during the frame and maintaining their dominance for the remainder of the game to secure a remarkable road victory.
On the other hand, Lions guard Sun Minghui struggled in his second game back from injury, managing only 2-for-11 shooting from the field for a total of seven points, although he did contribute eight assists.
Alejandro Jose Martinez for TROIB News
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