In a thrilling matchup on Monday in Taiyuan, the Shanxi Loongs triumphed over the Beijing Ducks with a final score of 106-101, snapping the Ducks' impressive six-game winning streak.
The game kicked off with Shanxi dominating the first quarter, launching a 7-0 run. However, Beijing quickly countered with an 11-0 surge of their own, showcasing their offensive prowess. Despite Shanxi struggling to find their rhythm when their starters took a breather, players Richard Solomon and Zhang Cairen stepped up, hitting critical shots from beyond the arc to secure a 28-21 lead by the end of the first quarter.
As the second quarter unfolded, Brandon Goodwin and Ibrahima Faye ignited Beijing's offense with relentless drives to the basket. Shanxi managed to tie the game just three minutes into the quarter, making it a closely contested battle. Leveraging their size advantage, Solomon and Zhou Qi employed their athleticism to keep the Ducks in the game, with both teams exchanging fouls to halt each other's momentum. The first half concluded with a narrow one-point lead for Shanxi, 57-56.
The intensity escalated in the third quarter, with both teams frequently heading to the free throw line. Beijing attempted to regain control with an 11-0 run midway through the quarter, but Hamidou Diallo made pivotal contributions by drawing three shooting fouls and converting four free throws, narrowing Shanxi's lead to 85-82.
Entering the fourth quarter, Shanxi's Hamidou Diallo and Liu Chuanxing became a formidable duo in the paint, propelling their team to a 89-87 advantage. The game remained neck-and-neck as the clock ticked down. With less than two minutes remaining, Zhou Qi tied the score at 97 with a hook shot, setting the stage for a dramatic finish. It was Zhang Ning's moment to shine; he went to the free throw line six times and nailed all his attempts, while key three-point shots from Beijing's Zeng Fanbo and Eugene German fell short. Shanxi held on to secure the victory, ending Beijing's winning streak on the road.
Reference(s):
Zhang Ning's key free throws end Beijing's winning streak for Shanxi
cgtn.com
