The Jiangsu Dragons clinched a thrilling 99-93 victory over the Tianjin Pioneers in Nanjing, bringing an end to their six-game losing streak in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA).
Jiangsu kicked off strong with James Thompson dominating the paint, leading the home team to a 21-10 halftime advantage. However, Tianjin's Lin Ting-Chien sparked a comeback by sinking four triples in the first quarter alone, pushing his team ahead with a 17-5 run.
Despite the tight competition, Thompson and Li Chengyao stepped up in the final minute, securing a 30-27 lead for the Dragons by the end of the first quarter. The second quarter saw Thompson and Franklin Jackson leading Jiangsu's offense, while Tianjin's Lin, Zheng Haoran, and Marcus LoVett Jr. all scored double-digit points, keeping the score tight at 52-51 by halftime.
The Pioneers struggled to maintain their offensive momentum in the third quarter, managing only one field goal compared to Jiangsu's 11-2 run. This led to a nine-point deficit entering the final quarter. Jiangsu continued to build their lead, reaching a maximum of 14 points. Despite a late surge from Tianjin with three straight triples by Zheng and Lin, the Dragons held on to secure their win.
In another exciting matchup, the Shandong Hi-Speed Kirin defeated the Ningbo Rockets 112-102 in Jinan, Shandong Province, extending Ningbo's losing streak to ten games. Shandong dominated early, building a 25-point lead by halftime. Ningbo's Ronald March delivered a spectacular performance, scoring a season-high 60 points, including seven three-pointers and 13 free throws. However, his efforts couldn't bridge the gap, and Shandong maintained their lead to rise to second place in the league, trailing only the Guangsha Lions.
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Jiangsu Dragons beat Tianjin Pioneers to end six-game losing streak
cgtn.com
