The Liaoning Flying Leopards secured their second straight win in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) by defeating the Jilin Northeast Tigers 112-99 in Shenyang, Liaoning Province. The game marked a career night for Liaoning's star guard, Zhao Jiwei.
Zhao was the standout performer, sinking seven of his 10 three-point attempts to score a team-high 23 points and dishing out nine assists. His impressive performance allowed him to surpass Guo Ailun, becoming the all-time assists leader in Liaoning's history with a total of 2,581 assists.
From the outset, Zhao showcased his dual-threat ability by knocking down two three-pointers and setting up easy baskets for his teammates in the first quarter, helping Liaoning take a 28-24 lead. In the second quarter, Dominique Jones and Tomas Kyzlink ignited Jilin's offense. Jones displayed remarkable aggression, making shots from the perimeter and charging the rim, while Kyzlink executed a steal from Zhang Zhenlin, leading to a powerful dunk. Their efforts contributed to a 13-5 run, giving Jilin a 56-49 advantage at halftime.
Returning to the court, Zhao and teammate Zhang intensified their offensive assault, constantly attacking the paint. Kyle Fogg matched Jones' explosive energy, allowing Liaoning to outscore Jilin 31-20 in the third quarter and reclaim the lead at 80-76.
In the fourth quarter, Zhao continued his sharpshooting, hitting additional three-pointers and driving an 11-3 run that extended Liaoning's lead to double digits. Despite Jones scoring a game-high 42 points for Jilin, the Flying Leopards maintained their advantage and secured the win.
In another matchup, league leaders the Guangsha Lions overcame the Nanjing Monkey Kings 105-98 on the road, avoiding their third consecutive loss. Barry Brown Jr. led Guangsha with an impressive 38 points, shooting 12-for-24 from the field.
Reference(s):
Liaoning beat Jilin for 2nd straight win on Zhao Jiwei's career night
cgtn.com
