In a thrilling Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) showdown on Saturday night, the Liaoning Flying Leopards cruised past the Xinjiang Flying Tigers with a decisive 115-89 victory at home.
Dez Wells delivered an extraordinary performance, scoring a season-high 50 points and becoming the first player to sink 11 three-pointers in a single game for the three-time defending champions. His remarkable scoring prowess was the key factor in leading Liaoning to their third straight win.
Both teams entered the game missing key players due to injuries, with Liaoning ranked sixth in the standings and Xinjiang holding the third spot. Earlier in the season, Xinjiang had secured a win against Liaoning in Urumqi, setting the stage for this intense rematch in Shenyang.
The game kicked off with Liaoning's Wang Lanqin hitting a three-pointer, igniting an intense battle between the two teams. Liaoning ended the first quarter with a 12-point lead, thanks to Wells' relentless scoring. In the second quarter, Wells continued his red-hot shooting, knocking down multiple three-pointers while Xinjiang struggled with fouls and turnovers. This allowed Liaoning's lead to balloon to 21 points. Despite Xinjiang's attempts to fight back, led by rookie Yang Rui's three-pointers and explosive dunks, Liaoning held a 15-point advantage at halftime, with Wells amassing 30 points by the break.
In the second half, Liaoning maintained their commanding lead, extending it further as Xinjiang continued to find it difficult to regain momentum. Stellar performances from Wang and Wells ensured Liaoning's dominance throughout the game, culminating in a 26-point victory.
Alongside his sensational 50 points, Wells contributed 2 rebounds and 6 assists. Wang added 20 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists, while Han Dejun chipped in with 11 points, 13 rebounds, and 4 assists. For Xinjiang, Dedric Lawson recorded 13 points and 12 rebounds, and Elfuratt Mohetaner contributed 13 points and 8 rebounds.
Reference(s):
Wells explodes for 50 points to lead Liaoning to big win over Xinjiang
cgtn.com
