CBA review: Top-ranked Zhejiang defeats Sichuan for ninth straight win

BEIJING, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Zhejiang Lions remain top after beating the Sichuan Blue Whales 115-99 to secure their ninth consecutive win in the 32nd round of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league on Saturday.

Zhejiang set up a 10-point lead early in the first quarter. Sichuan strengthened their offense in the rest of the game but didn't really challenge the Lions.

Barry Brown and Hu Jinqiu seized 34 and 24 points for Zhejiang respectively, while Sun Minghui dished out 18 assists for the victory.

Zhejiang will face the Beijing Ducks in the next round on Monday, who lost to the Qingdao Eagles 99-89 for their fourth loss in the last five games.

After taking 12 wins from the team's first 13 matches of this season, Beijing still didn't take back the momentum and only made five three-pointers in the face of the Eagles. Zhou Qi of Beijing was ejected due to technical fouls in the third quarter.

Quinndary Weatherspoon contributed a game-high 30 points, 9 rebounds, and 15 assists for Qingdao, while his 19-year-old teammate Yang Hansen registered 12 points and 10 rebounds.

"It was a great opportunity to learn from the star center Zhou on court. I tried to perform my best in defense and will continue to make progress step by step," Yang said after the match.

Defending champion Liaoning Flying Leopards ended the 16-game winning streak of the Shanghai Sharks in the last round and then saw off the Ningbo Rockets 113-107 on Friday. Kyle Fogg of Liaoning pocketed 34 points, while Ningbo's Ronald March clinched 37 points.

The Sharks suffered their second straight loss as they failed to overcome the Shanxi Loongs 111-100. Despite the loss, former NBA player Kenneth Lofton representing Shanghai was still eye-catching, who came off the bench to take 34 points and 12 rebounds.

Six players scored in double digits to help the Shenzhen Leopards claim a 118-96 victory over the Jilin Northeast Tigers. In other games, the Zhejiang Golden Bulls crushed the Tianjin Pioneers 135-106, and the Beijing Royal Fighters eased past the Jiangsu Dragons 110-85.

Elsewhere, the Nanjing Monkey Kings triumphed over the Shandong Heroes 98-89, the Guangdong Southern Tigers smashed the Fujian Sturgeons 116-92, while the Xinjiang Flying Tigers overpowered the Guangzhou Loong Lions 116-97. ■