Li Nan Puts Bayi Rockets Ahead in CBA Finals

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, April 11, 2002

Li Nan Puts Bayi Rockets Ahead in CBA Finals

Shooting guard Li Nan buried a game-winning 3-pointer with 25 seconds left to put defending champion Bayi Rockets ahead with a 127-125 victory over Shanghai Sharks on home court Wednesday in Ningbo.

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Shooting guard Li Nan buried a game-winning 3-pointer with 25 seconds left to put defending champion Bayi Rockets ahead with a 127-125 victory over Shanghai Sharks on home court Wednesday (April 10) in Ningbo.

Rockets top-scorer Liu Yudong, who had 43 points tonight, was doubled on the left flank before he past the ball to the open Li. The latter calmly shot the ball from behind the arc to complete his 27-point performances.

American Steven Hart sent the ball wide off the line on Sharks'next possession, and the visitor gave up the battle in the last six seconds as the Rockets took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five finals.

Four players were fouled out in the ill-tempered match, with the home team almost squandering a 19-point lead in the second quarter before it clawed back in the decisive quarter to have the good of the game.

"We had a poor shooting percentage in the outside and made some mistakes on the critical time. These are lessons of the match. We'll make it better in the next two home matches," said Li Qiuping, head coach of the Sharks.

Yao Ming, who is seeking to join America's National Basketball Association (NBA) next season, collected 49 points and 24 rebounds, in addition to six blocks.

The 2.25-meter center vowed before the finals that he would win the title for Shanghai before he leaves to NBA.

But the 21-year-old, who will turn 22 on September 12, was suffocated by Bayi's back-up center Li Ke, 18 centimeters shorter than him, in the second quarter when Bayi was leading 62-43.

The Sharks pitched two American players, Hart and former Utah Jazz forward David Benoite, and the regular-season winner usurped the lead by 101-92 just into the fourth quarter.

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