Shandong Bulls Edges Jilin Tiger 89-88

Shandong Bulls Edges Jilin Tiger 89-88

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Shandong Flaming Bulls escaped from a last second defeat as Roderick Gragoire missed the last of his three free throws as the Jilin Tigers went down 89-88 in the

seventh round of the Chinese Basketball Association league on Sunday.

Also on Sunday, league leader Shanghai Sharks lift their unbeaten record to 7-0 after beating the struggling Zhenjiang Cyclone 127-109. 2.27 meter tall center Yao Ming hit 12 to 19 from

the field for game high 32 points. The 20-year-old, know as

"Moving Great Wall", also added 17 rebounds and eight blocks for Shanghai's seventh straight win.

Shandong lead the first half 45-40 and build a 10 points lead midway into the third quarter. But the Tigers surged back with

three 3-pointers by Sun Jun and narrowed the margin to 89-86 with eight seconds to go.

In the next possession, Tigers' forward Gragoire was fouled when he was attempting a 3-pointer but the American failed to nail

the last but fated free throw and saw his team suffered the first straight loss after four victories in a row.

Five time defending champion Bayi Rockets scored their first back-to-back win by trouncing Jiangsu Dragons 118-88. Wang Zhizhi,

the 2.14 center drafted by the NBA's Dallas Mavericks in 1998, scored 29 points and sharp shooter Li Nan added 28 from outside to

lead the Bayi Rockets. The Rockets outrebounded the Dragons 56-45.

Ma Jian hit five 3-pointers and 19 points to lead six players finished in double figures for Vanguard Aoshen, who beat the Jinan

Army 96-82 for its third straight win in seven outings.

Liaoning Hunters claimed their second win of the season by beating winless Shenyang Army 98-84.