Aoshen Defeats Hongyuan to Snap Losing StreakAoshen, who are seven wins and seven losses on the seventh places in the 12-team league, became the center of the critics after team leader Ma Jian was ordered home by club boss Li Shu following loss to the Beijing Ducks on December 20. This was the second time in the club of Aoshen that a starter was fired in the middle of a season. Last season, forward Wang Sheng was sacked when the team was struggling. Wang Sheng, who was called back by Li Shu before the start of the season, was the hero of the victory as he scored 33 points and took seven rebounds. With another starter Zhang Tao out for injury, Aoshen had to started teenager Jin Xin from the bench but got 13 points from the 17-year-old forward. Forward Zhu Fangyu, 17, had one of his best games in his first-year as a pro, chipping in 21 points and grabbed eight rebounds when the team shot dismal 47% (21-45) in the field. The top three teams continued their winning streaks in Sunday's matches. League's leaders Shanghai Sharks thrashed the Jiangsu Dragons at home, 134-101. The defending champions Bayi Rockets disposed off the Liaoning Hunters, 128-109 at home while the third-placed Beijing Ducks slashed the Jilin Northeast Tigers on the road, 119-92. Lowly Zhejiang Cyclones surprised the Shandong Flaming Bulls, 98-91, for their fifth victory of the season at home. The bottom two teams met in Jinan, Shandong Province, where the home team Jinan Army held off the winless Shenyang Army, 94-79. |
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