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Wang Zhizhi Overshadows Yao Ming in Rockets' Second Win
Wang Zhizhi showed he was worthy to the Dallas Mavericks waiting for as he overshadowed Yao Ming in Bayi Rockets' 131-122 victory over the Shanghai Sharks in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) finals on Wednesday.
The 24-year-old center, who was drafted by Mavericks in the second round last year, gave the defending champions a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five tie with 28 points and 12 rebounds in Ningbo Younger Stadium.
Yao, 20, scored 23 points, grabbed 17 rebounds and delivers seven assists for the Sharks, but he found it was difficult to conquer the exploded Wang.
After disappointing performances in the past two games, Wang, who is four inches shorter than the 7-5-foot Yao, showed his flexibility and agility in an all-round game.
He was 5-5 in the field and 1-1 after the arch to score 13 points in the first quarter before he rolling to his most successful game of the season when he faced off Yao.
"I come out to play against Yao, and then I got my game," Wang said.
Rockets' coach Wang Fei said, "He was clever when playing inside, using his fast pace and flexibility to overtake Yao."
Forward Li Nan scored the game-high 41 points, 12-20 in the field, with Liu Yudong, who averaging 39 points in the past two games, contributing 26 to the Rockets, who could win the championship for the sixth time in straight in Shanghai on Sunday.
Seven of the Sharks players scored double figures with guard Damon Stringer leading the squad with 26 points.
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