Liaoning smashes Nanjing, Guangdong wins derby in CBA

Ty Leaf (2nd L) of Beijing Ducks blocks Anunwa Omot (1st L) of Ningbo Rockets during the 50th round match between Beijing Ducks and Ningbo Rockets at the 2023-2024 Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league in Beijing, China, March 31, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Lili)

TIANJIN, March 31 (Xinhua) -- The Liaoning Flying Leopards extended their winning streak to three games after a 97-95 win to the Nanjing Monkey Kings, while the Guangdong Southern Tigers beat the Guangzhou Loong Lions 124-97 to win the derby in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league on Sunday.

Liaoning who ranks second on the table, showed more ambition to win the game as they won the first quarter 35-23, before Wang Lanqin and Lin Wei led Nanjing to cut the deficit to eight points at halftime.

After Nanjing made a 12-2 run in the third quarter to close it to four points, Kyle Fogg displayed his dominance by scoring 30 points, including the last five points for Liaoning to secure the eventual victory.

Antonio Blakeney scored a game-high 35 points and grabbed 16 rebounds for Nanjing, with Lin Wei and Wang Lanqin adding 19 and 15 points respectively.

Elsewhere, Zhou Qi scored a game-high 23 points and Tremont Waters added 22 points as five Guangdong players scored in double figures for an 11-game winning streak.

After a see-saw first quarter, Guangdong gradually enlarged the gap through three-pointers en route to the win.

Also on Sunday, the Shanxi Loongs defeated the Tianjin Pioneers 124-117, the Beijing Ducks edged the Ningbo Rockets 105-96, the Zhejiang Lions downed the Qingdao Eagles 102-87, and the Xinjiang Flying Tigers smashed the Jilin Northeast Tigers 147-107. 

Askia Booker (L) of Beijing Ducks competes during the 50th round match between Beijing Ducks and Ningbo Rockets at the 2023-2024 Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league in Beijing, China, March 31, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Lili)

Ty Leaf (Top L) of Beijing Ducks goes for a lay-up the 50th round match between Beijing Ducks and Ningbo Rockets at the 2023-2024 Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league in Beijing, China, March 31, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Lili)

Quentin Peterson (L) of Jilin Northeast Tigers drives the ball during the 50th round match between Jilin Northeast Tigers and Xinjiang Flying Tigers at the 2023-2024 season of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, March 31, 2023. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu)

Dominique Jones (L) of Xinjiang Flying Tigers competes during the 50th round match between Jilin Northeast Tigers and Xinjiang Flying Tigers at the 2023-2024 season of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, March 31, 2023. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu)

Lindell Wigginton (R) of Xinjiang Flying Tigers goes for a lay-up during the 50th round match between Jilin Northeast Tigers and Xinjiang Flying Tigers at the 2023-2024 season of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, March 31, 2023. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu)