BEIJING, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Zhejiang Lions secured their top spot in the standings of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) by defeating the Beijing Royal Fighters 102-79 in the 18th round to enjoy their seventh straight win.
The defending champion set the tune early with a 35-18 first quarter during which Barry Brown Jr. contributed four three-pointers. Hu Jinqiu dominated in the paint to lead the team which gradually extend their lead to over 30 after three quarters as Zhejiang grabbed their 15th victory in their recent 16 games.
Barry Brown Jr. had 26 points and six assists, Hu added 22 points and seven rebounds.
Sitting on top of the table with 16-2 record, Zhejiang was followed by the Shanghai Sharks, who smashed the Fujian Sturgeons 110-80 on Friday night.
Shanghai outscored Fujian 34-18 and 38-19 respectively in the first and the third quarter. All 12 players of Shanghai scored while Kyle Fogg led the team with 36 points. Former NBA player Hassan Whiteside contributed a double-double of 12 points and 14 rebounds for Shanghai.
Import players also shined in the game between the Guangdong Southern Tigers and the Jilin Northeast Tigers, Trevelin Queen stormed 42 points, seven rebounds, eight assists and four steals to fuel Guangdong to a 119-98 victory, ranking third with 14-4 record.
The Sichuan Blue Whales again failed to earn their first win in the new season after 18 rounds, losing to the Xinjiang Flying Tigers 98-56.
Elsewhere, the Jiangsu Dragons beat the Tianjin Pioneers 83-77, the Shenzhen Aviators outlasted the Shanxi Loongs 105-95, the Beijing Ducks edged the Zhejiang Golden Bulls 79-73, the Ningbo Rockets overpowered the Qingdao Eagles 82-68, the Guangzhou Loong Lions defeated the Nanjing Monkey Kings 112-102 and the Liaoning Flying Leopards lost to the Shandong Heroes 79-84. ■
