NANJING, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- The Shanghai Sharks took a landslide victory over the Ningbo Rockets 125-88 on Sunday, forcing the latter to swallow a 12-game losing streak in the second phase of the 2022-23 Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) regular season.
Shanghai and Ningbo are two mismatched opponents as the latter was rooted to the bottom of the CSL with no wins since the season started.
The game started as Shanghai had wished as they powered through a 16-2 scoring run led by center Wang Zhelin, who dominated the paint area. However, Ningbo gradually narrowed the gap as the bench players came out and strengthened their offense beyond the three-point line. Shanghai led 37-26 after the first quarter.
Shanghai continued to widen the gap in the remaining time and did not allow their fourth straight win to slip away.
All 12 players on Shanghai's roster scored, with Wang putting up a team-high 30 points. Marko Todorovic notched up a game-high 32 points and 15 rebounds for Ningbo.
Elsewhere in the CBA, the Shenzhen Aviators and the Shanxi Loongs had a close game. Shanxi led 30-23 in the first quarter, while Askia Booker made consecutive tough shots at the end of the next quarter to help Shenzhen turn things around and lead 61-59 before the second half.
The two sides had a seesaw game in the third quarter, while Sun Haoqin and He Xining helped Shenzhen lock the win 120-112 via fierce attacks of the rim.
In other games, the Qingdao Eagles edged the Jiangsu Dragons 113-110, and the Beijing Ducks stormed past the Beijing Royal Fighters 92-70. ■
