URUMQI, April 19 (Xinhua) -- In a Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) playoff matchup on Friday night, Wu Guanxi's 23 points and 14 rebounds propelled the Xinjiang Flying Tigers to a commanding 108-91 victory over the Guangzhou Loong Lions.
Guangzhou, coming off a triumph over the seventh-seeded Qingdao Eagles to advance to the quarterfinals, entered the game with confidence. They seized an early lead in the first quarter, outscoring the home team 25-21.
However, Xinjiang shifted the momentum in the second quarter by intensifying their inside attack. Wu capitalized on his height advantage to repeatedly outmaneuver the opposing defense. By halftime, Xinjiang had turned the tables, leading 53-48.
In the third quarter, Xinjiang continued to exploit their superiority in the paint, grabbing 15 offensive rebounds in the quarter. However, their lower shooting percentage allowed Guangzhou to narrow the deficit to five points entering the final quarter, despite trailing by more than 10 points at one stage.
As Xinjiang found their three-point shooting rhythm in the fourth quarter, Guangzhou struggled to keep pace. With key contributions from substitute Mitchell Creek, Xinjiang secured the victory and took a commanding 1-0 lead in the series.
In another game on Friday, the Zhejiang Golden Bulls staged a remarkable fourth-quarter surge, outscoring the Shanghai Sharks 38-19 in the final period to claim a 125-109 victory. ■
