Quinndary Weatherspoon (R) of Qingdao Eagles goes for a layup during the playoff 1st round match between Qingdao Eagles and Zhejiang Golden Bulls at the 2024-2025 season of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, April 4, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng)
URUMQI, April 4 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) playoffs tipped off with two first-round matchups Friday, as the Xinjiang Flying Tigers held off a late rally to defeat the Nanjing Monkey Kings 118-111 despite losing star guard Zhao Rui to injury early in the final quarter.
The league's No. 5 to No. 12 seeds began their best-of-three battles for four places in the quarterfinals. With Nanjing's lead guard Kendric Davis sidelined, Lin Wei stepped up with a stellar playoff debut, recording 37 points and 11 assists. But Nanjing were outgunned by a deeper Xinjiang squad.
Former NBA player Montrezl Harrell dominated the paint in the second quarter with 16 points, helping the hosts Xinjiang to a 15-point halftime lead.
Though Nanjing clawed back within three late in the fourth, a crucial basket by Xinjiang center Li Yanzhe sealed the win.
Six Xinjiang players scored in double figures, led by Qi Lin with 25 points.
The Qingdao Eagles used a third-quarter surge and a dominant final stretch to beat the Zhejiang Golden Bulls 112-96.
Wang Ruize exploded for 36 points, including back-to-back three-pointers to open the fourth quarter that ignited a decisive 22-2 run. Zhejiang, typically dangerous from beyond the arc, went cold in the second half and couldn't recover.
Xinjiang and Qingdao both take 1-0 lead in their respective series. ■
Gabe York (L) of Zhejiang Golden Bulls goes for a layup during the playoff 1st round match between Qingdao Eagles and Zhejiang Golden Bulls at the 2024-2025 season of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, April 4, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng)
Sindarius Thornwell (R) of Xinjiang Flying Tigers competes during the playoff 1st round match between Xinjiang Flying Tigers and Nanjing Monkey Kings at the 2024-2025 season of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, April 4, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu)
TJ Leaf (R) of Nanjing Monkey Kings competes against Montrezl Harrell of Xinjiang Flying Tigers during the playoff 1st round match between Xinjiang Flying Tigers and Nanjing Monkey Kings at the 2024-2025 season of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, April 4, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu)
Memi Becirovic (L), head coach of Nanjing Monkey Kings, communicates with the referee during the playoff 1st round match between Xinjiang Flying Tigers and Nanjing Monkey Kings at the 2024-2025 season of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, April 4, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu)
Zhao Rui (bottom) of Xinjiang Flying Tigers gets injured during the playoff 1st round match between Xinjiang Flying Tigers and Nanjing Monkey Kings at the 2024-2025 season of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, April 4, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu)
Tacko Fall (C) of Nanjing Monkey Kings vies for the ball during the playoff 1st round match between Xinjiang Flying Tigers and Nanjing Monkey Kings at the 2024-2025 season of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, April 4, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu)
Tacko Fall (L) of Nanjing Monkey Kings hugs Abudushalamu Abudurexiti of Xinjiang Flying Tigers after the playoff 1st round match between Xinjiang Flying Tigers and Nanjing Monkey Kings at the 2024-2025 season of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, April 4, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu)
Ashton Hagans (R) of Xinjiang Flying Tigers defends Lin Wei of Nanjing Monkey Kings during the playoff 1st round match between Xinjiang Flying Tigers and Nanjing Monkey Kings at the 2024-2025 season of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, April 4, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu)
