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Marbury's 29 points fail to save Beijing in CBA playoffs opener

Xinhua, February 15, 2016 Adjust font size:

Defending champion Beijing lost at home to Xinjiang 117-105 in the first round of Chinese Basketball Association league (CBA) playoffs on Monday, falling 0-1 behind in the best-of-five series.

Former NBA star Stephon Marbury, 39, got a team-high 29 points and five rebounds, Randolph Morris scored 20 points, and Zhang Qingpeng pocketed 17 points.

In Xinjiang's side, Andray Blatche scored a game-high 39 points and 16 rebounds. Li Gen added 18 points. Korambek Makhan, Shirelijan Muxtar and Zhou Qi collected 14 points respectively.

Xinjiang launched a 7-0 run at the opening stage, then Sun Yue and Zhai Xiaochuan narrowed the gap to two points. Two teams traded lead and Beijing led one point when the first quarter ended.

As Muxtar and Andray Blatche hit three three-pointers in the second quarter, Min Lulei, coach of Beijing, called a timeout.

From then on, though Beijing trailing the visitors 10 points, veteran Stephon Marbury scored five points in a row to boost his side. With a total of seven three three-pointers in the second quarter, Xinjiang grabbed a 59-50 advantage.

After grabbing the 15-point lead, Xinjiang extended its advantage to 21 points thanks to Andray Blatche' s super performance at the very beginning of the last quarter, and nailed the 117-105 victory.

Elsewhere on Monday, Sichuan overwhelmed Guangsha 139-98. Two foreign players Justin Dentmon and Mike Harris contributed 71 points for the winner.

Yi Jianlian, the former NBA player of Milwaukee Bucks, helped Guangdong beat Shandong 95-81 with 16 points and 11 rebounds.

Last season's runner-up Liaoning defeated Zhejiang 116-108. Endit