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Liaoning, Sichuan win in CBA semifinal opener

Xinhua, February 26, 2016 Adjust font size:

With a 116-114 overtime win, Liaoning claimed a difficult road victory in the Game 1 of the semifinals of Chinese Basketball Association league (CBA) playoffs on Friday.

Five players of Guangdong and six of Liaoning scored double digits. Liaoning's three-pointer rain established a lead of 12 points in the end of first period and the lead increased to more than 20 points in the second quarter. Due to Yi Jianlian and Ike Diogu' s shots, Guangdong gradually narrowed the gap in the second half. The two teams tied 104-104 after four periods and the game continued into extra-time.

Liaoning led 4 points with 30 seconds left in the overtime. Guangdong's Zhu Fangyu and Justin Carter' s shots tied the score again. Liaoning' s He Tianju made two free-throws and scored the final two points of the whole game and Guangdong failed to make the basket in the final possessions of 3.6 seconds.

In the other matchup, Sichuan edged Xinjiang 114-113 at home to lead the best-of-five series 1-0.

The foreign trio of Sichuan combined for 77 points and 31 boards and Meng Da scored 24 points, including four three-pointers. Xinjiang' s Bryce Cotton got a team-high 35 points, Andray Blatche contributed 23 points, Xiralijan Muhta scored 18 points and Zhou Qi had 18 and 17 points respectively, and Yu Changdong added 10 points.

Xinjiang' s seven turnovers helped Sichuan to lead 12 points in the end of first period. In the second quarter, Bryce Cotton' s three-pointer rain and Andray Blatche' s continuous 11 points made Xinjiang to lead 54-53 but Sichuan quickly overtook the lead and never trailed after that.

In the second half, Sichuan led as many as to 17 points. Xinjiang strived to narrow the gap to 3 points with 0.9 second left of the game but by then it was too late to save the team.

Game 2 of the semifinals will be in Liaoning' s and Xinjiang' s home courts on Sunday. Endit