CBA Roundup: Qingdao upset three-time league champion Beijing

The powerhouse Beijing, led by former NBA star Stephon Marbury, were stunned by Qingdao 84-74 in the 21st round of the 2016-2017 Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) action on Sunday.

With two three-pointers from Tian Jiafu, Qingdao established a 18-1 lead and Beijing called two timeouts in the first seven minutes.

Zhang Qingpeng and Sun Yue contributed three-pointers in the second quarter, helping Beijing narrow the gap from 22 points to 13 points.

The difference came to 20 points in the third quarter, as Dominique Joes and Loukas Mavrokefalidis of Qingdao staged nice teamwork.

Beijing managed to cut the deficit to 10 points only one minute left in the last quarter.

Mavrokefalidis, a center from Greece, got a game-high 27 points and nine rebounds, and Joes contributed 15 points. For Beijing, Zhang Qingpeng grabbed 17 points and Marbury added 11 points.

"We lost to Tianjin with big deficit last round. Our players were eager to win tonight, and they did have strong defense and patient teamwork," said Qingdao coach Gong Xiaobin.

"Mavrokefalidis, who just joined us, did an excellent job and contributed a lot for the team," Gong added.

In Sunday's other games, Tianjin overwhelmed Bayi 92-80, Liaoning trounced Jiangsu112-97, Jilin defeated Guangzhou 90-81, Shanghai beat Tongxi 117-108, Sichuan smashed Guangsha 123-91, Zhejiang tamed Fujian 120-112, Shandong edged Shanxi 107-104, Guangdong won over Shenzhen 107-100 in overtime, and Xinjiang hammered Aolong 131-99. Endit