Wang Zhelin leads Fujian to win over Beijing Royal Fighters in CBA

DONGGUAN - With a game-high 37 points and 15 rebounds, center Wang Zhelin was in mid-season form to help the Fujian Sturgeons beat the Beijing Royal Fighters 121-108 in the 2019-2020 Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) season on Sunday.

Wang dismantled Beijing's defense, shooting an incredible 14 for 20 in 38 minutes. His teammate Ty Lawson also contributed 36 points and 11 assists in the victory. Kyle Fogg scored a team-high 32 points for Beijing.

"It was a tough game and we were not ourselves at the beginning. We still had problems at the defensive end and hope everyone can keep working hard," said Wang at the post-game press conference.

"Tonight was a very difficult game for us. We didn't play with any passion and fire," commented Beijing's head coach Stephon Marbury.

Lawson and Fogg were on fire in the first quarter to carry their respective teams. Beijing could not make shots, merely scoring one three-pointer on 13 attempts in the first half, while Fujian kept attacking the rim to comfortably lead 63-52 at halftime.

Wang turned in an unstoppable performance for Fujian in the paint in the second half, shooting 8 for 12, which broke Beijing in the last minutes as they struggled to regroup at the defensive end.

"We were just like we did not know what to do on the basketball court, and I take the responsibility for that," Marbury said.