Liaoning cages Lions as perfect record ends

China international Guo Ailun shone with 35 points as the Liaoning Flying Leopards inflicted a first loss of the CBA season on the Zhejiang Lions, winning 112-100.

The defending champion Guangdong Southern Tigers also saw their win streak end thanks to a 124-101 defeat to the Zhejiang Golden Bulls on Saturday, meaning no team has a perfect record after seven rounds of action in the bio-secure bubble in Zhuji, Zhejiang province.

Guo shot 14 of 26 from the floor, including 3 of 5 from deep, and dished out 12 assists.

On Monday, Guo was named the CBA's Player of the Week. With 49.3 percent shooting from the field and 73.3 percent from 3-point range, Guo averaged 31 points, 4 rebounds and 9.7 assists between the fifth and seventh rounds, leading Liaoning to three straight wins during that period.

Sun Minghui led the Lions' scoring with 32 points and 11 assists while conceding 10 turnovers.

"We played one and a half quarters of good basketball," said Lions head coach Wang Bo. "But we struggled to deal with Liaoning's change of defensive tactics."

Both Sun and Wang were called for technical fouls after protesting a decision which penalized a foul on Guo. Guo held his nerve to convert the resulting two free throws, and Liaoning pulled away to end the Lions' six-game win streak.

Liaoning head coach Yang Ming said his players executed their game plan well, and was particularly pleased with their mean defense.

"The game was in our hands since the second quarter," he said.

Meanwhile, league newcomers the Ningbo Rockets are still searching for their first victory of the campaign after losing 110-85 to the Shanxi Loongs.

The Guangzhou Loong Lions edged the Jilin Northeast Tigers 95-94 in a thriller.

Leading 94-93 with 8.5 seconds left, Jilin was awarded two free throws. Guangzhou head coach Guo Shiqiang thought that Jilin's Dai Huaibo should have picked up a traveling violation before the foul took place, and strongly voiced his dissatisfaction with the officials to prompt a 10-minute delay.

Jilin's Cui Jinming missed two free throws, and Chen Yingjun made a driving layup with 1.8 seconds to play, helping Guangzhou escape with a win.

"Players kept their nerve on the court, and Chen executed well in the last possession," said coach Guo.

After losing the previous encounter between the sides, the Shanghai Sharks exacted some revenge on the Beijing Ducks with a 105-86 victory.

Jamaal Franklin paced Shanghai with 33 points, 8 rebounds and 9 assists.

Wang Zhelin chipped in with 25 points and 16 rebounds.

Jeremy Lin is still waiting to make his second debut for the Ducks after the team decided the 33-year-old guard is not quite up to speed fitness-wise following his arrival from the United States.

Xinhua