ZHUJI, China, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- Two streaks were put to the end here on Friday as Liaoning lost for the first time after nine games in the 2020-21 season of Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league while Tianjin finally enjoyed their first victory by beating Jilin 99-91.
Before the game between Shandong and Liaoning, CBA chairman Yao Ming showed up on the court to present at the retiring ceremony of Zhang Qingpeng.
In 675 games in his 20-year career, 39-year-old Zhang scored 7,303 points, hitting 1,274 three-pointers and won one CBA title. He played for Liaoning, Xinjiang, Beijing before retired as a player of Shandong. The names of the four teams are marked on his No. 9 jersey, which was handed to him by Yao on the ceremony.
"Thank you, basketball, for teaching me not to give up even when I was exhausted, to keep the hope to win," said Zhang in his speech.
The spirit of the veteran motivated Team Shandong to beat last season's runner-up Liaoning 128-127 in the first overtime this season. Gao Shiyan, who played for Liaoning last season, hit the crucial three-pointer with 2.2 second left on the clock. Liaoning suffered their first loss this season.
Manny Harris had a game high 42 points for Shandong while Gao contributed 21 points, five rebounds and six assists.
Although they started the season with eight-game losing streak, Tianjin dominated the game against Jilin after tip-off despite of the latter's 7-1 record. With their performance behind the arc, in the first quarter, Tianjin soon took a 29-17 lead and extended their advantage to more than 20 points after halftime. Jilin managed to cut the deficit to single digit in the fourth quarter before Marko Todorovic's jumper secured the triumph for Tianjin.
Todorovich had 28 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists for Tianjin.
In other games, Qingdao defeated Guangzhou 97-94. Jiangsu beat Tongxi 108-93, Beijing Royal Fighters smashed Xinjiang 109-78, and Shanghai lost to Guangsha 102-98. Enditem