Defending champions Liaoning smash Shandong in first round of CBA

BEIJING - American Brandon Bass scored a game-high 25 points to help defending champions Liaoning smash Shandong 113-92 at home as the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league kicked off the 2018-19 season on Sunday.

Shandong led the first quarter 29-28, before Liaoning had a better second quarter to win the first half 53-46. The hosts managed to maintain their 7-point lead through the third quarter and expanded their advantage with a 13-0 run in the last quarter to seal the comfortable victory.

Lester Hudson scored 24 points for Liaoning, Han Dejun and Guo Ailun added 23 and 20 points respectively. Andrew Goudelock scored a team-high 19 points for Shandong, and Donatas Motiejunas contributed 18 points and 9 rebounds.

With six players scoring double figures, Guangdong edged Beijing 87-84. Guangdong led the first quarter 15-9, and but saw their advantage diminished to three after the third quarter.

Malcolm Delaney scored a three-pointer to put Guangdong four points ahead with 15.2 seconds left. After Zhu Yanxin failed to score his long-range shot, Beijing resorted to a foul strategy. Yi Jianlian made a pair of free throws to ensure the victory for Guangdong.

Aaron Jackson of Beijing scored a game-high 20 points, and Fang Shuo got 19 points. Malcolm Delaney and Sonny Weems scored 19 and 17 points for Guangdong, with Yi adding 10 points and 12 rebounds.

In other games, Qingdao beat Tongxi 118-91, Shenzhen hammered Long Lions 123-107, Shanghai edged Bayi 87-83, Guangsha beat Fujian 119-105, Jilin smashed Tianjin 108-89, Xinjiang defeated Jiangsu 101-93, Zhejiang edged Aolong 110-107, Shanxi beat Sichuan 97-91.