Clutch Jones leads Xinjiang past Beijing in CBA
In a Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) showdown on Sunday, Dominique Jones made a crucial shot to propel the Xinjiang Flying Tigers to a nail-biting 94-91 comeback victory over the Beijing Ducks.
The game saw a fiery performance from substitute Zeng Fanbo, who inspired Beijing to a 30-22 lead midway through the second quarter. Represented by Zeng, Lei Meng, and T.J. Leaf, Beijing's frontline dominated the first half, stifling Xinjiang's offense and preventing the home team from finding their rhythm.
Beijing maintained a steady barrage of long-range shots, extending their lead to 11 points in the fourth quarter. However, consecutive three-pointers from Qi Lin signaled the start of Xinjiang's comeback.
In a pivotal moment, Xinjiang center Li Yanzhe blocked Fan Ziming's dunk attempt, paving the way for Jones to take control of the game with a clutch shot, ultimately securing Xinjiang's victory.
Jones contributed 21 points, 19 assists, and seven rebounds for Xinjiang.
In another highly anticipated match, the Liaoning Flying Leopards suffered a meltdown in the second quarter, managing only 12 points. This allowed the Zhejiang Golden Bulls to surge ahead and build an insurmountable lead and ultimately secure a commanding 96-69 victory.
Elsewhere on Sunday, the Nanjing Monkey Kings beat the Jiangsu Dragons 95-79, the Shandong Heroes overcame the Fujian Sturgeons 120-109, the Shanghai Sharks won over the Tianjin Pioneers 122-103, the Guangdong Southern Tigers defeated the Beijing Royal Fighters 121-107, and the Guangzhou Loong Lions beat the Shenzhen Leopards 115-106.