The Shanxi Loongs edged the Liaoning Flying Leopards 103-100 on the road in Shenyang, northeast China’s Liaoning Province, on Thursday, giving the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) defending champions their first loss since the 2024-25 regular season began.
Liaoning knocked down 16 triples out of 37 attempts in the game. Marial Shayok scored 21 points and three steals for the home team. Kyle Fogg contributed court-high 30 points off the bench. However, the team saw too little from the other four of their starters, none of which reached double-digit points. Their starting point guard Zhao Jiwei got only eight points and six assists with six turnovers.
Liaoning led 100-94 when there were two minutes left in the fourth quarter, but then suffered a 9-0 run. Xing Zhiqiang first completed a significant four-point play in front of Fogg and then denied a layup attempt by Wang Lanqin.
Brandon Goodwin tied the score 100-100 for Shanxi. Liaoning soon turned the ball over in their next attack after Han Dejun travelled. Xing’s 3-pointer ended a brick, but Zhang Ning grabbed the offensive rebound and passed it to Goodwin, who drained the game-winning shot in front of Zhao.
Liaoning had two chances to drag the game into overtime (OT) in the final 13 seconds, but both Fogg and Zhao missed their shots from downtown.
Shanxi matched Liaoning with the same 5-1 record after the victory.