The Beijing Ducks defeated the Shanghai Sharks 111-107 in overtime (OT) in Beijing on Sunday, beginning their new Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) season with a victory.
Beijing missed multiple key players including Fang Shuo, Zhai Xiaochuan, Zeng Fanbo and Zhou Qi because of suspension and injuries. With more available forces, Shanghai were leading from the beginning, but not by much. They finished the first quarter up 29-26 and the second 59-51.
Tremont Waters got 13 points and seven assists for Shanghai in the first half while his teammate D. J. Wilson contributed 12 points, four rebounds and three assists. On Beijing’s side, Nuni Omot scored 12 points in the first two quarters, but Richard Solomon and Eugene German combined to shoot 4-for-14 from the field.
Shanghai continued to outpower Beijing in the third quarter. Wang Zhelin dropped seven points and two rebounds within three minutes, extending Shanghai’s lead to 16 points at 77-61. However, the visitors seemed to get too comfortable with their advantage, allowing an 11-0 run by the Ducks. The home team managed to cut their deficit to seven points, 84-77, when this quarter ended.
Chen Ying-Chun finally made his first 3-pointer for Beijing in the fourth quarter and then he continued to knock down another two for the team to rally. His third triple gave Beijing a two-point lead, 101-99, with 44 seconds left. Li Tianrong tied the score for Shanghai with a layup and then blocked a game-winning attempt by Chen, dragging the game into OT.
Beijing began OT by missing five shots, but German completed a key three-point play and drew the sixth personal foul by Wang. German drained a significant three to put his side on top 109-107 when there were 46 seconds left. Shanghai then committed two lethal turnovers, a steal by Zhang Cairen and another by German, blowing their final chances for a comeback win.