Bayi Loses Second Game Without Wang ZhizhiDefending champions Bayi Rockets lost the second game of the season without Wang Zhizhi, who caught a cold, as they were beaten 139-119 by Jilin Northeast Tigers in Changchun, capital city of Northeast Jilin Province, on Wednesday.This is the first time that the five-time champions Bayi lost more than one game in one season, and also Jilin's first victory over Bayi in the league, which enters its sixth year. The dominant Bayi were hammered in the season-opening game when they were defeated by the Shanghai Sharks, 101-96. With pivot Wang watching in the bench, Bayi struggled to hold on the scoreline in the first three quarters, before they were cracked down in the decisive fourth quarter. In the highest scoring game of the season, both sides kept run in the offence as they ended the third quarter on 95-95. Jilin broke away at the start of the fourth quarter with a 13-0 run to edge off Bayi 44-24 in the final 12 minutes. Forward Sun Jun and Li Aijun got 32 and 28 points apiece for Jilin. "The absence of Wang is the big factor for our loss," said Bayi 's coach Wang Fei. In Wednesday's other games, Beijing Ducks beat Jinan Army 97-80, Zhejiang Cyclone defeated winless Shenyang Army 99-85, Liaoning Hunters thrashed Guangdong Hongyuan 101-79. The leaders Shanghai Sharks extended the unbeaten run to four games as they disposed off Shandong Flaming Bulls 92-78 on the road, while the Vanguard Aoshen kept home winning streak with a 106-79 crash of Jiangsu Dragons. |
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