Zhejiang overcomes Xinjiang to tie CBA playoff semis
The Zhejiang Golden Bulls defeated the Xinjiang Flying Tigers 95-85 on the road on Saturday to tie the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) playoffs semifinal series at 1-1.
After suffering a staggering 35-point defeat in their previous outing, Zhejiang bounced back with vigor from the get-go, as Lu Wenbo ignited the early stages with successive long-range shots.
Xinjiang's Zhao Rui, however, responded with eight points in the opening quarter, guiding his team to a narrow one-point advantage heading into the second period.
Zhejiang then surged ahead with the introduction of guard Carlik Jones, whose scoring prowess sparked a decisive 13-2 run. By halftime, Zhejiang had established a commanding 55-44 lead.
The second half saw Zhejiang maintain their dominance, dictating the tempo of the game while capitalizing on Xinjiang's increasing turnovers.
Despite a spirited comeback led by Zhao in the final quarter, where the deficit was narrowed to just five points, Xinjiang faltered due to crucial turnovers, allowing Zhejiang to extend their lead once more.
Ultimately, Zhejiang emerged victorious over Xinjiang, with Jones contributing 22 points to their triumph.