Beijing Ducks clinches 10th straight victory

(chinadaily.com.cn/Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-12-12

Min Lulei, head coach of Beijing Ducks, reacts during their 10th round of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league game against Jiangsu Dragons in Nanjing, East China's Jiangsu province, Dec 11, 2011. [Photo/CFP]

BEIJING - Beijing Ducks defeated Jiangsu Dragons 109-98 on road to extend the winning streak to 10 at the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league on Sunday.

After pocketing the victory, Beijing remained at the top place of the league with a record-making 10-0 winning run.

Former NBA star Stephon Marbury became Beijing's hero again by grabbing 22 points and 10 assists. Center Randolph Morris wrapped up the team high 25 points and 15 rebounds. Beijing captain Chen Lei harvested five 3-pointers, adding 21 points.

Though 14 places higher above the host team in the current CBA ranking, Beijing experienced a close game in the first three quarters.

Jiangsu, who used to be one of the CBA title challengers in the past few seasons, battled against the league leaders from the very beginning of the game. Meng Da and Liu Yahui helped the hosts to enjoy a 8-4 lead, but Beijing started to fight back with a 9-0 spurt to overtake the lead.

Beijing managed to extend the lead to nine points, but Jiangsu refused to surrender, trimming the gap to three points at the end of the first quarter.

Neither team took decisive lead in the following two quarters. Jiangsu's scorer Jackson Vroman was fouled out in the third quarter, and Jiangsu lost the energy afterwards.

Beijing started the final quarter with an 8-0 surge, keeping widening the gap in the following time. Jiangsu's Meng resisted the rival with his three pointers, but failed to save his team.

Jiangsu's Meng took a team high 23 points. Vroman added 22 points and 7 rebounds.

Stephon Marbury (R) of Beijing Ducks and Jackson Vroman (L) of Jiangsu Dragons battle for a rebound during the two team's 10th round of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league game in Nanjing, East China's Jiangsu province, Dec 11, 2011. [Photo/CFP]

Defending champion Guangdong Hongyuan ran back to the winning track by beating Jilin Northeast Tigers 101-95 to knock down the team's fifth straight victory. Aaron Brooks contributed 17 points and 11 assists for Guangdong, and forward Dong Hanlin made a team high 26 points and 12 rebounds.

Dongguan Marco Polo, the third-placed team in last regular season, recovered from the disastrous performance at the beginning of this season by outscoring Zhejiang Guangsha 101-94. Dongguan's Joshua Akognon made the team-high 28 points.

In Sunday's other games, Xinjiang Guanghui beat Foshan Long Dragons 102-96, Fujian SBS beat Shanghai sharks 95-93, Shanxi Zhongyu beat Shandong Gold 106-86, Bayi Fubang beat Qingdao Doublestar 100-95, Zhejiang Chouzhou beat Tianjin Ronggang 103-91.