Arenas season high, T-Mac enjoys 1st straight win

BEIJING - Gilbert Arenas made his brightest performance in China by scoring a season-high 37 points to lead Shanghai Sharks beat Xinjiang Guanghui 107-104 in Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) League on Sunday.

Arenas, who just recovered from a thigh injury, scored 17 out of his 37 points in the third quarter and hit 5 of 8 from beyond the arc during his first match since last December.

"I like people to underestimate me, so I can throw the doubts back to their face with my performance," Arenas said.

Shanghai's captain Liu Wei had 29 points, nine rebounds and eight assists, he grabbed 12 points in the first quarter to help Shanghai set a quick tone.

Von Wafer scored 34 points for Xinjiang and Darnell Jackson, the former Sacramento Kings' forward, replaced James Singleton with 14 points.

Tracy McGrady came out from suspension and finished with 38 points and 13 rebounds as Qingdao Doublestars outscored Jilin Northeast Tigers 104-96 to tastes the first straight win this season.

This is also the first away win of the season for Qingdao, who sit still at bottom of the league.

McGrady, who was out of a one-game suspension for his harsh comments on the officials, also sent 8 assists to his teammates and sealed the victory by hitting a pair of 3-pointers to give Qingdao a 95-85 lead with 3 minutes left.

Despite Stephon Marbury had 17 of his 31 points from the last quarter, defending champions Beijing Ducks suffered a shock defeat by Tianjin Ronggang 80-93.

Beijing finished with a season-low total points as none of the local players scored more than 10 points in the game.

"We just had 50 points after three quarters,it's abnormal," Beijing's coach Min Lulei said. "We lost the match due to a mental problem rather than a physical problem."

Elsewhere, Shandong Gold beat Liaoning Hengye 116-103, Bayi Fubang edged Shanxi Zhongyu 105-101, Guangdong Hongyuan downed Zhejiang Chouzhou109-101, Foshan Long Lions outgunned Zhejiang Guangsha 129-119, Fujian SBS lost to Jiangsu Dragons 102-106.