Published: 09:53, June 24, 2020 | Updated: 23:52, June 5, 2023
CBA: Guangzhou upset Liaoning, Nanjing beat Beijing
By Xinhua

Guo Ailun (center) of Liaoning competes during a match between Liaoning Flying Leopards and Guangzhou Loong Lions at the newly resumed 2019-2020 Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, on June 23, 2020. (LI ZIHENG / XINHUA)

QINGDAO - The Liaoning Flying Leopards, who just activated the former NBA star OJ Mayo, lost to the Guangzhou Loong Lions 106-102, while the Nanjing Monkey Kings beat the Beijing Ducks 93-90 in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league on Tuesday.

OJ Mayo did a great job today, showed good skill and sense, but he still needs to integrate into the team as soon as possible.

Guo Shiqiang, head coach of Liaoning Flying Leopards

Liaoning's Guo Ailun finished with a game-high 32 points, and Han Dejun had 24 points and 14 rebounds. Mayo, the No 3 overall pick of the 2008 NBA draft, had 28 points and six rebounds. Marcus Georges-Hunt collected 29 points and 15 rebounds for Guangzhou.

Guangzhou took its biggest lead of the game at 24-8 in the first quarter, but Liaoning bounced back to tie the score at 46-46 going into halftime.

Mayo's three-pointer gave Liaoning a 91-88 lead midway through the fourth, before Hunt scored seven points in a row to put Guangzhou 99-95 up with 2:23 left in the game.

Chen Yingjun sealed the victory for Guangzhou with a jump shot and 4-for-4 shooting from the free throw line.

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OJ Mayo (right) of Liaoning competes during a match between Liaoning Flying Leopards and Guangzhou Loong Lions at the newly resumed 2019-2020 Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, on June 23, 2020. (LI ZIHENG / XINHUA)

"OJ Mayo did a great job today, showed good skill and sense, but he still needs to integrate into the team as soon as possible," said Guo Shiqiang, head coach of Liaoning.

The Nanjing Monkey Kings claimed their first victory since the CBA restarted by edging powerhouse Beijing 93-90. Jeremy Lin finished with 15 points, five assists and four steals for Beijing. The former NBA star had a chance to tie the game by making both foul shots in the last seconds, but missed the first free throw.

Iranian center Hamed Haddadi had 18 points and 12 rebounds for Nanjing while Joseph Young added 15 points and 11 assists. Beijing's Zhu Yanxi scored a game-high 24 points including six three-pointers.

In Tuesday's other games, Zhao Yanhao scored a game-high 23 points to help Zhejiang Lions win the derby game 118-93, while Guangdong Southeast Tigers routed the Jiangsu Dragons 119-71 for their 16th straight win. Elsewhere, the Jilin Northeast Tigers beat the Fujian Sturgeons 112-107, and the Beijing Royal Fighters defeated the Shandong Heroes 103-94.