Zhang Hao (left) of Guangdong Southeast vies for the ball during the 8th round match between Guangdong Southeast Tigers and Fujian Sturgeons at the 2021-2022 season of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league in Zhuji, east China's Zhejiang province, Nov 1, 2021. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

ZHUJI, China - The Guangdong Southern Tigers defeated the Fujian Sturgeons 98-91, while the Shandong Heroes smashed the Nanjing Monkey Kings 107-89 in the only two games of the 2021-22 Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) season here on Monday.

Ren Junfei had a game-high 37 points, while Zhou Peng added 17. Su Wei contributed 14 points and 14 rebounds for Guangdong. Chen Linjian led Fujian with 26 points, followed by 19 from Ou Junxuan and Huang Yichao.

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Rallying from 26-27 in the first quarter, the defending champions took a 13-0 run in the second and overtook the lead at 46-37 at the break. In the third quarter, Guangdong expanded the lead to 17 points with an 8-2 run and put the game beyond reach.

Tao Hanlin scored 31 points for Shandong. Gao Shiyan finished with 24 points, eight rebounds and 10 assists. Qiao Wenhan added 13 points. As for Nanjing, Xiralian had a team-high 20 points, followed by 19 from Wang Zirui. Sun Rongxiao added 12 points.

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After leading 25-23 in the first quarter, Shandong took the lead on 49-39 at the break with a 10-0 spurt in the second period, refused Nanjing's comeback in the final quarter with another 9-0 run and expanded the advantage to 20 points.