Zhang Zhenlin (left) of Liaoning Flying Leopards competes during the 8th round match between Liaoning Flying Leopards and Ningbo Rockets at the 2021-2022 season of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league in Zhuji, east China's Zhejiang province, Nov 2, 2021. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

ZHUJI, China - Chinese Basketball Association league (CBA) title favorites the Liaoning Flying Leopards pocketed their eighth consecutive win on Thursday after winning over the Beijing Royal Fighters 97-86 here on Thursday.

Star guard Guo Ailun contributed 10 points, six rebounds and five assists to his team's victory. Kyle Fogg scored 31 points to lead Liaoning.

Fogg brought Liaoning a double-digit advantage in the midway of the first quarter, and an 8-0 point dash lifted Liaoning a 50-35 lead before the half break.

Beijing tried to close the gap in the final quarter but never seemed like a serious threat to overtake Liaoning.

"Our situation is not good because we are not excited enough," Yang Ming, coach of Liaoning, said in the post-game press conference.

"We have one game to play in the first phase of this season, and we will try our best to compete," Yang added.

The Beijing Royal Fighters tried to close the gap in the final quarter but never seemed like a serious threat to overtake the Liaoning Flying Leopards

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Jamaal Franklin scored 39 points and the Shanghai Sharks defeated the Zhejiang Golden Bulls 112-103 for its eighth straight victory in the 12th round of the 2021-2022 regular season.

Wang Zhelin added 24 points, plus 13 points, and Ren Junwei had 15 points. Wu Qian of Zhejiang had 22 points and eight assists.

The Sharks led by seven in the first period before the Golden Bulls cut it to 66-65 at halftime.

Franklin and Wang helped Shanghai build a nine-point advantage in the midway of the third quarter. At the beginning of the fourth quarter, the duo made the game beyond their rivals' reach by stretching out a double-digit advantage.

READ MORE: CBA: Franklin leads Shanghai to 7th straight victory

In the other CBA games played on Thursday, the Shandong Heroes smashed the Ningbo Rockets 111-75, the Shenzhen Aviators rolled past the Tianjin Pioneers 131-104, the Sichuan Blue Whales won over the Fujian Sturgeons 100-90 and the Nanjing Monkey Kings lost to the Shanxi Loongs 122-90.