NANCHANG - The Shanghai Sharks beat the Shenzhen Aviators 87-82 to progress to the semifinals of the Chinese Basketball Association playoffs in Nanchang on Sunday.

Shanghai center Wang Zhelin scored a game-high 25 points and 14 rebounds, while his teammate Jamaal Franklin contributed 19 points

Shanghai center Wang Zhelin scored a game-high 25 points and 14 rebounds, while his teammate Jamaal Franklin contributed 19 points.

The first quarter saw the score rise alternatively until the last minute, when Wang made one of two free throws to tie the score 21-21. Shanghai enlarged the gap to 47-40 in the last three minutes before the half-time whistle as Franklin made two three-pointers.

After the break, Shanghai faced a period of offensive stagnation, gifting Shenzhen an opportunity to make a 64-59 comeback by delivering an 18-3 run. Noah Vonleh nailed a critical three-pointer and assisted Guo Haowen to cut the deficit. The decisive moment came after the score reached 75-74, when Wang's four consecutive points laid the foundation for Shanghai's eventual victory.

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"We knew the game would be difficult, but today we were fully prepared. Shenzhen have top-level overseas players, so the game was closely contested. This result should be dedicated to collective efforts," said Wang after the game.

Elsewhere, the Zhejiang Lions also progressed to the semifinals by defeating the Jilin Northeast Tigers 110-100.

Zhejiang's Jarrod Jones notched a team-high 30 points, while Sun Minghui grabbed 22 points.

Dominique Jones made six out of eight shots to help Jilin establish a 25-17 advantage in the beginning. In the second quarter, Hu Jinqiu's continuous scoring under the basket helped Zhejiang fight back. Jarrod Jones' three-pointer led to a 51-51 draw before the interval.

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In the second half, Zhejiang dominated the third half 81-74 due to Jahlil Okafor and Hu's cooperation in the paint. Though Jilin managed to tie the scores at 89-89 in the final period, Zhejiang locked the win with a 9-0 run.

Both Shanghai and Zhejiang advanced to the next round with a 2-0 win record.