Antonio Blakeney (center) of Jiangsu Dragons vies for the ball during the playoff 1st round match between Shanghai Sharks and Jiangsu Dragons at the 2022-2023 season of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league in east China's Shanghai, April 9, 2023. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

BEIJING - The Guangzhou Loong Lions thrashed the Shandong Heroes 93-76, while the Shanghai Sharks routed the Jiangsu Dragons 119-95 as the 2022-23 Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) started its best-of-three first round playoffs on Sunday.

After a close first quarter, Shandong lost their scoring rhythm in the subsequent two quarters, making no more than 18 points in each quarter down the stretch to 12 points behind heading into the last period.

The other two first-round encounters in the playoffs, featuring the Zhejiang Lions vs the Shanxi Loongs, and the Beijing Ducks vs the Jilin Northeast Tigers, will begin on Monday

Guangzhou continued their momentum to open the fourth quarter with an 8-1 scoring run. Shandong attempted to narrow the gap through free throws and 3-pointers, but could not restrain Chen Ying-chun and Nathaniel Mason. Guangzhou widened their advantage to 20 points with three minutes left.

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Five Guangzhou players scored in double digits, led by Zhu Mingzhen with 23 points. Shandong struggled from 3-point range, only making 7 of 32.

Shanghai center Wang Zhelin dominated the paint against Jiangsu, scoring 25 points in the first half. Shanghai made it a one-sided game through a 13-2 scoring dash early in the third quarter, and kept their advantage at around 20 points until the end.

Wang pocketed a game-high 33 points along with 12 rebounds, and teammate Romelo Trimble contributed 25 points and 11 assists.

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The other two first-round encounters in the playoffs, featuring the Zhejiang Lions vs the Shanxi Loongs, and the Beijing Ducks vs the Jilin Northeast Tigers, will begin on Monday.