Guangdong Southern Tigers player Xu Jie (left) drives to the basket during the game against Xinjiang Flying Tigers in the Chinese Basketball Association in Dongguan, east China's Guangdong province on Jan 7, 2024. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

BEIJING - The Guangdong Southern Tigers snapped the defending champion Liaoning Flying Leopards' five-game winning streak 119-94, while the Beijing Ducks cruised past the Sichuan Blue Whales 96-82 to complete a four-game sweep in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league on Friday.

Guangdong, who had suffered losses in three previous encounters against Liaoning this season, snatched the win through strong second and fourth quarters. Hu Mingxuan scored a game-high 24 points and dished out five assists, and 37-year-old Clarence Weems showed his good form with 22 points and nine rebounds.

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Liaoning swallowed its first defeat since title-winning coach Yang Ming reassumed his position. Zhao Jiwei led the Leopards with 14 points and nine assists, and Zhang Zhenlin added 12 points. Eric Moreland took seven points and 13 rebounds, but was called for an unsportsmanlike foul for tripping Weems.

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"After we lost concentration and defensive intensity, the game was soon put into Guangdong's rhythm. We are not in the best form for the sprint of the regular season," Yang said, adding, "Even though there are difficulties, the team is still aiming to win the title."

All 12 players scored for Beijing, who are fighting for a playoff berth in 10th place. Marcus Keene buried five 3-pointers to notch 19 points, and Lei Meng added 12. For bottom side Sichuan, Wang Xinkai took a new high of 19 points since his arrival, and Jing Hanyi added 17 points.

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Elsewhere, the Tianjin Pioneers stunned the Zhejiang Lions 108-102 thanks to David James' 56 points, the Beijing Royal Fighters defeated the Fujian Sturgeons 120-105, and the Shandong Heroes edged the Ningbo Rockets 98-92.