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Dragons take huge bite out of Sharks
By Andrew Crawford |
February 4, 2012, Saturday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
DESPITE a plucky first half, the Shanghai Sharks collapsed to another defeat, this time falling 108-119 to the Shanxi Brave Dragons in Taiyuan after stellar performances from the hosts' overseas duo, Marcus Williams and Charles Gaines.
The Dragons looked confident early on and opened up a small lead as Williams quickly found his rhythm with a flurry of clutch shots from all around the court.
The Sharks came storming back just before the break thanks to Liu Wei and Mike Harris, who took advantage of Williams being withdrawn to the bench to open up an unlikely lead. Without their main scoring outlet, the Dragons struggled to find any momentum and Shanghai finished the stronger to go into the interval leading 57-55.
With both Williams and Gaines on court after the break, the Dragons rediscovered their attacking brilliance. When Williams put the hosts up 91-81 at the buzzer, the Sharks had been outscored 36-24 in the crucial third quarter.
Things were becoming embarrassing for the Sharks when Shanxi took its score into triple figures with nine minutes still to play in the fourth quarter after Williams drilled home a tricky jump shot. Gaines, seemingly transformed from his sluggish start to the game, extended the lead to 20 points shortly afterwards.
Williams scored 44 points and Gaines added 37 for the Dragons. Harris also scored 37 points but the Sharks' CBA playoff hopes are fast fading.
Elsewhere, it was: Beijing Ducks 122, Tianjin Lions 112; Zhejiang Bulls 121, Shandong Flaming Bulls 115; and Xinjiang Tigers 99, Guangsha Lions 69.
The Dragons looked confident early on and opened up a small lead as Williams quickly found his rhythm with a flurry of clutch shots from all around the court.
The Sharks came storming back just before the break thanks to Liu Wei and Mike Harris, who took advantage of Williams being withdrawn to the bench to open up an unlikely lead. Without their main scoring outlet, the Dragons struggled to find any momentum and Shanghai finished the stronger to go into the interval leading 57-55.
With both Williams and Gaines on court after the break, the Dragons rediscovered their attacking brilliance. When Williams put the hosts up 91-81 at the buzzer, the Sharks had been outscored 36-24 in the crucial third quarter.
Things were becoming embarrassing for the Sharks when Shanxi took its score into triple figures with nine minutes still to play in the fourth quarter after Williams drilled home a tricky jump shot. Gaines, seemingly transformed from his sluggish start to the game, extended the lead to 20 points shortly afterwards.
Williams scored 44 points and Gaines added 37 for the Dragons. Harris also scored 37 points but the Sharks' CBA playoff hopes are fast fading.
Elsewhere, it was: Beijing Ducks 122, Tianjin Lions 112; Zhejiang Bulls 121, Shandong Flaming Bulls 115; and Xinjiang Tigers 99, Guangsha Lions 69.
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