|
BEIJING, March 3 (Xinhua) -- Xinjiang defeated Liaoning 111-103 on Sunday in Game 5 of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league semifinals, winning the best-of-seven series by 4-1.
Awaiting Xinjiang in the finals are eight-time CBA champions Guangdong, who advanced to the finals also with a 4-1 record after beating Shenzhen 103-90 on Sunday.
Xinjiang, which had previously reached the CBA finals four times, will be seeking their first league title when the finals, also a best-of-seven series, start on March 31 in Xinjiang.
Facing Liaoning Sunday nigt in Benxi, Xinjiang rebounded from Friday's controversial defeat and hit their form quickly in the game, opening with a 9-0 run and leading as many as 12 points in the first half.
However, Liaoning fought back after the break. Despite the absence of its star player Guo Ailun, the home side tied the game 84-84 to head into the fourth quarter.
Darius Adams scored nine pionts in a row to set up a six-point lead for Xinjiang before Liaoning responded with a 9-0 run to regain the advantage. But Adams stood out again to lead a 7-0 run for Xinjiang to secure the victory.
Adams finished with match-high 48 points and seven rebounds. Zhou Qi had 22 points and 11 rebounds. Lester Hudson scored 33 points to lead five players in double figures for Liaoning, Zhao Jiwei contributed 16 points and a career-high 12 assits.
Guangdong led from start to finish against Shenzhen. Yi Jianlian, who only scored eight points in last game, bounced back with 29 point, 11 rebounds and 4 blocks. Carlos Boozer and Zhou peng finished with 25 points and 20 points respectively.
Guangdong ran away from Shenzhen with a dominant first half by leading 62-40. Shenzhen cut the lead to 86-97 midway the fourth quarter, but they were held scoreless for the next two minutes as the visitors headed for the win.
