Chinese rising star Cui Yongxi collected 17 points and 10 rebounds to help the Guangzhou Loong Lions beat the Xinjiang Flying Tigers 99-84 at home in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) League on Wednesday.
Lion's Dallas Moore scored a game high 18 points. Xinjiang's new signing guard Zhao Rui had 15 points, plus three rebounds.
Xinjiang enjoyed a 10-2 run at the beginning, but Guangzhou grabbed three offensive rebounds and gradually brought the rival into a seesaw game. After the first quarter, Guangzhou led 25-23.
Guangzhou made a 10-2 scoring dash midway in the second quarter, taking a 57-46 lead at halftime when Cui had got 12 points.
Xinjiang's center Wu Guanxi suffered his fifth foul before the last quarter. However, Zhu Xuhang hit two three-pointers consecutively and Zhao Rui contributed three points beyond the arc, cutting the deficit to five points after the third quarter.
Xinjiang kept chasing in the fourth quarter, but Moore's jumper and layup in two possessions stopped Xinjiang from taking over the game.
With 3:38 left, Wu was ejected after the sixth foul. Li Yanzhe helped Guangzhou re-establish a double-digit advantage through free throws.
In a clash between two play-offs participants of last season, the Jilin Northeast Tigers edged the Shandong Heroes 95-93.
Nicholas Rakocevic scored a game-high 30 points, and Jiang Yuxing added 19 points.
Elsewhere, The Shanxi Loongs downed the Tianjin Pioneers 124-113, the Shanghai Sharks overpowered the Jiangsu Dragons 105-96, and the Fujian Sturgeons hammered the Ningbo Rockets 109-79.