(Xinhua photo)
BEIJING, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- Guangdong's successful defense against Shanghai's Jimmer Fredette ensured the hosting team a good start for 2017 as they beat league leaders Shanghai 116-107 in the 24th round of the 2016-2017 Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) action on Sunday.
Without top star Yi Jianlian, host players did a great job in defense, grabbing 51 rebounds, 13 more than those from Shanghai. Fredette's game-high 35 points were not good enough for Shanghai to win. Guangdong's Zhou Peng earned a team-high 30 points while Donald Sloan and Carlos Boozer combined for 48 points.
Liaoning got their fifth straight win beating Shenzhen 115-101 at home as Lester Hudson got a game-high 38 points and eight rebounds, and four other Liaoning players got two-digit points.
Three-time league champions Beijing beat Tianjin 109-83 at home, stopping the three-game losing streak. Beijing's Fang Shuo got a game-high 39 points and four assists.
Elsewhere on Sunday, Shanxi smashed Jilin 112-99, Fujian edged Guangzhou 101-99, Jiangsu hammered the defending champions Sichuan 110-94, Tongxi lost to Xinjiang 104-89, Shandong beat Aolong 120-113, Qingdao stunned Zhejiang 108-106, and Guangsha beat Bayi 84-72.
