FUZHOU, China, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- With four players scoring 20-plus points, Qingdao Eagles had a close 125-119 away win over Fujian Sturgeons in the third round of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) here on Thursday, awarding the host their third straight defeat.
Darius Adams registered 34 points and six rebounds to spur Qingdao to its second win of the season while Dakari Johnson had a double-double of 26 points and 16 rebounds. Wang Qingming and Zhang Chengyu added 23 and 21 respectively.
Ty Lawson, who came off the bench for Fujian, had a game-high 40 points and eight rebounds. He was joined by center Wang Zhelin, who contributed 33 points and nine rebounds, yet unable to snatch their losing streak.
Wang Zhelin was hot in the opening minutes with two dunks, adding 11 points to Fujian's 27-22 lead in the first quarter. The two sides exchange lead from time to time later on, before Qingdao had an 11-0 run being 42-46 down to break the deadlock and concluded the first half 60-52.
A buzzer beater 3-pointer made by Lawson near the center cycle ignited the home crowd as Fujian headed into the last period being 88-86 ahead. When the game stood at 108-108, Adams scored eight points in three consecutive possession to tip the winning scale for Qingdao but Wang Zhelin answered with five points to keep Fujian in the game. However, Adams hit a 3-pointer from downtown to kill the game 123-119 in the closing seconds and a failed last attempt by Wang, who had 15 points in the fourth quarter, meant Fujian had to accept the 125-119 loss.
With an embarrassing 0-3 record into the new season, Fujian now sit second from bottom on the 20-team standings. They will play their next match on Sunday against Xinjiang Flying Tigers, who overcame Zhejiang Lions 115-110 overtime for their third straight win on Thursday.
