Wu Qian (L) of the Zhejiang Golden Bulls dribbles past the Guangdong Southern Tigers' Xu Jie during their CBA match in Zhuji, east China's Zhejiang Province, Oct. 17, 2020. (Xinhua/Huang Zongzhi)
Without last season's MVP Yi Jianlian, defending champion Guangdong is defeated by Zhejiang in the opening match of the new CBA season.
ZHUJI, China, Oct. 17 (Xinhua) -- Zhejiang Golden Bulls star Wu Qian scored 39 points to help his team smash defending champion Guangdong Southern Tigers 138-113 on the opening day of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league on Saturday.
Zhejiang started the game with a 40-21 first quarter. In the second half, the deficit increased to more than 30 points.
Guangdong played without Yi Jianlian, last season's Most Valuable Player of the league.
Liu Zeyi and Cheng Shuaipeng had 25 points each for Zhejiang.
Guandong point guard Zhao Rui had a team-high 20 points.
Qingdao Eagles beat Jiangsu Dragons on Saturday, winning the opener of the 2020-21 season.
Huang Rongqi (1st L) of the Jiangsu Dragons grabs a rebound against the Qingdao Eagles in their CBA match on Oct. 17, 2020. (Xinhua/Sadat)
Qingdao shooter Zhang Chengyu had a game-best 28 points, including 18 in the first half. Young center Liu Chuanxing contributed 11 rebounds.
Qingdao made as many as 20 turnovers throughout the game, while Jiangsu made even two more.
Former Chinese national team head coach, Li Nan screwed up his debut show as a CBA team's head coach with Jiangsu.
"Coaching a CBA team isn't any easier than coaching the national team, and sometimes even harder," said Li.
"It's a young team. No one is happy about losing. I hope we can move forward and get the team to a higher level."
Jiangsu forward Zheng Qilong added 20 points. ■
