Sharks sink Rockets to end 5-game skid

Bayi Rockets' Wang Zhizhi jostles with Shanghai Sharks' Gilbert Arenas (back) for position during their CBA game in Ningbo last night.

Photo by Xinhua

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THE Shanghai Sharks ended a dismal run of five straight defeats by rallying to a 79-73 victory over the Bayi Rockets in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, last night.

Shanghai's DJ White notched a game-high 33 points and 12 rebounds and Gilbert Arenas added eight points. Skipper Liu Wei remained sidelined with ankle injuries.

After taking the lead at the start, the Sharks fell behind quickly but then regrouped in the second and third quarters to grab a much-needed victory, which helped them move up one place in the standings to 16th in the 17-team league.

A pleased Sharks' interim head coach Wang Qun said that he had thanked all his players. Now, "they can have a pleasant Spring Festival".

Wang Zhizhi, Bayi's leading star and the first Chinese NBA player, scored 18 points last night, bringing his Chinese Basketball Association career total to 9,000 points. Bayi lies 10th and will need to fight hard to make the playoffs.

Shanghai's next game is against the Jilin Northeast Tigers at home on February 15, after the New Year break.

Meanwhile, Tracy McGrady's Qingdao Eagles lost to Jiangsu Dragons, 101-113, replacing Shanghai at the bottom of the league. T-Mac had 21 points and four assists.

In another eye-catching clash, defending champions Beijing Ducks beat seven-time title-holders Guangdong Southern Tigers 93-82. Stephon Marbury led Beijing with a game-high 41 points to end the Tigers' 15-game win streak. Marbury led the rally in the fourth quarter, firing three three-pointers 30 seconds.

Guangdong, with a 25-4 record, stayed top, ahead of the Shandong Flaming Bulls (22-7) with Beijing (20-9) third.

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