NANJING, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- Lance Stephenson racked up 41 points, 12 rebounds in 36 minutes, helping Liaoning Flying Leopards claim a 111-103 victory over Jiangsu Dragons in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) here on Wednesday.
The star player was in his immense form and kept attacking the paint, making 20 attempts from the free throw line. Jonathan Gibson of Jiangsu scored a game-high 43 points but had a terrible turnover in the last seconds, which buried the team hope of notching the first win in 2020.
Hosts Jiangsu announced their New Year resolution with fierce attack as Gibson shot tough three-pointers to turn up the heat. They led 24-20 into the second quarter and poured on the pressure at defensive end, forcing Liaoning to shoot only seven percent from downtown.
Stephenson and his teammate Brandon Bass who scored 24 points, shooting 10 for 16, stood up to showcase their aggressiveness to help Liaoning prevail 83-79 into the last period and bag their win.
