Wang Zhelin (1st R) of Fujian Sturgeons shoots the ball during a match between Sichuan Blue Whale and Fujian Sturgeons at the 2019-2020 Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league in Dongguan, south China's Guangdong Province, July 4, 2020. (Xinhua/Lu Hanxin)
DONGGUAN, China, July 4 (Xinhua) -- The Fujian Sturgeons routed the Sichuan Blue Whale 105-84, extending their winning streak to three games, while kicking their opponents out of the playoff spots in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league here on Saturday.
Despite their outstanding performance of five wins and two losses since the league's resumption, 12th-ranked Fujian is still fighting hard to secure a berth in the playoff. Sichuan has to fight even harder since it will become the fourth team to miss the playoffs with a loss.
Fujian did not have a good start, scoring only one of their first 11 attempts, while Sichuan got the upper hand pouring in three-pointers, and finished the first quarter with a 24-20 lead.
In the second quarter, Fujian beefed up its defense and surged to a 15-0 run, while Sichuan endured a four-minute scoring drought. Fujian continued its offensive onslaught and pulled out a decisive 35-15 second quarter.
Sichuan saw a glimmer of hope when they narrowed the gap to 13 points midway through the third quarter, but it was snuffed out by Fujian with a 10-0 run in the last minutes of the third quarter. Fujian maintained a lead of some 20 points till the end.
Five Sturgeons scored double-digits, with Ty Lawson grabbing a game-high 21 points, seven rebounds and 13 assists. Fujian's center Wang Zhelin collected 14 points and 15 rebounds. Jing Hanyi had a team-high 19 points for Sichuan.
Fujian is scheduled to play against Tianjin next Thursday, while Sichuan will face the Zhejiang Golden Bulls.
