Zhang Hanjun (right) of Shanxi Loongs breaks through during the 15th round match between Shanxi Loongs and Zhejiang Golden Bulls at the 2020-2021 season of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league in Zhuji, east China's Zhejiang province, Dec 8, 2020. (WENG XINYANG / XINHUA)

HANGZHOU - With star guard Jeremy Lin sat out the whole game, the Guangzhou Loong Lions suffered a 108-102 loss to the Shanxi Loongs, while Guo Ailun scored a season-high 22 points to help Liaoning Flying Leopards cruise past Qingdao Eagles 93-77 in the third round of the 2022-2023 Chinese Basketball Association on Sunday.

Led by Chen Ying-Chun's 11 points, Guangzhou started off strong after the tip-off and they finished the first quarter with a five points lead

Led by Chen Ying-Chun's 11 points, Guangzhou started off strong after the tip-off and they finished the first quarter with a five points lead. The Guangzhou team managed to maintain the impact in the first half of the second quarter, but Shanxi's 18-5 run cut the deficit to one before the half-time buzzer thanks to successive three-pointers by Chang Lin, Yuan Shuai and Xing Zhiqiang.

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After a seesaw third quarter, Zhang Ning made a fast-break layup and a step-back jumper, capping a 14-6 run that brought Shanxi a 106-96 lead with one minute and 38 seconds left on the clock, making the game beyond Guangzhou's reach.

Yuan Shuai of Shanxi pocketed 27 points through nine three-pointers, while Chang Lin contributed a double-double of 12 points and 14 rebounds. Clarence Weems added 19. On the Guangzhou side, Chen Ying-Chun scored 23 points, six rebounds and eight assists.

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Defending champion Liaoning had a perfect opening of a 9-2 run in the game against Qingdao. Kyle Fogg and Li Xiaoxu's shots beyond the arc forced Qingdao to call a timeout, and Liaoning wrapped up the first quarter with a 20-point lead.

Qingdao cut the deficit to nine points in the second quarter, but Li Xiaoxu helped Liaoning keep a double-digit lead through a shot from downtown. Qingdao trailed Liaoning by 12 points at halftime but never seemed like a serious threat to overtake Liaoning.

Duop Reath led Qingdao with 20 points and Zhao Jiayi added 13. Liaoning's Guo scored a game-high 22 points and dished seven assists.

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In other Sunday games, the Tianjin Pioneers saw off the Ningbo Rockets 102-76, the Beijing Duck smashed the Sichuan Blue Whales 101-76, the Nanjing Monkey Kings lost to the Shandong Heroes 92-80, and the Zhejiang Golden Bulls defeated the Shanghai Sharks 121-88.