Beijing Ducks beat Guangdong 96-78 and leave the Southern Tigers 0-2, and Liaoning hold off Qingdao 97-93

Guangdong Southern Tigers have started the CBA season with two losses. The Beijing Ducks beat them 96-78 at home on Tuesday night, and the game turned in the second quarter, which Beijing won 34-19. Barry Brown Jr. had 20 points and 10 assists, and Zhou Qi scored 17 on eight of 10 shooting. Beijing are 2-0.

On Wednesday, the Liaoning Flying Leopards won 97-93 at Qingdao. Sharife Cooper scored 27 with seven assists, and Liaoning are 2-0 as well. Qingdao are 0-2.

The CBA season opened on October 16, as our season preview set out, with the champions, Shanghai, at home to Shenzhen. Tuesday's and Wednesday's games were part of Round 2.

Beijing Ducks 96, Guangdong 78

First quarter. Guangdong led 25-24 after 10 minutes.

Second quarter. Beijing scored 34 and allowed 19, and the Ducks led 58-44 at halftime.

Second half. Beijing won the third quarter 20-19 and the fourth 18-15.

Beijing shot 40 of 72 from the field and had 22 assists, 10 of them from Brown. Zhou Qi had seven rebounds and two blocks to go with his 17 points. Chen Ying-chun scored 12 and JaKarr Sampson 11 with nine rebounds. Zhao Rui scored 10 and had six assists.

For Guangdong, Kyle Fogg and Luka Božić scored 17 each. Fogg had 10 rebounds. Božić made eight of nine free throws. Hu Mingxuan scored 15 and Jiao Boqiao 11. Guangdong turned the ball over 18 times.

Liaoning 97, Qingdao 93

First half. Liaoning won the first quarter 27-21. Qingdao won the second 27-25, and Liaoning led 52-48 at halftime.

Second half. Both teams scored 29 in the third quarter and 16 in the fourth. Liaoning's lead after three quarters was four, 81-77, and the final margin was four.

Cooper made four of nine threes and all seven of his free throws. Kyler Edwards scored 18. Fu Hao had nine points and 15 rebounds, and Marquese Chriss 10 points and nine rebounds. Liaoning out-rebounded Qingdao 47-37.

Gabe York scored 20 for Qingdao, with five threes. Duan Angjun had 19 points, four steals and two blocks, and Quinndary Weatherspoon scored 18, 10 of them from the free-throw line. Qingdao made 30 of 37 free throws.

The rest of Round 2

On Tuesday, the Zhejiang Lions won 99-94 at Fujian and are 2-0. Guangzhou won 114-81 at Nanjing and are 2-0. Sichuan won 91-88 at Jilin and are 2-0, and Jilin are 0-2. Shanxi won 103-73 at Ningbo and are 1-1, and Ningbo are 0-2. Xinjiang beat Tianjin 107-92 at home and are 2-0, and Tianjin are 0-2.

On Wednesday, the Zhejiang Golden Bulls beat Shandong 89-75 at home. The Golden Bulls are 1-1, and Shandong are 0-2.

Scoring

Scoring: Beijing Ducks 96-78 Guangdong (Tuesday)

Beijing Ducks: Barry Brown Jr. 20, Zhou Qi 17, Chen Ying-chun 12, JaKarr Sampson 11, Zhao Rui 10, Taruike Jianiyou 8, Lindy Waters III 6, Zhai Xiaochuan 6, Zeng Fanbo 4, Lei Meng 2.

Guangdong: Kyle Fogg 17, Luka Božić 17, Hu Mingxuan 15, Jiao Boqiao 11, Cui Yongxi 8, Xu Jie 7, Wang Hongze 2, Udoka Azubuike 1, Zhou Peng 0, Chen Jiazheng 0, Yang Tengfei 0, Yang Yi 0.

By quarter: Beijing Ducks 24, 34, 20, 18. Guangdong 25, 19, 19, 15.

Scoring: Liaoning 97-93 Qingdao (Wednesday)

Liaoning: Sharife Cooper 27, Kyler Edwards 18, Marquese Chriss 10, Fu Hao 9, Zhao Jiwei 8, Zhang Chenzhifeng 8, Duan Ruiqi 7, Jiang Yuxing 5, Li Huyi 3, Wu Changze 2, Yan Shouqi 0.

Qingdao: Gabe York 20, Duan Angjun 19, Quinndary Weatherspoon 18, Jordan Mickey 11, Lyu Junhu 10, Wang Yibo 8, Wang Ruize 7, Ji Zhuo 0, Zhang Haobo 0, Li Junxian 0.

By quarter: Liaoning 27, 25, 29, 16. Qingdao 21, 27, 29, 16.

What is next

The next games are on Thursday, October 22. Beijing host Shenzhen, Guangdong host the Zhejiang Lions, Fujian host Ningbo, Jilin host Xinjiang, and Shanxi host the champions, Shanghai.

Update: Fujian's Bennie Boatwright took his oath as a Filipino citizen on Wednesday.

Update: Round 3, with Beijing Ducks and Liaoning 3-0.