Xinjiang Guanghui closed the gap to the league leader Guangdong
Hongyuan as it beat Zhejiang Guangsha 106-89 at home in the Chinese
Basketball Association league (CBA) on Sunday.
Xinjiang tied Guangdong, which lost to Shandong Flaming Bulls
106-104, on the standings with identical 24 wins and four losses
and was only placed on the second for points difference.
With two regular-season rounds left, Xinjiang will face Zhejiang
Cylones (11-17) and Yunnan Honghe (8-20), while Guangdong has
harder schedule to face fourth-placed Jiangsu Dragons (20-8) and
Shanghai Sharks (8-20).
Menk Bateer had 29 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists to lead
Xinjiang, which shattered Guangsha's hope to enter the playoffs.
Guangsha is placed 10th with 41 points, two points deficit to the
8th-placed Shandong Flaming Bulls (16-11).
Herve Lamizana had a game-winning jumper with 0.8 seconds left
for Shandong to conclude his all-around play of 42 points, 12
rebounds and six assists.
Beijing Ducks had slim chance to surpass Shandong after
defeating Shannxi Weilixin 103-90 at home, collecting 42 points on
a record of 14-14.
Bayi Fubang dropped to the seventh place as it lost to Shanghai
Sharks 107-102.
In Sunday's other matches, Zhejiang Cyclones beat Yunnan Honghe
116-103 and Jilin Northeast Tigers beat Shanxi Zhongyu 110-94.
(Xinhua News Agency December 31, 2007)