体坛英语新闻：Beijing swallows 3rd straight defeat, Guangdong edges Bayi

BEIJING, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- League leader Beijing Ducks failed to achieve victory for the third straight game after losing 118-112 to Zhejiang Guangsha in the 17th round of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league on Wednesday.

Host team Beijing enjoyed a 23-point lead into the second quarter, but Guangsha star Wilson Chandler's dominating performance broke Beijing's dream at last.

Chandler took home 44 points as well as 18 rebounds, both were the highest of the game. Guangsha, under the lead of Chandler, outrebounded Beijing 52-36, and rebound became the key of the whole game.

Guangsha center Peter Ramos harvested 26 points and 14 rebounds, 7 of which were offensive rebounds.

After refreshing the team record with a 13-0 run, Beijing lost in the recent three games in a row. Beijing guard Stephon Marbury got 34 points and sent 9 assists.

Beijing big man Randolph Morris grabbed 19 points.

Beijing started the game well, making a couple of counterattacks to end the first quarter 27-21.

Marbury found his rhythm in the second quarter, helping Beijing to extend the lead to 23 with 3 minutes left. However, the Beijing top scorer was substituted, and Guangsha took the chance to trim the gap to 10 at the end of the first half.

Beijing kept the 10-point lead until the last three minutes, in which Guangsha's Lin Zhijie buried two three pointers to change the score to 104-105. Beijing lost their shooting energy afterwards, allowing Guangsha to take home the victory.

Though still on the top place of CBA ranking, Beijing was leveled by reigning champion Guangdong Hongyuan who achieved the same 13-3 record after beating Bayi Fubang 106-105.

With 14.7 second left, Guangdong was still one point behind. Center Wang Zheng stood out in the final shot, making the most important basket to change the result of the game.

Guangdong's Aaron Brooks got the team high 20 points. James Singleton wrapped up 18 points and 13 rebounds. Wang Shipeng and Chen Jianghua got 18 points and 11 points respectively.

Bayi young guard Zhang Chengyu also took 20 points.

In Wednesday's other games, Dongguan Marco Polo beat Shanxi Zhongyu 110-91, Liaoning Hengye crushed Zhejiang Chouzhou 117-95, Fujian SBS overpowered Xinjiang Guanghui 115-92, Qingdao Doublestar defeated Foshan Long Lions 100-88, Shanghai Sharks upset Tianjin Ronggang 93-81, Jilin Northeast Tigers downed Jiangsu Dragons 111-105.