Beijing upsets Guangdong 103-89 to open new CBA season

Defending champion Beijing came back from a first-quarter 11-point deficit to beat their arch rival Guangdong 103-89, and start their 2014-2015 Chinese Basketball Association season with a home victory.

Stephon Marbury and Randolph Morris combined 21 of Beijing's 31 points in the second quarter. Marbury scored a three-pointer to give Beijing their first lead of the match and the defending champion never trailed back from then on.

Marbury led Beijing with a match-high 32 points. He also contributed eight rebounds and five assists. Randolph finished with a double-digits of 22 points and 10 rebounds.

Chirs Daniels' eight points helped Guangdong to end the first quarter with a five-point lead at 25-20. But Beijing then outscored their opponent 31-16 in the second quarter. Yi Jianlian scored 10 of his team-high 29 points in the third quarter but only cut the conflict to nine points before the final period.

Zhu Yanxi and Zhang Songtao came out to help Marbury as the two players scored 13 points together in the final quarter to seize Beijing the home victory.

Zhang Qingpeng completed his debut for Beijing. The former Chinese national team player played 14 minutes and finished with seven points but also three turnovers.

"I think it will take me time to rebuild my confidence,"said Zhang Qingpeng. "It will be a long season. Though we won today, we found some problems to fix up."

"I can tell that Zhang is eager to play well. He wanted to perform his best and that's why he's little bit nervous on the court." said Min Lulei, head-coach of the Beijing team.

Zhang Qingpeng is not the only player who made the first appearance for his team. Daniels and his 18-year-old teammate Emmanuel Mudiay also complete theirs for Guangdong and it is Mudiay's first professional match.

Mudiay, listed as one of the top prospects for the 2015 NBA drafts, made the decision to forgo college and joined the Guangdong team. The young point-guard finished with a second team-high 18 points, most of which came in the second half but still not be able to bring his team a win.

"Mudiay is a young player, and it's his first match overseas. I think we have to give some space," said Du Feng, Guangdong's head coach. "I think as time goes on, he will be better and move motivated. He got talented."

Beijing players received their champion rings of last season before the match.

"I think I will sleep with it on my finger tonight," said Li Gen. "And I told Zhang Qingpeng that he would get his own one as our team are now in a very good shape."