CBA Roundup: Xinjiang keeps playoff hope alive

Last year's runner-up Xinjiang beat Qingdao 131-110 in Wednesday's Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league match and keeps their hope of reaching the playoff alive.

Xinjiang's 23-12 record before tonight put them in 9th place after Dongguan. Hamed Ehadadi's absence due to injury gave Xinjiang's Andray Blatche a good chance to dominate the paint zone. He led Xinjiang with a match-high 41 points, as well as eight rebounds and five assists.

Zhou Qi finished with a double-double of 13 points and 13 rebounds. The rising star also dished out seven blocks. A 33-16 fourth-quarter secured Xinjiang their 15th home victory.

Xinjiang is now one game after Jilin, who is now at the fifth place with 25-11, and will play against Fujian on Friday.

Defending champion Beijing secured their playoff berth after thrashing Tongxi 136-90. Beijing outscored Tongxi by double digits in every single quarter.

Guangdong defeated Bayi 127-91 for their 25th straight win, which is the new record of CBA league. Yi Jianlian finished with a game-high 32 points.

Five teams are going to fight for the last four playoff places in the upcoming final two rounds. Jilin, Shanxi and Guangsha tied at 25-11 while Dongguan and Xinjiang trailed by one game.

In Wednesday's other matches, Dongguan beat Zhejiang 114-109; Chongqing lost to Foshan 128-139; Sichuan beat Shanghai 111-100 for season's 7th victory; Shanxi defeated Fujian 134-118; Tianjin lost to Jilin at 112-129; Guangsha beat Jiangsu 112-107; Liaoning edged out Shandong at 93-89.