Liaoning Flying Leopards made an early statement on the road, defeating the Shandong Hi-Speed Kirin 95-84 on October 18, 2026, in a Chinese Basketball Association matchup that showcased the visitors’ depth, ball movement and late-game poise. Shandong threatened a comeback in the third quarter, but Liaoning answered with a decisive run and controlled the final minutes to secure a double-digit win.

Match overview

Liaoning set the tone early, racing to a 28-20 lead after the first quarter behind crisp ball movement and transition scoring. Shandong stabilized in the second period and trimmed the deficit to seven at halftime, but the Flying Leopards never lost control of the tempo. The third quarter brought the game’s most dramatic stretch: Shandong cut the lead to three before Liaoning responded with a 12-0 run that effectively decided the contest.

The visitors shot the ball efficiently from the perimeter and punished Shandong on the offensive glass. Shandong, meanwhile, struggled with turnovers in key moments and could not string together enough stops to complete the comeback.

Key moments

• Liaoning’s 12-0 third-quarter run, sparked by a Zhang Zhenlin corner three and a Zhao Jiwei steal-and-layup, turned a three-point game into a 15-point cushion.
• Shandong’s offense went scoreless for nearly four minutes during that stretch, committing three turnovers and missing several contested jumpers.
• Han Dejun’s offensive rebound and put-back early in the fourth halted Shandong’s final push and kept the margin in double figures.
• Zhao Jiwei iced the game with a step-back three with just over two minutes remaining, pushing the lead back to 13.

Tactical story

Liaoning’s half-court offense was the difference. The Flying Leopards used frequent off-ball screens and quick reversals to create open looks, finishing with a healthy assist-to-turnover ratio. Zhao Jiwei orchestrated the attack with patience, while Zhang Zhenlin’s cutting and shooting stretched Shandong’s defense. When Shandong switched to a smaller lineup to increase pressure, Liaoning attacked the paint through Han Dejun and Fu Hao.

Defensively, Liaoning limited Shandong’s transition opportunities and forced the Kirin into tough mid-range shots. Shandong’s guards found some success driving to the rim, but the team’s outside shooting was inconsistent and its late-game execution lacked the precision Liaoning displayed. The rebounding edge, particularly on the offensive end, gave Liaoning extra possessions that proved decisive.

Standout players

Zhang Zhenlin led Liaoning with 22 points, including four three-pointers, while Zhao Jiwei added 20 points and 10 assists. Fu Hao contributed 16 points off the bench, and Han Dejun posted 12 points and nine rebounds. For Shandong, Gao Shiyan finished with 19 points and seven assists, Tao Hanlin had 16 points and 12 rebounds, and Chen Peidong added 14 points in the loss.

Season impact

The result moves Liaoning to 1-0 and gives the Flying Leopards an important early road win against a fellow playoff hopeful. Shandong falls to 0-1 and will need to address its turnover issues and perimeter defense before the next game. In the broader CBA standings, Liaoning’s ability to win away from home against a physical opponent is a promising sign for a team with title ambitions, while Shandong’s home loss underlines the importance of late-game execution in a competitive league.