The Liaoning Flying Leopards drew first blood against Sichuan, thanks in part to keeping the Blue Whales foreign trio of Hamad Haddadi, Mike Harris and Justin Dentmon in check -- holding them to well below their season averages in the opening game. But the triumvirate would look to make amends in Game two.
Lester Hudson coming off a 29-point effort in a game one win helps the hosts take a 7-point lead early.
Guo Ailun extends the Flying Leopards lead to double digits with another triple.
Liaoning would go on a 13-1 run and go in front by 15 points, and it looks like the CBA's top regular season side were going to blow-out Sichuan.
But the Blue Whales start mounting a comeback -- Iranian center Hamad Haddadi shows off the drop step and dunks it home as the visitors close the gap.
Harris is then able to get to the cup and lay it in -- and the lead is down to 6.
The forward gets another in transition and narrows the gap with four.
Then Dentmon is able to get to the cup and his bucket ties things at 31.
Harris is then able to fire from distance -- he is fouled so a chance at a four-point play. He had 15 points in second quarter.
The American cans another from the land beyond as Sichuan grab the lead at the break.
Second half and the Dentmon drives the lane and finds Zhang Chunjun for the lay in as the visitors continue to stay in front.
But Sichuan would get into foul trouble, Haddadi picks up his fourth personal, questionable foul call.
But the coach keeps him in the game.
Haddadi despite the foul problems would have a big game, the assist here -- he also hauled down 26 rebounds.
Hudson would rally his team, missing the jumper, but getting his own rebound, as host now down just a half-dozen.
Shavlik Randolph who was big in game one, struggled -- going 1-14 from the field, and then travels on this play -- as Liaoning lose some momentum.
The Flying Leopards would stay in it, as Li Xiaoxu cuts the deficit to just a single point on the fast break.
But Haddadi is able to keep his squad in front with the big throwdown after the miss. 7-point game.
In the last minute, He Tianju is able to narrow the gap to three points.
But Harris uses the Haddadi screen to get open for the three -- and make it a 6-point edge. He had a game high 29 points and 15 rebounds.
Liaoning could get no closer and fall to Sichuan 96-88 as the Blue Whales tie the Championship series 1-1.