After an amazing start of seven impressive straight victories, powerhouse Xinjiang Flying Tigers suffered another loss and stood down from the top of the league's team standings after a 106-91 defeat against the Shenzhen New Century Leopards in the ninth round of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA).

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According to EuroBasket, American import Jeremy Pargo had a game-high 27 points and an assist short to finish the match with a double-double performance for the Leopards. The former Cleveland Cavaliers point guard went 10 for 19 shooting from the two-point range and made perfect four out of four from the free throw line.

The Flying Tigers, which was defeated by Guangdong Southern Tigers in the last round, have been outrebounded and outplayed by the winning team, with the Leopards having top the rebound department (50-42) and the assists category (18-12). Shenzhen also forced Xinjiang to commit 16 turnovers during the game.

Darius Adams paced Xinjiang, who are still playing without the services of the team's top foreign reinforcement former NBA player Andray Blatche, with 23 points.  According to China.org, Blatche, who missed the last two games due to a torn thigh muscle, is currently averaging an impressive 25 points and 11 rebounds this season.

It was the Quiping Liu-headed basketball squad's second consecutive defeat of the season, which resulted to an unfavorable outcome. With the loss, the Flying Tigers, who topped the team standings for eight successive rounds, suddenly fell to the fourth spot of the 20-team Chinese league with a 7-2 win-loss card.

Yao Ming's Shanghai Sharks and the Guangsha Lions currently rule the top, having an identical 8-1 win-loss record. Liaoning Flying Leopards sit on the third place of the team standing with a 7-2 record, edging the Flying Tigers with a better quotient.

The Flying Tigers will be facing the Jilin Northeast Tigers in the next round on Friday, while Shenzhen will play Qingdao Eagles on Wednesday.

TagsXinjiang Flying tigers, chinese basketball association, NBA, andray blatche, Jeremy Pargo