Xinjiang Flying Tigers overpowered the defending champion Beijing Ducks in the opening game of their quarterfinal series with a 117-105 victory to claim a 1-0 lead of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league playoff round on Monday.

The Flying Tigers, who finished the regular season with a record of 30 wins and 8 losses to be in the second and third spot of the league's team standings, got the boost from Gilas Pilipinas stalwart Andray Blatche to wrap up the win.

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The former Brooklyn Nets player fired an impressive double-double game performance of a game-high 39 points and 16 rebounds, along with 5 assists. He got the much needed help from the Chinese forward Li Gen who scored 18 points and grabbed 6 rebounds.

Xiralijan Muhtar, Korambek Makhan and NBA prospect Zhou Qi finished the game with 14 points each, while the American Bryce Cotton dropped 10 points and 5 assists for the winners.

Former NBA All-Star Stephon Marbury led the Ducks with a team-high 29 points and 4 assists with 5 rebounds.

Beijing's forward Zhai Xiaochuan and former Atlanta Hawks player Randolph Morris finished the night with 21 points and 20 points respectively.

Meanwhile, in the other games of the first round of the quarterfinals, the league's No.1 team Liaoning Flying Leopards outlasted the Zhejiang Golden Bulls to take the lead of the series with a 116-108 triumph.

Chinese hotshot shooting guard Guo Ailun paced Liaoning with a team-high 27 points with 3 rebounds and 4 assists, while foreign reinforcements Lester Hudson and Shavlik Randolph contributed 19 points and 14 points respectively.

In other games, the Yi Jianlian-led Guandong Southern Tigers defeated Shandong Golden Star with a 95-81 victory. American Justin Carter scored 24 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists for Guandong. Former NBA player Michael Beasley topped all scorers with 32 points for the Shandong team.

Sichuan Blue Whales routed Zhejiang Guangsha Lions 139-98. 

TagsStephon Marbury, cba, andray blatche