First loss after coaching change! Zhao Jiwei scores 8 points and dishes 6 assists, Wang Lanqin nets 19 points in vain as Liaoning falls to Ningbo on the road

At 19:35 on January 29th Beijing time, the 21st round of the 2025/2026 CBA regular season continued, Ningbo secured a 75-62 home victory over Liaoning, breaking their two-game losing skid and marking Liaoning’s initial loss under the new coach.

Zhao Jiwei

Statistics

Ningbo: Jackson 19 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist; Simpson 18 points, 2 rebounds, 6 assists; Fall 12 points, 8 rebounds; Wang Junjie 8 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals; Ning Hongyu 6 points, 4 rebounds; Lutubula 5 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 blocks; Luo Kaiwen 5 points, 2 rebounds; Yu Changdong 2 points, 2 rebounds, 2 blocks; Wang Fanyi 3 rebounds, 1 assist; Liu Xiaoyu 3 rebounds, 1 assist

Liaoning: Wang Lanqin 19 points, 1 rebound; Wells 10 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals; Zhao Jiwei 8 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists; Fu Hao 7 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals; Hunter 7 points, 1 rebound; Morland 6 points, 12 rebounds, 2 assists; Yan Shouqi 5 points, 2 rebounds; Wu Changze 3 rebounds; Jiang Yuxing 2 rebounds, 1 assist; Yu Zechen 1 rebound

Game Recap

In the first quarter, Ning Hongyu and Yan Shouqi exchanged three-pointers early, followed by Simpson and Fall scoring consecutively with free throws, allowing Ningbo to pull ahead. Wells and Yan Shouqi combined inside and outside to score 5 straight points, cutting the deficit to 1. With Wells completing a put-back, the score was tied at 12. Simpson and Jackson, the two foreign players, kept up consistent scoring, pushing Ningbo ahead again. After Wang Junjie made two free throws, Liaoning made multiple substitutions, and Ningbo led 23-17 at the end of the first quarter.

In the second quarter, Fall slammed down a powerful dunk to widen the gap, while Zhao Jiwei scored continuously with drives and layups. After Jackson was fouled by Wang Lanqin and slammed the ball into the sideline advertisement, he was assessed a technical foul. Zhao Jiwei made the technical free throw, helping Liaoning chip away at the lead. Following Simpson’s acrobatic layup, Liaoning called a timeout. After the break, Fu Hao scored on a feed, Wang Lanqin made both free throws, and Wang Fanyi was called for an intentional foul resulting in a flagrant foul. Luo Kaiwen hit a runner, then Wang Lanqin again made both free throws, with Ningbo leading 38-29 at halftime.

In the third quarter, after Fall’s layup, Zhao Jiwei and Ning Hongyu each hit a three-pointer. Wells and Yan Shouqi combined to narrow the margin, but Simpson and Luo Kaiwen responded with back-to-back threes, extending Ningbo’s lead to 51-37, forcing a timeout from Liaoning. After the break, Wang Lanqin nailed a corner three, then scored on a floater, prompting Ningbo to call a timeout. Yu Changdong and Simpson sparked a small run, maintaining Ningbo’s 14-point advantage. Hunter then hit a step-back three, and Ningbo led 59-50 going into the fourth quarter.

In the fourth quarter, Wang Junjie quickly scored a layup, Wang Lanqin added a flying layup for two points, and Jackson made both free throws. Afterwards, both teams missed several shots in a row until Lutubula slammed a dunk, pushing Ningbo’s lead to 13. After Morland’s put-back, Fu Hao scored on a fast break, bringing Liaoning to 56-66 and forcing Ningbo’s timeout. After the break, Lutubula scored two points, Wang Lanqin responded with a three-pointer, and Fu Hao made one of two free throws, cutting the deficit to 8. Simpson scored on a jumper and free throw, extending Ningbo’s lead to 71-60 and forcing another timeout from Liaoning. After the timeout, Wang Junjie scored on a tip-in, Fu Hao made a layup then committed a foul intentionally, sending Wang Junjie to the line. In the end, Ningbo won 75-62 over Liaoning.

Starting Lineups

Ningbo: Luo Kaiwen, Ning Hongyu, Wang Fanyi, Fall, Simpson

Liaoning: Fu Hao, Zhao Jiwei, Yan Shouqi, Morland, Wells