From Triumph to Humiliation: Liaoning Falls 13 Points to Ningbo After 52-Point Blowout

After a dazzling 52-point win over Sichuan, Liaoning faced the season’s surprise package, Ningbo, and suffered a 62-75 defeat on the road, failing to secure back-to-back victories. Their 62 points were the second-lowest this season and marked Ningbo’s first-ever win over Liaoning, a stark reminder of reality. In just two days, the team experienced a “fire-and-ice” swing.

This season has been tumultuous for Liaoning: Ferg, Liu Yanyu, and Zhang Zhenlin departed, while Han Dejun retired, leaving the team without four key contributors. In their previous game, under coach Ugo’s debut, Liaoning erupted for 109 points against Sichuan, a 52-point margin, raising hopes that the former powerhouse had returned. But against Ningbo, Liaoning struggled from the first quarter and never recovered, even with rotation of foreign players in the final period.

In their last nine games, Liaoning has lost seven, winning only against Xinjiang and Sichuan, the latter sitting at the bottom with 20 straight losses. At this rate, Liaoning may not even be chasing the playoffs but could be fighting Sichuan for the league’s bottom spot.