Wang Zhizhi paces Chinese in win over Albuquerque Thunderbirds
November 16, 2006 - NBA G League (G League)
New Mexico Thunderbirds News Release
BEILUN, Ningbo, China, November 16, 2006 - The Chinese National Team used a 22-8 run to begin the third quarter and shot 53-percent from the floor to score an 82-55 exhibition victory over the Albuquerque Thunderbirds of the NBA Development League Thursday at a sold-out Beilun Sports and Art Centre.
The two teams meet again Saturday in Macau as the Chinese Team prepares for the Asia Games and Albuquerque gets ready to open its 2006-07 season at home against the Austin Toros on November 24.
The Thunderbirds led 15-14 after the first period, but the Chinese National Team rebounded to a 31-27 advantage at the half and blew the game open in the third with a hot shooting hand, finishing with a barrage of three-pointers as the game wore one. The Chinese National Team converted 52-percent from behind the three-point line (11-21). Albuquerque converted just 32-percent (16-50) from two-point range and 28-percent (4-14) from behind the arc.
"We stayed even with them in the first half, then they showed the difference in a team that has been playing together for a long time and one that hasn't," Thunderbirds head coach Michael Cooper said. "In the second half their defense took us out of some things we wanted to do. The next game should be very, very interesting."
Center Wang Zhizhi scored 16 points and grabbed five rebounds to lead the Chinese National Team, converting 5-of-7 from the field. Forward Zhu Fangyu chipped in 15 points.
"Either I talk about everybody, or I talk about nobody. It's not about individuals, we have not determined our final roster," Chinese National Team coach Jonas Kazlauzkas said. "We played well. Our defense was good. We can play well if our players learn to enjoy defense."
"We learned how to play as a team from the Chinese National Team tonight," Albuquerque forward Jamaal Thomas said. "We learned that when you play as a team, no matter how tough it is, you will still be able to get out and get on top."
Thomas came off the T-Birds bench to lead all scorers in the game with 21 points, converting 4-of-6 from the floor and 7-of-10 from the free throw line. T.J. Cummings chipped in 12 points for Albuquerque.
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