Defending champions Guangdong Hongyuan thrashed Dongguan Marco Polo 95-83 on Wednesday in the 17th round of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league to finish the first half of the 2013-2014 season in the leader's position.

Guangdong Hongyuan now are on top of the league standings with 15 wins and two defeats, followed by Xinjiang Guanghui (14-3) and Beijing Ducks (13-4).

Yi Jianlian scored 19 points and grabbed 24 boards to inspire Hongyuan to their sixth straight win. Josh Powell helped with 16 points. Liu Xiaoyu and Wang Shipeng added 15 and 12 points respectively.

Holding a five-point lead into the last period, Guangdong Hongyuan pulled away soon thanks to Ren Junfei's jumper and Khalif Wyatt's attempt behind the arc.

And after Wang Shipeng converted on two free throws, Hongyuan put the results of the game beyond doubt and ended Dongguan's six-game winning streak.

Pooh Jeter shone in overtime with six points to help last season's runners-up Shandong Gold snap a four-game losing skid with a 92-89 win over Qingdao Doublestars.

Jeter finished with a game-high 38 points. Li Jingyu had 12. Donnell Harvey scored only four points and was fouled out in overtime.

The two teams were tied at 83-83 in regular time, before Jeter stole the limelight with a jumper and then a three-pointer to put his team ahead for good.

Shanxi Fenjiu welcomed their third win of this season after frustrating Zhejiang Chouzhou 112-95. Their foreign duo Marcus Williams and Charles Gaines scored 41 and 26 points respectively. Xing Zhiqiang had 22 points including six 3-pointers.

Shanxi used an 11-0 run to back in after the game began. Marcus Williams scored 17 points in that quarter as Shanxi built up a 28-13 lead.

Shanxi extended the margin to as much as 28 points midway through the fourth period, while suffering a 17-0 run from the opponents. Marcus' layup and Charles's dunk finally secured the victory for the hosts.

"My team came out with a lot of energy early in the game. They played a great defense," said Shanxi's head coach Mike McGee.

Xinjiang Guanghui stayed well on their winning track, although their ninth straight win didn't come easy.

Lester Hudson, who hit a three-pointer in the last second five days ago, was once again the hero for Xinjiang. His stable performance on the free-throw line enabled Xinjiang to edge Tianjin Ronggang 95-93. Hudson scored a game-high 32 points.

In Wednesday's other games, Sichuan Jinqiang beat Fujian SBS 113-99, Beijing Ducks defeated Shanghai Sharks 108-100, Liaoning Hengye downed Bayi Fubang 105-92, Jiangsu Dragons overwhelmed Jilin Northeast Tigers 118-97.

On Tuesday, Zhejiang Guangsha beat Foshan Long Lions 126-116. Endi

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