Smits grabs six rebounds in Chinese league warm-up, Zagars sits out
Basketball player Smits and the Ningbo Rockets lost 82-95 to the Beijing Ducks in a preseason game, while Arturs Zagars' Zhejiang Golden Bulls won 104-92. Zagars was not on his team's game-day roster.
Ahead of the new season of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) championship, preseason games have been played in which two Latvian players were involved. The Ningbo Rockets, with Smits in the lineup, lost 82-95 to the Beijing Ducks, whose coaching staff includes Latvian specialist Igors Miglinieks.
The Latvian forward spent 20 minutes and 56 seconds on the court. In that time he scored six points, making three of six two-point attempts while missing all four three-point shots. Smits pulled down six rebounds, recorded one assist and committed two fouls. His plus/minus figure for the game was -13, the second worst on the team.
Zagars does not play
In another preseason game, the Zhejiang Golden Bulls, represented by Latvian basketball player Arturs Zagars, beat the Jiangsu Dragons 104-92. Zagars was not on his team's roster for the game and did not take the court.
Season start
The CBA season begins on October 16. Smits' first game is scheduled for a day later, October 17, while Zagars and the Golden Bulls will open their season on October 18.
