By: Jay Yeomans

Published: January 16, 2019

Jimmer Fredette delivered another monstrous performance, but it wasn’t enough as the Shanghai Sharks dropped a 120-118 overtime decision to the Beijing Ducks on Wednesday.

Fredette finished with 44 points on 50 percent shooting from the floor, including 8-for-15 from beyond the arc and a perfect 6-for-6 from the free-throw line. He added eight rebounds (two on the offensive end), eight assists and three steals in 49 minutes.

The former BYU guard was at his best during the second half and overtime, scoring 31 points after the break as the Sharks tried to snap their six-game losing streak. Despite a masterful outside shooting day from the Sharks (19-for-30 from 3-point land), they couldn’t shake the balanced offensive attack of the Ducks.

Former Lone Peak High School star, Justin Hamilton, paced the Ducks in the win, finishing with a team-best 28 points on 11-for-15 shooting from the floor, including 4-for-5 from 3-point land. He added eight assists and seven rebounds in 39 minutes.

Aaron Jackson also came up big for the Ducks – who improved to 22-9 on the season – totaling 24 points, a game-high 11 assists, six rebounds and four steals in 37 minutes.

Four other players scoring in double figures for the Sharks who fell to 15-16 on the season and a tie for 11th place in the CBA standings with 15 games to go.

Luis Scola managed 20 points on 8-for-10 shooting from the field with five rebounds in 27 minutes while Yan Peng added 17 points and nine rebounds.

On the season, Fredette is second in the CBA in scoring, averaging 37.4 points a night on 53 percent shooting from inside the arc, 41 percent from 3-point range and 95 percent from the foul line. He also chips in with 6.0 rebounds, 5.6 assists and a league-leading 3.0 steals in 40.3 minutes.

Up next for Fredette and the Sharks is a battle with Tianjin Gold Lions on Friday. The Gold Lions are 8-23 on the season and near the bottom of the CBA table. Tianjin is led by Taylor Rochestie who is averaging 34.3 points, 10.1 assists and 5.1 rebounds in his first season in China.

Inside the numbers

• After connecting on all six of his free throws, Fredette is now perfect from the line in five straight games. In fact, he has missed just one foul shot in the last 10 games and 12 all season.
• The 44-point outing against the Ducks was Fredette’s 11th 40-point game of the season. The Sharks are 6-5 in those games.
• Fredette’s eight assists tied for the second highest total this season.