The Sichuan Blue Whales edged the Liaoning Flying Leopards to take a 2-1 lead in the CBA Finals, thanks in large part to a big night from Justin Dentmon.

Liaoning have suffered their second loss in the CBA finals, going down to Sichuan 104-109 in Chengdu, March 16, 2016.

Sichuan would dominate much of the early going, and begin to pull away midway through the second quarter, with Dentmon knocking down threes to build a nine-point lead.

Mike Harris gets in on the act as he hits from distance, and the Blue Whales are up by 10.

Shavlik Randolph helps Liaoning stay alive, as his triple cuts the deficit to 45-37 with less than four minutes left in the second Q.

Randolph would finish with 24 points and 12 rebounds. The American goes end to end to finish with a lay-up and foul. He would convert the free throw, and the Flying Leopards trail by five at the intermission.

Sichuan remain in control thanks to plays like this Dentmon pass, in addition to the guard's game-high 40 points.

The Blue Whales three foreign players help them stay ahead. Hamed Haddadi combines with Harris for the bucket inside.

Liaoning try to keep the score close, but Dentmon uses his speed to beat the buzzer for a lay-up. Sichuan up by eight heading into the final quarter.

Lester Hudson hits the three and would tally 31 points, as he leads the Flying Leopards comeback efforts.

But Dentmon again helps the hosts restore their edge, by giving the Blue Whales a eight-point lead.

And the American would go on to add another crucial bucket to help Sichuan seal their second victory of the series.

Haddadi would contribute 28 points and 25 rebounds as the Blue Whales down Liaoning 109-104, to take a 2-1 series lead.

"Our team played a great game tonight. We handled our emotions well and did a great job on rebounds and defence. We also contained our opponents well on three-pointers. Justin Dentmon played an important role in the victory. He scored and guided us to play as a team," Sichuan Blue Whales coach Yang Xuezeng said.

"We didn't do well in defending Dentmon. We failed to contain his scoring, and that led to the defeat. However, we did a better job in grabbing rebounds," Liaoning Flying Leopards coach Guo Shiqiang said.

So Sichuan now lead the CBA Finals 2-1. They will play the next two games at home, and have the chance to clinch the title in front of their fans in Chengdu. The Liaoning Flying Leopards have to win at least one of the next two games, in order to send the series back to Northeast China.