Guangdong Hongyuan's star center Yi Jianlian (C) falls with injuries during the team's 104-92 loss to Beijing Ducks in the third round of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league, Nov 25, 2011. [Photo/CFP]

BEIJING - Defending champions Guangdong Hongyuan had to swallow their first defeat of this season as they lost to the Beijing Ducks 104-92 in the third round of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league on Friday.

To make the situation even worse, Guangdong's star center Yi Jianlian was injured midway the game when teammate Zhu Fangyu crushed him in the right leg while falling after a scramble with Beijing's Stephan Marbury.

Yi, who started his game with three points, then walked off the court and was sent to a local hospital for examination.

Without Yi's offensive and defensive power, Guangdong shooters under-performed in the game, with Wang Shipeng and Zhou Peng scoring seven points and nine points respectively.

Former Houston Rockets point guard Aaron Brooks, the team's biggest signing for the new season, made his debut in the CBA but disappointed his Chinese fans by scoring only 4 points in 15 minutes.

Only two of Guangdong players collected double figures. Center James Singleton harvested game-high 33 points and 15 rebounds, and Zhu Fangyu added 22.

"We are still unsure about Yi's injury," said Guangdong head coach Li Chunjiang. "Losing a game is quite normal in the whole season, so we shouldn't take it a big thing."

"Brooks didn't put on a great show as we had expected. He needs enough rest and training," Li added.

Marbury was the hero of Beijing Ducks as the former NBA All-Star knocked down 18 points and dished out eight assists.

Four other Beijing players reached double figures, with Zhu Yanxi grabbing 18 points and 10 rebounds.

Patrick Mills, another NBA guard who made his CBA debut on Friday, did a much better job. He scored 28 points and had 8 assists as Xinjiang Guanghui, a serious challenger of the CBA title, picked up their first victory by beating Bayi Fubang 111-92.

Former NBA first draft Kenyon Martin recorded 12 points and 12 rebounds. Veteran center Bater added 19 points.

J.R. Smith and Oscar Boone combined for 60 points to help Zhejiang Chouzhou defeat Fujiang SBS 113-98. Boone refreshed his 2011 CBA scoring record by earning 40 points.

In other games on Friday, Shandong Gold beat Zhejiang Guangsha 97-89, Foshan Long lions beat Shanghai Sharks 102-98, Tianjing Ronggang beat Liaoning Hengye 93-76, Jiangsu Dragons beat Dongguan Marco Polo 103-96, Jilin Northeast Tigers beat Qingdao Doublestar 104-101.