In a thrilling set of CBA playoff quarterfinal matchups, Shenzhen delivered a decisive sweep over Zhejiang while Guangsha narrowly escaped Shanxi in a tense finish that kept fans on the edge of their seats.
Shenzhen vs. Zhejiang: He Xining Seals the Series
Zhejiang entered the game hoping to use home-court advantage to bounce back from a Game 1 loss, but Shenzhen came out firing, jumping to a 9-3 lead. The hosts briefly tied the score through a Li Yuzhou jumper and free throw, only for Shenzhen to respond with an 8-0 run to regain control. Zhejiang managed to cut the deficit to six points on Lu Wenbo’s buzzer-beating three-pointer before halftime.
The third quarter saw Zhejiang’s offense stagnate, allowing Shenzhen to push ahead with a 13-4 surge. Despite a late push from Zhejiang’s two foreign players, He Xining took over in the fourth quarter, drilling four three-pointers to secure a 95-91 victory and a 2-0 series sweep.
Guangsha Edges Shanxi in a Nail-Biter
The other quarterfinal game between Guangsha and Shanxi was a true battle of attrition. After being stunned by a game-winner in Game 1, Guangsha relied on Hu Jinqiu’s interior scoring to establish a first-quarter lead. Brown’s drives extended the advantage before Shanxi trimmed it to five by halftime.
The second half remained tightly contested, with Shanxi’s foreign player Diallo leading a charge that cut the gap to three. Guangsha seemed poised to pull away, leading by eight with minutes left, but Shanxi clawed back to within three. In the final 15 seconds, a turnover by Brown gave Shanxi a chance, but Diallo’s crucial layup rimmed out, allowing Guangsha to escape with an 86-81 win and force a decisive Game 3.
