Liaoning loses to Beijing, suffering a double defeat and missing out on a five-game winning streak. The game was inherently unfair, with Liaoning short of key players due to injuries. On the other hand, Beijing had a strong lineup and the advantage of playing at home, allowing them to maintain control throughout the match. They quickly regained the lead whenever Liaoning threatened to overtake them, and in the fourth quarter, they used their superior roster and energy to decisively secure victory against the reigning champions. Let's hear what media experts have to say after the game.
Liaoning media: "Liaoning lost this game with dignity. To win against a fully-staffed Beijing team, you must unleash your full firepower from beyond the arc. Let's see if both teams can face each other with complete rosters in the playoffs."
"The team started with an active rotation and played well overall, despite the rebounding disadvantage that persisted for three quarters. It's not easy to take down strong opponents with a short rotation, especially with such a tight schedule. It's okay to take a break; young players also got their chance to play, which is great."
Beijing media: "Even with the departure of Chen Yingjun, the team's core player, due to injury, the whole team united and won the fourth quarter by a margin of 11 points! They delivered a crushing victory, defeating the defending champions both home and away!"
Guangdong media: "It seems Liaoning has given up on the game. With the absence of two key rotation players, Zhao Jiwei and Zhang Zhenlin, and without a reliable big foreign player, their rotation is too short. Beijing's lineup is too deep; they can't compete in terms of endurance."
Shanghai media: "This season, Beijing Shougang has achieved a double victory over Liaoning in the regular season. The last time Beijing men's basketball team achieved a double victory over Liaoning in the regular season was during the 2013-14 season, when Beijing won both home and away games against Liaoning and eventually claimed their second championship title in team history."
Famous commentator Liu Xiao: "Beijing's defensive strategy and accurate three-point shooting in the fourth quarter, especially Zhang Cairen's outstanding performance, led to Liaoning's big loss on the road. This fourth quarter might become a model for other teams to learn from."
Media personality Ji Mengnian: "By the fourth quarter, Liaoning was completely drained by Beijing. As one of the best defensive teams in the league in the fourth quarter, they took Liaoning's small foreign player out of the game. The person who extinguished Liaoning's last glimmer of hope was Zhang Cairen, becoming the sand dune that crushed the straw of hope as Liaoning searched for an oasis in the desert."
Zhou He: "Today's game between Beijing and Liaoning was really tough for both sides. Beijing is currently in a low period, having just welcomed back Zhou Qi. Liaoning, due to injuries and foreign player issues, was missing Zhao Jiwei and Zhang Zhenlin. Despite these circumstances, both teams kept the suspense until the fourth quarter, demonstrating their depth and experience."
Basketball commentator Yang Jian summarized after the game: "There were no losers in this game; everyone gave it their all. Looking forward to the next exciting encounter between the two teams."