In a CBA regular season match on January 4th, Beijing time, Guangdong defeated Shandong 98-93 at home. Throughout the game, both sides competed fiercely with the score alternating in the lead. Guangdong had a slight lead in the first quarter, but Shandong overtook and extended their advantage to 5 points in the second quarter. However, Shandong did not celebrate for long as Guangdong caught up again in the third quarter, making it an exciting watch. In the final quarter, Guangdong widened the gap and secured the victory. Xu Jie stood out in this game, scoring 22 points, grabbing 4 rebounds, and dishing out 11 assists, earning him the title of "Star of the Game." Gaili from Shandong also scored 22 points. After this game, Guangdong ranked 9th in the standings with a record of 15 wins and 11 losses, while Shandong remained stable at 5th after losing the game, missing the chance to challenge the top 4.
Guangdong made many mistakes in this game and only managed to win with the outstanding performance of their three core players. In terms of growth potential, Li Yizhen is considered to have more room than Zhang Wenyi, coupled with his defensive capabilities, Du should give him more opportunities. Zhang Wenyi has performed poorly in two consecutive games; last game, he was intercepted when dribbling past the frontcourt during Xu Jie's rest, and in this game, he missed all five of his three-point attempts. It begs the question, which newcomer would have such an opportunity to waste? Additionally, although Guangdong played better overall than Shandong, the refereeing decisions were questionable. When Guangdong was trailing, any contact was called a foul, especially shooting fouls. In the fourth quarter, when Shandong was trailing, there were various instances of wrestling with Tao Hanlin and Chris, yet no fouls were called. Instead, in the final tens of seconds, any contact was deemed a foul. CBA referees need to make some changes; otherwise, winning away games will be too difficult.
Liaoning defeated Jilin 102-81 away, completing the victory in the Northeast Derby. Liaoning started strong with two runs of 11-0 and 10-0, taking a 19-point lead in the first quarter and extending it to 35 points in the second. Despite Jilin's attempt to counterattack in the third quarter, they could not turn the tide. Zhao Jiwei returned and played exceptionally well, scoring 7 points and providing 13 assists without a turnover. Jilin was affected by the absence of many players, especially their top scorer and foreign player Jones, which directly impacted their offensive power. Liaoning won the game with stable play, avoiding consecutive defeats. After this game, Liaoning lived up to expectations, successfully entering the fourth place in the standings with a record of 18 wins and 8 losses, just one win behind the second-placed Xinjiang team. Jilin remains outside the top 15, with little hope for the season.
Liaoning successfully avenged their loss to Jilin, controlling the game rhythm throughout. Zhao Jiwei and Shou Di's return allowed Liaoning to deploy their lineup without constraints, and Yan Shouqi shone brightly. Zhao Jiwei revitalized the team and protected the opponent, Jiang Weize, to prevent him from falling and getting injured, demonstrating excellent sportsmanship deserving of respect and praise. The two teams showed harmony and friendliness on the court, embodying the brotherly friendship of putting friendship first and competition second. This victory was almost certain, with Liaoning's Zhao Jiwei returning and Jilin's Jones being injured, naturally affecting the outcome. The foreign player did not participate, missing a rare opportunity for practical training. It is hoped that they can seamlessly connect in the next game against Guangsha. Additionally, the two small foreign players have been overused, leading to decreased efficiency and increased risks. They need more rotation and health preservation to exert themselves in key matches and the playoffs.
Shanghai defeated Ningbo 126-113 at home, achieving a 12-game winning streak and setting a new record for the longest winning streak this season. Shanghai only led by 2 points in the first three quarters but extended their lead to over 20 points in the fourth quarter with a wave of attacks, securing the victory. Wang Zhelin performed efficiently in this game, contributing 20 points, while Li Hongquan made all six of his three-point attempts to score 26 points. Both Bradso and Lofton also had comprehensive performances. Despite Howard and Martion from Ningbo scoring 30 and 31 points respectively, they could not stop the losing streak. Finally, Guangsha defeated Beikong 104-99 at home, successfully avenging their previous loss and achieving a three-game winning streak. Sun Minghui recorded a triple-double with 14 points, 10 rebounds, and 15 assists. Although Riele from Beikong scored 31 points in an effort to catch up, Guangsha relied on their outside shooting and Brown's consecutive scores in the second half to establish a double-digit lead and ultimately withstand the pressure to win the game.