On January 6, 2025, the 27th round of the CBA regular season presented a thrilling basketball feast for fans, with the highlight being the Guangdong derby between Guangdong and Shenzhen. The match ended with Guangdong narrowly defeating Shenzhen 91-84, a game filled with drama and suspense throughout.
From the start of the game, both teams displayed a strong competitive spirit. Guangdong's foreign player, Jilunwater, started off with a heroic performance, scoring 12 points in just the first quarter, showcasing his powerful scoring ability. However, Shenzhen did not succumb to this pressure, as their bench players performed admirably, with smooth offensive coordination, especially Thompson's dominant performance in the paint, which helped the team end the first quarter with a slight lead of 28-27.
In the second quarter, Guangdong's offensive firepower further intensified. Jilunwater continued his excellent form, making a strong 2+1 play under the basket. Following this, guard Xu Jie's outside shooting began to take effect, leading the team on a 10-0 run that forced Shenzhen to call a timeout. However, Guangdong also made some mistakes during this period, with Wang Shaojie and Bazley missing free throws, which was somewhat regrettable. Shenzhen mainly relied on Thompson's efficient play in the paint to maintain the score, trailing by 6 points at halftime with a score of 49-55.
The second half saw even more intense competition. Shenzhen faced an unfavorable factor as their main foreign player, Thompson, was plagued by fouls. In this situation, Shenzhen's head coach Zhou Peng took the initiative to step onto the court, demonstrating the responsibility of a veteran. He contributed 12 points in the third quarter alone, with a versatile performance that not only stabilized morale but also led the team in a strong counterattack. Meanwhile, Guangdong's outside shooting experienced a rare slump, with only Zhang Haojia making a three-pointer among the entire team, and Xu Jie, who had been on the battlefield for a long time, was temporarily unable to enter the game, greatly restricting their offense. After three quarters, Guangdong only led by 1 point with a score of 72-71, entering the most critical moment of the game.
The final quarter became the key to determining victory. Shenzhen's offense stalled, failing to maintain stable scoring at the most crucial moment. On the other hand, Guangdong received a new burst of energy with Xu Jie's re-entry into the game. His consecutive breakthroughs not only brought points but also revitalized the team's offense. Ultimately, Guangdong won the derby with a score of 91-84. Throughout the game, Jilunwater demonstrated the strength of a super foreign player, shooting 15 out of 21 for a total of 40 points and 14 rebounds. Additionally, Xu Xin shot 6 out of 7 for 12 points, and Xu Jie contributed a comprehensive 9 points and 7 assists.
In the other matches held on the same day, several exciting encounters were also staged. The league leaders, Guangsha, showed their strong strength by defeating Liaoning 101-88. The first half of this match was evenly matched, but Liaoning suffered a significant loss in one quarter of the second half, losing by 22 points in a single quarter, directly causing the game to lose its suspense. Shandong won against Nanjing, eventually securing victory with a score of 129-116, particularly when the opponent launched a counterattack, Yu Dehao's key performance helped the team maintain their advantage. Beijing also demonstrated the depth of a strong team, although the process was not easy, they ultimately defeated Ningbo with a score of 100-89.
Looking at the latest CBA standings, the competition in the league has entered a white-hot stage. Guangsha continues to lead the standings with stable performances, but what is even more interesting is the competition between the 2nd and 8th places. From Shanxi to Qingdao, the points difference between these seven teams is only 1 point, a situation that is extremely rare in CBA history, foreshadowing that the upcoming matches will be even more intense. This situation not only increases the league's appeal but also brings more expectations and suspense to the fans.
The results of this round of matches once again prove that the competitive landscape of the CBA league this season is undergoing profound changes, with the strength of each team gradually becoming more balanced, which will undoubtedly inject new vitality into the development of Chinese professional basketball.