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On January 9, 2025, the 28th round of the CBA regular season was fully underway. Both Zhejiang and Shandong men's basketball teams achieved significant victories. Zhejiang successfully stopped a three-game losing streak, while Shandong returned to the top four with a big win. These two games not only brought long-awaited victories to the teams but also added more variables to the upcoming season battles. Next, let's review the exciting moments of these two key matchups.
Zhejiang easily wins at home, Jones and York explode together
Zhejiang men's basketball team faced Ningbo at home and won a decisive victory with a score of 119-93, successfully ending their previous three-game losing streak. After the opening, Zhejiang's dual foreign aid, Jones and York, performed outstandingly, especially Jones, who had a hot hand in the first quarter, scoring 17 points with a perfect shooting performance, leading the team to quickly open the score. Although Howard and Laco of Ningbo led the team to fight back fiercely in the second quarter, narrowing the gap at one point, Zhejiang still controlled the initiative of the game and led by 11 points at halftime with a score of 62-51.
In the second half, Zhejiang maintained a stable offensive and defensive rhythm. Jones continued his efficient output, and York hit several key three-pointers at crucial moments, eventually helping the team lock in the victory with a 26-point advantage. Jones contributed 33 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 blocks throughout the game, while York delivered an all-around performance with 38 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists. For Zhejiang, this victory is undoubtedly a timely rebound, especially after the team suffered from injury troubles and was able to regain its form at a critical moment. However, they will face a series of tough challenges ahead - consecutive matches against Beijing, Guangsha, Shandong, and Liaoning, with a schedule difficulty that can be imagined.
Shandong defeats Jilin with a big win, returning strongly to the top four
Shandong men's basketball team faced Jilin at home and finally won easily with a score of 117-84, re-entering the top four of the CBA standings. At the beginning of the game, Shandong showed strong offensive and defensive capabilities, especially Chris' dominance in the paint, frequently causing damage and helping the team establish a double-digit lead in the first quarter. Although Jilin had players like Kizlink working hard, due to too many turnovers and lack of continuity on the offensive end, they were never able to effectively reduce the gap. At halftime, Shandong already led Jilin by 17 points with a score of 59-42, and the direction of the game was basically set.
Entering the second half, the performance of Jilin's dual foreign aid gradually declined, and the local players were unable to step up to carry the offensive responsibilities. Shandong then widened the score with more efficient offense and defense. After the game entered garbage time, Shandong continued to maintain the lead and eventually won Jilin by a 33-point advantage. Chris scored 26 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists throughout the game, Moore contributed 20 points, and Gao Shiyan sent out a comprehensive data of 11 points, 11 assists, and 6 rebounds. Shandong's big win not only allowed them to return to the top four but also kept them hopeful for competing for higher rankings.
Latest CBA Standings: The battle for the top four becomes increasingly fierce
With the end of this round of matches, the competition for the top four in the CBA standings remains extremely fierce. Shanxi men's basketball team maintains second place with a record of 21 wins and 6 losses, while Shandong and Xinjiang are tied for third with 20 wins and 8 losses, and Liaoning has slipped to fifth. More importantly, there is only a 1-point difference between second-place Shanxi and seventh-place Qingdao, which means that the upcoming matches will become a life-and-death struggle between these teams.
For Shandong and Zhejiang, this victory undoubtedly adds confidence to their playoff contention. However, the upcoming schedule remains severe, and every match may determine the final ranking. Especially for the teams closely following, such as Guangsha, Shanxi, Qingdao, etc., any loss could lead to a significant fluctuation in the rankings.
Personal Opinion: The battle for the top four becomes even more tense, and the playoffs are full of suspense
Judging from the current CBA standings, the situation for the top four has become even more complicated. The gaps between teams like Shanxi, Shandong, Xinjiang, and Liaoning are minimal, and strong teams like Zhejiang and Guangdong will continue to strive for better rankings. The upcoming matches are not only crucial for these teams' playoff spots but will also determine who can gain a favorable position in the playoffs.
Especially for Shandong and Zhejiang, although they won key victories in this round, whether they can maintain high-level performances in the upcoming "devil schedule" is still challenging. The battle for playoff spots not only tests the strength of the teams but also their performance under pressure.
In summary, the battle for the top four in the CBA has entered a white-hot stage, with each team striving for their playoff destiny. The upcoming matches will be even more suspenseful.