CBA Latest Game Report: Xinjiang Upset, Guangdong and Liaoning Win! Seven Teams with Only a 2-Point Difference in Points
On January 10th, Beijing time, the 29th round of CBA regular season officially kicked off, with multiple game results shocking. Xinjiang lost unexpectedly to Fujian, while defending champion Liaoning won against Beikong with Fug's outstanding performance. Guangdong continued their winning streak, while Shanxi suffered a big defeat. Let's take a closer look at these exciting games.
Xinjiang Loses to Fujian, Upset Defeat
In this game, Xinjiang was originally seen as the favorite to win, but they were defeated by Fujian's strong counterattack. In the early stages of the game, Fujian took the lead with Joseph Yang's combination of inside and outside play and Zou Yang's efficient scoring. As the lineup rotated, Fujian's offense declined, while Xinjiang gradually found their offensive rhythm, with Qi Lin's 11 points in a single quarter leading the team, and Peterson and Yili Fula also frequently hitting three-pointers from outside, helping Xinjiang lead 63-57 at halftime.
However, as the game progressed, Fujian's counterattack became more intense. Yang's strong performance and the excellent performance of young player Zeng Lingxuan continuously helped Fujian stabilize their lead. On the other hand, despite Xinjiang's attempts to fight back at critical moments, their 20 turnovers prevented them from regaining their form in the game. Ultimately, Fujian upset Xinjiang 113-104, a result that undoubtedly shook up the league standings.
Liaoning Struggles to Beat Beikong, Fug Scores 41 Points
Liaoning started strongly against Beikong, quickly building a double-digit lead with Zhao Jiwei's outside scoring and Wells' breakthroughs. Despite Beikong's efforts to catch up under Zhang Fan's leadership, who contributed 13 points in a single quarter, making the game once close, Liaoning led only 33-30 at the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, Liaoning's offense stalled, with a shooting rate of less than 30%, while Beikong overtook with their strong inside attack. At halftime, Beikong led by 1 point with a score of 53-52.
In the second half, Fug of Liaoning exploded, going seven for seven in the third quarter and scoring 24 points in a single quarter to help the team widen the gap again. Although Liaoning experienced some fluctuations in the final quarter and failed to firmly grasp victory, Beikong missed the opportunity, and Liaoning eventually won a tough victory with a score of 104-101. Fug's 41 points were undoubtedly the biggest contributor to the team's victory, while Beikong's Salinger performed superbly with 33 points and 18 rebounds in a super double-double, but still failed to lead the team to reverse the game.
Guangdong 105-96 Reverses Qingdao
Guangdong faced Qingdao at home, once trailing in the game. Qingdao's foreign and domestic players performed very strongly, especially Yang Hanshen and Wang Ruize's scoring performances, putting Guangdong under considerable pressure. The turning point of the game appeared in the third quarter when Guangdong used Xu Xin, a decision that became the key to the team's counterattack. Xu Xin not only played outstandingly on the offensive end but also made important contributions on the defensive end, helping Guangdong stabilize the situation.
Finally, Guangdong reversed Qingdao 105-96, winning five consecutive victories. Xu Xin's performance became the focus of the game, his excellent play on both ends of the court bringing great help to Guangdong. Although Guangdong was mostly at a disadvantage during the game, key adjustments and Xu Xin's rise helped the team complete the comeback at home.
Shanxi Suffers a Big Defeat to Guangsha, Dark Horse Status in Question
In this round of matches, Shanxi's performance was disappointing, suffering a crushing defeat of 78-111 to Guangsha. Shanxi's overall state was low, especially with significant problems in ball control and offensive efficiency, committing 28 turnovers and hardly giving themselves any opportunities. Guangsha, on the other hand, easily won with the outstanding performance of the whole team. Shanxi's defeat once again proved the fragility of the dark horse status, and they still need time to polish and improve their overall level.
Shanghai Wins Big Over Guangzhou, Continues to Lead Winning Streak Record
Shanghai faced Guangzhou, although they relaxed somewhat in the first half, they exerted themselves in the second half, eventually winning big with a score of 112-81, successfully extending their 15-game winning streak record. Shanghai's performance in the game was highly efficient, especially their dominance on both ends of the court, with solid defense and showcasing a multi-flower feature on offense. Guangzhou was completely at a disadvantage and failed to effectively respond to Shanghai's offensive firepower.
CBA Latest Points Ranking: Seven Teams with Only a 2-Point Difference
With the end of these games, the CBA points table has undergone some changes. Currently, from the second-ranked Shanxi team to the eighth-ranked Guangdong team, there is only a 2-point difference between the seven teams, making the competition increasingly fierce. The outcome of each game may have a decisive impact on the rest of the season, which also makes the upcoming games full of uncertainty and highlights. Each team must seize every opportunity and go all out in the next games to strive for a favorable position and prepare for the playoff spots.
Personal Opinion
In this round of matches, the biggest surprise was undoubtedly Xinjiang's upset loss. Facing the bottom-ranked Fujian, their performance did not meet expectations. Although Xinjiang once took the initiative in the first half, they failed to seize the opportunity in the second half, and 20 turnovers seriously affected their offensive efficiency. This defeat not only made Xinjiang's ranking more unstable but also provided a warning to other teams: any underestimation or negligence can lead to a big defeat, especially in the fiercely competitive CBA league.
On the other hand, Liaoning and Guangdong showed the depth of a strong team in their respective games. Although Liaoning experienced fluctuations in the game, Fug's super performance allowed them to successfully overcome the difficulties. While Guangdong's key adjustments and Xu Xin's outstanding performance helped them reverse Qingdao. These two teams' victories once again proved the adaptability and deep squad strength of strong teams at critical moments.
Shanxi's crushing defeat made me doubt their playoff prospects. Although their performance this season once gave people a glimpse of the potential of a dark horse, this defeat exposed their shortcomings in overall control and dealing with high-pressure situations. They will need more stable play in the future to stand out in such fierce competition.
In general, this round of games once again proved that the gap in strength between CBA teams is gradually narrowing, and no team can afford to be careless. With the season entering the second half, competition among teams will become even more intense, and every game may have a profound impact on the rankings. Fans will also welcome a more thrilling second half of the season.