Tongxi Team, as a late entrant to the CBA, has not been very competitive in the league, but the team's ambition is not weak. Since the previous season, they have been chasing the playoffs, aiming to break the team's embarrassing record of never making it to the playoffs!
Unfortunately, despite Tongxi's efforts, they have remained elusive from the playoffs, and each time at the critical moment of competition, the team fails to deliver. This season, Tongxi has shown similar signs!
After entering the second stage, Tongxi performed quite well, once pushing their record to the top 8 in the league. However, as the regular season entered the second half, Tongxi's performance plummeted! In the last six games, Tongxi lost five, resulting in a record of 13 wins and 15 losses, with a win rate falling below 50%, and their ranking dropped to 12th in the league, with their playoff position under threat!
Jilin currently ranks 13th with 10 wins and 18 losses, trailing Tongxi by three games. Although their performance has not been good, the key factor is that their core players Jones and Jiang Yuxing are injured. Once these two return, Jilin's strength will significantly improve, posing a considerable threat to Tongxi!
For Tongxi, whether they can secure their playoff spot or have it taken away by opponents depends on their future performance; the team needs more victories! Fortunately, Tongxi faced a relatively weaker opponent this game, presenting them with a good opportunity to win!
This game, Tongxi faced Jiangsu! Jiangsu has so far achieved a record of 5 wins and 23 losses, ranking second-to-last in the league. Their strength is average, although there has been some improvement recently, they are still no match for Tongxi, with a high probability of losing!
Both teams are from Jiangsu, making this a Jiangsu derby! From the start, both teams played fiercely. Goodwin scored with a jumper, Harris responded with a mid-range shot, Thompson scored under the basket, and Leaf returned the favor. The two teams went back and forth, with the score tied at 23, and neither team took the lead! At the end of the first quarter, Jackson and Goodwin continuously attacked the basket to score, giving Jiangsu a slight one-point lead!
Jackson hit a three-pointer to break the deadlock for Jiangsu, followed by breakthroughs from Zhu Mingzhen and Harris, keeping the score close. Towards the end of the quarter, Tongxi's offense gained momentum, with Harris and Lin Wei contributing inside and outside, turning the situation around and leading by 5 points at halftime.
Entering the second half, the two teams continued to battle on the court! Lin Wei was in excellent form, scoring 7 points in the quarter, while Guo Haowen and Leaf also provided assistance. However, Goodwin had a great quarter, scoring 11 points, and under his leadership, Jiangsu continued to stay close in the score. Both teams tied at 24 in the quarter, with neither gaining an advantage! However, in the final quarter, Tongxi finally erupted, with Leaf and Guo Haowen continuously firing, leading to an offensive surge that extended their lead to 16 points, seemingly securing the victory!
But unexpectedly, Tongxi then fell into a scoring drought, allowing Jiangsu to seize the opportunity and go on a 9:0 run, reducing the gap to single digits! In the crucial moments, Jiangsu continued to chase, once closing the gap to within 5 points, but unfortunately, there was little time left on the court. With Guo Haowen making two free throws, even though Jackson hit a three-pointer, it was in vain, and Jiangsu lost the game 97:101!
Nanjing Team Stats: TJ Leaf - 22 points, 20 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, 4 blocks; Jalen Harris - 24 points, 5 rebounds; Lin Wei - 17 points, 5 assists, 2 steals.
Jiangsu Team Stats: Archie Goodwin - 18 points; James Thompson - 18 points, 21 rebounds; Franklin Jackson - 30 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals.
A narrow 4-point victory, Tongxi almost suffered a comeback from Jiangsu after leading by 16 points, but fortunately, they managed to hold on and secure the win!
In this game, Tongxi's success was largely due to the outstanding performance of their two foreign players. Leaf contributed 22 points and 20 rebounds, while Harris scored 24 points, supporting the team's offense and interior. However, the returning twin stars of Tongxi, Guo Haowen and Lin Wei, also played brilliantly, combining for 33 points and 9 assists, fully revitalizing the team's offense and helping them secure the victory!
After winning this game, Tongxi's record reached 14 wins and 15 losses. Although their win rate has not yet reached 50%, their lead over Jilin has increased to 3.5 games, giving them a clear advantage. Moreover, with Jilin's Jones and Jiang Yuxing still out and the team suffering a three-game losing streak, the 12th position has basically become Tongxi's, and qualifying for the playoffs should not be a problem!