In the 30th round of the CBA regular season, a strong confrontation took place as the Guangdong team continued to play at home and艰难地战胜了Beijing Beikong, securing a six-game winning streak while also handing their opponents a double-kill in the regular season. After achieving a six-game winning streak, Guangdong's ranking finally rose to the top eight in the standings, securing a playoff spot with just one step away.
During the match against Beijing Beikong, both sides fought until the last possession to determine the winner, with Xu Xin's near-buzzer beater becoming the hero for Guangdong's victory. However, before Xu Xin made the decisive shot, the CBA referees repeatedly stole the spotlight, almost ruining Guangdong's chances. At that time, the score was tied at 97, and Beijing Beikong had two free throw opportunities.
Shen Zijie missed the first free throw, and after the second attempt, Beikong player Zhang Fan, standing beyond the three-point line, entered the three-point area before the ball even touched the rim. According to CBA rules, this should have been a violation, and the ball possession should have been returned to Guangdong. However, the referee made another mistake.
Not only did the referee fail to penalize Beikong's player for entering early, but they also directly called a defensive foul on Guangdong, awarding Beikong two more free throws. Eventually, Zhang Fan made one of the two free throws, leaving Guangdong with an opportunity for a buzzer-beating comeback. Fortunately, Xu Xin seized the rare opportunity and ultimately scored the near-buzzer beater, slapping back at the CBA's poor refereeing.
For the CBA referees, this season's regular season has seen multiple games where their calls have directly stolen the show, with some calls leaving fans puzzled. This close call that almost ruined Guangdong's game left Coach Du Feng quite dissatisfied. Of course, once the referee has made the foul call, even reviewing the video cannot change it.
It can be said that Xu Xin not only saved Guangdong but also rescued the referees. If this oversight had led to Guangdong's home loss, the referee's inaction would have directly changed the outcome of a key match. As we approach the third stage, it is hoped that in the upcoming games, the referees' standards will become more professional, refraining from stealing the spotlight during matches and not altering the results.