Ending the Losing Streak! Xinjiang Defeats Jiangsu 92-82 - Who is the "Biggest Hero" of the Game? The Data Speaks for Itself
On January 14th, Beijing time, the 26th round of the CBA regular season saw Xinjiang Men's Basketball Team challenge Jiangsu Men's Basketball Team away. This was the third meeting between the two teams this season, with Xinjiang winning both previous encounters. However, Xinjiang had just suffered two consecutive losses before the game, making tonight an opportunity for them to fight against their opponents and stop their decline. Prior to the game, the star guard Zhao Rui returned from suspension, undoubtedly adding depth to Xinjiang's rotation lineup. In this game, Jiangsu only held out for two quarters before Xinjiang locked in the victory in the second half. The final score was Xinjiang 92-82 Jiangsu, ending their own two-game losing streak.
Xinjiang's starting lineup for the night was Qi Lin, Li Yanzhe, Xierzati, Lawson, and Hagens, while Jiangsu's starting lineup was Wu Yujia, Goodwin, Jackson, Li Chengyao, and Ma Guodong. Although Zhao Rui returned for this game, he still came off the bench, with Xinjiang's starting lineup remaining the usual configuration.
In the first quarter, after Lawson hit a three-pointer, Jiangsu's small foreign aid Jackson scored five points in a row. However, with Zhao Rui's substitution, Xinjiang turned the situation around, with Zhao Rui scoring eight points alone to lead the team back into the lead. At the end of the first quarter, Xinjiang led by seven points. In the second quarter, Xinjiang started with a 9-3 run to force a timeout from Jiangsu, with the point difference reaching double digits. However, Jiangsu managed to reduce the gap to single digits with a small scoring spree. Zhao Rui scored crucial points to stabilize the lead, while Qi Lin missed all seven shots in the first half, ending the half with Xinjiang leading by nine points.
After halftime, both teams entered a fierce battle in the third quarter. Jiangsu tried repeatedly to counterattack and reverse the situation, but Ilifu Lati performed outstandingly in this quarter, allowing Xinjiang to enter the fourth quarter with a 21-point lead. In the final quarter, the suspense of the game had already been lost early, as Xinjiang held a huge lead and played steadily, ultimately securing the victory away from home.
So, where exactly did Xinjiang win this game? Perhaps, the data will give us the answer!
Xinjiang's Starting Lineup Performance
Qi Lin: Played 29 minutes, shooting 1/12, scoring 2 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, with a +/- of -16! Although he started, he was really cold tonight, missing all seven shots in the first half and only grabbing one rebound, continuing to struggle in the second half.
Li Yanzhe: Played 35 minutes, shooting 5/7, scoring 11 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, with a +/- of -1! He excelled on both offense and defense under the basket, scoring 9 points and grabbing 3 rebounds in the first half, maintaining stability in the second half.
Lawson: Played 26 minutes, shooting 3/6, scoring 10 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, with a +/- of 10! He started well, then focused on protecting the rim and assisting his teammates, scoring 5 points, grabbing 6 rebounds, and dishing out 4 assists in the first half, playing well in the second half.
Hagens: Played 30 minutes, shooting 3/11, scoring 6 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, with a +/- of 3! He struggled in the game but also had some good moments, missing all five shots in the first half but grabbing 8 rebounds and dishing out 5 assists, playing well in the second half.
Xierzati: Played 17 minutes, shooting 2/7, scoring 4 points, 4 rebounds, with a +/- of 3! His shooting wasn't as hot tonight, scoring 4 points and grabbing 2 rebounds in six attempts in the first half, focusing on defense in the second half.
Other Substitutes' Performance for Xinjiang
Zhao Rui: Played 26 minutes, shooting 7/17, scoring 20 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, with a +/- of 21! A bench enforcer, he turned the tide upon entering the game, scoring 14 points, grabbing 3 rebounds, and dishing out 2 assists in the first half, continuing to explode in the second half.
Shalamu: Played 34 minutes, shooting 4/10, scoring 15 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, with a +/- of 11! He was in good form tonight, scoring 9 points, grabbing 3 rebounds, and dishing out 2 assists in the first half, maintaining stability in the second half.
Peterson: Played 25 minutes, shooting 4/14, scoring 14 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, with a +/- of 24! He started the game with poor shooting, scoring 5 points, grabbing 2 rebounds, and dishing out 3 assists in seven attempts in the first half, recovering in the second half with the highest +/- on the team.
Ilifu Lati: Played 15 minutes, shooting 4/5, scoring 10 points, 3 rebounds, with a +/- of 12! He only played 7 minutes in the first two quarters, scoring 2 points and grabbing 1 rebound, exploding in the second half.
Game Review
After the opening, Xinjiang played tightly, coupled with poor restrictions on Jiangsu's foreign aid, but with Zhao Rui's strong performance, Xinjiang maintained a normal level on the offensive end, so they could lead at halftime. The second half of the game had already lost its suspense, congratulations to Xinjiang for the victory.
After this victory, Xinjiang's record stands at 21 wins and 9 losses, ranking third in the league! In other matches of the same round, Liaoning defeated Shanghai 117-114, ending their opponent's 16-game winning streak. The updated CBA standings are as follows: