Translation of the article content into English:
On the evening of January 15th, Beijing time, multiple key matchups in the CBA regular season concluded, resulting in significant changes to the standings. Guangsha continues to dominate at the top with its strong performance, while Shanxi climbed to second after a big win, showing its dark horse potential, and Liaoning unexpectedly slipped to fifth. As the schedule progresses, the competition for playoff spots is becoming increasingly fierce.
In the home game against Tianjin, Shanxi defeated Tianjin 136-113, showcasing their strength throughout the game. Shanxi led 13-9 at the start of the first quarter, but Tianjin fought back tenaciously, trailing by only four points at the end of the first quarter. However, in the second quarter, Shanxi unleashed an offensive frenzy, with a 16-6 run quickly widening the gap to double digits. At halftime, Shanxi led 80-59, firmly controlling the rhythm of the game.
In the second half, Tianjin attempted to close the gap, but Shanxi played steadily in critical moments, once again expanding the lead to over 20 points. Ultimately, Shanxi won by a 23-point advantage. In this match, Shanxi demonstrated the impact and overall coordination of a top-tier team, with Diyallo scoring 19 points efficiently and Zhang Ning scoring 14 points with a 100% shooting rate.
In another game, Beijing hosted Beikong but suffered a crushing defeat of 102-129. With key players such as Zhou Qi and Zeng Fanbo absent, Beijing's interior defense was repeatedly under pressure, despite the outstanding performances of foreign players Jerman and Omore. Beikong maintained high efficiency throughout the game, with Shen Zijie, Rile, and others delivering impressive attacks. Especially in the third quarter, Beikong scored 37-26, widening the gap to 18 points. Finally, Beikong ended their three-game losing streak with a resounding victory.
After this round of games, the latest CBA rankings have been released. Guangsha tops the list with an impressive record of 27 wins and 4 losses, becoming the top contender for the championship this season. Shanxi has risen to second with 23 wins and 7 losses, showing extraordinary potential, while Shandong and Qingdao rank third and fourth respectively. Liaoning has dropped to fifth, raising concerns about whether this traditional powerhouse can regain its form in upcoming games.
Furthermore, from second-placed Shanxi to ninth-placed Guangdong, there is only a four-point difference in points, making the competition particularly fierce. Whether it's potential teams like Qingdao and Shenzhen or traditional powerhouses like Guangdong and Zhejiang, they all have the opportunity to further improve their rankings in subsequent games.
As the regular season approaches its end, the goal for each team is not just to win games but to secure a better ranking for the playoffs. Looking at the current standings, Guangsha and Shanxi are the most stable teams, while Liaoning and Shandong need to quickly adjust their states, or they risk missing out on championship opportunities.
In this intense battle for positions, who will stand out? Can Shanxi maintain its dark horse status until the end of the season? All the answers will gradually be revealed in the upcoming games.
Summary: Shanxi's rise has injected more suspense into this season's CBA, while Guangsha's stable performance has laid the foundation for the championship race. The slight point differences between teams and the tight competitive landscape undoubtedly add more excitement to the upcoming games.