In this matchday, the 32nd round of the CBA regular season continued with exciting competitions, resulting in unexpected outcomes. Shandong suffered an upset loss to Nanjing, while Liaoning narrowly secured a victory after a tough battle. Zhejiang, on the other hand, easily defeated Tianjin. The performances of the teams and the changes in the standings have added more uncertainty to the playoff competition.
Firstly, the match between Shandong and Nanjing was an intense encounter. From the beginning, the game was tightly contested. Nanjing's small foreign player Harris performed exceptionally well, coming off the bench but his scoring output kept Nanjing in a slight lead at halftime. Lin Wei's return to form also injected vitality into Nanjing's offense. On the other hand, Shandong struggled, especially in the absence of Chris, their offensive flow was not smooth, leading to a halftime score of 50-52 behind.
In the second half, despite Gali's outstanding performance with a triple-double, his shooting accuracy was not ideal. Shandong's attacks were tenaciously resisted by Nanjing, and at critical moments, Nanjing players Lin Wei and Guo Haowen stepped up to help the team withstand Shandong's counterattack. Ultimately, Shandong lost to Nanjing with a score of 89-98, creating the biggest upset of the round. Although Gali contributed with 24 points, 13 assists, and 11 rebounds, his low shooting percentage became the key factor in the team's defeat.
Another match saw Liaoning face Ningbo, which was equally suspenseful. Both teams engaged in fierce exchanges in the first quarter, with a tight score of 32-30 indicating the tension of the game. Ningbo's foreign players Ma Qi and Ma Diang took turns exerting pressure, frequently drawing fouls and stepping up to the free-throw line, causing trouble for Liaoning. Under the constraint of foul troubles, Liaoning's offensive rhythm was not smooth. However, new foreign player Weber showcased his comprehensive abilities in the game, with his inside-out scoring helping Liaoning trail by only two points at halftime with a score of 58-60.
Entering the second half, the game remained closely contested, with Fu Ge and Ma Qi's shootout becoming one of the highlights. Liaoning relied on the experience of veterans Li Xiaoxu and Han Dejun in the paint to stabilize the situation at critical moments, eventually narrowly defeating Ningbo with a score of 113-107 to secure a two-game winning streak. Weber also delivered an impressive performance, becoming the key to the team's victory.
Meanwhile, Zhejiang demonstrated ease in their match against Tianjin. Despite Tianjin taking the lead in the first quarter relying on Lin Tingqian's hot hand, Zhejiang exploded in the second quarter, scoring an impressive 42 points to reverse the situation and establish a double-digit lead. In the second half, Tianjin struggled to cope with Zhejiang's onslaught, with the entire team lacking offensive power, ultimately suffering a big defeat with a score of 106-135. Zhejiang's multi-point scoring allowed them to showcase their strong overall strength, with the outstanding performances of foreign players Jones and York playing a significant role in the game.
In other matches, Beijing lost to Qingdao with a score of 89-99, and the Beijing team, currently experiencing consecutive losses, has slipped to eighth place in the standings. Shanxi defeated Shanghai with a score of 111-100, and the dark horse Shanxi's performance intensified the competition in the standings.
After this round, the CBA standings are unpredictable, with Liaoning temporarily in fourth place, and only a two-point difference between second and sixth place. As the season progresses, the competition for playoff spots becomes increasingly fierce, with every win or loss having a significant impact on the final rankings. Fans can look forward to even more thrilling games ahead, as each team is sure to give their all to secure a favorable position in the competitive standings. This CBA battle is destined to be a basketball feast filled with suspense and passion.