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On January 19th, Beijing time, the 33rd round of the CBA regular season kicked off with a comprehensive competition. According to the schedule, this round of matches featured strong matchups with plenty of highlights. The games were full of ups and downs, with scores tightly contested and the outcome remaining suspenseful until the final moments. It was a feast for the eyes of the spectators, with extremely exciting matches. Let's take a look back at two thrilling games!
- Zhejiang Defeats Liaoning
In the first quarter, Zhejiang started with a 6-0 run, forcing Zhao Jiwei into three turnovers against their defense. Yang Ming replaced Zhao Jiwei, who had too many turnovers, with Wang Lanqin to immediate effect. Liaoning responded with an 8-0 run through Wei Les' playtime, during which Yu Jiaho failed to score three times against Han Dejun's defense and needed to adjust his game. Jones completed a pick-and-roll, while Cheng Shaipeng defended Webb well, but missed a three-pointer. The first quarter ended with Zhejiang leading Liaoning 20-18.
In the second quarter, Wei Les scored on a drive to level the score, followed by a three-pointer, accumulating 10 points in just 7 minutes. Zhejiang's offense was again forced into turnovers by Liaoning, who steadied themselves on the offensive end. Liaoning started the second quarter with a 5-0 run, while Zhejiang struggled to score in half-court sets after York took a rest. Wang Yibo and Cheng Shaipeng couldn't maintain the team's flow without York.
Li Xiaoxu defended Yu Jiaho one-on-one, causing him to travel, as Liaoning went on a 9-0 run that disrupted Zhejiang's rhythm. Zhejiang couldn't score in half-court sets and was pressured by Liaoning's defense, failing to convert opportunities. Jones was fouled while rebounding with Webb, but no foul was called. Lu Wenbo then pulled down Yan Shouqi on a fast break, earning a flagrant foul. Without the previous missed call, Lu Wenbo wouldn't have been so angry; the referees' decisions directly affected the players' emotions on the court. Webb hit two consecutive three-pointers, while York completed a 3+1 against Forte's defense.
Yu Jiaho drew a foul from Li Xiaoxu in the paint, prompting Yang Ming to replace Li with Han Dejun. York missed a drive, but Jones grabbed the rebound for a second-chance basket. Zhejiang responded with a 9-2 run, with Forte scoring a mid-range two-pointer against Yu Jiaho's defense. On Zhejiang's last attack of the second quarter, York controlled the clock and hit a three-pointer. The half ended with Zhejiang trailing Liaoning 47-49.
In the third quarter, after halftime adjustments, Zhao Jiwei hit his first three-pointer of the game, while Cheng Shaipeng drew a foul on a drive and made both free throws. Zhao Jiwei nearly committed another turnover bringing the ball upcourt, but Li Xiaoxu recovered it in time. Jones hit a three-pointer, putting Zhejiang ahead 68-65. Forte drove past two defenders and drew a foul, with Liaoning inbounded the ball.
Forte continued to draw fouls and made both free throws. Wang Yibo dribbled past Zhao Jiwei's defense for an easy layup, exposing Liaoning's lack of rim protection. York drove for a layup, assisted by Wang Zilu's putback. Zhao Jiwei missed a mid-range shot, while Jones grabbed the defensive rebound, and Wang Yibo hit a buzzer-beating three-pointer. Jones completed a 2+1, drawing a foul on Forte, showcasing Zhejiang's fluid offense during this period. The third quarter ended with Zhejiang leading Liaoning 78-70.
In the fourth quarter, Wei Les scored 4 quick points, while Wang Yibo's drive was blocked and York was also rejected by Li Xiaoxu, with Liaoning failing to capitalize on the transition. York then committed a traveling violation, turning over possession. Wei Les drew a foul on Cheng Shaipeng, with Liaoning inbounded the ball. Wei Les hit a mid-range jumper against Cheng Shaipeng's defense, while York missed a drive, but Yu Jiaho scored on a putback. Wei Les missed a shot, but Cheng Shaipeng hit a mid-range two-pointer.
Forte replaced Wei Les and scored two points. The ball went in and out, with neither team capitalizing. Cheng Shaipeng drew a foul on Zhao Jiwei, with Zhejiang inbounded the ball. York hit a three-pointer, extending the lead to 87-78. Forte frequently drew fouls and made both free throws. Wang Zilu's three-pointer was blocked, while Cheng Shaipeng's漂移 three-pointer rimmed out. Cheng Shaipeng drove and scored against Li Xiaoxu's defense, celebrating his clutch shot.
When Forte wasn't scoring for Liaoning, the other players' shooting felt off. However, Forte immediately hit a three-pointer, with Yan Shouqi missing a three-pointer as York grabbed the defensive rebound. Zhejiang led and slowed the pace, with York being subbed off on defense in favor of the more energetic Jones. Forte turned the ball over, while Cheng Shaipeng hit a three-pointer. At 94-83, Zhao Jiwei increased physicality on defense against Wang Yibo, stealing the ball and assisting Forte for a two-pointer.
Webb committed a hand-check foul, with Zhejiang inbounded the ball. Liu Zeyi received the pass and scored a two-pointer against Li Xiaoxu's defense, adding a free throw, sealing the victory. With 50 seconds left, Yang Ming subbed out all the starters, as Zhejiang took the win. Ultimately, Zhejiang defeated Liaoning 101-88.
- Beikong Defeats Shenzhen
In the first half of the first quarter, Beikong, playing at home, opened the scoring with a three-pointer from Salinger. Shenzhen's He Xining responded in kind, with Riller hitting two three-pointers. The first quarter ended with Beikong leading Shenzhen 28-23. In the second quarter, both teams traded blows, with Shenzhen staying close in the score. After Johnson's injury and departure, Willis stepped up to help the team score continuously. Beikong, under Tres' coordination, also performed well, allowing the team to flourish with multiple scorers. The half ended with Beikong leading Shenzhen 59-56.
After halftime adjustments, Shenzhen began their chase in the third quarter, overtaking the score with a three-pointer from He Xining. Beikong's consecutive turnovers allowed Shenzhen to convert in transition. The third quarter ended with Beikong trailing Shenzhen 73-88. In the final quarter, Salinger scored repeatedly in the paint, reducing the deficit to just one point. Zou Yuchen hit a mid-range two-pointer to level the score at 96-96. He Xining drew a foul on Liu Xiaoyu, while Thompson missed a three-pointer. Salinger grabbed the defensive rebound, but Zou Yuchen was called for an offensive foul. Zhang Fan hit a crucial three-pointer. The game still held suspense, with Shenzhen's Zhou Peng responding with a three-pointer and Liu Xiaoyu nailing a three-pointer to secure the victory. Ultimately, Beikong defeated Shenzhen 112-102.
After today's matches, the latest CBA standings are as follows:
- Guangsha - 28 wins, 4 losses, 60 points
- Shanxi - 24 wins, 7 losses, 55 points
- Zhejiang - 22 wins, 11 losses, 55 points