On January 20, 2025, the 33rd round of CBA regular season games were in full swing. Super dark horse Shanxi narrowly defeated Guangzhou with a score of 124-116, while Guangdong continued their winning streak by easily defeating Nanjing. Guangsha successfully achieved a 10-game winning streak against Beijing, further consolidating their status as a strong team. Additionally, Xinjiang won at home against Qingdao, stabilizing their performance, and Shanghai ended their losing streak with a big win against Sichuan. As the season progresses, the CBA standings are becoming increasingly tense, with only two wins separating second-placed Shanxi from eighth-placed Qingdao, making the competition for playoff spots even more intense.
In the match between Shanxi and Guangzhou, Shanxi demonstrated great tenacity. Despite trailing by one point at halftime, they managed to turn the game around and secure victory with a final score of 124-116 through excellent teamwork and key player performances in the second half. The improved outside shooting of Yuan Shuai, the substitute ace Jia Mingru, and Zhang Ning's crucial scoring helped Shanxi stabilize the game rhythm and overtake Guangzhou. Although Guo Ailun scored 27 points, 12 assists, and 6 rebounds, Guangzhou's overall coordination and defense struggled under Shanxi's pressure, failing to reverse the situation.
This victory allowed Shanxi to maintain their good form in the league and solidify their position in the standings. In contrast, Guangzhou's performance seemed slightly lacking, especially in terms of overall coordination. Their exposed defensive issues caused them to frequently falter against stronger opponents.
Guangdong continued their winning streak with a 112-94 victory at home against Nanjing. Despite Nanjing's decent first-half performance, particularly Lin Wei's outstanding individual play, Guangdong's defensive intensity and stable foreign aid gradually suppressed Nanjing's counterattacks. The double foreign aid combination of Jilunwote and Morand once again became the team's offensive weapon, while domestic core Xu Jie delivered a comprehensive performance with 23 points, 13 assists, and 6 rebounds, demonstrating his immense value to the team.
Guangdong's winning streak mainly relied on the stable performance of domestic player Xu Jie and the combined efforts of the foreign aid. However, despite their current recovery, if they want to go further in the playoffs, Guangdong needs more domestic players to step up, especially in terms of their performance in critical moments, where they must find additional attacking options.
Guangsha successfully turned the tide in their match against Beijing, achieving a remarkable 10-game winning streak. Although Beijing once took the lead in the game and attempted to close the gap by attacking the inside, key mistakes and missed three-pointers ultimately allowed Guangsha to secure the victory. Hu Jinqiu contributed 27 points throughout the game, with his outstanding performance on both offense and defense ensuring Guangsha's smooth victory.
Guangsha's stable performance and Hu Jinqiu's pivotal role have allowed them to continue climbing in the standings, with the team's overall strength constantly being validated. In comparison, Beijing's inconsistent state, especially Zhou Qi's low morale, left the team lacking sufficient inside support in critical moments, preventing them from seizing the opportunity to overtake.
Xinjiang achieved a decisive 103-83 victory over Qingdao at home, maintaining their stable competitiveness. Despite positive contributions from Weatherspoon and Zhao Jiayi of Qingdao, the team's overall offensive efficiency was low, failing to effectively respond to Xinjiang's attacks. On Xinjiang's side, Lawson's all-around performance helped stabilize the game situation, contributing a near-triple-double with 16 points, 16 rebounds, and 9 assists, laying the foundation for Xinjiang's victory.
Xinjiang's current performance is satisfying, especially their firm defense and multiple scoring points on offense, which have brought stable victories to the team. Qingdao still needs to adjust their offensive strategy, particularly when facing strong teams, as improving their overall offensive efficiency will be key to enhancing their competitiveness in the future.
Shanghai ended their losing streak with a resounding 129-87 victory over Sichuan. Initially, the two teams were evenly matched, but as the game progressed, Shanghai gradually increased their offensive and defensive intensity. Sichuan's double foreign aid failed to perform at their expected level under Shanghai's tight defense, causing the game to lose suspense early on. Li Hongquan's 26 points became the key to Shanghai's victory, with seven players scoring in double figures, showcasing the advantage of team basketball.
With the conclusion of the 33rd round of matches, the CBA standings have experienced subtle changes once again. Currently, Shanxi temporarily occupies the second position, while Qingdao is in eighth place. Surprisingly, the gap between these two teams is only two wins. Within this narrow margin, teams such as Guangdong, Guangsha, and Xinjiang are all engaged in fierce competition for ranking, making the battle for playoff spots exceptionally tense.
As the season deepens, the results of each game could potentially influence the changes in the standings. The performance of each team becomes increasingly important, especially considering the minimal differences between these teams. Any loss or victory could determine the final playoff positions. In this increasingly competitive situation, those who can maintain stable play will be able to seize a more advantageous position and face the challenges of the playoffs.