Shanxi Men's Basketball Team defeated Guangzhou Men's Basketball Team with a score of 124-116. Looking at the records and rankings of both teams, Shanxi's victory might seem unsurprising. However, under the leadership of Guo Ailun, Guangzhou still posed a significant challenge to Shanxi. In the final moments of the game, there was a conflict and dispute between the players, which continued off the court. Could the spark that ignited this conflict be a former member of the old team?
Rewinding to the last 13 seconds of the game, Shanxi led Guangzhou 122-114. Two Guangzhou guards continuously double-teamed Jia Mingru, who, after being fouled, flexed his muscles towards the visiting team's bench, causing dissatisfaction among the Guangzhou players. After the second foul, Jia Mingru stood at the free-throw line and made both shots. With six seconds remaining, Guangzhou's foreign player, Ma Ke'ao, continued to cause damage even though it wasn't their turn to attack. In the next offensive round, Jia Mingru received a pass and attempted a three-pointer, which he missed, but this also led to a minor conflict.
After the game ended, there was a confrontation between the players in the player's tunnel. According to media reports, Guangzhou's foreign player went to Shanxi's locker room to demand an explanation. The foreign player pushed Shanxi's interpreter at one point, but was eventually persuaded back to the locker room by security personnel and team coaches. This behavior became an episode of the game.
Many fans attributed the source of the problem to Jia Mingru after the game. However, analyzing the game, it seems more due to the emotional outbursts of both teams' players. The disrespect shown by the visiting Guangzhou team players towards Jia Mingru also sparked the final conflict. For Jia Mingru, it is clear that he was holding back a lot of energy, hoping to prove himself in front of his old team. He scored 25 points throughout the game, his highest since joining Shanxi Men's Basketball Team. Of course, for players, they need to focus more on the court rather than off-court matters.