Shandong Men's Basketball Team faced off against Ningbo Men's Basketball Team at home, a game with little suspense as one wonders how the third-ranked team could lose. It was inevitable that Ningbo would not see the possibility of winning and would suffer a ten-game losing streak. In the first quarter, Shandong completely dominated Ningbo with a score of 36-17, a 19-point gap. The disparity in strength and form was significant, with Shandong overwhelming Ningbo in all aspects, playing very relaxedly. Ningbo had no resistance, with poor foreign aid and even worse local players. Gao Shiyan is known as the "master baker," Guo Kai as the "mid-range king," Moore as the "three-point sharpshooter," and Kuma Jie as the "cake-eating master."
In the second quarter, after readjusting, Shandong continued to control the pace of the game, further widening the point difference. Although Ningbo's offense improved somewhat, it was far from enough, especially since they couldn't defend well, with a defense riddled with holes. Chen Peidong scored an open three-pointer, creating a 25-point gap. Even the referees couldn't bear it, turning Kuma Jie's good block into goaltending, awarding Ningbo two points.
The two teams maintained a gap of around 20 points, with Shandong not expanding it and Ningbo unable to reduce it, ending the half with a score of 63-45. Statistics: Machi 23 points, Maddion 11 points 4 rebounds, Lacossevic 6 points 6 rebounds, Wang Junjie 2 points, Wang Zirui 5 assists 12 steals, Howard 1 assist; Kuma Jie 14 points 4 rebounds 2 steals, Moore 13 points, Guo Kai 8 points, Zhang Xu 8 points, Gali 7 points 6 assists 6 rebounds, Xie Zhijie 4 points, Tao Hanlin 4 points 2 rebounds, Chen Peidong 3 points, Gao Shiyan 2 points 6 assists 4 rebounds.
In the second half, after readjusting, Shandong's offense encountered problems, while Ningbo counterattacked and narrowed the point difference with a 6-0 run. Kuma Jie and Xie Zhijie scored to stop the bleeding. Kuma Jie traveled, Moore missed a layup, but Machi and Maddion continued to score, further narrowing the point difference. Tao Hanlin scored again, Machi made a putback, Gali missed an open three-pointer, but Machi continued to score, unstoppable. Wang Zirui and Maddion hit consecutive threes, reducing the point difference to 5 points. Finally, Gali hit a three-pointer, giving Shandong an 8-point lead.
In the final quarter, Ningbo failed to maintain their good form from the third quarter, with Machi's offensive efficiency dropping, allowing Shandong to once again widen the point difference to double digits. Machi missed a forced three-pointer, Tao Hanlin missed a dunk, Ning Hongyu hit a three-pointer, Gali answered with a three-pointer, Machi cut to the basket, Gali made three free throws, Machi attacked the basket, and Chen Peidong broke through for a layup. Shandong maintained a double-digit lead and ultimately won 112-102, solidifying their third-place position.
Machi scored 60 points in vain, also the first 60 points in the CBA this season, but it was not enough to support the team alone. Statistics: Ningbo: Machi 60 points 3 assists 7 rebounds 2 steals, Maddion 22 points 2 assists 9 rebounds 3 blocks, Lacossevic 6 points 6 rebounds, Zhang Zuming 6 points, Wang Zirui 3 points 14 assists 4 rebounds 2 steals, Ning Hongyu 3 points 3 rebounds, Wang Junjie 2 points, Jordan Howard 1 assist, Ma Yong 1 assist 2 rebounds. Moore 23 points 3 assists 4 rebounds, Gali 22 points 8 assists 10 rebounds, Kuma Jie 16 points 9 rebounds 2 steals 2 blocks, Chen Peidong 11 points, Guo Kai 10 points 2 assists 4 rebounds, Zhang Xu 8 points 2 rebounds, Xie Zhijie 7 points 3 assists, Liu Yi 7 points, Tao Hanlin 6 points 5 rebounds, Gao Shiyan 2 points 6 assists 4 rebounds, Sun Tonglin 2 assists 1 rebound.