It was truly unexpected that the Guangzhou team, which had suffered four consecutive losses, managed to lead by 4 points in the first quarter against the Shanxi team, ranked second in the league, and still maintain a slight 1-point advantage at halftime. Of course, this can be considered a normal performance for the Shanxi team when facing weaker opponents; more importantly, it may have been Guo Ailun's return that made the Guangzhou team once again a force to be reckoned with. Although the Guangzhou team ultimately could not avoid the embarrassment of losing, Guo Ailun, who played for 34 minutes, contributed another impressive double-double with 27 points, 6 rebounds, and 12 assists, becoming a highlight for the Guangzhou team. However, what attracted more attention from fans during the game was the moment when Jia Mingru, a Shanxi team player, flexed his muscles in front of the Guangzhou team's bench, and then, with just 0.2 seconds left before the end of the game and the outcome already decided with a big lead, he took another shot. Although he missed, this seemed to have completely provoked the dissatisfaction of the Guangzhou team players, and the two teams nearly engaged in a large-scale conflict during the final handshake, fortunately averted by the referees who promptly pushed Jia Mingru away.
In fact, without even playing the game, fans probably anticipated the result based on the current state of the Shanxi team and the Guangzhou team's continuous defeats, coupled with their away match status. It could be predicted that the Guangzhou team would find it difficult to defeat the Shanxi team. The factor most likely to change the outcome might have been Guo Ailun's return, as the pre-injury Guo Ailun was a player capable of influencing the flow of the game. Unexpectedly, it is unclear whether the Shanxi team was overconfident or if Guo Ailun genuinely changed the entire offensive system of the Guangzhou team. Despite the Shanxi team's fierce start, scoring a 7:0 offensive run, the Guangzhou team quickly adjusted and launched a strong counterattack, not only erasing the point difference but also successfully overtaking the Shanxi Fenjiu by 4 points. In Diyaluo's absence, Goodwin performed outstandingly for the Shanxi team, contributing 11 points in a single quarter, including three three-pointers; while Ma Ke of the Guangzhou team also performed well, scoring 10 points, including two three-pointers. At the end of the first quarter, the Guangzhou team led by 4 points with a score of 30:26.
Initially, it was thought that the Guangzhou team might catch the Shanxi team off guard, but the Shanxi team would quickly respond in the second quarter, effectively creating garbage time by halftime due to the obvious gap in overall strength between the two teams. Surprisingly, the Guangzhou team did not surrender early in the second quarter; instead, they also displayed a strong offensive with 32 points in the second quarter alone, although they were outscored by the Shanxi team by 3 points in that quarter. Overall, at halftime, the Guangzhou team still maintained a slight lead. Even in the first half of the third quarter, they completed an upset, and despite the Shanxi team's subsequent reversal, they could not stop the Guangzhou team's counterattacks, with the scores remaining close. Unfortunately, the Guangzhou team ran out of steam in the final moments of the third quarter, ending the quarter trailing the Shanxi team by 8 points with a score of 89:97. Although the Shanxi team extended their lead to 12 points in the final quarter, under Guo Ailun's leadership, the team narrowed the gap to just 2 points at the five-minute mark, with Guo Ailun scoring 15 points in that quarter alone. Unfortunately, in the following two minutes, the Guangzhou team failed to score continuously, allowing the Shanxi team to secure the victory with a decisive run.
For this game, the focus was not on winning or losing; rather, it was on Guo Ailun's performance and how long the Guangzhou team could hold out, which fans were more interested in. Unexpectedly, as the game neared its conclusion, a scene-stealing moment occurred, overshadowing all expectations. With just over twenty seconds left in the final quarter, the Shanxi team led the Guangzhou team by 10 points with a score of 122:112. Based on the individual abilities of the Guangzhou team players, the outcome was basically set, making it difficult to achieve a comeback in the final 20 seconds, especially since the team's key players besides Guo Ailun were limited to foreign player Ma Ke. Therefore, attempting a conventional comeback was virtually impossible. Moreover, there was no comparability between the two teams, and there was no scenario where the final score would determine their ranking, so there was no need to maintain high-intensity defense in the closing moments. However, the foreign coach of the Guangzhou team, Michel, may have consistently demanded strictness, continuing to require full-strength defense and applying full-court pressure even when the outcome was already determined.
This seemed to have completely angered the Shanxi team. In the final critical moments, after Jia Mingru, formerly of the Guangzhou team, successfully made both free throws, he appeared in front of the Guangzhou team's bench and flexed his muscles, which seemed to annoy the bench players. Logically, such actions are considered normal emotional release for on-court players, but the focus seems to lie elsewhere. Primarily, the Guangzhou team did not give up in the final six seconds of offensive time, continuing to apply full-court pressure to the Shanxi team and even attempting to steal the ball or force turnovers. As a result, the Shanxi team smoothly passed the ball to the frontcourt. Surprisingly, the final recipient was Jia Mingru again, and with only 0.2 seconds left in the game, he chose to take another shot, this time a three-pointer from beyond the arc. Although he missed, this action seemed to have thoroughly enraged the entire Guangzhou team, with even head coach Michel appearing displeased.
If another Shanxi team player had taken the shot, the Guangzhou team might have understood. The key point is that Jia Mingru played for the Guangzhou team last season and only joined the Shanxi team during the offseason. This game was against his former team, yet he showed no mercy and even took a shot when the team had a significant lead. This might be the result that the entire Guangzhou team found unacceptable. Consequently, during the final handshake, the two teams nearly engaged in a large-scale conflict, which could have led to an inevitable negative outcome if the referees had not timely intervened and pushed Jia Mingru away. In the NBA, it is generally the case that the leading team does not continue with the final shot in the end. As the CBA league matures, it has gradually developed this habit as well. However, it depends on the situation; if the two teams need to compete for small points at the end and must make the final shot, even with a significant lead. This game did not present such a scenario; it was perhaps the Guangzhou team's relentless defense that led to Jia Mingru's inability to resist taking the shot in the end.
Of course, regarding whether the shot should have been taken, considering this game, perhaps the Guangzhou team should have given up earlier, believing that the Shanxi team would run out the clock in the end. It may have been precisely because the defensive intensity remained high, coupled with potential discord between Jia Mingru and the Guangzhou team, that this phenomenon occurred. Alternatively, Jia Mingru may have wanted to use this game to refresh his personal scoring record since joining the Shanxi team, which could be the reason for his decision to take the shot.