In a nail-biting showdown on Wednesday night, the Shanxi Loongs edged out the Guangsha Lions 100-98, snapping the league leaders’ impressive 12-game winning streak and ending their 19-game unbeaten run at home in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA).
Yuan Shuai ignited the game for Shanxi with a three-pointer from the top of the key, marking his 1,140th career triple—the seventh most in CBA history. Despite an early 10-point deficit at 24-14, Shanxi showed resilience. Zhang Ning stepped up by sinking a crucial three-pointer and drawing a foul, narrowing the gap to just three points by the end of the first quarter.
The Lions attempted to strengthen their lead in the second quarter, with Hu Jinqiu and Josh Carlton making key jumpers. However, Shanxi’s persistent defense kept the game tight, tying the score at 50-50 before Guangsha took a slim 55-53 lead into halftime.
Shanxi came out strong in the third quarter, capitalizing on Guangsha’s scoring drought with an 11-0 run. Ibrahima Faye dominated the paint, helping extend their lead to 15 points. Yet, the Lions fought back, with Hu Jinqiu and Sun Minghui hitting vital three-pointers to reduce the deficit to seven points going into the final quarter.
The fourth quarter was a rollercoaster. Shanxi increased their advantage to 89-77, but Guangsha responded with a 14-1 run to seize a one-point lead. With the game tied at 98-98 in the final moments, Shanxi’s defense forced key turnovers. In a clutch play, Zhang Ning drove to the basket, scoring a buzzer-beating layup to secure the victory.
“It was a tough game, but our team showed great heart,” said Zhang after the game. “We never gave up, and that’s what made the difference.”
