Hu Mingxuan’s Clutch Shot Secures Guangdong’s Win Over Shanghai
Hu Mingxuan delivered a spectacular performance, scoring 31 points to lead the Guangdong Southern Tigers to a thrilling 102-98 victory over the Shanghai Sharks in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) playoffs on Saturday.
With the game tied at 95-95 and just 12 seconds remaining, Hu nailed a decisive three-pointer, sealing the win for Guangdong. Teammate Troy Gillenwater contributed 28 points, while Shanghai’s Wang Zhelin scored a team-high 22 points.
Shanghai started strong, opening with a 5-0 run and holding a narrow 25-24 lead after the first quarter. However, Hu sparked a 10-1 run in the second quarter, scoring eight consecutive points to give Guangdong a 44-40 advantage at halftime.
The Sharks roared back in the third quarter, thanks to Tyler Harvey’s trio of three-pointers, mounting an 18-0 run to regain a 69-66 lead heading into the final period. The fourth quarter was a back-and-forth battle until Hu’s clutch shot tipped the scales.
“It was a tough match, and I’m happy we got a good start at home for the playoffs,” said Guangdong’s coach Du Feng. “The away games will be even tougher, and we need to be well prepared.”
Beijing Royal Fighters Edge Shandong Behind Riller’s Stellar Play
In another playoff matchup, Grant Riller poured in a game-high 30 points to propel the Beijing Royal Fighters past the Shandong Heroes with a 104-99 victory.
Riller’s dynamic play included finding Zou Yuchen for a powerful dunk, helping Beijing establish a nine-point lead. Jared Sullinger added to the momentum by sinking a corner three-pointer, pushing the score to 46-32 in Beijing’s favor.
Maintaining their lead, Riller’s coast-to-coast drive and smooth jumper extended Beijing’s advantage. He capped off the third quarter with a deep three-pointer, setting the score at 79-70.
Despite Shandong’s determined effort, including a triple from Jarmar Gulley to cut the deficit, Beijing held firm. Zhang Fan’s clutch corner three-pointer sealed the victory, putting the icing on the cake for Beijing.
