As the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) wraps up its landmark 30th regular season, the playoff bracket is finalised, promising thrilling clashes among the league's elite. Guangsha Lions dominated the regular season, securing first place with a commanding five-game lead over Shanxi, while several teams faced nail-biting tiebreakers to determine their seeding.
Defending champions Liaoning, seeking a historic fourth consecutive title, will enter the playoffs with a challenging path. They await the winner of the first-round series between last year's runners-up Xinjiang and debutants Nanjing. Meanwhile, second-seeded Shanxi will face either Guangdong or Shanghai—a matchup likely to draw intense attention after Guangdong narrowly edged Qingdao for seventh place in the regular season.
Key first-round series to watch:
Qingdao vs. Zhejiang: Winner faces Guangsha
Guangdong vs. Shanghai: Winner advances to play Shanxi
Shandong vs. Beaikong: Victor meets Beijing
Xinjiang vs. Nanjing: Survivor takes on Liaoning
All first-round matchups will adopt a best-of-three format, starting this Friday. With perennial contenders like Liaoning and rising forces like Nanjing colliding, the playoffs promise high drama for basketball enthusiasts across Asia and beyond.
