In a thrilling comeback, the Shanxi Loongs stunned the Guangdong Southern Tigers with a 103-99 victory on Friday in Dongguan, south China’s Guangdong Province. Overturning a daunting 19-point deficit, the Loongs secured their second win against the Southern Tigers in the 2024-25 Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) regular season.
The game seemed firmly in Guangdong’s control as they surged ahead to a 50-31 lead shortly before halftime. The Southern Tigers intensified their defensive pressure midway through the first quarter, forcing turnovers and capitalizing on fastbreak opportunities. With Shanxi struggling from beyond the arc and missing multiple three-pointers, Guangdong closed the first quarter ahead 26-17.
Du Runwang and Hu Mingxuan extended the Southern Tigers’ advantage in the second quarter, consistently hitting their jump shots. The Loongs, however, refused to falter. Hamidou Diallo kept Shanxi within reach, and by halftime, the gap was narrowed to 13 points at 57-44.
The momentum shifted dramatically in the second half. Brandon Goodwin ignited Shanxi’s offense, proving unstoppable with his mid-range and perimeter shooting. Complemented by Liu Chuanxing’s accuracy from downtown, the Loongs dominated the third quarter with a 31-21 run, trimming Guangdong’s lead to just three points at 78-75.
The tension escalated in the fourth quarter as both teams grappled for control, enduring a two-minute scoring drought. Xu Jie broke the silence with a layup, putting Guangdong ahead 89-88. Goodwin responded swiftly with a coast-to-coast drive and a critical three-pointer. A subsequent triple from Jia Mingru propelled the Loongs to a 96-93 lead with two minutes remaining.
Despite Troy Gillenwater’s efforts for the Southern Tigers, he missed a potential game-tying jumper with six seconds on the clock. Forced to foul to preserve time, Guangdong sent Han Peiyu to the line, who calmly sank both free throws, extending Shanxi’s lead to 103-99.
In the final moments, Hu Mingxuan’s desperate three-pointer missed its mark, sealing the Southern Tigers’ fourth defeat of the season. The Loongs’ remarkable comeback underscores their resilience and places them firmly in contention as the CBA season progresses.
Reference(s):
Shanxi Loongs overturn 19-point gap to shock Guangdong Southern Tigers
cgtn.com
