In a nail-biting finish, Xu Jie sank a game-winning buzzer-beater to propel the Guangdong Southern Tigers to a 121-119 victory over the Shanxi Loongs on Tuesday night in Dongguan, south China’s Guangdong Province. The win snapped Guangdong’s two-game losing streak and ignited the home crowd in a contest that stretched nearly three hours.
The matchup was fiercely physical from the outset, with both teams amassing a total of 34 fouls. Guangdong’s Wang Shaojie and Shanxi’s Hamidou Diallo, Jiao Hailong, and Xing Zhiqiang all fouled out before the final whistle, underscoring the intensity on the court.
Shanxi jumped to an early lead in the first quarter, fueled by a 10-2 run orchestrated by Brandon Goodwin and Diallo. However, Guangdong’s Troy Gillenwater and Adonis Arms kept the hosts within reach, ending the quarter trailing 29-27.
In the second quarter, Du Runwang partnered with Gillenwater to spark a 12-4 surge, giving Guangdong a 41-35 advantage. The lead was short-lived as a scoring drought allowed Shanxi to claw back, and the teams entered halftime deadlocked at 60-60.
The back-and-forth battle continued in the third quarter. Gillenwater remained Guangdong’s offensive powerhouse, while Shanxi’s Liu Chuanxing and Yuan Shuai elevated their play. A highlight came when Diallo set up Liu for a towering dunk, pushing Shanxi ahead 92-90 as they headed into the final quarter.
Shanxi seemed to take control in the fourth, with Liu dominating the paint and Yuan and Goodwin hitting crucial three-pointers to establish a 104-94 lead. But Guangdong wasn’t finished. Du emerged as the clutch performer, sinking three consecutive shots from beyond the arc to rally his team.
With just 19 seconds remaining, Goodwin’s three-pointer tied the game at 119-119, setting the stage for a dramatic conclusion. Guangdong entrusted Xu Jie with the final possession. Running down the clock, Xu made his move with three seconds left, driving into the lane and nailing a contested jumper as time expired. His heroics left no opportunity for Shanxi to respond, sealing a thrilling victory for the Southern Tigers.
