The Nanjing Monkey Kings secured their first-ever Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) Playoffs berth in dramatic fashion, rallying from a 17-point deficit to defeat the Guangdong Southern Tigers 96-93 on Tuesday. This marks a watershed moment for the club, established in 2007 and competing in the CBA since the 2014-15 season.
Guangdong dominated early, leading 29-12 after Du Runwang's back-to-back three-pointers. However, Nanjing's T.J. Leaf and Kendric Davis spearheaded a second-quarter resurgence, narrowing the gap to 54-50 by halftime. The third quarter saw Nanjing seize control with a 14-0 run, highlighted by Tian Yuheng's clutch shooting, to take a 79-69 lead into the final period.
Guangdong tied the game late in the fourth quarter, but Davis delivered six critical points in the final minutes. Ren Junfei's missed three-pointer at the buzzer sealed Nanjing's historic victory. In another matchup, the Zhejiang Golden Bulls defeated the Xinjiang Flying Tigers 116-103.
The Monkey Kings join 11 other teams in the postseason, including the Liaoning Flying Leopards and Shanghai Sharks, though final standings remain pending. Their playoff journey begins this spring, capping a remarkable turnaround for a team once considered a CBA underdog.
