The Beijing Ducks delivered a dominant 105-74 victory over the Guangdong Southern Tigers on Thursday, ending their eight-game winning streak in a high-stakes Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) clash. The home team's aggressive play and revitalized roster stunned the 11-time champions, marking one of the most lopsided results this season.
Star forward Zeng Fanbo made a triumphant return after 250 days sidelined by injury, scoring 18 points in his 2025-26 season debut. The 22-year-old, who trained briefly with the NBA's Brooklyn Nets during preseason, showcased sharp accuracy with 7/9 field goals and 4 three-pointers. Beijing's international duo Eugene German (22 points) and Omari Spellman (21 points) fueled an early 28-14 lead that Guangdong never recovered from.
Guangdong's offense faltered under Beijing's defensive pressure, with only Edmond Sumner (35 points) and Jared Sullinger (11 points) reaching double digits. The loss drops them to third place behind Beijing and the Guangsha Lions, who all hold 8-1 records.
Defending champions Guangsha Lions strengthened their title defense with a 102-68 road win against Tianjin Pioneers. Five players scored double digits, led by Rayjon Tucker's 17 points and 8 assists, as they claimed first place via tiebreakers.
Other Thursday results saw the Ningbo Rockets (84-79 over Jiangsu) and Fujian Sturgeons (104-88 against Sichuan) secure crucial wins, while Zhejiang edged Qingdao 78-73 in a tight contest.
