GUANGZHOU/LIAONING, April 2026 – The intensity of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) playoffs was on full display this week as two teams secured their spots in the next round with commanding performances.
In a highly anticipated clash, the Guangzhou Loong Lions delivered a statement victory over the Guangdong Southern Tigers, winning 93-76. The Loong Lions built a steady lead throughout the game, entering the final quarter with an eight-point advantage before exploding for a decisive 21-point run that sealed the Tigers' fate.
Guangzhou's success was a team effort. Lindell Wigginton led the charge with a near triple-double of 19 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists, while Deonte Burton added 15 points. The defensive presence of Xu Xin, who posted a double-double of 13 points and 11 rebounds alongside three blocks, was equally crucial.
For the Southern Tigers, Xu Jie scored a team-high 19 points, and Trevelin Queen contributed a double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds. However, a sluggish first half left them trailing, and they were unable to recover in the face of Guangzhou's fourth-quarter surge.
Meanwhile, in another first-round matchup, the reigning champions, the Liaoning Flying Leopards, demonstrated their playoff pedigree by defeating the Shandong Heroes 77-67. Liaoning established a dominant 49-35 lead by halftime, a deficit from which Shandong could not fully recover.
Fu Hao led the Flying Leopards with 16 points, while veteran point guard Zhao Jiwei orchestrated the offense with 14 points and seven assists. Eric Moreland dominated the boards with 14 rebounds to go with his 12 points. Guard Yan Shouqi provided a crucial spark off the bench, scoring all eight of his points in the final quarter to help close out the game.
Despite the loss, Shandong's DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell put on a show with a game-high 19 points, and Marquese Chriss added a double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds.
With these victories in the best-of-three series, both the Guangzhou Loong Lions and the Liaoning Flying Leopards advance to the next stage of the playoffs, setting the stage for more high-stakes basketball in the coming weeks.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
