In a dramatic Game 2 of the CBA quarterfinals, the Zhejiang Guangsha Lions roared back to life on the road, defeating the Shanxi Loongs 86-81 to level the best-of-three series at 1-1. After dropping the first game, Guangsha faced elimination but showed tremendous resilience, stealing home-court advantage and shifting all momentum back to their side for the decisive Game 3.
The game started with both teams locked in a fierce defensive battle. Shanxi’s Ge Zhaobao opened with a three-pointer, but Guangsha’s Zhu Junlong quickly answered. The first quarter ended with Guangsha holding a slim 25-21 lead, thanks to strong inside play from Hu Jinqiu and timely buckets from Barry Brown.
The second quarter saw a controversial call when a foul on Shanxi’s Faye sparked frustration. Nathan Knight, who has a reputation for defending his teammates, received a technical foul after arguing with the officials. The call seemed to disrupt Shanxi’s rhythm, allowing Guangsha to stretch their lead to nine points. Hu Jinqiu took full advantage, scoring consistently inside, while Zhao Jiaren knocked down multiple threes. At halftime, Guangsha led 46-41.
The intensity only grew in the third quarter. Both teams struggled offensively early, with multiple missed shots and turnovers. Guangsha’s poor free-throw shooting kept Shanxi within striking distance. The home crowd grew restless with the officiating, and Shanxi managed to cut the deficit to just three points heading into the final period.
In the fourth quarter, with single-foreigner rules in effect, Guangsha’s domestic core took over. Zhu Junlong drained two critical three-pointers, and Hu Jinqiu dominated the boards. Shanxi had chances—most notably an open layup missed by Diyalo—but could not convert. The final score read 86-81, a hard-fought win that keeps Guangsha’s title hopes alive.
Barry Brown led Guangsha with 19 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists. Hu Jinqiu recorded a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds. For Shanxi, Diyalo posted a team-high 16 points and 7 rebounds, while Zhang Ning added 13 points. However, Nathan Knight struggled mightily, scoring only 3 points on free throws in 17 minutes, which hurt Shanxi’s offensive flow.
The series now shifts back to Guangsha’s home court for the decisive Game 3. With the higher seed and two home games originally scheduled, Guangsha have regained the upper hand. Both teams face a win-or-go-home scenario, promising an explosive finale.
