Last night's showdown between the Xinjiang Flying Tigers and the Shanxi Loongs was nothing short of legendary! 🙌 The game had fans on the edge of their seats, and honestly, it might just be the game of the season so far.
With a home crowd that's more pumped than a festival mosh pit 🎉, Xinjiang came in boasting a rock-solid 12-game home winning streak. But Shanxi wasn't messing around either—they rolled in with a fierce seven-game winning streak. Talk about a clash of titans! 💥
The first quarter was a total back-and-forth. 🤜🤛 After tying at 10-10, Xinjiang pulled ahead with a quick six-point burst. But Shanxi wasn't having it and closed the gap like a boss, ending the quarter just one point behind.
In the second quarter, Xinjiang's own Li Yanzhe and Abudurexiti Abudushalamu went full beast mode, dropping 18 points between them! 🔥 Shanxi's Yuan Shuai answered with some clutch three-pointers, and former NBA star Hamidou Diallo was slicing through defenses like it was nothing. Just before halftime, Diallo nailed a three, putting Shanxi ahead 54-53.
Third quarter? Totally Xinjiang's jam. 🎶 Xierzhati Saimati lit up the court with 12 points, and with help from Qi Lin and Dedric Lawson, they outscored Shanxi by 17 points! They headed into the final quarter up by 16, looking unstoppable.
But hold up—the fourth quarter was a plot twist worthy of a Netflix series! 🍿 Xinjiang hit a scoring slump, and Shanxi's Brandon Goodwin seized the moment. He led a comeback that had everyone shook, and with five minutes left, Shanxi snatched the lead. Then Q.J. Peterson stepped in, drawing fouls and sinking free throws to tie things up. The tension was REAL.
With the clock winding down, Zhang Ning nailed a jumper, but Lawson kept Xinjiang alive with two clutch free throws. Goodwin missed a long three-pointer at the buzzer, and you know what that means—overtime! ⏰
In OT, Peterson and Saimati wasted zero time, each dropping a three-pointer and sending the crowd into a frenzy! 🎇 Goodwin tried to rally Shanxi with a slick layup, but Xinjiang's Zhang and Qi weren't about to let this win slip. Despite Shanxi's hustle, including a daring three from Zhang, Xinjiang sealed the deal with Lawson's free throws. Game over! 🎯 Final score: Xinjiang 128, Shanxi 121.
It's official—Xinjiang extends their jaw-dropping home winning streak and puts a halt to Shanxi's seven-game run. The Flying Tigers are soaring high! 🐯✨
In other news, the Beikong Royal Fighters took down the Shenzhen Leopards 109-95. This win bumps them up to ninth place, while the Leopards hold at sixteenth. The league standings are heating up! 🔥
Reference(s):
Xinjiang ends Shanxi's winning streak in high-stakes CBA thriller
cgtn.com
