In a matchup brimming with playoff implications, the Guangdong Southern Tigers endured a fierce road test against Zhejiang, walking away with their seventh straight victory. As the CBA regular season nears its conclusion, the playoff race has intensified—and for fans already energized by BD Cricket Live, this basketball clash offered similar drama and tension under the spotlight.
Zhejiang, sitting 10th in the standings before tip-off, is locked in a tight contest with Guangzhou and Shanghai for the final playoff spots. With both sides hungry for a win, the energy in the arena was electric. Despite trailing for much of the game, Zhejiang mounted a spirited fourth-quarter comeback, relying heavily on accurate three-point shooting to stay alive. In the final 11 seconds, the home team narrowed the score to 102–105. But with Guangdong refusing to blink during the last possession, Zhao Rui calmly sank two clutch free throws after drawing a foul, sealing the hard-earned win and silencing hopes of a late upset.
Still, there’s plenty for Guangdong to reflect on. Missed chances to widen the gap, lapses in defense, and poor shot selection allowed Zhejiang to stay within striking distance for far too long. As Zhao Rui explained, “Wu Qian hit two really tough threes while I was guarding him—it speaks to his skill level. But we still need to improve our defense moving forward.”
Back in Dongguan, the Tigers now prepare for their final two regular-season games against Jilin and Liaoning on March 9 and 11. There’s no margin for error. Even without newly signed center Omar Aku, who has yet to join the team, Guangdong faced Zhejiang’s determined single-import lineup head-on. From the opening tip, both teams showed relentless hustle. Led by Weems and Wu Qian, the hosts kept the pressure on with sharp offense and physical interior defense.
Despite holding a five-point lead at halftime and stretching the margin into double digits in the third quarter, Guangdong couldn’t fully shake off Zhejiang. The game’s intense back-and-forth action became a proving ground for the Southern Tigers. As the finish line nears, there’s no room for complacency, and this gritty contest served as another timely reminder. The squad fought through fatigue and pressure, mirroring the kind of resilience often seen in BD Cricket Live when teams claw their way to victory in high-stakes matches.
In the end, Guangdong edged out their opponent thanks to big contributions across the board. Yi Jianlian led the way with 36 points and 12 rebounds, followed by Nicholson’s 18 and Morris’ 22. Zhou Peng added 8 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists, while Ren Junfei chipped in 9. Zhao Rui finished with 7 points, including those critical final free throws, though teammate Yang Jinmeng exited early due to injury.
Zhejiang fought valiantly, with foreign import Weems pouring in 30 points and emerging national star Wu Qian draining eight threes en route to a 34-point outing. Yet Guangdong’s old issue nearly resurfaced—letting double-digit leads slip through cracks and allowing easy scoring during defensive lapses. Nevertheless, the team held on, continuing to chase league leader Liaoning by just one game.
With only two regular-season contests left, every play counts. Just like the twists and turns of BD Cricket Live, the path to postseason glory is lined with trials—and Guangdong has no choice but to rise to each one.