The second round of the CBA playoffs delivered edge-of-your-seat drama with two unforgettable matchups: Guangdong’s overtime buzzer-beater to stay alive and Shanghai’s dominant sweep to advance, both generating major buzz.
In Guangdong, the team faced elimination after losing Game 1 on Beijing’s home court. With Beijing leading the series 1-0 and having beaten Guangdong three times this season, the pressure was immense. At the packed Dongguan Basketball Center, over 10,000 fans in yellow created a sea of support. Former Guangdong players Zhou Qi and Zhao Rui, now with Beijing, received warm applause during introductions.
Beijing started strong, with Lei Meng hitting a three-pointer. Guangdong responded through Xu Jie’s floater, Hu Mingxuan’s inside-outside scoring, and threes from Du Runwang and Quinn. Beijing called a timeout and then used their interior advantage to extend the lead, with Spelman and Chen Yingjun hitting threes, building a nine-point halftime lead at 52-43. Coach Du Feng stayed calm during the break, simply adjusting the game plan.
The third quarter saw a transformed Guangdong team, abandoning interior attacks for outside shooting. A 13-2 run erased the deficit, and the game became a back-and-forth battle. Zhao Rui helped Beijing stabilize, but Hu Mingxuan was stripped by Spelman for a fast-break dunk. Guangdong trailed 75-72 heading into the fourth.
The final quarter was tight. Quinn tied the game on free throws with two minutes left. In overtime, with 50 seconds remaining, Beijing’s McGee grabbed an offensive rebound and drew a foul. Hu Mingxuan fouled out. With 30 seconds left, Beijing committed a turnover. Xu Jie pushed the ball up and found Zhang Haojia open for a corner three. The buzzer-beater sent the arena into a frenzy, forcing a decisive Game 3.
Meanwhile, in Shandong, Shanghai dominated from start to finish. Lofton dominated inside, Wang Zhelin facilitated, and Shandong’s only consistent scorer was Chen Linjian. The final score was 96-68, a sweep that made Shanghai the first team to reach the semifinals.
Beyond the scores, the games highlighted key strategic and psychological elements. Du Feng’s adjustment to focus on three-point shooting was crucial—Guangdong hit 19 of over 30 threes in the second half, breaking Beijing’s defense. Beijing’s complacency, having won three previous meetings, led to a costly late turnover. Despite the loss, Beijing players showed sportsmanship by shaking hands after the game, and Du Feng embraced Beijing coach Xie Libin.
Shanghai’s sweep solidified their status as the title favorite. As the regular-season champion, their depth and extended rest give them a clear advantage. Guangdong and Beijing must now battle in Game 3, increasing fatigue. The CBA’s 1-1-1 best-of-three quarterfinal format rewards higher seeds with an extra home game, which proved pivotal for Guangdong’s comeback.
The importance of regular-season rankings cannot be overstated. Shanghai earned home-court advantage and more rest, while other teams face grueling schedules. Coach Du Feng, a former Guangdong star turned national team coach, followed the typical CBA coaching path: starting as a youth assistant before moving up. Similarly, Shanghai’s Liu Peng, a former player, led his team to the regular-season title. Beijing’s foreign coach Laiden also transitioned from playing to coaching in Europe before joining the CBA.
This playoff night captivated fans nationwide, trending on social media. The best-of-three format, replacing the previous single-elimination, creates more suspense and allows teams to adjust. Guangdong’s buzzer-beater and Shanghai’s sweep demonstrate the improving quality of CBA basketball, with greater player resilience and tactical sophistication.