In a remarkable milestone, Guo Ailun celebrated his 500th game in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) with a standout performance for the Guangzhou Loong Lions. On Tuesday, Guangzhou secured a thrilling 108-101 victory over the Shenzhen Leopards in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, marking their second consecutive win of the season.
Guo, who joined Guangzhou during the offseason, started the game strong by scoring 10 points and delivering three assists in the first quarter, helping his team build a 34-24 lead. Shenzhen countered with He Xining leading their offense, sinking four three-pointers to total 18 points in the first half. However, the Shenzhen team struggled to maintain momentum, allowing Guangzhou to extend their halftime advantage to 67-55.
The third quarter saw Guangzhou surge ahead with an 8-0 run, pushing their lead to 75-55. Despite this, the team faced shooting challenges after Guo took a benched break, enabling Shenzhen to narrow the gap to five points by the end of the third quarter, with the score at 85-80.
As the fourth quarter unfolded, Shenzhen intensified their comeback efforts, bringing the score to a mere one-point difference at 85-84. It was Guo's resilience that turned the tide in Guangzhou's favor. He orchestrated a series of decisive plays, including an impressive ankle breaker against Li Muhao and a crucial layup with just 20 seconds remaining, securing the win for his team.
Guo concluded the game with an impressive tally of 25 points and seven assists, both leading his team. Reflecting on his achievement, the 30-year-old expressed his determination, stating, \"I can still play basketball. Some said I couldn't do it anymore. They said I'm retiring.\"
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Guo Ailun celebrates his 500th CBA game with victory for Guangzhou
cgtn.com
