The Guangdong Southern Tigers staged a remarkable comeback on Thursday, overcoming a 19-point deficit to secure an 85-77 victory against the Guangzhou Loong Lions in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province. This win marks their seventh consecutive triumph in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA).
Both teams struggled with shooting accuracy, but the Southern Tigers couldn't keep up with the Loong Lions' strong start. The visitors scored just 29 points in the first half, with only 18 in the first quarter and 11 in the second. They missed 11 of their 14 three-point attempts in the first quarter, with three starters, Xu Jie, Huang Rongqi, and Du Runwang, all failing to score.
In contrast, the Loong Lions saw consistent offensive contributions from various players, including Tahjere McCall and Davion Warren, who continuously attacked the Southern Tigers' paint. Exploiting the team's scoring drought, the Loong Lions went on a 12-0 run to lead 48-29 by halftime.
The game took a dramatic turn in the third quarter, as the Loong Lions began committing turnovers and missing shots. The Southern Tigers responded with a 22-2 run, outscoring their opponents 33-11 in the quarter. Key players Xu, Zhang Haojia, and Troy Gillenwater combined to score 43 points, narrowing the gap to 62-59 after three quarters.
As the fourth quarter began, Yuan Zhaoyao hit two consecutive three-pointers for the Loong Lions, while McCall continued to pressure the Southern Tigers' defense. However, Zhang fouled out, leaving the Loong Lions with fewer scoring options.
With two minutes remaining, the Southern Tigers led 77-76 but struggled to score until the final moments. McCall was blocked twice, and Li Xiangbo turned the ball over twice. Xu knocked down a crucial three-pointer to take the lead 79-77, before Gillenwater made a decisive jumper. Both Gillenwater and Huang secured the win by adding two free throws each, handing the Loong Lions their third consecutive loss.
Reference(s):
Southern Tigers rally to beat Loong Lions for seventh straight win
cgtn.com
