In a stunning upset, the Nanjing Monkey Kings rallied from a 17-point deficit to shock the Guangdong Southern Tigers 96-93 in Dongguan, located in the Chinese mainland's Guangdong Province. This thrilling victory marks the team’s first-ever appearance in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) Playoffs.
Founded in 2007 and joining the CBA in the 2014-15 campaign, the Monkey Kings have shown relentless determination. After Guangdong started the game with a 12-2 run, building a 17-point lead, key players like T.J. Leaf and Kendric Davis sparked a comeback by relentlessly driving into the paint and carving out scoring opportunities.
Critical three-pointers from Liu Dong and Tian Yuheng helped narrow the gap by halftime. The momentum shifted in the third quarter when Nanjing tied the score and then gradually surged ahead. In the final period, Davis emerged as the offensive catalyst, contributing decisive points that secured the narrow 96-93 win and dealt Guangdong their 12th regular season loss.
Meanwhile, the Zhejiang Golden Bulls ended the Xinjiang Flying Tigers' three-game winning streak with a 116-103 triumph, adding extra excitement to an action-packed night in the league.
As the Monkey Kings join an elite group of 12 playoff teams, including stalwarts like the Guangsha Lions, Shanxi Loongs, and Beijing Ducks, this historic achievement inspires sports fans and young enthusiasts alike. It’s a testament to resilience, teamwork, and the spirit of dynamic competition in the evolving landscape of basketball in the Chinese mainland.
Reference(s):
Nanjing Monkey Kings reach CBA Playoffs for first time in team history
cgtn.com
