With Liaoning's big win over Tianjin, Shandong's narrow loss, and Beijing and Xinjiang securing victories, the latest CBA rankings have been released.

On December 14th Beijing time, the first round of the CBA regular season continued, with six games completed last night. The key matches included Beijing Enterprises edging Shandong 97-92, struggling Jiangsu narrowly losing 78-84 to Beijing, Shenzhen falling 77-89 to last season’s surprise Qingdao, Sichuan being overwhelmed 66-81 by Guangzhou, Tianjin being heavily beaten 68-80 by the powerhouse Liaoning, and Xinjiang establishing an early advantage to defeat Fujian 99-91. Consequently, the latest CBA standings are out: Guangzhou ranks first, Guangsha second, Liaoning third, Qingdao fourth, Beijing fifth, and Xinjiang sixth!

Beijing Enterprises vs. Shandong. In the first half, Shandong showed strong offensive momentum, dominating both offense and defense to lead by six points at halftime. In the second half, Beijing Enterprises intensified their efforts to close the gap, reducing the deficit to two points by the end of the third quarter. The final quarter was fiercely contested, but a turning point occurred when Gao Shiyan missed two free throws and Xie Zhijie made a costly mistake, allowing Beijing Enterprises to maintain their lead. In the final moments, Shandong’s coach abandoned the inside game, deploying three guards, but Gao Shiyan’s three-point attempt missed, sealing the victory. It might have been better to rely on Chen Linjian for the shot. From this game, it’s clear Shandong lacks players who can perform under pressure, and their foreign guard’s skills are insufficient!

Tianjin vs. Liaoning. The gap between the two teams was significant, with Tianjin unable to match Liaoning’s strength. In the first half, Liaoning launched a fierce offensive, overwhelming Tianjin and quickly building a large lead, surpassing an 18-point margin by halftime. In the second half, Liaoning’s offense faltered with many missed shots, giving Tianjin a chance to fight back and reduce the deficit. At a critical moment, Zhang Chen Zhifeng stepped up to score for Liaoning, halting Tianjin’s momentum. By the end of the third quarter, Tianjin had cut the gap to 11 points. In the final quarter, both teams traded baskets, but Tianjin’s effort to close the gap was insufficient. Liaoning maintained control steadily, and the game was no longer in doubt, ultimately cruising to an easy victory over Tianjin!

Xinjiang vs. Fujian. Xinjiang was favored due to their stronger lineup, but they only managed a slim five-point lead at halftime. However, Xinjiang exploded offensively in the third quarter, aggressively attacking Fujian and outscoring them 31-18 in that period, quickly widening the margin. After three quarters, Xinjiang held an 18-point advantage. Despite the large deficit, Fujian did not give up in the final quarter; they organized a strong offensive push that significantly reduced the gap. Still, Xinjiang managed to stop the momentum in time and held on to secure the win, with five players scoring in double digits to start the season on a high note!

Written by / Sports Novel