CBA- Guangsha Men’s Basketball Team defeated Shandong Men’s Basketball Team to win three consecutive games in the new season

On the evening of October 17, the Zhejiang Guangsha Lions faced off against the Shandong Heroes in the third round of the 2024-2025 CBA regular season in Hangzhou, where they secured a 103-96 victory. This win marked the Lions’ third consecutive victory to start the new season. Despite a slow start in the first quarter, Guangsha quickly regained their rhythm in the second and maintained a narrow lead until the final whistle.

With the new season underway, both teams saw some changes in their rosters. Guangsha brought in three foreign players—Brown, Knight, and Carlenton—as well as local talent Lin Bingsheng. Shandong, on the other hand, added foreign players Gaily, Chris, and Wigington, along with local player Yu Dehao. Additionally, Qiu Biao, who led the Xinjiang team to a championship last season, is now coaching Shandong.

The two teams faced each other in their season opener, with Guangsha narrowly defeating Shandong 113-102 on the road for an impressive start.

In the latest matchup, Shandong quickly found their rhythm and applied significant pressure on Guangsha, at one point leading by 7 points. However, with contributions from Knight and Zhao Yanhao, Guangsha managed to cut the deficit. A buzzer-beating three-pointer from Brown left Guangsha trailing 25-28 by the end of the first quarter.

In the second quarter, Guangsha found their footing thanks to the collaborative efforts of guards Brown, Sun Minghui, and Lin Bingsheng, sparking an 11-0 run that put them ahead. Shandong, having struggled offensively, began to regain their scoring ability, but Guangsha’s response was equally fierce. By halftime, Guangsha held a 58-50 lead.

As the third quarter commenced, Guangsha continued to build their lead, while Shandong’s Chen Peidong showcased impressive shooting from the perimeter to keep the game close. Entering the fourth quarter, Shandong narrowed the gap to just one point, creating a tense back-and-forth atmosphere. Ultimately, Sun Minghui’s key assists helped Guangsha pull away for the win by the end of the match.

Brown led Guangsha with 30 points, 2 rebounds, and 4 assists, while Knight contributed 19 points and 12 rebounds. For Shandong, Chris had a standout performance with 31 points, 17 rebounds, and 2 assists.

After the hard-fought match, Guangsha’s head coach Wang Bo praised his team’s determination: “The players fought hard. They didn’t lose focus after our main foreign player got injured in the previous game; they gave it their all until the final minute.”