In a game that felt like a 🎢 rollercoaster of emotions, the Guangdong Southern Tigers clawed their way back from a 19-point deficit to stun the Guangzhou Loong Lions 85-77 in Thursday's CBA showdown! The victory marks their seventh consecutive win – proving they’re the comeback kings of Chinese basketball. 🏆
First Half Fumble, Second Half Hustle
The Southern Tigers’ starters struggled early, with stars like Xu Jie and Huang Rongqi going scoreless in the first quarter. Meanwhile, the Loong Lions’ Tahjere McCall and Davion Warren dominated the paint, building a commanding 48-29 halftime lead. 🦁💪
The Great Flip 🔄
Everything changed after halftime! The Tigers unleashed a 22-2 scoring blitz in the third quarter led by Zhang Haojia and Troy Gillenwater, who combined for 43 points. The Lions’ offense collapsed, managing just 11 points in the quarter. 😱
Final Minutes Fireworks 🎆
With two minutes left and the Lions up 77-76, the Tigers’ defense turned up the heat. McCall was blocked twice, and Xu Jie sank a clutch three-pointer to seal the deal. Gillenwater’s game-winning jumper capped off a victory that had fans chanting ‘MVP!’ 👏
The Loong Lions’ third straight loss leaves them regrouping, while the Southern Tigers continue their march up the CBA rankings. Who’s stopping this team? 🤔
