MVP.
Every shot seemed to find the bottom of the net.
In Game 1, He Xining shot 12 of 17 from the field (8 of 8 from three) for 32 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1 steal. In Game 2, he followed up with 12 of 7 (5 of 5 from three), contributing 23 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals. Over the first two playoff games, He made 19 of his 29 total attempts, shooting an incredible 66% from the field and 56% from beyond the arc.
Behind He Xining’s relentless scoring, the Shenzhen Leopards swept the Zhejiang Golden Bulls with a commanding 2-0 series win, advancing to the semifinals. They will now face the defending champion Guangsha Lions or the Shanxi Loongs.
At just 29 years old, He continues to evolve his game, now widely regarded as the top guard in Chinese basketball and perhaps the best player overall. His perimeter firepower will be crucial when he takes the court for China’s national team in the third window of the World Cup qualifiers this July, facing Japan and Chinese Taipei.
Meanwhile, in the other series, the Guangsha Lions escaped with an 86-81 overtime victory over the Shanxi Loongs on the road, tying the series at 1-1.
The game was defined by poor shooting: one team made 27 of 69 shots (39.1%) and only 8 of 29 from three (27.6%), while the other hit 26 of 65 (40%) and 9 of 29 from deep (31%).
Guangsha’s stats: …
Shanxi’s stats: …
Game 3 moves back to Guangsha’s home court, where they have a strong chance to defeat Shanxi and punch their ticket to the semifinals. However, given their current form, they may struggle against a red-hot Shenzhen squad, casting doubt on their ability to defend the championship.
A major reason for Guangsha’s diminished dominance this season is the absence of floor general Sun Minghui, who has missed over three months due to a partial tear of his right anterior talofibular ligament. The initial recovery timeline was 6 to 8 weeks. Sun has only played 23 regular-season games this year, averaging 10 points, 2.1 rebounds, 6.1 assists, and 1.2 steals in 25 minutes per game, shooting 41.4% from the field, 31.6% from three, and 88.5% from the line. Without him orchestrating the offense, Guangsha’s attack has lost its rhythm, leading to a noticeable drop in performance.