The Zhejiang Chouzhou Golden Bulls, regular season champions, faced a heartbreaking exit from the CBA playoffs after a 91-95 loss to the Shenzhen Marco Polo in Game 2 of their quarterfinal series at the Yiwu Meihu Sports Center on Sunday night. The defeat sealed a 2-0 sweep for Shenzhen, ending Zhejiang’s title defense earlier than expected.
The game was a tightly contested battle from the opening tip, with both teams trading baskets in the first quarter to end even. Zhejiang’s defense initially contained Shenzhen’s He Xining, holding him to just two points, but the momentum shifted dramatically in the second period. Shenzhen’s foreign guard Smith and He Xining ignited a scoring explosion, draining consecutive three-pointers while tightening their defensive pressure on Zhejiang’s perimeter passing and interior connections. Zhejiang’s offense stalled, unable to feed the ball inside to center Yu Jiahao as planned, forcing them into contested three-point attempts. The result was a dismal shooting night, and Zhejiang trailed by 15 points at halftime.
Adjustments in the third quarter saw Zhejiang attack the paint aggressively, drawing fouls and cutting the deficit to three points. A furious comeback in the fourth quarter brought the lead down to single digits, but critical errors—turnovers on passes, offensive fouls—undermined their momentum. In the final seconds, Cheng Shuaipeng drove to the basket, drew a foul, and stepped to the free-throw line needing one make to trim the lead to three. However, his second attempt rimmed out. He Xining, who had fouled out with six fouls, watched from the bench as Shenzhen executed their final possession perfectly, sinking a clutch shot to seal the victory.
Under the current CBA playoff format, the first two rounds are best-of-three series, leaving Zhejiang no chance for a Game 3. After the game, Zhejiang players circled the court to thank fans, who chanted “See you next year” —a poignant scene.
The loss exposed strategic flaws: Zhejiang’s reliance on interior dominance was neutralized by Shenzhen’s zone defense, leaving their perimeter players unable to find passing lanes or finish inside. Forced to rely on three-pointers, their shooting percentage plummeted. The series highlighted the high-stakes nature of the short playoff series, where a single misstep can end a season. Rookie Li Yuezhou’s 15-point performance, however, offered a glimpse of Zhejiang’s promising youth development.
He Xining’s foul-out exit was handled with professionalism, as he exchanged only a light fist bump with teammates and refrained from confrontations, adhering to league decorum. Shenzhen’s victory was a testament to disciplined team defense and timely scoring, even without their star guard down the stretch.
Looking ahead, Zhejiang must learn from this defeat, refining their tactical flexibility and nurturing young talent. The CBA playoffs continue to intensify, where every detail matters, and the rise of younger players adds unpredictability. Fans can expect a more determined Zhejiang team next season as they aim to reclaim their standing.
