In the second game of the CBA playoffs quarterfinals for the 2025-2026 season, the Shanxi Fenjiu team suffered a narrow 81-86 home defeat against the Zhejiang Guangsha Lions on May 10 in Taiyuan, leveling the best-of-three series at 1-1.
Historically, the two teams had met 53 times in the CBA, with Shanxi winning 19 and losing 34. In the first matchup on May 7, Shanxi managed a hard-fought 92-90 road victory over the defending champions, securing a series lead.
The visitors started strong, with Hu Jinqiu and foreign player Tacko Fall combining inside and out to build an early advantage. Shanxi trailed 21-25 after the first quarter. In the second, Shanxi’s foreign guards Nate and Nick struggled, but Diablo kept the game close with steady scoring, leaving the score at 41-46 at halftime.
Shanxi tightened their defense in the second half, with substitute Liu Chuanxing gradually cutting the deficit. By the end of the third quarter, Shanxi trailed by just three points. In the final period, Zhang Ning hit consecutive three-pointers to bring the margin to three with 30 seconds left, but Shanxi failed to complete the comeback and lost at home.
For Shanxi, Nate contributed only 3 points from free throws in 17 minutes, while Diablo led the team with 16 points and 7 rebounds. Zhang Ning added 13 points. For Guangsha, Brown posted 19 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists, while Hu Jinqiu recorded a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds.
After the game, Shanxi head coach Pan Jiang said, “We had too many turnovers and couldn’t execute down the stretch. We need to adjust quickly for the decisive Game 3.”
