In a tense battle in the CBA, the record 11-time champions, the Guangdong Southern Tigers, clawed their way back from a slow start to secure a narrow 77-74 victory over the Ningbo Rockets, extending their winning streak to four games.

With head coach Du Feng sidelined due to illness and all-star guard Hu Mingxuan also absent, the Tigers faced an uphill challenge as Ningbo struck first, taking an early lead of 15-4 following a dominant dunk from Tacko Fall. Despite a deep three-pointer from Xu Jie, the hosts found themselves trailing 26-14 towards the end of the first quarter.

However, as the game unfolded, Trevelin Queen's thunderous jam after a steal hinted at the impending Southern Tigers comeback. By the third quarter, Xu demonstrated his playmaking prowess by feeding Queen for yet another dunk, contributing to Queen's impressive tally of 26 points on the night. Xu's relentless drive culminated in a tough lay-up that pushed Guangdong ahead 66-65.

With the game hanging in the balance in the final seconds, Ningbo's Zavier Simpson stripped the ball from Xu, but his layup attempt was emphatically blocked by Cui Yongxi. Seizing the moment, Xu sank two crucial free throws, concluding the night with a game-high 27 points and sealing the win for Guangdong, who now sit third in the standings, while Ningbo languishes in tenth.

In another matchup on Tuesday, the Beijing Ducks defeated the Qingdao Eagles 87-70 at home. Zhou Qi showcased his offensive prowess, grabbing key rebounds while Quinndary Weatherspoon hit a three-pointer that momentarily brought Qingdao within four points at 13-9.

JaVale McGee's dominant presence pushed the lead to seven, with Eugene German assisting him for a spectacular dunk as part of his 22 points. Halfway through the game, Beijing held a narrow lead of 49-45.

The second half saw German expand the Ducks' advantage, launching a trademark step-back three and ultimately finishing the night with a game-high 29 points. A concerning moment arose when Weatherspoon suffered a knee injury during a loose ball scramble, necessitating assistance from his Qingdao teammates.

McGee continued to assert his dominance, spinning and scoring to help Beijing solidify victory by 17 points, placing them fourth in the league.