CBA Playoffs: He's late surge propels Shenzhen into semis, Guangsha levels series against Shanxi

Reigning regular season MVP He Xining sparked the Shenzhen Aviators to a narrow 95-91 victory over the Zhejiang Golden Bulls on Sunday night, securing their spot in the semifinals of the CBA Playoffs.  

Shenzhen established an early lead, sitting comfortably at 35-26 in the second quarter, with Lu Pengyu extending the advantage to 11 points with a deft layup. However, Zhejiang rallied in the fourth quarter, and Cheng Shuaipeng's three-point play narrowed the gap to seven, igniting hopes a comeback.

But it was He Xining who stole the spotlight, showcasing his signature shooting prowess by burying four 3-pointers in the final minutes. One particular catch-and-shoot three boosted Shenzhen's lead to 12 points, while another shot helped increase the advantage to 17. With a team-high of 23 points, He was instrumental in sealing the victory.  

Despite a late attempt by Cheng to equalize with a three, the rebound fell to Damion Jones, who effectively put it back, but it was too little, too late for Zhejiang. With their path clear, Shenzhen advances to the semifinals, where they will face either Guangsha or Shanxi.

In the other quarterfinal clash, the Shanxi Loongs hosted Guangsha, leading the series 1-0. A dramatic buzzer-beater three from Daishen Nix cut the deficit to five points just before halftime, ramping up the tension. However, Guangsha fought back, with Rayjon Tucker assisting Zhu Junlong for a crucial three pointer that pushed the defending champions to a six-point lead in the fourth quarter.

Lin Bing-Sheng's missed three allowed Hu Jinqiu to tip it back, followed by a bank shot that maintained Guangsha's six-point advantage. Hu showcased his dominance with an impressive double-double, amassing 17 points and 11 rebounds, finishing strong against Hamidou Diallo.

Guangsha ultimately triumphed 86-81, leaving the best-of-three series at 1-1. The stage is now set for a decisive Game 3 in Hangzhou on Wednesday.