During the Shenzhen vs. Zhejiang CBA quarterfinal game, Shenzhen player He Xinran was visibly furious. What caused his outburst? CBA reporter Zheng Zhipeng explained the reason: a lighter was thrown onto the court.
In the second game of the CBA quarterfinal series between Shenzhen and Zhejiang, the match went down to the wire. After four quarters, Shenzhen edged out Zhejiang 95-91, sweeping the series 2-0 and securing a spot in the semifinals for the first time in three years. It’s a well-deserved achievement for the Shenzhen team.
The first half was tightly contested, with the score tied at 20 after the first quarter. Shenzhen managed a six-point lead in the second quarter. In the second half, Shenzhen stretched their lead to double digits with a scoring run, but Zhejiang fought back hard. Despite their efforts, Zhejiang fell short by four points, ending their season. Shenzhen, meanwhile, continued their championship push.
The key to Shenzhen’s victory was guard He Xinran. In the fourth quarter, he caught fire, hitting all four of his three-point attempts to seal the win. Unsurprisingly, He has elevated his game since being named league MVP.
However, there was more drama involving He. During the fourth quarter, he stole the ball and drove for a fast break, only to commit a traveling violation on an open layup. The referee’s call, though technically correct, seemed harsh and robbed fans of a potential highlight.
But the bigger issue was He’s anger on the court. According to Shenzhen team reporter Zheng Zhipeng, the reason was a lighter that had been thrown onto the playing surface. For a player sprinting at full speed, stepping on a lighter is extremely dangerous. He’s understandable frustration raises questions about how the lighter ended up there. It’s likely that Zhejiang will face additional penalties from the CBA for the incident.