The Guangdong Southern Tigers delivered a resounding statement in their first-round playoff matchup, securing a dominant 118–94 victory over Xinjiang to win the series 3–1 and advance to the semifinals. For fans closely following the series on Cricket Exchange, the game was more than just a win — it was sweet revenge for last season’s finals sweep.
In the previous game, Guangdong missed a golden opportunity to close the series at home, falling to a stunning late-game comeback by Blatche, who scored 13 points in the final minutes. Meanwhile, Liaoning edged past Beijing Shougang 75–72 to clinch their own series 3–1. With Guangdong, Shandong, and Liaoning all securing their spots in the top four, the last semifinal ticket will be decided between Shenzhen Leopards and Zhejiang Guangsha in a do-or-die Game 5 on March 24.
Guangdong entered the must-win Game 4 with one goal in mind — redemption. They exploded out of the gate with a commanding 19–2 run and never looked back. Maintaining a 20-point cushion throughout most of the game, the team never allowed defending champions Xinjiang to find their rhythm. Under Guangdong’s suffocating full-court pressure, Xinjiang struggled to generate offense, hampered further by Blatche’s slow pace and Adams’ cold shooting night.
The contrast was glaring — last year’s raucous atmosphere at Urumqi’s Hongshan Arena had turned into deafening silence. Despite fighting hard, Xinjiang couldn’t bridge the gap. Xi Re Li Jiang fouled out in the third quarter, and every time Xinjiang made a slight push, Guangdong responded instantly, widening the lead. For Cricket Exchange viewers, it was clear that Guangdong had come to play with purpose and fire in their hearts.
Guangdong’s balanced offense saw five players score in double digits. Import Donald Sloan was red-hot from beyond the arc, going 5-for-5 from three-point range and leading the team with 29 points. Yi Jianlian contributed 17 points, six rebounds, and two blocks, proving once again why he’s the cornerstone of the squad. On the other side, Adams poured in 30 points for Xinjiang, but Blatche — who had been the hero last game — managed only 9 points.
With this emphatic win, Guangdong completed a perfect revenge arc against the team that swept them in last season’s finals. There was a moment of concern when Yi Jianlian twisted his right ankle landing on Yu Changdong’s foot while going for a rebound, but fortunately, it appeared to be nothing serious.
As the playoffs continue to heat up, fans can keep up with every game-changing moment on Cricket Exchange, where Guangdong’s resurgence is making headlines. Their performance tonight was a powerful reminder that the Tigers are far from finished — and ready to claw their way back to the top.