BEIJING, April 16 (Xinhua) -- The Shanghai Sharks and the Shenzhen Aviators extended their winning runs to 20 and 14 games respectively, as the 39th round of matches in the 2025-26 Chinese Basketball Association regular season concluded on Thursday.
Shanghai edged the Guangzhou Loong Lions 90-89, while Shenzhen triumphed 104-96 over the Xinjiang Flying Tigers.
Wang Zhelin had 20 points and 16 rebounds as Shanghai overcame Deonte Burton's game-high 36 points in the narrow win.
In a white-knuckle duel that saw the gap remain at one point for each side in the first two quarters, Guangzhou held a two-point advantage entering the final frame, while Shanghai had a 6-0 run to turn the tables.
Lindell Wigginton's two consecutive 3-pointers tied the contest at 85-85 with three minutes remaining, but he missed a potential game-tying shot from beyond the arc in the final seconds. Guangzhou center Xu Xin scored on an offensive rebound, only to see time running out.
"A tough game. We didn't do well on free throws and 3-pointers today. Hopefully our players can finish the last three games in good health," said Shanghai coach Lu Wei.
Terquavion Smith delivered a virtuoso performance of 45 points, 15 rebounds and 14 assists in Shenzhen's franchise record-extending 14th straight win. Alize Johnson added 29 points.
Down by six points after the first quarter, Shenzhen outscored Xinjiang 25-13 in the second to turn it around and hold on to the lead afterwards.
"We tried to stay together as a team. We fought through a lot of adversity, a lot of problems that we had. We'll stay together and keep going," Smith said after the win.
Shenzhen veteran forward Zhou Peng became the first CBA player to reach the 800-game milestone, scoring 11 points, including two consecutive 3-pointers late in the fourth quarter that helped extend his side's lead to eight points.
"It's a milestone, but a new start as well. Every time the team needs me, I will be fully prepared and go at it," the 36-year-old wrote on Chinese social media platform Weibo.
Elsewhere, the Beijing Ducks sailed past the Qingdao Eagles 87-70, the Guangdong Southern Tigers edged the Ningbo Rockets 77-74, the Tianjin Pioneers handed the Sichuan Blue Whales their 39th straight loss 100-84, the Beijing Royal Fighters beat the Shandong Heroes 87-81, the Shanxi Loongs outlasted the Zhejiang Lions 100-91, the Liaoning Flying Leopards defeated the Nanjing Monkey Kings 103-95, the Zhejiang Golden Bulls bested the Jilin Northeast Tigers 82-66, and the Fujian Sturgeons beat the Jiangsu Dragons 84-76.
With three rounds remaining, the battle for a top-four finish and automatic qualification for the quarterfinals remains intense, with Shenzhen, Guangdong and Beijing sitting third, fourth and fifth respectively.
The fifth- through 12th-placed teams will contend for the remaining four quarterfinal spots. The Royal Fighters currently occupy the threshold placing with a win-loss record of 17-22, one game ahead of 13th-placed Guangzhou (16-23). Enditem
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