Shenzhen Men’s Basketball edged out Zhejiang Men’s Basketball 95-91 on the road, sweeping the series 2-0 and becoming the second team to advance to the CBA semifinals. The game was tightly contested, with Shenzhen holding only a slim lead through three quarters. In the final period, He Xining erupted, draining four three-pointers to extend the lead to double digits, extinguishing Zhejiang’s comeback hopes and cementing his role as the hero of Shenzhen’s series-clinching victory. Alongside He, import guard Smith recorded a triple-double with 14 points, 12 rebounds, and 13 assists, while Wang Haoran contributed 19 points and 2 rebounds, showcasing balanced scoring from inside and outside.
Looking back at both wins in the series, He Xining was undoubtedly the key to Shenzhen’s success. In Game 1 at home, he played 35 minutes, shooting 12-of-17 from the field (4-of-8 from three) and 5-of-5 from the free-throw line, exploding for 32 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1 steal. In the decisive Game 2, he stayed hot, going 7-of-12 (5-of-8 from three) and 4-of-4 from the line, finishing with 23 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals. Over two games, he totaled 55 points on stellar efficiency, including 9 made three-pointers, with shooting percentages above 60% from the field. His finishing ability was simply devastating.
It’s no exaggeration to say that He Xining’s performance has surpassed that of many import guards in the league. Even Smith, Shenzhen’s primary offensive engine, was in awe of He’s scoring, willingly deferring to him as a facilitator in the clutch. Whether attacking the rim, hitting mid-range jumpers, or knocking down threes, He displayed elite scoring instincts. Against Zhejiang’s suffocating defense, he shot 64.45% from the field, 56.3% from three-point range, and 88.9% from the free-throw line. Truly deserving of his CBA Most Valuable Player award, his offense had no weak spots—if given even a sliver of space, he made opponents pay dearly.
Shenzhen has already advanced to the semifinals, where they will await the winner between Zhejiang Guangsha and Shanxi. With Guangsha tying the series at 1-1 and set to host Game 3, they have a strong chance to advance, setting up a likely semifinal clash between Shenzhen and the defending champions. In that matchup, He Xining will shoulder an even heavier load, facing elite defensive pressure that will test him to his limits. He must prepare for the toughest challenge yet.