On October 28, 2023, the China News Service reported that in the seventh round of the 2024-2025 Chinese Men’s Basketball Association (CBA) regular season, the Shanxi Fenjiu team claimed a decisive 125-105 victory against Beijing Enterprises, temporarily placing them at the top of the standings.
In their history, Shanxi and Beijing have faced each other 21 times, with Shanxi holding the advantage with 12 wins to 9 losses. Prior to the match, both teams boasted impressive records of 5 wins and 1 loss this season.
The first quarter saw a back-and-forth contest, with Shanxi trailing by just one point as they entered the second quarter. However, the second quarter proved to be a game-changer. Shanxi’s three-point shooting surged, with Goodwin and Yuan Shuai contributing 7 out of the team’s 8 three-pointers in the first half, allowing Shanxi to lead by 14 points at halftime.
As the second half began, Shanxi maintained a high-intensity defense, keeping their opponents’ scoring under 30 points in each quarter. During this time, Shanxi’s foreign player Diallo electrified the home crowd with several impressive dunks. Ultimately, Shanxi triumphed over Beijing by a margin of 20 points.
Goodwin led the game with 33 points and 11 assists, while Diallo contributed 24 points, with other players like Balvin, Yuan Shuai, and Zhang Ning also scoring in double figures. For Beijing, Chen Guohao and foreign player Salinger each contributed a team-high 20 points.
Following this victory, Shanxi Fenjiu’s record stands at 6 wins and 1 loss, placing them atop the standings. Liaoning, Zhejiang, and Beijing also hold similar records of 6 wins and 1 loss, sitting in the second to fourth spots, respectively.
Reflecting on Shanxi’s remarkable start to this CBA season, which is unprecedented in their history, Beijing’s head coach Min Lulei remarked, “Shanxi truly is the biggest ‘dark horse’ this season.” In response, Shanxi’s head coach Pan Jiang stated, “We didn’t think too much about it; we just focused on playing well in every game.”
In a notable development, former Shanxi player Shevid has recently arrived in Taiyuan. Last season, he played a key role in enhancing the team’s offensive strategy. Regarding Shevid’s current training status, Coach Pan noted, “We are currently helping Shevid with the registration process, and the team is supporting him with rehabilitation training.”
