Hong Kong vs Anhui Preview: Jones Rebounds as Hong Kong Aims for Consecutive Wins; Ji Lunwate Needs More Support

On September 19, the NBL Finals enter Game 3, with Hong Kong Jinniu playing at home against Anhui Wenyi. After two games, both teams are tied at 1-1, making Game 3 crucial for both sides.

Hong Kong Jinniu has performed outstandingly this season, achieving a record of 22 wins and 4 losses, placing second in the league. In the playoffs, Hong Kong did not face many challenges, losing only one game to Changsha Wantian Yongsheng in the semi-finals, advancing all the way to the finals. Facing defending champions Anhui Wenyi, Hong Kong was not passive, losing the first game only due to Zhu Songwei’s injury, which put the team at a disadvantage, ultimately losing the match. However, in the second game, Jones found his form, scoring 27 points throughout the game, leading the team to a 94-71 victory over their opponents, leveling the series at 1-1.

In the regular season, Hong Kong Jinniu demonstrated strong offensive prowess, averaging 99.8 points per game with a shooting percentage of 50.6%, ranking second in the league. The core of the team is CBA star guard Jones, who led the team to success with his explosive performance in the last game. The victory in the previous game is very important for Hong Kong, as they now hold the advantage. The next two games will be played at Hong Kong’s home court. Additionally, Hong Kong’s head coach Jie Libin revealed that Zhu Songwei only has some swelling in his knee and is actively recovering. It remains uncertain whether he will play in Game 3.

Anhui Wenyi, as the defending champions, showed great strength in the regular season, achieving a record of 23 wins and 3 losses, ranking first in the league. In the playoffs, Anhui showcased its formidable strength, sweeping Hefei Kuanfeng and Shijiazhuang Xianglan, advancing to the finals once again. In the first game of the finals, Anhui secured an opening win, but unfortunately lost control in the second game after Ji Luwenwo was ejected, resulting in no one stepping up and a 23-point defeat, leveling the series at 1-1.

Like Hong Kong, Anhui also displayed strong offensive capabilities, averaging 101.9 points per game, ranking first in the league. Anhui Wenyi mainly relies on the foreign player combination of Johnson and Ji Luwenwo in the frontcourt. In the first game of the finals, the duo combined for 61 points, but in the second game, Johnson struggled while Ji Luwenwo scored 28 points in vain. Clearly, if Anhui wants to have any expectations in the away game, besides Ji Luwenwo, other players need to step up and provide support, only then will their chances of winning be greater.

The two teams’ two regular-season encounters ended in a draw of 1 win and 1 loss each, and the first two games of the finals also resulted in a 1-1 tie, indicating that the gap in strength is not significant, and it mainly depends on the players’ on-court performances. Will this time be Hong Kong returning home to claim another victory or Anhui regaining the home-court advantage? Let’s look forward to it together.

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