Anhui vs Henan Preview: Vital Leads Squad Against Defending Champions, Can D’Kari Hold the Fort at Home?



On June 18, the NBL regular season continues with defending champions Anhui Wenyi hosting Henan Shedian Laojiu.

In their opening match, Anhui defeated Guangxi Weizhuang 85-69. D’Kari dominated with 21 points, 19 rebounds, and 7 assists, Yang Wenbo scored 20 points with 4 three-pointers, Peel Jackson contributed 16 points, and after a season off, Tong Jie returned with a 10-point, 6-rebound performance in 30 minutes off the bench. Only Zheng Qilong had a subdued game; otherwise, most core players met expectations. Comparatively, Anhui outperformed Guangxi across all positions, securing their first win of the season at home.

Facing Henan Shedian Laojiu on their home court, Anhui’s interior game remains their biggest strength. D’Kari’s continued dominance will likely be crucial to securing another victory.

Henan Shedian Laojiu had a grueling double-overtime battle against Shijiazhuang Xianglan in their opening match, eventually winning 104-100. Vital put up a stellar performance with 44 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, and 7 steals, outdueling Wilson’s 36 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists for the new season’s first victory.

Compared to Anhui, Henan lacks a degree of depth and relies heavily on their imports’ individual prowess. In their first game, the three imports combined for 71 points, comprising a significant portion of the team’s scoring. For Henan to upset Anhui away, all three imports will need to step up on both ends of the court.

Notably, in their last 10 encounters, Anhui has enjoyed a perfect 10-game winning streak without any setbacks, with seven of those contests resulting in margins of over 10 points.