Beijing vs Ningbo: Can Ningbo, with Two Consecutive Wins, Make a Mark at Beijing’s Home Ground?

On October 29, the CBA regular season continues as Beijing hosts Ningbo.

Beijing has had a very strong start to the season, once achieving a six-game winning streak by defeating several strong opponents. However, they lost their last game away to Jilin, ending their winning run and currently ranking fourth in the league. Beijing averages 100.3 points per game, placing them 16th in scoring, but their defense is excellent, allowing only 92.7 points per game, the lowest in the league, with a defensive rating of 104, which also ranks high. Additionally, Beijing is very active in rebounding, averaging 49.3 rebounds per game, second in the league, including 15.9 offensive rebounds, which benefit their second-chance scoring. Furthermore, Beijing’s three-point shooting is solid, hitting an average of 12 threes per game, also ranking high in the league. In summary, Beijing’s strong start is primarily due to their solid defense.

In their last game, Beijing lost 86-96 to the offensively potent Jilin, falling short of a seven-game winning streak. Beijing led at halftime but was ultimately reversed. This season, Beijing has staged multiple comebacks against other teams, but with their unbeaten record now broken, they should learn from this experience. In this game, Beijing’s scoring was not strong enough, struggling to counter Jilin’s near triple-double performance by Jones. Although Omot and Jermaine are Beijing’s top two scorers, Jones and Kizlink combined for 56 points, while Omot scored 20 points and 5 rebounds, and Jermaine had 15 points and 9 assists, and Solomon contributed 14 points and 9 rebounds. A more significant setback for Beijing was the early injury of Chen Yingjun, which will impact the team considerably.

Now let’s look at Ningbo’s situation. After defeating Shenzhen in the opening round, Ningbo suffered a four-game losing streak. Fortunately, they have recently won two consecutive games against Shanghai and Jiangsu, temporarily placing them 13th in the league with a 3-4 record. Ningbo averages 106.6 points per game, ranking 11th in scoring, but allows 111.3 points per game, the fourth-highest in the league. Ningbo is also strong in rebounding, averaging 46 rebounds per game, ranking high in the league. However, their three-point shooting needs improvement, with a 33.6% three-point shooting percentage, ranking low in the league. Ningbo is good at creating free-throw opportunities, with a free-throw rate of 28%, third in the league.

In their most recent game, Ningbo defeated Jiangsu 114-110 at home. Ningbo started the game strongly but nearly faced a comeback in the second half. The key to their victory was a balanced attack, with six players scoring in double digits. Howard led with 22 points, Masayang contributed 22 points and 6 rebounds, and Luo Kaiwen added 19 points and 7 rebounds. The team’s offensive efficiency was high, with a 52.4% shooting percentage. The two consecutive wins have boosted Ningbo’s morale, and they aim to make a mark in this away game against Beijing.

In their last five meetings, Beijing has dominated, winning all five games. In their first meeting this season, Beijing won 96-75 at home, a 21-point victory. Lacocevic recorded a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds, but no player scored over 20 points. For Beijing, the bench was crucial, with Jermaine scoring 20 points, 7 rebounds, and 9 assists, and Zeng Fanbo and Zhai Xiaochuan also contributing significantly off the bench. Notably, Beijing had a significant rebounding advantage.

According to North Youth Daily reporter Song Xiang, Chen Yingjun, who was injured in the game against Jilin, was initially diagnosed with a thigh injury, which should not be serious. He did not play in the subsequent game purely to protect the player. Chen Yingjun’s importance to Beijing is evident, and there is still no clear timeline for Zhou Qi’s return to the court. It is a significant achievement for Ningbo to secure two consecutive wins after nearly a year. Whether they can continue their winning streak at Beijing’s home ground remains challenging.

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