The Zhejiang Lions could face additional disciplinary action from the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) after a lighter was discovered on the court during their playoff game against the Shenzhen Leopards, sparking anger from Shenzhen guard He Xining.
In the second quarterfinal matchup between Shenzhen and Zhejiang, the Leopards secured a hard-fought 95-91 victory, winning the series 2-0 and advancing to the semifinals for the first time in three years.
The game was tightly contested in the first quarter, ending 20-20. Shenzhen built a six-point lead by halftime through strong inside-outside play. After extending their lead to double digits in the third quarter, Zhejiang mounted a comeback, but Shenzhen held on for the win.
He Xining was instrumental in the victory, scoring 12 points on a perfect 4-for-4 from three-point range in the fourth quarter when Shenzhen was under pressure. He finished with 23 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals on 7-for-12 shooting, including 5-of-8 from deep.
However, a concerning moment occurred when He spotted a lighter on the floor during play. The guard was visibly upset, as foreign objects on the court pose serious injury risks to players. The incident raises questions about how the lighter entered the arena and whether security protocols were breached.
Given the severity of a foreign object on the court, the CBA is expected to issue a penalty against the Zhejiang Lions for failing to maintain a safe playing environment.
