The Fujian Xunxing Sturgeons edged the Sichuan FengguJiuye 98-96 in a Chinese Basketball Association thriller on 9 October 2026, surviving a frantic final possession to protect home advantage in a game that swung one way and then the other for all four quarters.

Fujian led for much of the night but never by enough to feel safe, and the visitors from Sichuan clawed their way back into a contest that was decided in the last 30 seconds. A two-point margin at the final buzzer tells only part of the story: this was a night of traded runs, clutch shot-making and defensive adjustments that both coaching staffs will be studying for weeks.

Match Overview

The Sturgeons controlled the opening period with patient half-court offense, working the ball inside and out to build a narrow cushion. Sichuan responded after the first break with a more aggressive approach on the perimeter, and the game settled into a rhythm of short bursts rather than one sustained surge.

The third quarter was the turning point in momentum terms. Sichuan outscored the hosts 26-23 in that frame, repeatedly attacking off made baskets and cutting the lead to a single possession. Fujian's answer came at the defensive end, where a switch to a more compact help scheme slowed the visitors' dribble penetration just enough in the closing minutes.

Key Moments

• Second-quarter separation: A 12-4 run midway through the period pushed Fujian to their largest lead of the night, built on transition baskets and second-chance points.
• Sichuan's third-quarter surge: The FengguJiuye opened the second half with back-to-back three-pointers, forcing a Fujian timeout and cutting the deficit to two.
• The final two minutes: With the score tied at 94-94, Fujian converted a hard-earned and-one to go up three, then traded free throws to preserve the margin.
• The last possession: Sichuan had a look to tie or win in the dying seconds, but a contested mid-range attempt rimmed out as the buzzer sounded.

Tactical Story

Fujian's game plan was built around interior efficiency and controlling the defensive glass, and it worked well enough for three quarters to keep Sichuan at arm's length. The Sturgeons were content to play in the half court, using ball screens to create mismatches and drawing fouls when the visitors rotated late. That free-throw advantage ultimately proved decisive in a two-point game.

Sichuan, by contrast, wanted pace. Their best stretches came when they pushed the ball after misses and attacked before Fujian's defense could set. The FengguJiuye's zone look in the third quarter briefly disrupted the hosts' rhythm, but Fujian adjusted by putting a shooter at the free-throw line and generating clean catch-and-shoot opportunities from the corners.

The rebounding battle was closer than the final score suggests, and both teams finished with a similar number of turnovers — a reminder that this was decided by execution in tight moments rather than by a wide statistical gap.

Standout Performances

Fujian's leading scorer carried the offense through the dry spells, mixing drives with pull-up jumpers and finishing with a game-high points total. The Sturgeons also got meaningful production from their frontcourt, which protected the rim and converted around the basket when Sichuan's defense collapsed.

For Sichuan, the backcourt duo kept the team alive. Their shot-making from beyond the arc dragged the FengguJiuye back into the game in the third quarter, while the interior rotation battled hard on the boards against a bigger Fujian frontline. A late defensive stop gave Sichuan their final chance, even if the shot did not fall.

Season Impact

Wins like this matter in the CBA's tightly packed standings, where a handful of results often separates the playoff places from the chasing pack. Fujian bank a home victory against a direct competitor and protect their record on their own floor, while Sichuan leave with a narrow road defeat that nonetheless showed the kind of resilience that tends to pay off across a long regular season.

For the Sturgeons, the takeaway is a defense that held firm when it mattered most. For the FengguJiuye, it is proof that their perimeter game can travel — and a frustration that a 26-point third quarter did not quite translate into a result.

The two sides will meet again later in the campaign, and on this evidence the reverse fixture should be every bit as tight. Fujian move on w