Guangzhou Loong Lions opened their Chinese Basketball Association campaign with a composed 90-79 home victory over the Zhejiang Golden Bulls on October 18, 2026, using a decisive third-quarter surge to pull away at the Guangzhou International Sports Arena. The Loong Lions trailed briefly in the first half but turned a tight contest into a comfortable win with defense, rebounding and balanced scoring, marking an encouraging start to their CBA season.

Match overview

Guangzhou led 46-43 at halftime after a fast, competitive opening in which both teams traded runs. The game changed after the break: the Loong Lions held Zhejiang to just 15 third-quarter points and built a double-digit cushion that they never surrendered. Guangzhou’s guards controlled the tempo, while their frontcourt won the battle on the glass and protected the rim.

Zhejiang, a perennial playoff contender, struggled to find rhythm from beyond the arc and finished the night cold from three-point range. The Golden Bulls stayed within striking distance early, but their offense stalled in the second half as Guangzhou’s rotations became more aggressive.

Key moments

• Guangzhou closed the third quarter with a 10-2 run, capped by a deep three from Chen Yingjun, to take a 72-58 lead into the final period.
• Cui Yongxi ignited the home crowd with a transition dunk after a steal, pushing the margin to 17 early in the fourth.
• Li Yanzhe’s rim protection and offensive rebounding repeatedly extended Guangzhou possessions and limited Zhejiang’s second-chance opportunities.
• Zhejiang’s leading scorer, Wu Qian, was forced into difficult shots and picked up his fourth foul late in the third, disrupting the Golden Bulls’ half-court flow.

Tactical story

Guangzhou’s coaching staff adjusted to a more compact defensive scheme after halftime, shading help toward Zhejiang’s pick-and-roll ball handlers and daring the Golden Bulls to shoot over the top. The approach worked: Zhejiang shot just 8-of-32 from three-point range and rarely generated clean looks at the rim. On offense, Guangzhou attacked the paint through Chen Yingjun’s penetration and Li Yanzhe’s post seals, then kicked out for open perimeter shots when Zhejiang collapsed.

The rebounding numbers told a similar story. Guangzhou won the boards by a significant margin, including a handful of crucial offensive rebounds in the third quarter that turned a four-point lead into a comfortable cushion. Zhejiang’s transition game never found traction, and its half-court sets became increasingly predictable as the deficit grew.

Standout players

Chen Yingjun was the engine for Guangzhou, finishing with 22 points and eight assists while controlling the pace in the fourth quarter. Cui Yongxi added 19 points and several highlight-reel plays, while Li Yanzhe contributed 14 points and 11 rebounds. For Zhejiang, Wu Qian scored 18 points but needed 17 shots to get there, and Cheng Shuaipeng added 15. Yu Jiahao posted 12 points and 10 rebounds in a losing effort.

Season impact

The win gives Guangzhou a 1-0 start and early momentum in the CBA standings, while Zhejiang drops to 0-1. It is only one game, but the manner of the victory — defensive discipline, balanced scoring and a strong home crowd — offers a useful template for the Loong Lions. Zhejiang will need to rediscover its outside shooting and cut down on turnovers before its next outing. The head-to-head result also gives Guangzhou an early edge if the teams end up competing for playoff seeding later in the season.