Nanjing Monkey Kings edged the Shenzhen Leopards 101-99 in a thrilling Chinese Basketball Association encounter on Sunday, October 11, 2026, sealing the win with a composed defensive stand in the closing seconds. In a game that featured nineteen lead changes and never allowed either side to feel comfortable, Nanjing's ability to execute in the final minute proved the difference.

The two-point margin tells the story of a genuinely even contest: both teams shot the ball well, both teams battled on the boards, and the outcome ultimately came down to which side could make one more play when the pressure was at its highest.

Match Overview

The game started at 15:00 local time and immediately settled into a back-and-forth rhythm. Shenzhen came out aggressively, using their perimeter shooting to build an early lead, while Nanjing responded with inside scoring and aggressive drives to the rim. The first half was tightly contested throughout, with neither team able to establish a cushion larger than six points.

• Q1: Nanjing Monkey Kings 26-24 Shenzhen Leopards
• Q2: Nanjing Monkey Kings 23-28 Shenzhen Leopards (Half-time: 49-52)
• Q3: Nanjing Monkey Kings 29-22 Shenzhen Leopards (End of Q3: 78-74)
• Q4: Nanjing Monkey Kings 23-25 Shenzhen Leopards (Final: 101-99)

Key Moments

The third quarter proved decisive. Trailing 52-49 at the break, Nanjing opened the second half with a sustained 15-4 run, sparked by three consecutive defensive stops and a pair of transition dunks that lifted the home crowd. Shenzhen steadied themselves late in the period, but Nanjing went into the fourth quarter holding a four-point advantage.

The final quarter was pure drama. Shenzhen clawed their way back, tying the game twice in the last four minutes, including a three-pointer that made it 97-97 with just over a minute remaining. Nanjing answered with a patient possession that ended in a mid-range jumper, then forced a contested miss at the other end. Two free throws extended the lead to four, and although Shenzhen converted a late layup to make it a one-possession game, Nanjing ran out the clock and closed out the win.

Tactical Story

This was a contrast in styles. Shenzhen wanted to play fast, spread the floor, and generate open three-point looks off quick ball reversals. Nanjing preferred to establish their big men inside, draw fouls, and control the tempo with deliberate half-court execution. For much of the game, the two approaches cancelled each other out.

The difference came on the defensive end in the second half. Nanjing switched to a more aggressive pick-and-roll coverage, hedging hard on Shenzhen's ball handlers and forcing them into mid-range attempts rather than clean perimeter looks. That adjustment slowed Shenzhen's scoring rhythm just enough, and Nanjing's rebounding advantage on the offensive glass produced the second-chance points that ultimately separated the teams.

Standout Players

Deng Yuxuan was the engine for Nanjing, finishing with 26 points and eight assists, including several key baskets in the fourth quarter. Import forward Jordan Hayes delivered a powerful double-double with 21 points and 14 rebounds, dominating the paint on both ends, while Li Minghao added 17 points off the bench in a performance that swung the momentum in the third quarter.

Shenzhen's effort deserved more. Chen Haoran led all scorers with 28 points, hitting six three-pointers, and Wu Zhen contributed 19 points and seven assists in a composed all-round display. The Leopards' bench was less productive than Nanjing's, however, and that gap proved costly in a game decided by two points.

CBA Standings Impact

Wins like this shape a CBA season. For the Nanjing Monkey Kings, beating a playoff-calibre opponent in a tight game builds belief and adds a valuable head-to-head result that could matter when tiebreakers are calculated later in the year. Nanjing's home record remains a foundation they can build on.

For the Shenzhen Leopards, the defeat is a frustrating one — they played well enough to win for long stretches, and the loss comes down to a handful of late possessions. Cleaning up execution in clutch situations is one of the hardest skills in basketball, and Shenzhen will be working on exactly that before their next outing.

Both teams now move on with the knowledge that this matchup could well be repeated in the postseason. If it is, the head-to-head record will read 1-0 in Nanjing's favor — and on this evidence, the rematch will be just as close.