Road to the Semis: China Defeats Saudi Arabia, Iran Edges Bahrain

Four teams have booked their places in the semi‑finals of the 2026 Asian Games men’s basketball tournament. China overcame Saudi Arabia 87‑78 after a seesaw battle that saw the Saudis level the game at 62‑62 before China reclaimed dominance in the closing minutes. Hou Jinkui’s clutch free throws and a late spurt by Qiu Yongxi cemented the win, while Liu topped the scoring sheet with 30 points. Iran survived a fierce contest with Bahrain, pulling out a 79‑74 victory when Bahrain’s final possession ended with a missed three‑pointer and a technical foul that halted their comeback. South Korea posted a 114‑80 demolition of Jordan, driven by Lee Hyun‑joo’s 28 points, and hosts Japan beat Chinese Taipei 85‑78, highlighted by Kotetsu Kurokawa’s 23 points. Friday’s semi‑final line‑up will feature China versus Japan and South Korea versus Iran.