Marcus Georges-Hunt (left) of Sichuan Blue Whales goes to the basket against Zhao Yiming of Shenzhen Aviators during the 51st round match between Shenzhen Aviators and Sichuan Blue Whales at the 2020-2021 season of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league in Zhuji, east China's Zhejiang Province, March 31, 2021. (HUANG ZONGZHI / XINHUA)

BEIJING - The CBA's playoff situation has become clearer after Saturday, with three teams still in contention for 12th place and the last available spot.

The Beijing Ducks completed a 22-point comeback against the Shanghai Sharks on Saturday, and were joined in the playoffs by 10th-placed Sichuan Blue Whales and the Jilin Northeast Tigers one place behind.

The Ducks' city rivals, the Beijing Royal Fighters, currently sit in the all-important 12th place with a 23-26 win-loss record

The Ducks' city rivals, the Beijing Royal Fighters, currently sit in the all-important 12th place with a 23-26 win-loss record.

Coached by Stephon Marbury, the Royal Fighters have lost three of four matches going into the season's fourth stage, with their only victory coming against bottom side the Jiangsu Dragons.

Recent sluggish performances have left the Royal Fighters with little room for error.

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Shanghai (22-27) have a game in hand over the Royal Fighters, and are desperately waiting for the return of their leading scorer Jimmer Fredette, who is nursing an injury.

The Guangzhou Loong Lions are the other team with a shot at the playoffs. Under the charge of former Liaoning coach Guo Shiqiang, Guangzhou rank 14th with a 21-28 record.

A head-to-head with the Royal Fighters on Sunday is pivotal in Guangzhou's search for a playoff berth, as the two sides are separated by a reachable two-game gap.

After this encounter, Guangzhou has four games left, including two against the lowly Tianjin Pioneers and Nanjing Monkey Kings. Jilin and the Xinjiang Flying Tigers are Guangzhou's last two opponents.

On the Royal Fighters' side, the Shandong Heroes, the Liaoning Flying Leopards and the Qingdao Eagles lie in wait.

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Shanghai have three matches remaining, against the Shenzhen Aviators, the Shanxi Loongs and the Zhejiang Golden Bulls, and their hopes will hinge on a quick recovery from Fredette.

From this point, Sunday's clash featuring the Royal Fighters and Guangzhou will possibly carry double meaning in deciding the CBA's last playoff participant.