The Guangsha Lions made history in Beijing, claiming their first-ever Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) title after a thrilling 125-118 win over the Beijing Ducks in Game 6. Fans saw a high-octane showdown that cemented the Lions' place among CBA elites.
Guangsha's balanced attack featured seven players in double figures. Barry Brown was unstoppable, dropping 41 points, dishing out nine assists and collecting three steals. Hit machine Hu Jinqiu added 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting, while Sun Minghui churned out a 15-point, 10-assist double-double.
The Ducks answered back with firepower of their own. Star center Zhou Qi poured in 31 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, and playmaker Eugene German tacked on 25 points and 13 assists. All five starters reached double digits, and bench players Chen Ying-Chun and Taruike Jianiyou chipped in 10 points apiece.
The turning point came in the second quarter. After Hu Jinqiu briefly exited with discomfort, the Ducks led 36-29 in the first. But Sun Minghui and James Nunnally ignited a 10-0 run to open the second, as Nunnally knocked down two threes. Brown then orchestrated easy buckets for Hu before scorching the nets with eight straight points. The Lions outscored Beijing 40-21 in the period to seize a 69-57 halftime advantage.
A three-point barrage marked the first half of the third, with both teams hitting 8-for-8 from deep in the opening minutes. The Ducks turned up the heat afterward, cutting the gap to 99-95 by quarter's end. In the fourth, German set up a dunk for Zhou to tie the game at 103, then gave the Ducks a brief lead. But swift three-pointers reclaimed momentum for Guangsha, and Zhu Junlong's late three and clutch free throws sealed the dramatic victory and the franchise's long-awaited crown.
Barry Brown's MVP performance capped a season of breakthroughs for the Lions, who now look ahead to defending their new crown and growing the CBA's global footprint.
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Guangsha Lions defeat Beijing Ducks to win first-ever CBA title
cgtn.com
