In a high-octane showdown at the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) Finals in Beijing, the Guangsha Lions dug deep to topple the home side, the Beijing Ducks, 114-103 in Game 3. Backed by a superstar trio, the Lions now hold a 2-1 series lead and have momentum on their side as the teams head to Game 4 on Wednesday.
Barry Brown was electric, pouring in 44 points, including 15 in the opening quarter that helped Guangsha counter an early 14-5 Beijing run. Hu Jinqiu added 27 points and Sun Minghui chipped in 21, with the trio accounting for a staggering 92 of the Lions' 114 points.
Despite six double-digit scorers for Beijing, led by Zhou Qi's 26 points and 13 rebounds, and Eugene German's 16 points and 14 assists, the Ducks struggled with turnovers. German logged four miscues and teammate Chen Ying-Chun committed five, allowing Guangsha to seize control.
The game swung in Beijing's favor in the second quarter when a 15-0 blitz transformed a 40-33 deficit into a 62-51 halftime lead. But the Lions regained their long-range touch in the third, with Sun, Hu and role player Zhu Junlong nailing key triples to narrow the gap to 84-79.
In the fourth quarter, Guangsha's defense stiffened, forcing seven Ducks turnovers and fueling a decisive 21-3 run. From trailing 96-89, they exploded to a 110-99 advantage in just seven minutes, sealing back-to-back wins in the series.
With Game 4 set for Wednesday in Beijing, the stage is primed for another thrilling chapter in this CBA Finals battle.
Reference(s):
Guangsha Lions beat Beijing Ducks in Game 3, lead 2-1 in CBA Finals
cgtn.com
