The Guangsha Lions staged a thrilling comeback to defeat the Beijing Ducks 83-79 in a nail-biting Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) regular season game on Wednesday in Hangzhou, east China’s Zhejiang Province. Overcoming a 17-point deficit, the Lions secured their fifth consecutive win, much to the delight of the home crowd.
The game marked the debut of Guangsha’s newly signed Serbian center, Boban Marjanovic. Standing at an impressive 2.22 meters with a 2.39-meter wingspan, Marjanovic made an immediate impact. His towering presence allowed him to effortlessly dunk over Zhou Qi, showcasing his prowess in the paint. However, his lack of speed was evident as he struggled to keep up with the swift transitions of his teammates. Coming off the bench, Marjanovic played seven minutes, contributing four points, two rebounds, and one steal, making two of his three field goal attempts.
Both teams found it difficult to find their rhythm in the first quarter, with shots missing the mark on both ends. The score remained low, with a combined total of fewer than 25 points after nine minutes of play. Beijing’s Zhou Qi and Zhang Cairen managed to hit crucial three-pointers, giving the Ducks a 22-17 lead by the end of the quarter.
The second quarter saw the visitors intensify their defense, effectively shutting down Guangsha’s key players. Star point guard Sun Minghui was limited to just six points in the first half, while former CBA Most Valuable Player Hu Jinqiu was held to three points. Beijing extended their lead to 42-36 at halftime, maintaining control of the game.
Beijing continued to dominate as the third quarter began, widening the gap to 64-47 after Zhai Xiaochuan sank a jumper assisted by Fan Ziming with two minutes remaining in the period. Just when the game seemed out of reach, the Lions roared back with a 7-0 run, igniting hope for the home team as they entered the final quarter.
Fueled by momentum, Guangsha’s offense came alive in the fourth quarter. They outscored the Ducks 13-2 in the first four minutes, seizing the lead at 67-66. In contrast, Beijing struggled to find the basket, particularly from long range. With the score knotted at 77-77 and just one minute left on the clock, Guangsha’s Zhu Junlong and Barry Brown stepped up, earning six crucial free throws and converting all of them. This clutch performance secured an 83-77 lead. Beijing’s Lei Meng managed a last-minute jumper, but it wasn’t enough to turn the tide.
The Lions’ remarkable comeback not only extended their winning streak to five games but also showcased the team’s resilience and depth. As they continue their CBA campaign, Guangsha will look to build on this momentum, especially with the integration of Marjanovic into their lineup.
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Guangsha come back to defeat Beijing in Boban Marjanovic's debut
cgtn.com