The Beijing Ducks kept their championship hopes alive with a heart-stopping 94-92 victory over the Guangsha Lions in Game 5 of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) Finals on Saturday. The win narrows the series deficit to 3-2, setting up a must-watch Game 6 in Beijing on Tuesday.
Eugene German spearheaded the Ducks' effort with 21 points and 9 assists, while Zhou Qi dominated defensively with 11 points, 13 rebounds, and 4 blocks. Bench players proved pivotal, with Chen Ying-Chun adding 14 points as Beijing's reserves outscored Guangsha's 41-19.
Guangsha's Barry Brown and Hu Jinqiu combined for 54 points, but critical missed free throws by Sun Minghui in the final minute sealed their fate. A dramatic defensive sequence saw German block Brown's potential go-ahead jumper with 12 seconds remaining, followed by clutch free throws from captain Zhai Xiaochuan to secure the win.
The game featured 12 lead changes and 7 ties, with Beijing's aggressive defense forcing 15 turnovers. Both teams now head to the Chinese capital, where the Ducks will aim to become the first team in CBA history to overcome a 3-0 series deficit.
