In a high-stakes encounter that defined resilience, the defending champion Guangsha Lions managed to stave off elimination in the CBA Finals, securing a hard-fought 101-93 victory over the Shanghai Sharks on their home court.
The game began with an aggressive surge from the Lions, spearheaded by regular-season MVP Hu Jinqiu. Hu's dominance in the paint was evident from the opening whistle, as he shot a perfect six-of-six from the floor in the first quarter. His 14-point explosion helped Guangsha establish an early 28-18 lead, signaling their intent to protect their championship crown.
The Shanghai Sharks, however, refused to fade. The second quarter saw a spirited rally led by Wang Zhelin, whose defensive presence was highlighted by a crucial block against Joshua Carlton. With Liu Cheng hitting a timely three-pointer, the Sharks managed to erase the deficit, leaving the two teams deadlocked at 49-49 heading into halftime.
The momentum shifted back to Guangsha in the third quarter. Rayjon Tucker ignited the crowd with consecutive three-pointers, while Barry Brown, last season's Finals MVP, orchestrated the offense. Brown's synergy with Zhu Junlong resulted in another wide-open triple, pushing the Lions' lead to 72-63. Brown finished the evening with an impressive 27 points.
The victory was sealed by the relentless performance of Hu Jinqiu, who concluded the match with 30 points. The win narrows the series gap to 3-1, providing the Lions with a critical lifeline in their quest to defend their title.
Attention now shifts to Shanghai, where the Sharks will look to clinch the championship in Game Five this Friday. For the Guangsha Lions, this win has injected fresh confidence and hope into a series they are determined to turn around.
Reference(s):
Guangsha Lions ease elimination worries with key win over Shanghai
cgtn.com
