Guangsha Lions Triumph Over Zhejiang Golden Bulls in Thrilling Hangzhou Derby
The Guangsha Lions edged out local rivals Zhejiang Golden Bulls with a narrow 102-98 victory in an exhilarating Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) clash on Monday. The latest installment of the Battle of Hangzhou did not disappoint, delivering high-octane action and a dramatic finish.
Zhejiang started strong, quickly establishing a double-digit lead in the first quarter, fueled by the sharpshooting of Gabe York. The Golden Bulls maintained their momentum into the second quarter, extending their advantage as York continued to score at will. Guangsha fought back by forcing turnovers through aggressive defense, with Sun Minghui’s precision from beyond the arc keeping them within reach. By halftime, Zhejiang held a 64-54 lead.
The second half saw a resurgence from the Lions. Barry Brown, Guangsha’s leading scorer, found his rhythm, contributing crucial drives to the basket and hitting key perimeter shots. His efforts helped the Lions erase the deficit and level the score, setting up a tense final quarter.
The closing minutes featured a thrilling duel between Brown and York, as both players traded baskets. In the end, York, visibly fatigued, missed a critical free throw and a three-pointer in the dying moments. Guangsha capitalized on these misses, holding onto their slim lead to secure the victory.
In another notable game, the Beijing Ducks, despite missing key players Zhou Qi and Zeng Fanbo, rallied in the final quarter to defeat the Fujian Sturgeons 105-89. The matchup was tightly contested through the first three quarters, with neither team able to pull away. However, Beijing’s exceptional defensive performance in the fourth quarter held Fujian to just 12 points on 2-for-17 shooting. This dominant display allowed the Ducks to snap a two-game losing streak and improve their impressive home record to 12-1.
Reference(s):
CBA: Guangsha edges Zhejiang in thrilling Battle of Hangzhou
cgtn.com
