The Guangsha Lions roared back to even the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) Finals with a 103-96 victory over the Beijing Ducks on Friday night in Hangzhou. The win levels the best-of-seven series at 1-1.
“Tonight our players showed tremendous defensive discipline,” said Guangsha coach Wang Bo. “We executed our game plan effectively against Eugene German, limiting his offensive impact while maintaining strong containment on other key threats. This collective defensive focus allowed us to control the tempo throughout the game.”
After trailing by five points late in the second quarter, the Lions unleashed an 11-0 run to seize a 51-46 lead at halftime. In the final quarter, a crucial 5-0 surge extended their advantage to 14 points with just two minutes remaining, securing the much-needed victory.
Barry Brown led the Lions with a stellar performance, recording 31 points, six rebounds, and seven assists. Sun Minghui bounced back impressively from a tough Game One, contributing 28 points, nine rebounds, two assists, and three steals. Hu Jinqiu added 21 points and five rebounds to the team’s effort.
“After struggling physically and mentally in Game One, I refocused 200% tonight,” said Sun, who improved from scoring just five points in the series opener to a dominant display. “The coaching staff and my teammates kept encouraging me. That helped transform pressure into fuel from tipoff to buzzer.”
Coach Wang praised Sun’s tactical adjustment, saying, “Sun stopped forcing three-pointers and attacked the paint aggressively. His transition speed created openings for everyone.”
For the visiting Ducks, Eugene German scored 21 points, Nuni Omot added 15, and Zhou Qi posted a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Chen Ying-chun chipped in with 12 points and seven assists.
The series now shifts to Beijing, where the Ducks will host Game Three on Monday.
