The Guangdong Southern Tigers dominated the Shanghai Sharks with a 115-92 victory in Game 3 of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) first-round playoffs in Dongguan, Guangdong Province, on Friday. With this win, Guangdong clinched the series 2-1 and secured their spot in the quarterfinals, preserving their remarkable record of never missing the CBA postseason quarterfinals.
The Southern Tigers showcased a stellar performance with four players scoring in double digits. Xu Jie, Hu Mingxuan, and Darius Bazley each contributed over 20 points, with Xu also delivering an impressive 11 assists.
Facing elimination, Shanghai started strong with a 21-13 lead in the first quarter. However, Guangdong quickly turned the tide with an 11-0 run led by Bazley, Hu, and Ren Junfei, ending the quarter ahead at 37-26.
Guangdong extended their dominance in the second quarter as Xu and Bazley continued to challenge Shanghai’s defense with aggressive drives and sharp three-point shooting. By halftime, the Southern Tigers had widened their lead to 70-53.
The game intensified in the third quarter with increased physicality. Ren Junfei was ejected after an altercation involving Shanghai’s Wang Zhelin, who later exited the game due to injury. Without Wang, Shanghai struggled to mount a comeback in the final quarter.
Guangdong’s victory sets up a quarterfinal clash against the Shanxi Loongs. The full list of quarterfinal matchups includes:
Liaoning Flying Leopards vs. Xinjiang Flying Tigers
Guangsha Lions vs. Qingdao Eagles
Beijing Ducks vs. Beikong Royal Fighters
Shanxi Loongs vs. Guangdong Southern Tigers
The CBA quarterfinals promise exciting basketball as teams compete for the championship title.
