The Shanxi Loongs powered past the Guangdong Southern Tigers with a 124-106 victory in Game 3 of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) playoff quarterfinals on Saturday. With this win on the road in Dongguan, south China’s Guangdong Province, Shanxi clinched the series 3-0 and secured their spot in the semifinals.
Hamidou Diallo led Shanxi with a stellar performance, scoring 25 points and grabbing 12 rebounds in less than 25 minutes. Trey Kell III came off the bench to add 18 points, while six Shanxi players scored in double figures, showcasing a balanced attack.
On the Guangdong side, Trey Burke was the only starter to score over 10 points, contributing 15 points and eight assists. The rest of the starting lineup struggled, combining for just 21 points. Despite Troy Gillenwater’s game-high 36 points off the bench, Guangdong couldn’t turn the tide.
Guangdong started strong with a 5-0 lead, but Shanxi quickly responded. Jia Mingru, Zhang Ning, and Diallo hit four three-pointers, helping Shanxi take a 20-10 advantage six minutes into the first quarter. Guangdong attempted to rally, trimming the deficit to three points at the end of the quarter, but Shanxi maintained control.
In the second quarter, Guangdong’s shooters found their rhythm, with Gillenwater, Du Runwang, and Hu Mingxuan connecting from downtown. They outscored Shanxi 40-35 in the quarter, taking a narrow 68-66 lead into halftime.
Shanxi stepped up their defense in the third quarter. Kell III and Ge Zhaobao hit crucial three-pointers, fueling a 25-13 run. Guangdong struggled offensively, missing five consecutive shots and trailing 97-81. The Loongs extended their lead to 103-87 by the end of the third quarter.
In the final quarter, Shanxi’s Xing Zhiqiang nailed two three-pointers, pushing the lead to 20 points at 118-98. Guangdong couldn’t mount a comeback, and the 11-time CBA champions were swept in the playoffs for the first time in three years, matching their worst postseason record in franchise history.
Beijing Ducks Edge Royal Fighters for Series Lead
In another thrilling matchup, the Beijing Ducks defeated the Beikong Royal Fighters 105-102 in Game 3 of their series, taking a 2-1 lead in the capital clash.
Despite missing key players Zhou Qi and Zeng Fanbo due to injuries, the Ducks saw six players score in double figures. Richard Solomon had a double-double with 18 points and 13 rebounds, and the team sank 16 of their 32 three-point attempts.
The Royal Fighters also had six players in double digits, with Shen Zijie delivering a standout performance of 31 points, three steals, and four blocks. Grant Riller added 20 points off the bench but missed a crucial three-pointer in the final seconds that could have tied the game.
The Ducks led 82-73 after three quarters, thanks to their sharp shooting from beyond the arc. Although the Royal Fighters launched a fierce rally in the fourth quarter, exploiting the absence of Beijing’s Chen Ying-Chun who fouled out, the Ducks held on. Eugene German and Fan Ziming hit key shots to keep Beijing ahead. Shen’s dunk brought the Royal Fighters within three points with 43 seconds left, but they couldn’t complete the comeback.
The two teams will face off again in Game 4 on Thursday, with the Royal Fighters looking to keep their hopes alive.
