In a thrilling Game 1 of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) semifinals, the top-seeded Guangsha Lions dominated the Liaoning Flying Leopards with a 109-90 victory in Hangzhou, securing a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five series.
Barry Brown led the Lions with an impressive 24 points, hitting four three-pointers out of ten attempts, and dished out six assists. All five starters for Guangsha scored in double digits, showcasing the team’s depth and offensive prowess. Star point guard Sun Minghui contributed 13 points before leaving the game in the third quarter due to an ankle injury.
Despite the loss, Liaoning’s bench made significant contributions, outscoring Guangsha’s reserves 52-31. Kyle Fogg emerged as a key player for the Flying Leopards, leading the team with 20 points, three assists, and three steals. However, only one starter, Dez Wells, reached double figures for Liaoning, highlighting the team’s struggles against Guangsha’s strong defense.
The Lions set the tone early, finishing the first quarter with a 34-22 lead, thanks to four more three-pointers than the Flying Leopards. By halftime, Guangsha had extended their advantage to 59-37, limiting Liaoning to just 15 points in the second quarter.
Liaoning fought back in the third quarter, reducing the deficit by three points, largely due to the efforts of Fogg and Wells. Nonetheless, the Flying Leopards faced an uphill battle entering the fourth quarter, trailing 84-65.
Guangsha maintained their momentum in the final period. Zhu Junlong scored five consecutive points to give the hosts a 91-71 lead. Brown’s fourth three-pointer mid-quarter kept the Lions firmly in control at 97-72. Liaoning was unable to close the gap, resulting in a decisive victory for Guangsha in the series opener.
Game 2 is scheduled for Monday in Hangzhou, where the Flying Leopards will aim to even the series against the formidable Lions.
