The Guangsha Lions stunned basketball fans by sweeping the three-time defending champions, Liaoning Flying Leopards, 3-0 in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) Playoffs semifinals. With a commanding 109-98 victory in Game 3 on Thursday night in Shenyang, the Lions secured their spot in the CBA Finals.
Guangsha will face the winner of the other semifinal between the Beijing Ducks and the Shanxi Loongs. The Ducks currently lead that series 2-0, with Game 3 scheduled for Friday night.
The Lions were propelled by stellar performances from Hu Jinqiu, Barry Brown, and Sun Minghui. Hu dominated the court with a game-high 36 points and 10 rebounds. Brown contributed 25 points, nine assists, and four steals, while Sun added 17 points and nine assists. Their combined efforts proved too much for the Flying Leopards to handle.
Liaoning had five players scoring in double figures, but none surpassed 17 points. Zhao Jiwei and Dez Wells led their team with 17 points each. Despite a strong start that had them leading 28-16 in the first quarter, the Flying Leopards couldn’t maintain their momentum.
Guangsha closed the gap to 33-26 by the end of the first quarter and surged ahead in the second, outscoring Liaoning 41-21 to take a 67-54 lead into halftime. The Lions continued to extend their lead in the third quarter, entering the final period up 93-72.
In the fourth quarter, Liaoning’s efforts to mount a comeback fell short. The Lions held firm, ending the Flying Leopards’ pursuit of a fourth consecutive CBA title.
This victory marks a significant achievement for the Guangsha Lions, setting the stage for an exciting CBA Finals as they chase the championship.
