In an electrifying playoff showdown, the Beijing Ducks edged out the Beikong Royal Fighters with a 106-100 victory on Wednesday night, marking the first-ever postseason derby between the two Beijing teams in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA).
Zeng Fanbo was the star of the night, dropping a game-high 30 points and grabbing 4 rebounds, setting a new personal playoff scoring record. His performance was pivotal in leveling the best-of-five quarterfinal series at 1-1.
The game started with both teams trading baskets in a fierce back-and-forth. Beikong’s Zou Yucheng made a significant impact off the bench, scoring 10 points during a late first-quarter surge. Despite his efforts, the Ducks held a slim one-point lead at the end of the quarter.
In the second quarter, Beikong seized momentum with a commanding 13-0 run, pushing them ahead 58-51 by halftime. But the Ducks weren’t backing down. The third quarter saw Chen Yingjun ignite the offense, hitting four crucial three-pointers that helped Beijing reclaim the lead.
The final quarter was a nail-biter. With the game hanging in the balance, Zeng stepped up once again, sinking a clutch three-pointer to extend the Ducks’ advantage. The Royal Fighters fought valiantly but couldn’t close the gap.
Meanwhile, in other playoff action, the Shanxi Loongs outclassed the Guangdong Southern Tigers with a 116-101 home victory, taking a commanding 2-0 lead in their series. Despite Guangdong’s strong start, highlighted by Hu Mingxuan’s 13 first-quarter points, Shanxi roared back with a 19-0 second-quarter run.
The Tigers faced a daunting 30-point deficit but mounted a spirited comeback in the third quarter, narrowing the gap to 11 points thanks to Troy Gillenwater’s 13-point burst. However, a key three-pointer from Yuan Shuai dashed Guangdong’s hopes of a rally. Yuan finished with 29 points, including nine from beyond the arc, while Hamidou Diallo added 28 points for the Loongs.
The CBA playoffs continue to heat up as teams battle for a spot in the semifinals. Fans across the Chinese mainland are eagerly anticipating the next chapter in these exciting series.
