The Guangsha Lions took a commanding 2-0 lead over the Liaoning Flying Leopards in the CBA semifinals after a decisive 110-84 victory at home on Monday. The Lions showcased a powerful offense and solid defense, putting the three-time defending champions on the brink of elimination in the best-of-five series.
Early in the game, Joshua Carlton energized the home crowd with a fade-away jumper, narrowing the gap to just three points. James Nunnally followed up with a clutch three-pointer, extending Guangsha’s lead to 28-20.
However, the Lions faced a setback when key player Sun Minghui picked up his fourth foul after a challenge on Zhao Jiwei, forcing him to leave the court temporarily. Despite this, the team remained unfazed.
American guard Barry Brown Jr. stepped up in a big way, igniting a fast break that concluded with a smooth lay-up, pushing Guangsha’s advantage to 11 points. Brown Jr. was unstoppable, draining shots from beyond the arc and finishing with a game-high 30 points.
Sun Minghui returned to the action, assisting Zhu Junlong with a precise pass that led to an easy lay-up, expanding the Lions’ lead to 21 points. The team’s resilience was further highlighted by Wu Xiao, who, despite playing with an arm injury, battled through contact from three Liaoning defenders under the basket. He calmly sank his free throws, even shooting with one hand, and added crucial points to secure the victory.
With this win, the Guangsha Lions are just one victory away from advancing to the CBA Finals. Game three is set for Thursday in Liaoning, where the Flying Leopards will fight to keep their championship hopes alive.
