On the evening of May 12, Beijing time, the CBA playoffs featured a highly anticipated clash between Beijing and Guangdong in the third game of their series. After Guangdong edged Beijing with a buzzer-beating three-pointer by Zhang Haojia in overtime in Game 2, the series was tied 1-1. Both teams entered Game 3 locked in a fierce battle, with Beijing ultimately prevailing 88-73 to eliminate Guangdong and advance to the semifinals. The post-game stats told the story, and the biggest contributor was not Zhou Qi but another standout performer.
The first quarter was intense, with both teams showing high stakes. Beijing aimed to attack the paint, while Guangdong pushed for a faster pace. Hu Mingxuan hit a buzzer-beating three to end the period, scoring 9 points alone, helping Guangdong take a 21-15 lead. In the second quarter, Guangdong extended the lead to 32-22 before going cold, allowing Beijing to go on an 18-0 run. The game swung dramatically. At halftime, Beijing led 40-35, with Guangdong committing 9 turnovers to Beijing’s 3.
Beijing maintained the lead in the third quarter, carrying an 8-point advantage into the fourth. Early in the final period, McGee was called for a traveling violation, then fouled Wang Shaojie, who made 1 of 2 free throws. Guangdong’s McColl scored on a drive, but Chen Yingjun answered with a buzzer-beating 24-second shot. Zhou Qi hit both free throws, McColl scored again inside, and Zeng Fanbo drew a foul on a three-point attempt, making all three free throws. With under 7 minutes left, Beijing led 68-58. Tensions escalated as Zhang Haojia and Chen Yingjun had a confrontation, both receiving technical fouls. In the closing stages, Guangdong trailed by 11 points and faced elimination. They couldn’t mount a comeback, losing 73-88 and ending their season, while Beijing advanced to the final four.
Guangdong’s Kwayne had 25 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 assists; Hu Mingxuan contributed 13 points; and Xu Jie finished with 0 points on 0-for-3 shooting, along with 4 rebounds and 2 assists. For Beijing, Zhou Qi posted 18 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, 4 blocks, and 2 steals; Chen Yingjun added 16 points; and Zeng Fanbo chipped in 15 points. However, the standout performer for Beijing was import player James, who recorded a triple-double with 17 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists, and 3 steals. His all-around performance in such a high-stakes game made him the biggest reason for Beijing’s victory.
In other playoff results, Shanghai swept Shandong 2-0, including a dominant road win in Game 2. Shanghai boasts a 28-game winning streak across the regular season, Club Cup, and playoffs, setting their sights on the franchise’s first championship. Shenzhen also swept Zhejiang 2-0, with new MVP He Xining delivering a stellar performance reminiscent of Ding Yanyuhang’s prime. Meanwhile, Guangsha is tied 1-1 with Shanxi, and as the defending champions with more playoff experience, Guangsha appears poised to advance, thanks to coach Wang Bo’s tactical acumen under pressure. What do you think?
