In a thrilling Game 1 of the CBA Playoffs, the top-seeded Guangsha Lions roared past the three-time defending champions, the Liaoning Flying Leopards, with a solid 109-90 victory in Hangzhou, in the Chinese mainland's Zhejiang Province. The win sets a lively tone for this best-of-five semifinal series! 🏀🔥
Guangsha’s balanced attack shined throughout the contest, with six players stepping up to score in double figures – all five starters included. Barry Brown led the charge by drilling four three-pointers, racking up a game-high 24 points along with six assists, while star point guard Sun Minghui chipped in 13 points before leaving the game in the third quarter with an ankle injury.
Across the court, the Liaoning Flying Leopards struggled to find support, as only one of their starters, Dez Wells, reached double figures. The visiting team’s bench, led by Kyle Fogg with 20 points, three assists, and three steals, provided a spark, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Guangsha’s early momentum. The Lions got off to a blazing start, out-hitting the opposition from beyond the arc in the first quarter, building a 34-22 lead that stretched even further by halftime.
The third quarter saw a brief tightening of the gap thanks to determined efforts from both Fogg and Wells, but Guangsha’s consistency in the fourth quarter, with decisive bursts from Zhu Junlong and another smooth three from Barry Brown, sealed the 109-90 win. With Game 2 scheduled for Monday in Hangzhou, fans are buzzing in anticipation of what promises to be an electrifying continuation of the series!
Reference(s):
Guangsha Lions overwhelm Liaoning Flying Leopards in CBA semifinals
cgtn.com
