Liaoning Flying Leopards defeated by Guangsha Lions in CBA semifinals
In Game 1 of their best-of-five semifinal series in the Chinese Basketball Association Playoffs, the top-seeded Guangsha Lions triumphed over the three-time defending champions, the Liaoning Flying Leopards, with a score of 109-90 in Hangzhou,...
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In Game 1 of their best-of-five semifinal series in the Chinese Basketball Association Playoffs, the top-seeded Guangsha Lions triumphed over the three-time defending champions, the Liaoning Flying Leopards, with a score of 109-90 in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, gaining a 1-0 advantage in the series.
The Lions showcased a strong offensive performance, with six players posting double-digit scores, including all five starters. Barry Brown led the charge with a game-high 24 points, hitting four three-pointers on 10 attempts and also providing six assists. Sun Minghui, the star point guard for the home team, added 13 points before leaving the game in the third quarter due to an ankle injury.
On the other hand, Liaoning managed to have only one starter, Dez Wells, reach double figures. However, the game remained competitive due to the visiting team's bench outscoring Guangsha's bench 52-31. Kyle Fogg stood out with a team-high 20 points, alongside three assists and three steals.
In the first quarter, the Lions outperformed the Flying Leopards from beyond the arc, making four more three-pointers and ending the period with a 34-22 lead. While both teams struggled with three-point shooting in the second quarter, Guangsha's defense held the fourth-seeded Liaoning to just 15 points, allowing the home side to extend their lead to 22 points by halftime, at 59-37.
The third quarter saw a tighter contest, where Liaoning managed to reduce the deficit by three points, largely bolstered by the contributions of Fogg and Wells. Despite this effort, Zhao Jiwei and Yan Shouqi continued to miss key shots, and the reigning champions entered the fourth quarter trailing by 19 points, at 84-65.
Early in the fourth quarter, Zhu Junlong added five consecutive points for Guangsha, pushing the lead to 20 points at 91-71. Brown further solidified their control by knocking down his fourth three-pointer of the game, maintaining a commanding 97-72 advantage. In the final stretch, the Flying Leopards couldn't bridge the gap to fewer than 15 points and ultimately faced a significant loss in the series opener.
Game 2 is scheduled for Monday in Hangzhou.
Rohan Mehta for TROIB News
The Lions showcased a strong offensive performance, with six players posting double-digit scores, including all five starters. Barry Brown led the charge with a game-high 24 points, hitting four three-pointers on 10 attempts and also providing six assists. Sun Minghui, the star point guard for the home team, added 13 points before leaving the game in the third quarter due to an ankle injury.
On the other hand, Liaoning managed to have only one starter, Dez Wells, reach double figures. However, the game remained competitive due to the visiting team's bench outscoring Guangsha's bench 52-31. Kyle Fogg stood out with a team-high 20 points, alongside three assists and three steals.
In the first quarter, the Lions outperformed the Flying Leopards from beyond the arc, making four more three-pointers and ending the period with a 34-22 lead. While both teams struggled with three-point shooting in the second quarter, Guangsha's defense held the fourth-seeded Liaoning to just 15 points, allowing the home side to extend their lead to 22 points by halftime, at 59-37.
The third quarter saw a tighter contest, where Liaoning managed to reduce the deficit by three points, largely bolstered by the contributions of Fogg and Wells. Despite this effort, Zhao Jiwei and Yan Shouqi continued to miss key shots, and the reigning champions entered the fourth quarter trailing by 19 points, at 84-65.
Early in the fourth quarter, Zhu Junlong added five consecutive points for Guangsha, pushing the lead to 20 points at 91-71. Brown further solidified their control by knocking down his fourth three-pointer of the game, maintaining a commanding 97-72 advantage. In the final stretch, the Flying Leopards couldn't bridge the gap to fewer than 15 points and ultimately faced a significant loss in the series opener.
Game 2 is scheduled for Monday in Hangzhou.
Rohan Mehta for TROIB News
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