In the CBA playoffs quarterfinals, the Beijing men’s basketball team (fourth seed) defeated Guangdong (fifth seed) 88-73 at home on May 12, winning the best-of-three series 2-1. After falling behind by as many as 10 points in the first half, Beijing mounted a strong comeback and took a 5-point lead into halftime. They extended the advantage to 8 points by the end of the third quarter and controlled the game in the fourth quarter to secure the victory, setting up a semifinal matchup against Shanghai.
**Team Stats**
Beijing: Zhou Qi 18 points, 8 rebounds; Jemison 17 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists; Zeng Fanbo 15 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 block; Chen Yingjun 16 points; Zhai Xiaochuan 8 points, 7 rebounds; Zhao Rui 2 points, 1 rebound.
Guangdong: Quinn 25 points, 8 rebounds; Hu Mingxuan 13 points, 1 assist; McCall 11 points, 2 assists; Xu Jie 0 points, 4 rebounds; Du Runwang 6 points; Sallinger 5 points, 6 rebounds; Laco 6 points.
**Player of the Game: Zhou Qi**
Despite a costly turnover in the previous game that led to Guangdong’s buzzer-beater, Zhou Qi was aggressive and dominant in the paint this time. He finished with 18 points, 8 rebounds, 4 blocks, and 2 steals.
**Notable Moments**
In the second quarter, Zhao Rui collided knee-to-knee with Hu Mingxuan while driving to the basket, causing Zhao Rui significant pain. He was unable to get up for an extended period and had to be helped off the court for treatment before eventually returning after medical attention.
Guangdong once led by 10 points in the second quarter but then committed a series of turnovers and allowed Beijing to go on an 18-0 run. Coach Du Feng was visibly frustrated and called two consecutive timeouts.
With 4:52 left in the fourth quarter, Zhang Haojia and Chen Yingjun got tangled up while fighting for position, nearly sparking a confrontation. The referees intervened and called a double technical foul.
**Game Recap**
The game started with both teams trading baskets, but Hu Mingxuan’s entry changed the momentum. Hu scored 9 points in just five minutes, and Beijing’s offense struggled, shooting only 4-of-20 in the first quarter (20%). Guangdong led 21-15 after the first period.
In the second quarter, Guangdong extended its lead to 10 points before Beijing responded with an 18-0 run fueled by a three-pointer from Zeng Fanbo and defensive stops. Guangdong went nearly five minutes without scoring until Quinn hit a three-point play at the free-throw line. At halftime, Zhou Qi had 10 points and 5 rebounds, Zeng Fanbo added 9, and Jemison contributed 9 points and 4 assists. Beijing led 40-35.
After the break, Beijing’s Jemison and Zhai Xiaochuan each hit a three-pointer, while Quinn answered with a dunk and a tough 2+1. Hu Mingxuan then made a buzzer-beating three-pointer to cut the deficit to two. However, Beijing responded with a series of buckets, and Williams made a highlight-reel spin move and assist to McKee. At the end of the third quarter, Beijing led 61-53.
In the fourth quarter, Guangdong started with a 3-0 run, but Chen Yingjun hit a mid-range shot, and Zhou Qi drew fouls at the rim. Du Runwang fouled Zeng Fanbo on a three-point attempt, leading to three free throws. McCall scored consecutive buckets, but Zhou Qi answered with a dunk and a block on Wang Shaojie. Zhang Haojia hit a three-pointer to force a Beijing timeout. From there, Zhou Qi and Chen Yingjun made key plays, and Zhao Rui finally scored his first field goal of the game to seal the win.
**Starting Lineups**
Beijing: Jemison, Chen Yingjun, Spellman, Lei Meng, Zhou Qi
Guangdong: Quinn, Xu Jie, McCall, Du Runwang, Wang Shaojie