Eugene German (L) of Beijing Ducks vies with Sun Minghui of Zhejiang Lions during the playoff final 4th round match at the 2024-2025 season of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league in Beijing, capital of China, May 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin)
BEIJING, May 14 (Xinhua) -- The Zhejiang Lions overpowered the Beijing Ducks 106-73 away to lead 3-1 in the 2024-25 Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) best-of-seven finals here on Wednesday.
After a thrilling away victory in Beijing on Monday, Zhejiang felt more at ease to compete in the Capital Indoor Stadium.
Zhejiang carried on the high morale and started Games 4 with a 19-8 lead. The tough defense and smooth fast breaks helped Zhejiang once extend the advantage to 20 points.
Following a 53-35 first half, Zhejiang continued to enlarge the gap to 30 points with an all-around performance ahead of the final quarter. On the contrary, the home team Beijing didn't find any chance to bounce back and swallowed the 33-point loss.
"We emphasized high-intensity defense all the time. Our team did an excellent job today. All players are eager for the victory," Zhejiang head coach Wang Bo said after the game.
Lin Bing Sheng of Zhejiang came off the bench to score a game-high 22 points with four three-pointers and five steals, while his teammate Barry Brown also pocketed 22 points in less than 27 minutes.
"We moved the ball in a clear and rational way with great team work. We trust each other, as winning the champion is our shared goal," Lin noted. "We will keep making improvement and fighting for the final win."
Beijing's Chen Ying-chun registered a team-high 13 points. The home side had 17 turnovers and only hit four three-pointers.
Beijing head coach Xu Limin said after the disappointed match, "Our mentality was not on the same level as the Lions. Zhejiang is more experienced to handle difficulties, which is what we lack. We are honored to show ourselves in the CBA Finals, and we will compete to the end."
With just one win away from the club's first-ever CBA champion, Zhejiang will confront Beijing at home in Game 5 on Saturday. ■
Fan Ziming (L) of Beijing Ducks vies with Hu Jinqiu of Zhejiang Lions during the playoff final 4th round match between Zhejiang Lions and Beijing Ducks at the 2024-2025 season of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league in Beijing, capital of China, May 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin)
Chen Yingjun (C) of Beijing Ducks controls the ball during the playoff final 4th round match between Zhejiang Lions and Beijing Ducks at the 2024-2025 season of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league in Beijing, capital of China, May 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin)
Head coach of Beijing Ducks Xu Limin (L) gives instructions to player Richard Solomon during the playoff final 4th round match between Zhejiang Lions and Beijing Ducks at the 2024-2025 season of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league in Beijing, capital of China, May 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin)
Chen Yingjun (front R) of Beijing Ducks vies with Nathan Knight of Zhejiang Lions during the playoff final 4th round match at the 2024-2025 season of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league in Beijing, capital of China, May 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin)
Zhang Cairen (C) of Beijing Ducks vies for the ball during the playoff final 4th round match between Zhejiang Lions and Beijing Ducks at the 2024-2025 season of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league in Beijing, capital of China, May 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin)
Fang Shuo (top) of Beijing Ducks vies with Sun Minghui of Zhejiang Lions during the playoff final 4th round match at the 2024-2025 season of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league in Beijing, capital of China, May 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin)
Chen Yingjun (L) of Beijing Ducks reacts as Sun Minghui of Zhejiang Lions grimaces after his eyes getting injured during the playoff final 4th round match between Zhejiang Lions and Beijing Ducks at the 2024-2025 season of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league in Beijing, capital of China, May 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin)
Chen Yingjun (R) of Beijing Ducks talks with Richard Solomon of Beijing Ducks during the playoff final 4th round match between Zhejiang Lions and Beijing Ducks at the 2024-2025 season of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league in Beijing, capital of China, May 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin)
Former table tennis player Ding Ning cheer for Beijing Ducks before the playoff final 4th round match between Zhejiang Lions and Beijing Ducks at the 2024-2025 season of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league in Beijing, capital of China, May 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin)
Nuni Omot (R) of Beijing Ducks shoots the ball during the playoff final 4th round match between Zhejiang Lions and Beijing Ducks at the 2024-2025 season of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league in Beijing, capital of China, May 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin)
Eugene German (L) of Beijing Ducks goes for a basket over Hu Jinqiu of Zhejiang Lions during the playoff final 4th round match at the 2024-2025 season of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league in Beijing, capital of China, May 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin)
Richard Solomon (R) of Beijing Ducks vies with Wu Xiao of Zhejiang Lions during the playoff final 4th round match at the 2024-2025 season of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league in Beijing, capital of China, May 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin)
Barry Brown (2nd R) of Zhejiang Lions talks with teammate Josh Carlton during the playoff final 4th round match between Zhejiang Lions and Beijing Ducks at the 2024-2025 season of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league in Beijing, capital of China, May 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin)
Lin Bingsheng of Zhejiang Lions celebrates during the playoff final 4th round match between Zhejiang Lions and Beijing Ducks at the 2024-2025 season of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league in Beijing, capital of China, May 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin)
Chen Yingjun (L) of Beijing Ducks and Lin Bingsheng (2nd R) of Zhejiang Lions react as Lin's teammate Sun Minghui (2nd L) and Hu Jinqiu (R) seperate them after a collision during the playoff final 4th round match at the 2024-2025 season of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league in Beijing, capital of China, May 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin)
