CBA Playoffs: Guangsha get past Zhejiang to enter last eight

In the final contest from the opening round of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) Playoffs, the Guangsha Lions triumphed over their Hangzhou rivals, the Zhejiang Golden Bulls, 103-90 to win their best-of-three series 2-1. Guangsha, who were last year's runners-up, will meet 2017 champions Xinjiang in the quarter-finals.

Guangsha fell behind early before Courtney Fortson found Ioannis Bourousis, who tied things at 9. Last season's International MVP kept the Lions in it with a trey and his Greek running mate's long three-pointer put the hosts on top.

Lin Chih-Chieh contributed to Guangsha's excellence from outside but Zhejiang reclaimed the lead as Brandon Paul sunk two of his game-high 24 points.

He did it again later in the second quarter as the American sunk his only triple of the evening.

Guangsha and Zhejiang players in intense action during the CBA Playoffs game, Hangzhou, China, March 22, 2019 /VCG Photo

After half-time, Bourousis found Hu Jinqiu under the hoop for a couple of his match haul of 19 points before Lin dished inside to the Greek for the hoop and the harm, en route to 21.

Bourousis also displayed his range as the big man's final tally included a trio of treys.

Subsequently, Paul tried to keep the Golden Bulls close, but the visitors struggled down the stretch as an injured Marcus Denmon missed his second straight game.

So Fortson, Zhao Tianyi and the Lions went on to win by 13 points and punched their ticket to the last eight.

Guangsha coach Li Chunjiang later said, "I hope we can reach our full potential in the round of eight, and play in a more open-minded style."

The best-of-five quarter-finals will start on Monday with eight-time champions Guangdong meeting ninth-seeded Jiangsu, while number four Shenzhen will take on three-time winners Beijing. Reigning title-holders Liaoning go up against seventh seeds Fujian, and the team that lifted the trophy two years ago, Xinjiang, will face returning runners-up Guangsha.