Shenzhen seal thrilling comeback win over Beijing to reach CBA semis

In a sensational comeback in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) playoffs, the Shenzhen Leopards trounced Beijing Ducks 118-107 in the fifth and final game of their quarterfinal series to make it to the last four.

After losing the first two games of the best of five series, the Shenzhen side made a spectacular fightback to win the next two games to level the series and take the game to the deciding fifth game on Thursday.

However, continuing their resurgent form and playing the series decider in front of their home crowd, the side from south China got better of their rivals from the capital to pull off the final game heist.

In the CBA's 24-year-history, no team had ever overcome a 2-0 deficit in a best of five series before Shenzhen's triumph over the three-time champions on Thursday.

Shen Zijie of Shenzhen Leopards scores 18 points to lead Shenzhen to a 118-107 comeback victory over Beijing Ducks in Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) quarterfinal, April 4, 2019. /VCG Photo

Earlier, midway through the first quarter, back to back 3-pointers from Gu Quan and Lu Yiwen gave Shenzhen an eight-point lead.

Guo Xiaopeng added another, and the Leopards were up 20-13.

In the last minute of the quarter, Aaron Jackson drove in but was blocked by Shen Zijie as Shenzhen took the lead by six going into the second.

Guangdong's coach Du Feng was at the venue to watch the decider for his team's next opponent.

In the second quarter, Li Muhao dunked two of his 15 points to extend the Leopards' lead to 41-31.

Justin Hamilton scored two of his game-high 34 points and 13 rebounds as the Ducks clinched an eight-point lead after the first half.

The hosts, however, came back in the third quarter and Guo's corner three tied it 76-76.

Kenny Boynton (C) is among the seven players of Shenzhen to grab double digits during the match. /VCG Photo

Kenny Boynton then hit from deep for his second triple in a row, and it was 84-78 for the Shenzhen before the final quarter.

With four minutes left in the game, Beijing turned it over, and the Leopards converted the fast break to go up by eight points.

As the game went down to the wire and only 30 seconds were left, Gu Quan made his third 3-pointer to help the hosts close it out.

Shenzhen, thus, set the record of becoming the first team in CBA history to overturn a two-game deficit and reach the semi-finals.

After his side's emphatic victory, Shenzhen coach Wang Jianjun said, "I want to thank all my players for their determination, for their strong attitudes in never giving up. It has been a difficult journey. I think they have grown so much from this series and I hope they will continue to become better in the games to come."

His rival counterpart Yannis Christopoulos remarked, "The teams were very close during the regular season in their ranking. It's a bitter taste for the final result. But there's a lot of positive things for our guys also. Bringing the series into five games like this, it's something important too."

Shenzhen will now face top seeds and eight-time champions Guangdong Southern Tigers.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)