The Shanghai Sharks just sent a massive message to the rest of the league! In a high-stakes Game 3 of the CBA semifinals on Wednesday night, the Sharks dominated the Beijing Ducks on their own turf, securing an 81-66 victory and taking a commanding 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series. 🏀✨
It was all about the power duo for Shanghai. Brandon Goodwin was absolutely on fire, dropping a game-high 28 points and slicing through the defense with precision. Meanwhile, Hassan Whiteside turned the paint into a no-fly zone, anchoring the defense with 18 points, 11 rebounds, and four huge blocks. 🛡️
On the other side, the Beijing Ducks struggled to find their rhythm. While Eugene German put up 22 points, his shooting was off, hitting only 8-of-20 from the field. Veteran forward Zhai Xiaochuan added 10 points, but it wasn't enough to stop the Sharks' momentum.
Shanghai didn't waste any time, sprinting to a 26-15 lead by the end of the first quarter. By halftime, the visitors had stretched the gap to 48-29, leaving the home crowd stunned. Although Beijing tried to mount a comeback in the fourth quarter with some improved shooting, the mountain was simply too high to climb. 🏔️
Despite the tough loss at home, Beijing head coach Xu Limin isn't throwing in the towel. He pointed to the energy of his bench, stating, "The performance of our bench unit proved the problem is not our strength, but our players' desire to fight for victory."
What's next? The tension is peaking! Game 4 goes down tomorrow, May 22, in Beijing. The Sharks have a golden opportunity to clinch their spot in the CBA Finals, but the Ducks will be fighting for survival. Who you rooting for? 📢🔥
Reference(s):
Shanghai Sharks crush Beijing Ducks to take 2-1 lead in CBA semifinals
cgtn.com
