Beijing Shougang men’s basketball team secured a hard-fought 88-73 victory over Guangdong in the third game of their CBA playoffs quarterfinal series on the evening of May 12, advancing with a 2-1 series win. The win sets up a semifinal clash against the regular-season champion Shanghai team, with the series adopting a best-of-five format.
The series proved to be a tough challenge for Beijing. In Game 1, they relied on an exceptional three-point shooting performance to claim the win. However, in Game 2, their outside shooting cooled down, leading to an overtime battle that ultimately ended in a heartbreaking buzzer-beater loss for Beijing. Returning home for the decisive Game 3, Beijing faced a must-win situation.
The game began slowly for Beijing, as they struggled offensively and found themselves trailing early. However, a strong second-quarter surge turned the tide. Beijing forced multiple turnovers from Guangdong, capitalizing on fast-break opportunities to take control by halftime. Unfortunately, guard Zhao Rui suffered a knee injury during a drive to the basket, collapsing in pain. He was taken off the court for treatment, raising concerns among teammates and fans.
In the second half, Beijing maintained control for most of the game. Center Zhou Qi dominated the paint, especially in the fourth quarter, where he repeatedly disrupted Guangdong’s interior offense, blocking shots from Wang Shaojie and Quinn, delivering two emphatic rejections that energized the crowd. On offense, Zhou was equally effective, finishing strong at the rim and sinking crucial free throws—an area where he has sometimes been inconsistent. Zhou logged 25 minutes, shooting 5-of-8 from the field for 18 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 blocks, including 8-of-12 from the free-throw line. Forward Zeng Fanbo, after a subpar Game 2, bounced back with 15 points on 6-of-8 shooting, including 2-of-3 from three-point range.
Beijing’s hard-fought series victory sets up a challenging semifinal against Shanghai, a team with strong inside and outside play. While Beijing’s series win over Guangdong highlighted their overall depth, the upcoming matchup against Shanghai is expected to be more evenly contested, posing the toughest test yet for the team. To advance further, Beijing will need to elevate its performance and execution.
A lingering concern is Zhao Rui’s knee injury. Though he returned to the court in the fourth quarter, the full extent of the damage remains uncertain and will depend on further evaluation and recovery. As the team’s engine in the backcourt, Zhao’s presence is irreplaceable, and the first game of the semifinals is just three days away.