Beijing Shougang finally delivered when it mattered most. After a disappointing Game 2 loss where Zhang Haojia sank a buzzer-beater to keep Guangdong alive, the team bounced back emphatically in Game 3. Coach Xu Limin’s decision to deploy two small foreign players sparked a stunning 18-0 run, propelling Beijing to an 88-73 victory and eliminating Guangdong Hongyuan from the CBA playoffs.
Zhou Qi led the charge with 18 points, while Jemal and Chen Yingjun added 17 and 16 points respectively. Zeng Fanbo contributed 13 points. On the Guangdong side, Quinn scored a game-high 22 points and Hu Mingxuan had 13, but the disappointing Xu Jiet finished scoreless. Full scoring: Zhou Qi 18, Jemal 17, Williams 4, Zeng Fanbo 13, Chen Yingjun 16, McGee 2, Lei Meng 5, Spellman 0, Zhai Xiaochuan 8, Hu Mingxuan 13, Quinn 22, Xu Jiet 0.
Beijing started slowly, trailing by 6 points after the first quarter. However, a strong second quarter featuring an 18-0 surge turned the game around. Zhao Rui left the game with a leg injury after a collision with Hu Mingxuan. In the third quarter, Zhai Xiaochuan and Jemal hit key three-pointers to extend the lead. Despite a late push from Guangdong, Beijing maintained control and secured the series victory, advancing to the semifinals.
