CBA highlights on July 31: Fujian knock Zhejiang out in playoffs

The Zhejiang Lions, which earned fans' love with the outstanding performance by their all-Chinese squad during the season restart became the first eliminated team in the playoffs. On Friday afternoon in Qingdao, Zhejiang lost to the Fujian Surgeons 132-119. Sun Minghui only rested for three minutes and put down 45 points, six rebounds, nine assists for Zhejiang. His teammates Zhao Yanhan and Hu Jinqiu also contributed 24+5+5 and 23+11+3.

However, Zhejiang were never in control of the game pace. Instead of acting cautiously behind their league-No. 1 defense, Zhejiang continued to exchange points with Fujian, which had the best guard-center pair in today's CBA, Ty Lawson, and Wang Zhelin. The former Denver Nuggets point guard scored 37 points, seven rebounds, 17 assists, and four steals. Wang Zhelin went 12-14, getting 27+13. Their teammate Chen Linjian became Fujian's biggest ingenious move and buried seven 3-pointers to score 31 points.

Fujian will meet the Beijing Ducks in the quarterfinals.

Ty Lawson #1 of the Fujian Sturgeons drives towards the rim in the game against the Zhejiang Lions in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, July 31, 2020. /VCG

Sun Minghui (R) of the Zhejiang Lions tries to penetrate in the game against the Fujian Sturgeons in Qingdao, July 31, 2020. /VCG

Wang Zhelin of the Fujian Sturgeons dunks in the game against the Zhejiang Lions in Qingdao, July 31, 2020. /VCVG

Chen Linjian of the Fujian Sturgeons celebrates after scoring in the game against the Zhejiang Lions in Qingdao, July 31, 2020. /VCG

Sun Minghui#17 of the Zhejiang Lions shoots the ball in the game against the Zhejiang Sturgeons in Qingdao, July 31, 2020. /VCG

In the other game on Friday, the Qingdao Eagles beat the Shandong Heroes 129-120 in the "Shandong derby," making the quarterfinals. Qingdao saw seven of their players score double-digit points. Jiao Hailong, Wang Qingming and Yang Jinmeng all got 20+points. Tao Hanlin and Zhang Qingpeng together dropped 70 points for Shandong but their efforts failed to bring Shandong to victory.

Qingdao will challenge the league's leader Guangdong Southern Tigers in the quarterfinals.