CBA playoffs: Second half surge drives Beijing Ducks into last eight

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Justin Hamilton’s 32 points in the final game of the first round of the playoffs, helped the Beijing Ducks smash the Shanghai Sharks with the score 97-72. The Ducks will advance to the quarter-finals in the Chinese Basketball Association.

Aaron Jackson returned after missing six games with a shoulder injury, just in time to help Beijing tie its CBA first round series against Shanghai at 1-1. With a twisted ankle, big man Zhu Yanxi was ruled out of the finale, and the Ducks sorely needed the American guard's steady leadership.

"It was more important, after losing the first game to try to get back and help us play the type of basketball we've been playing all year, and we did a good job, and I wanted to rush back to be there for my teammates, and my teammates want to be there too," said Jackson.

Following the same pattern as the first two games in the series, the first half was a ferocious back and forth battle, further underscoring the importance of this showdown.

Aaron Jackson finishes with 18 points as Beijing take on Shanghai 97-72. /VCG Photo

With Beijing forward Zhai Xiaochuan only available for limited minutes coming off an ankle sprain, and swingman Wang Xiaohui sidelined by food poisoning, players like Duan Jiangpeng who nailed third three-pointer and Chang Lin ‘s double-double needed to step up in a major way.

"When Justin Hamilton and I are both on the court together, we have a bigger advantage in the paint, so our coach said that we should use an inside-outside strategy, and make good connections on offense," Chang Lin said.

"For us, the whole year we've had injuries and ups and downs with guys in and out, so I think we pride ourselves on next man up, and we're doing a great job with the next guy coming in," Hamilton said.

And as the Ducks emerged for the second half all focused on the same goal, the Sharks' chances of closing out their opponents at Wukesong had sunk.

"We fought back and were able to make it to the playoffs and, you know, had a lead in the series and played real hard, had a chance in game two," Shanghai guard Jimmer Fredette said. "Just gave ourselves as much of a chance as we could but, you know, tonight they played really well, and took the wind out of our sails."

So the Shanghai Sharks now have the next six months to reflect and retool, while a 97-72 victory sent the Ducks into the CBA quarter-finals, where they will meet the Liaoning Flying Leopards.