CBA Playoffs: Shenzhen crush Beijing to level quarters

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The Shenzhen Leopards made a spectacular comeback in their quarterfinal series against the Beijing Ducks to make it all square at 2-2 on Monday during the CBA playoffs.

The Shenzhen side thrashed their rivals from the capital by 94-83 in the fourth game of the best of five series to become the first CBA team to bounce back from a two-game deficit.

Earlier, Beijing struggled to find their rhythm in the opening quarter in their own backyard. But eventually asserted themselves in the second.

However, the visitors remarkably clawed their way back into the game. With 9 seconds to go in the quarter, Dwight Buycks beat the shot clock with a 3-pointer to give Shenzhen a 39-35 lead going into half-time.

They continued to press the hosts after the break and in the fourth quarter, Beijing was plagued by turnovers with Fang Shuo getting caught 8 times in total. Kenny Boynton then got one of his three triples, en route to a game-high of 26 points. The tourists turned the screw tighter and clinched the game to level the series.

A visibly satisfied Shenzhen coach Wang Jianjun said after his side's series-levelling win, “First of all it's our mentality. Our players left the opening losses behind them and focused on today's game and the tactics. Secondly, our defense was very tough and we reduced Beijing to only 83 points, which is very successful.”

The two sides will lock horns with each other in the winner-takes-all fifth and final game in Shenzhen on Thursday.