Flying Leopards grab 3-0 lead in the CBA finals

World
Europe

01:45

The Liaoning Flying Leopards beat Zhejiang Guangsha Lions with a score of 104-100 in Game Three of the CBA Finals. The two teams met 33 times ahead of the game, with Liaoning winning 19 of them. After taking the first two contests in Hangzhou, the Flying Leopards were hoping to take that momentum home to Shenyang.

Liaoning got off to a fast start after the series moved to northeast China. Han Dejun's pass found Guo Ailun, who sank a three-pointer to help the Flying Leopards begin the game with a 26-4 run. The point guard finished the game with 26 points.

Guangsha tried to claw back as Zhao Yanhao nailed a three-pointer, before International MVP Courtney Fortson found him for a two-handed dunk. The Chinese forward then returned the favor as the Lions cut the deficit to 11.

But former two-time International MVP Lester Hudson drilled a three from the wing, and then pulled up for another, on the way to 14 points in the second quarter. He finished with 26. After trailing by 20 at halftime, Guangsha made their first five shots after the break with Fortson leading the charge.

Guo Ailun celebrates during the game against Zhejiang Guangsha Lions. /VCG photo

The American hit from inside and outside, on his way to pouring in a game-high 46 points. The top seeds were still down by double digits early in the fourth, but Fortson got the hoop and closed the gap. The dreaded point guard would hit 11 of his 13 free throws, with that one trimming the margin to 10. The former Russian Super league MVP continued to fire away down the stretch, with that trifecta getting the regular season champs to within three.

But Guo got the kiss off the glass on the other end, and then hit the baseline lay-up to give Liaoning some breathing room. The Flying Leopards held on for a 104-100 win, and hold a 3-0 series lead.

Game Four is Sunday in Shenyang. "We can't just say we have enough ability to defeat our opponents, so we need to do our best on the court. I believe the early bird catches the worm and tried to put forth my best effort in this contest. But we can't relax until the final game in this series,” said the point guard.