Sports
14:34, 10-Apr-2018
CBA: Zhejiang beat Shandong 117-96 to even semi-final at 3-3
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The Zhejiang Guangsha Lions scored a 117-96 victory against the Shandong Golden Stars in a decisive game on their home turf in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou on Monday.
China's top basketball league's International MVP, Courtney Fortson and the Guangsha Lions, the top team in the regular season, were trailing the Shandong Golden Stars 3-2 in their series. Guangsha needed to hold court at home, or else their season would be over.
It was a must-win for Guangsha.
Fortson carried the team to a 9-0 start and showed their determination of forcing a decider in the best-of-seven series. The MVP scored 31 points with 13 assists in the crucial battle.
Guangsha led by as many as 29 points late in the first half. Shandong threatened to fight back in the third quarter under the guidance of Ty Lawson and Donatas Motiejunas, but Guangsha were able to hold on under the guidance of their top scorer Fortson.
Shandong forward Ding Yanyuhang. /VCG Photo
Shandong forward Ding Yanyuhang. /VCG Photo
Domestic MVP Ding Yanyuhang tried to help Shandong stay in the game, but the injured small forward played for only 23 minutes. Ding contributed 13 points, but it was not enough to lift his team out of trouble.
Guangsha finally beat Shandong to even the semi-final series at 3-3. It will be the first Game Seven in CBA history.
The league introduced best-of-seven series in the 2005-2006 season, but none of the previous 15 series were played to the seventh game. Guangsha will host Shandong on Wednesday night for the historic battle.