Jeremy Lin’s Beijing Ducks win streak ended by record-breaking Guangdong Southern Tigers
- CBA regular season champions extend their winning run to 29 as 101-82 defeat means Ducks likely to see them again in play-offs
- History gives hope to Beijing side, who had to beat Guangdong in all three of their championship seasons
The Beijing Ducks’ winning streak came to an end on Sunday night as the Guangdong Southern Tigers, the regular season champions, extended their own Chinese Basketball Association record to 29 consecutive wins.
Guangdong won 101-82 in Qingdao in the first day of CBA games to allow fans back in, with health workers, teachers and other public servants allowed to watch. The win confirmed their status as championship favourites, while the Ducks dropped to fourth behind Liaoning Flying Leopards.
Beijing finish the season with a 32-14 record, the same as Liaoning, with the teams splitting their two meetings. Liaoning leapfrogged Beijing on account of their better points differential.
That means that Beijing will join Guangdong in the top half of the play-offs draw, while Liaoning move to the bottom half with second-placed Xinjiang Flying Tigers. The top four all proceed to the second round of the play-offs.
The champions raced into an early lead in Qingdao, stretching the gap to 11 points inside the opening quarter before an elbow by Zhao Rui on Jeremy Lin allowed the former NBA star to narrow the deficit in the second period.
However, the gap was seven points at half-time and only got bigger, at one stage reaching 25 points. Guangdong’s Sonny Weems top-scored with 19 points, followed by teammate Zhao with 18. Lin and Ducks teammate Wang Xiaohui both scored 16 points.