Jeremy Lin’s CBA season over as Guangdong Southern Tigers beat Beijing Ducks for finals spot
- NBA champion misses buzzer-beater to take game to overtime as CBA champions win 88-85 to earn 15th finals appearance
- MVP Yi Jianlian returns from injury to score game-winning free throws and showdown against Liaoning Flying Leopards
Victory in game three of the play-offs semi-finals takes the regular season champions Tigers to the finals against the Liaoning Flying Leopards, who beat out the Xinjiang Flying Tigers in the other semi-final.
The Ducks had beaten the reigning champions in the second game to tie the best of three series 1-1 and take it to Saturday night’s decider.
It was the Guangdong side, who had MVP Yi Jianlian return from injury for the first time in the series, who started the brighter as they led 16-13 at the end of the first quarter.
The scores were even at 37-37 at the half following an impressive fightback from the Ducks, but the second half began with Guangdong putting up nine points unanswered.
Guangdong’s lead was cut to one late in the game following a three-pointer from Fang Shuo but Sonny Weems extended the lead to three from the charity line. Lin, who scored 17 points, cut it back to one but Yi made two of three from the free-throw line to bring the scores to 88-85 and his own points haul to 18.
The NBA champion tried to force overtime but missed at the buzzer to end his debut CBA playoffs and see the champs to a 15th CBA Finals.
His Ducks teammate Ekpe Udoh top-scored with 24 points and 21 rebounds while Weems and Zhou Peng both scored 17 for Guangdong.
Beijing coach Xie Libin was adamant that the Ducks, who made a first semi-finals since 2015, will be back in the hunt.
CBA champ or not, Jeremy Lin has answered critics in China
“We did our best, but the defending champions are indeed more powerful than us. We will enjoy our short vacation and come back next year,” the acting head coach told the media.
