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

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Jeremy Lin of the Beijing Ducks reacts during the semi-final loss to the Guangdong Southern Tigers. Photos: Xinhua

Published: 11:46am, 9 Aug 2020Updated: 12:32pm, 9 Aug 2020

The Chinese Basketball Association season is over for Jeremy Lin and the Beijing Ducks after losing 88-85 to the Guangdong Southern Tigers in Qingdao on Saturday night.

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.

Jeremy Lin battles for the ball in the game.

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.