In an electrifying showdown, the Beikong Royal Fighters overcame the Shandong Kylins 93-84, sweeping the best-of-three series and advancing to the quarterfinals of the CBA Playoffs! 🏀 Playing at home in Beijing, the team dazzled fans with a mix of grit and skill.
Grant Riller led the charge with a game-high 24 points and eight assists, while teammates Liao Sanning and Shen Zijie kept diving into the paint, earning crucial free throws. Jared Sullinger also shined, notching a double-double with 11 points and 14 rebounds.
Despite missing 14 of 21 three-point attempts as a team, Zhang Fan broke the trend by sinking 4 of his 6 shots from downtown, contributing 16 points.
The game was a seesaw battle: Beikong built an early lead, extended it in the third quarter, and even after Shandong’s late rally in the fourth quarter, a decisive jumper by Meng Zikai and a smart steal by Shen sealed the win. Riller’s clutch free throws in the dying seconds confirmed the nine-point victory.
Looking ahead, the Royal Fighters will face the Beijing Ducks in a best-of-five series—a fierce city rivalry that promises plenty of thrill and fierce competition. As Riller put it, it's “just a big series, man, what you dream of,” and the team is ready to bring that fire. 🔥
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Beikong knocks out Shandong, advances to quarterfinals in CBA Playoffs
cgtn.com