In a thrilling clash at the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA), the Beijing Derby ended with the Royal Fighters beating the Ducks 109-103 on Wednesday night.
Shannon Evans II (R) of Beijing ducks goes for a basket during the 10th round match between Beijing Royal Fighters and Beijing Ducks at 2023-2024 season of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 15, 2023. (Xinhua/Wu Zhuang)
As the game kicked off, both teams engaged in a fierce battle for supremacy. Before halftime, the atmosphere reached a fever pitch when Zhai Xiaochuan sank a buzzer-beating three-pointer, leaving the score at 51-48 in favor of the Ducks.
The third quarter witnessed a determined effort from the home team, the Ducks, to control the tide. Center Fan Ziming showcased excellence on both ends of the court, while Shannon Evans contributed crucial three-pointer from the perimeter. The home team entered the final quarter with an 8-point lead.
In the decisive fourth quarter, it was Kay Felder who dominated the proceedings. His dynamic inside-outside game reinvigorated the Royal Fighters, and his clutch three-pointer in crucial moment proved pivotal to the win.
The 28-year-old guard's 32 points and 12 assists underlined his instrumental role in steering the Royal Fighters to the victory.
In another showdown between powerhouses, the Xinjiang Flying Tigers displayed resilience in the final quarter to quell the Shenzhen Leopards' comeback attempts and emerged a 99-91 win. Abdusalam Abdurexit led the charge, contributing 26 points and 18 rebounds.
Elsewhere on Wednesday, the Liaoning Flying Leopards smashed the Tianjin Pioneers 107-75, the Qingdao Eagles beat the Shanghai Sharks 94-83, the Guangdong Southern Tigers won over the Jiangsu Dragons 110-100, and the Sichuan Blue Whales claimed their first season win over the Jilin Northeast Tigers with 121-115.
