The CBA playoffs continue with a pivotal Game 3 between the Beijing and Guangdong series on May 12 at 19:35, with the winner advancing to face Shanghai in the semifinals. CCTV5 will broadcast this decisive matchup. After splitting the first two games at home—Beijing winning 102-94 in Game 1 and Guangdong stealing a 102-99 overtime victory in Game 2 thanks to Zhang Haojia’s clutch three-pointer—both teams are set for a winner-take-all battle.
Despite Beijing’s apparent advantage in roster depth, they let Game 2 slip away after leading by 11 points on the road. Key mistakes proved costly: McGee’s poor free-throw shooting (4-of-10 overall, 4-of-8 in overtime), Zhou Qi’s turnover on a late pass intended for Zeng Fanbo, and a crucial defensive rebound lost to Xu Jie after Zhang Haojia missed his first three-point attempt in overtime. These errors handed Guangdong the opportunity to force a decisive Game 3.
In the upcoming matchup, Beijing must minimize mistakes and tighten their defense. Zhou Qi struggled against Quinn’s pick-and-roll in Game 2, as Quinn exploited his slow footwork to hit eight three-pointers. Beijing needs a better strategy to contain Guangdong’s perimeter shooting, whether through tighter on-ball defense or timely help from weak-side defenders. Offensively, they should leverage their size and strength, particularly through Spellman, who shot 7-of-9 (including three three-pointers) for 21 points and 9 rebounds in Game 2. Coach Xu may give him more minutes based on his hot hand.
Beijing’s coaching staff should remain flexible, rotating players based on form and feel rather than rigidly sticking to set plays. For Guangdong, they have already pushed their adjustments to the limit, with every player giving maximum effort. The survival game will further test their resilience and championship pedigree.
Guangdong has struggled with foul trouble in the series, sending Beijing to the free-throw line 24 times in Game 1 and 29 times in Game 2, largely due to their height disadvantage in the paint. Playing on the road, they must maintain focus and overcome hostile crowd factors. Can they produce another miracle to reach the semifinals? The winner of this series will face the Shanghai Sharks, who have already secured their spot along with the Shenzhen Leopards.
