CBA Finals: Guangsha Lions Defeat Shanghai to Force Game 5

The Zhejiang Guangsha Lions kept their championship hopes alive on Tuesday, defeating the Shanghai Sharks 101-93 at home in Game 4 of the CBA Finals to avoid a sweep and narrow the best-of-seven series to 3-1. Facing elimination after a devastating 110-77 loss in Game 3, the defending champions delivered a determined performance led by star forward Hu Jinqiu’s game-high 30 points.

Context

The 2025-2026 CBA Finals pits the regular season champion Shanghai Sharks against the defending champion Guangsha Lions. Shanghai entered the series as favorites, having finished atop the regular season standings for the first time since 2002 and seeking their second championship in franchise history — the first coming in 2001-02 when a young Yao Ming led them to the title. Guangsha, meanwhile, won their first-ever CBA championship just last season, defeating Beijing 4-2 in the 2024-25 Finals.

According to Xinhua News Agency, Shanghai won Game 1 at home 101-90 despite missing two key foreign players, with guard Goodwin posting 34 points, 7 rebounds, and 12 assists. Game 2 saw The Paper report a dramatic 91-88 Shanghai victory sealed by a Goodwin buzzer-beating three-pointer, overshadowing Guangsha’s Barry Brown who scored 50 points — breaking his own CBA Finals single-game scoring record. Game 3 was a Shanghai blowout, with the Sharks dominating Guangsha 110-77 in Hangzhou and taking a commanding 3-0 series lead.

Game 4: A Desperate Stand

With their backs against the wall, Guangsha came out with relentless intensity. As People’s Daily reported, Hu Jinqiu scored seven straight points early, combining with Zhu Junlong and Lin Bingsheng to build an 11-3 lead. The Lions closed the first quarter ahead 28-18.

Shanghai fought back in the second quarter with a 9-2 run, and Liu Zheng’s buzzer-beating three-pointer tied the game at 49-49 at halftime. But Guangsha’s balanced attack in the second half proved decisive. Tucker recorded a double-double with 22 points and 11 rebounds, Barry Brown added 27 points, and Lin Bingsheng contributed 11. The Lions built a double-digit lead and withstood Shanghai’s comeback attempts.

For Shanghai, Goodwin continued his stellar series with 28 points, while Ferg added 22. However, the Sharks continue to be hampered by the absence of American center Hassan Whiteside, who has missed the entire Finals series without official explanation, and Kenneth Lofton Jr., who injured his shoulder in Game 1.

Analysis: Momentum Shifts

Guangsha’s victory addressed a critical weakness that had plagued them through the first three games — over-reliance on Brown and Hu Jinqiu. In Game 4, Tucker’s resurgence and contributions from role players like Lin Bingsheng and Zhu Junlong provided the offensive diversity necessary to challenge Shanghai’s defense.

As China News Service reported, Guangsha head coach Wang Bo said after the game: “We have no way back now. Even if there’s only 1% hope, we have to fight for it ourselves.” Wang Bo previously noted after Game 1 that Guangsha had also lost the opening game of the 2024-25 Finals before ultimately winning the championship.

What’s Next

Game 5 is scheduled for June 5 in Shanghai, where the Sharks have been strong throughout the season. Historically, no CBA team has ever overcome a 3-0 deficit to win a best-of-seven series, but Guangsha’s Game 4 performance provides a glimmer of hope. Key questions remain: Can Guangsha maintain their balanced offensive production on the road? Will Shanghai’s injured players return? And can the defending champions force a Game 6 back in Hangzhou?

For Shanghai, the path to their second championship remains clear — win one more game on home court. For Guangsha, the climb is steep, but as their coach emphasized, even 1% hope is enough to keep fighting.