Sun Minghui (left) of the Zhejiang Lions defends against Wang Yifang of the Tianjin Pioneers during their Chinese Basketball Association match in Zhuji, east China's Zhejiang province, March 13, 2023. Sun scores a crucial three-pointer as the Zhejiang Lions upset the Guangdong Southern Tigers 101-96 to win the best-of-three CBA quarterfinals 2-1 on April 23, 2023. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

GUANGZHOU - Sun Minghui scored a crucial three-pointer as the Zhejiang Lions upset the Guangdong Southern Tigers 101-96 to win the best-of-three CBA quarterfinals 2-1 here on Sunday.

Sun had a team-high 23 points while Hu Jinqiu added 16 points and 22 rebounds. Marshon Brooks scored a game-high 26 points for Guangdong.

With 20 seconds to go, Sun made a three-pointer to gift Zhejiang a five-point lead while Guangdong failed to come back with a foul strategy.

"We had chances to win, but we did not concentrate enough and we let our opportunities slip away," Guangdong coach Du Feng said after the match.

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Leading 74-72 into the last quarter, the Zhejiang Lions struggled to maintain their advantage and they only led 96-94 before Sun Minghui dropped a decisive three

Zhejiang led 19-18 into the second quarter and the two sides seesawed before Hu Mingxuan made a last-second three-pointer to gift Guangdong a 48-45 lead into the halftime break.

Zhejiang was on fire after the break as the visitors made consecutive three-pointers and increased their lead to 11 points with only one minute to go in the third quarter, but Brooks scored a three-pointer and Hu Mingxuan added another as Guangdong fought back with a 10-0 run.

Leading 74-72 into the last quarter, Zhejiang struggled to maintain their advantage and they only led 96-94 before Sun dropped a decisive three.

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The Zhejiang Lions now takes on Liaoning, while Shenzhen will play the Zhejiang Golden Bulls in the semifinals.