CBA Playoffs: Ducks win Beijing derby to reach semis

After securing a 112-95 victory in Game 4 of Beijing derby on Monday, the Ducks saw off the Royal Fighters 3-1 in the best-of-five quarterfinals of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) playoffs to reach the final four.

The Royal Fighters were under much pressure on the verge of elimination, while the Ducks performed at ease, as Chen Ying-chun and Zhai Xiaochuan led the Ducks to start the match with 20-9.

In the second quarter, the home team Royal Fighters reinforced their defense to close the gap, but Eugene German nailed a three-point buzzer-beater to help the Ducks take a 53-47 advantage at the break.

The Ducks controlled the rebound throughout the match, and Zachary Nutall extended the Ducks' lead to 15 points after beating the clock again with a three-pointer to conclude the third quarter. The Royal Fighter failed to bounce back in the rest of the game.

Seven players of the Ducks scored in double digits, and German contributed 25 points and six assists. Grant Riller of the Royal Fighters had a game-high 27 points despite the loss.

In the semifinals, the Ducks will confront the second-seeded Shanxi Loongs.