On May 7, the 2024–2025 season of the Chinese Men’s Basketball Association (CBA) Finals officially tipped off. With six players scoring in double figures, the Beijing team claimed a 101–87 away victory over Guangsha, taking the early lead in the best-of-seven series.

In the opening quarter, Guangsha found their rhythm early, with Knight driving and shooting from beyond the arc to help the team establish a double-digit lead. In the second quarter, Jelon and Omot scored in succession, sparking a scoring run that allowed Beijing to quickly erase the deficit. The first half ended in a 55–55 tie.

After the break, Chen Yingjun caught fire, hitting multiple three-pointers from outside. Beijing’s strong offensive stretch pushed the lead into double digits. Though Guangsha managed a brief recovery—capped by Hu Jinqiu’s buzzer-beating three-pointer at the end of the third quarter—they still trailed 78–81 going into the final period.

In the fourth quarter, Beijing opened with a 9–0 run following another three-pointer from Chen Yingjun, widening the gap once again. With Guangsha struggling from long range, Beijing maintained firm control of the game and preserved their lead until the final buzzer.

Beijing held the edge in several key stats, including rebounds and assists. Chen Yingjun and Jelon scored 23 and 24 points respectively. Zhou Qi contributed 13 points and 14 rebounds, while substitute Fan Ziming added 13 points and 10 rebounds. For Guangsha, Hu Jinqiu led the team with 26 points and 8 rebounds. Brown scored 15 points, but the rest of the team underperformed—Sun Minghui had only 5 points and Zhu Junlong just 4.

After the game, Guangsha head coach Wang Bo commented: “Despite a good start, we fell into isolation plays and lacked team coordination. Our rebounding was weak. We need to reflect, stay united, and prepare for the next game.”

Beijing head coach Xu Limin stated that the team didn’t execute their defensive strategy well in the first half, but made timely adjustments in the second half. “Not allowing Guangsha to capitalize on their strengths was key to our win,” he said.

Game 2 will take place on May 9, with Guangsha continuing to play at home.