Jeremy Lin helps Beijing Ducks into CBA play-off hunt with another win
- Win over Jiangsu Dragons is the team’s second since NBA champion’s January break is cut short after Qingdao loss
- Ducks face play-off rivals Liaoning Leopards after Lunar New Year holiday
NBA champion Jeremy Lin helped the Beijing Ducks to a second consecutive win in the Chinese Basketball Association on Sunday.
Lin scored 22 points in a much-needed 86-79 victory over the Jiangsu Dragons. He also had seven rebounds and seven assists.
The 31-year-old was meant to sit out all of his team's January games but was brought back into the line-up last week after a 115-92 loss to the Qingdao Eagles.
That loss demanded action as the Eagles are barely in a play-off spot, sitting 11th of the 12 teams who progress to postseason.
Here's today's @JLin7 highlightsCongrats again to #BeijingDucks two consecutive straight winsLin 22PTS 7REB 7ASTRe watch on YouTube, starts from 25:13https://t.co/wEuOoNyvHgLin's 7FGM was in the 1st half IMO sincelead 15+ he wants his teammates to get more involve pic.twitter.com/btVoeSgqTm
" Kwawa (@kwawa_hsuk302) January 19, 2020
Lin, whose only action this month was the CBA All-Star game where he top scored, returned with 17 points against Shenzhen Aviators on Friday night to help the team to a 91-87 win, also adding three rebounds and six assists.
Beijing Ducks 91-87 win over Shenzhen. @JLin7 got 17 pts, 3 reb and 6 ast. Check out Jeremy top plays in his first game after coming back. pic.twitter.com/oiUJmLMxG0
" Popo Chung (@PopoChung7) January 17, 2020
Now after back-to-back wins, the Ducks are fifth on the standings with the same 19-10 record as the Liaoning Leopards in fourth place.
The top four teams at the end of the regular season in March get a bye to the quarter-finals of the CBA play-offs.
The Ducks have one more game before the Lunar New Year break when they face Stephon Marbury's Beijing Royal Fighters on Tuesday night.
View this post on Instagram
What more can i say?? First time being an All Star as a pro. Thank you God for one of the best weekends I've had in a long time. I couldnt stop smiling the whole game, I promise ill never forget this weekend! Thanks thanks thanks to all the fans who voted me in…love you all! ️ Onto the second half of the CBA season!
A post shared by Jeremy Lin 林書豪 (@jlin7) on Jan 12, 2020 at 8:13am PST
They will then resume on February 1 against play-off rivals Liaoning.
One lucky fan received Lin's game-worn shoes after the win. The fan, who was wearing a Harvard basketball jersey bearing Lin's name, was handed the Lunar New Year edition of Lin's signature X-tep shoes by the star.
Jeremy Lin gave the game shoes to fans as usual after the game today. A fan wearing a Harvard No. 4 @JLin7's jersey got Jeremy's game shoes. #HarvardCrimson #harvardbasketball pic.twitter.com/xyp7DW48pe
" Popo Chung (@PopoChung7) January 19, 2020
The sports brand, which signed on to sponsor Lin ahead of the CBA season, has also agreed to match Lin's three-point charity drive " donating 3,000 yuan (US$437) worth of sports equipment for every three-pointer.
Lin pledged 3,000 yuan per basket, which the Ducks agreed to match.
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