The Beijing Ducks sure know how to show the local police a good time.

Beijing locked up its first trip to the CBA finals in franchise history in the decisive Game 5 with a 110-98 victory over the Shanxi Brave Dragons at a tense and sold-out Shougang Gymnasium on Sunday night.

A sobbing Stephon Marbury led the Ducks off the court as they began preparations for a date with defending champions Guangdong Southern Tigers on Wednesday. The seven-game series will tip off in Beijing at the MasterCard Center.

Sunday's game arrived four days late, delayed in the wake of a near-riot following the teams' games a week before in Taiyuan on Shanxi's home court, to give officials time to beef up security.

Hundreds of police were on hand for Sunday's game. Several busloads massed outside the stadium before the game decked out in full riot gear with helmets and shields.

Security inside was just as tight - there were even reports that some cell phones were blocked from making calls.

Against that backdrop, it was no surprise that both teams seemed on edge from the outset, nobody more than Shanxi's Charles Gaines.

After sitting out the first quarter, Gaines came in for the second and quickly found himself in a screaming match with a referee after being called for a foul with 8:54 left. When teammate Ma Kan tried to peel him away, Gaines gave him a hard shove.

Just over a minute later, Gaines found himself toe-to-toe with a referee again. This time the end result was a technical foul as the crowd roared with boos.

Marbury led the Ducks with 30 points, eight assists and nine rebounds, while Randolph Morris had 27 points and 10 rebounds.

Gaines had 30 points and 14 rebounds for the Dragons and Marcus Williams chipped in with 25 points.

dustylane@chinadaily.com.cn