Philippines, 27 Jan 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


NBA -- Cavs heating up at the right time


PhilBoxing.com




CLEVELAND -- After starting the season at 1-3 and losing four straight last November 17 to 22, the Cleveland Cavaliers hardly looked like a playoffs team, let alone a championship contender.

Things only got worse from there after center Anderson Varejao underwent surgery for a torn Achilles on December 26 and was ruled out for the season.

Puff, there goes the championship, right?

Not really.

In what is clearly the brightest turnaround of the long season, the Cleveland Cavaliers picked up the pieces, did some re-tooling and have roared back to life.

After losing Varejao, the Cavs dealt malcontent Dion Waiter and acquired 7-foot giant Timofey Mozgov from the Denver Nuggets as well as Iman Shumpert and J.R. Smith from the reeling New York Knicks.

The result is a souped-up squad that is now universally acknowledged as the team to beat in the Eastern Conference.

After beating the Golden State Warriors, 110-99, on Thursday night at the Quicken Loans Arena, the Cavaliers have now won 18 of their last 20 games, the hottest current winning binge in the NBA.

Beating the Warriors required a herculean effort from LeBron James, who logged 42 points, 11 rebounds and five assists. Kyrie Irving pitched in 24 markers while Kevin Love, the last piece of Cleveland's Big 3, added 16 points and eight rebounds.

And while the Cavs offense proved lethal when going on all cylinders, it's their defense that helped doom the Cavaliers as Cleveland held the Warriors to just 39 of 92 from the field, or a dismal 42.4 percent.

The Cavs held sharpshooters Steph Curry and Klay Thompson to just a combined 31 points, forcing them to miss 20 of their 30 shots.

With a polished record of 37-22, the Cavaliers have now taken the Central Division lead over the 36-22 Chicago Bulls. And Cavs are just one game behind the 37-20 Toronto Raptors for the No.2 spot overall in the Eastern Conference.

The Atlanta Hawks continue to pace the East with a 45-12 slate, nine game ahead of Cleveland. But the way the Cavs are playing, they are leaving little doubt as to who is the best team in the East right now.

Photo: Cleveland's Big 3 (L to R) of Kevin Love, Kyrie Irving and LeBron James is arguably the best trio in the NBA today.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Alex Boytan.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Ocum is WBC Asian lightweight champ
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 27 Jan 2026
  • Kingsley “The Black Lion” Ibeh Believes he will stop Jarrell Miller this Saturday at Madison Square Garden
    , Tue, 27 Jan 2026
  • David Ray Sarmiento finishes second place in Cologne January Blitz 2026.
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 27 Jan 2026
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 25 JANUARY 2026: Raymund Muratalla Edges Andy Cruz; Walsh Outpoints Ocampo
    By Eric Armit, , Mon, 26 Jan 2026
  • MFPI 5th Mindanao Summit at Mt. Apo on February 19-22
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 26 Jan 2026
  • OLYMPIC BOXING 8: 1948 OLYMPICS AT LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM
    By Maloney L. Samaco, , Mon, 26 Jan 2026
  • Golden Gloves Launches on Meta Quest Store, Establishing the First Official Esports Competition Pathway for Amateur Boxing
    , Mon, 26 Jan 2026
  • Andy Cruz vs Raymond Muratalla: Who Will Execute?
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 24 Jan 2026
  • Libranza to fight undefeated Tso for IBF Pan Pacific bantam
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 24 Jan 2026
  • Filipino Cue Artist RJ Bautista Ready to Shine at the Las Vegas Open 2026
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 24 Jan 2026
  • MURATALLA VS. CRUZ WEIGHTS AND RUNNING ORDER
    , Sat, 24 Jan 2026
  • Xander Zayas vs. Abass Baraou Fight Week Events to Stream LIVE on Top Rank’s Social Media Channels
    , Sat, 24 Jan 2026
  • Ballesteros not yet ready against Ocum
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 24 Jan 2026
  • Chocolatito Gonzalez to undergo shoulder surgery
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 24 Jan 2026
  • NM Nika finishes Sixth in Czech Republic Blitz chess tourney
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 24 Jan 2026
  • The Ninth Annual Box Fan Expo RETURNS! Saturday May 2, 2026 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV
    , Sat, 24 Jan 2026
  • Donaire back in Cebu
    By Joaquin Henson, , Fri, 23 Jan 2026
  • MURATALLA VS. CRUZ IN LAS VEGAS FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
    , Fri, 23 Jan 2026
  • Four Pinoys in line for title shots
    By Joaquin Henson, , Fri, 23 Jan 2026
  • After the meeting in Mexico City, the WBC is ready for 2026
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Fri, 23 Jan 2026
  • Former world title challenger Jerry Belmontes Returns to ring at home after nearly a decade in Retirement on January 31 in Texas
    , Fri, 23 Jan 2026
  • SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT RONNY ALVAREZ TRAINING CAMP NOTES
    , Thu, 22 Jan 2026
  • STRICKLAND STUNS REYES AS SOUQUET SEALS REDEMPTION | WNT LEGENDS
    , Thu, 22 Jan 2026
  • Knicks defeats Nets 120-66 to post largest margin of victory in franchise history
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 22 Jan 2026
  • Mauricio Sulaiman: "We simply urge Zuffa Boxing to respect and protect boxing and the boxer"
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 22 Jan 2026




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2026 philboxing.com.