Philippines, 24 Dec 2025
  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:

  • Oakland Municipal Auditorium: Sacred Hall Where Filipino Boxing World Champions Were Crowned
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Tue, 23 Dec 2025
  • IBA confirms Men’s World Boxing Championships results
    , Tue, 23 Dec 2025
  • Jordan Launches Pro Boxing Scene Appointing Amer Abdallah as Advisor
    , Tue, 23 Dec 2025
  • Fisher and Atencio Crowned Jax Mixed Doubles Open Champions
    , Sun, 21 Dec 2025
  • Jake Paul Undergoes Surgery for Broken Jaw Following Knockout Loss to Anthony Joshua
    By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 21 Dec 2025
  • Anthony Joshua Drops Jake Paul 4 Times En Route to a 6th Round Stoppage
    By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 20 Dec 2025
  • Jean Henri Lhuillier Hails RP Blu Boys’ Golden Triumph at the SEA Games
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 20 Dec 2025
  • ACCRA WEIGH-IN RESULTS: RICHARDS AND AZEEZ PREPARE FOR HISTORIC CLASH
    , Sat, 20 Dec 2025
  • Two USA Boxing Junior National Champions Invited to Attend Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua Bout Friday in Miami
    , Sat, 20 Dec 2025
  • Ramon Cardenas Scores One Punch Knockout Over Erik Robles in Main Event of ProBoxTV’s The Contender Series
    , Fri, 19 Dec 2025
  • Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua: The Jig Is Up
    By Chris Carlson, , Fri, 19 Dec 2025
  • January 31: Rohan Polanco-Christian Gomez Confirmed as Co-Feature to Xander Zayas-Abass Baraou Title Unification Showdown at Coliseo de Puerto Rico in San Juan
    , Fri, 19 Dec 2025
  • Jake Paul, Anthony Joshua Tip the Scales Ahead of Netflix Heavyweight Spectacle in Miami
    By Dong Secuya, , Fri, 19 Dec 2025
  • Suelo rules Thailand chess tourney
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 19 Dec 2025
  • RICHARDS AND AZEEZ SET FOR HISTORIC SHOWDOWN AS SOUTH LONDON LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHTS FACE-OFF AT PRESS CONFERENCE IN GHANA
    , Fri, 19 Dec 2025
  • Brooklyn’s undefeated Pryce Taylor Called one of top heavyweight prospects in U.S.
    , Fri, 19 Dec 2025
  • INDIGO FIGHT NIGHT RESULTS AS GIORGIO VISOLI OVERCOMES TOUGH JOE HOWARTH – AND TIAH-MAI AYTON WINS AGAIN
    , Thu, 18 Dec 2025
  • Weights From ProBoxTV’s ‘Merry Fistmas’ at War Memorial Auditorium in Fort Lauderdale, Tomorrow Night at 7 pm ET
    , Thu, 18 Dec 2025
  • Undefeated Jose Tito Sanchez Returns to Face Jesus Ramirez Rubio in Super Bantamweight Main Event on Friday
    , Thu, 18 Dec 2025
  • Three boxers aim for finals
    By Joaquin Henson, , Wed, 17 Dec 2025
  • BOOM! Terence Crawford Stuns the World with Retirement at 42-0
    By Dong Secuya, , Wed, 17 Dec 2025
  • Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua: The Biggest “Crossroads” Fight Ever!
    By Ralph Rimpell, , Wed, 17 Dec 2025
  • Donaire ready for Tsutsumi
    By Joaquin Henson, , Tue, 16 Dec 2025
  • INDIGO FIGHT NIGHT: WEIGH-IN RESULTS AND RUNNING ORDER CONFIRMED AS CONNOR MITCHELL GETS READY FOR HIS PRO DEBUT
    , Tue, 16 Dec 2025
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION DECEMBER 15 DECEMBER 2025: Gassiev KO Pulev in 6; Mikaeljan Beats Jack for WBC Cruiser Title; Pacheco Outpoints Sadjo
    By Eric Armit, , Tue, 16 Dec 2025




  •  



     
    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
    © 2025 philboxing.com.