Philippines, 28 Nov 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:

  • Carlos Cañizales Forced to Cancel Flight to Thailand for WBC World Title Defense
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 27 Nov 2025
  • World Boxing Champions Promotions to Present Manny Pacquiao & Freddie Roach with Inaugural “Centurion Awards” During Manny Pacquiao Promotions Event on November 29
    , Thu, 27 Nov 2025
  • Atif Oberlton Takes on Vaughn Alexander on Saturday, December 6th at The 2300 Arena in Philadelphia
    , Thu, 27 Nov 2025
  • Iligan tops in PEKAF Mindanao qualifying tourney
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 27 Nov 2025
  • INTERNATIONAL BOXING HALL OF FAME TO ANNOUNCE CLASS OF 2026 ON THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4th
    , Thu, 27 Nov 2025
  • World Renowned Boxing Trainer Bob Santos Launches Private Boxing Camp in Las Vegas
    , Thu, 27 Nov 2025
  • Eight Boxers Remain in WBC Grand Prix Finals On December 20
    , Wed, 26 Nov 2025
  • WBA/WBO Cruiserweight Champion Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez Confirms World Title Fight with David Benavidez on Cinco de Mayo in Las Vegas
    , Wed, 26 Nov 2025
  • Petecio in, Paalam out
    By Joaquin Henson, , Wed, 26 Nov 2025
  • Takuma Inoue World Champion Again; Beats Nasukawa for Vacant WBC Belt
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Wed, 26 Nov 2025
  • OLYMPIC BOXING 3: 1920 OLYMPIC GAMES AT ANTWERP, BELGIUM
    By Maloney L. Samaco, , Wed, 26 Nov 2025
  • Badenas TKO’s Saknosiwi in 10th round
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 26 Nov 2025
  • Las Vegas & California Amateurs Shine in a Powerful Fall Rumble Weekend Followed by a Heartfelt Turkey Drive for Local Families
    , Wed, 26 Nov 2025
  • Santa Run Davao on December 14 at NCCC Mall Victoria Plaza
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 26 Nov 2025
  • Alec “The Rock” Del Rio Fights for WBC Asia Title Friday in Thailand
    By Carlos Costa, , Tue, 25 Nov 2025
  • Eumir, Weljohn put pros on hold
    By Joaquin Henson, , Tue, 25 Nov 2025
  • Toronto Topples Cleveland, 110-99 for 8th Straight Win; Holds on to 2nd in the East
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Tue, 25 Nov 2025
  • PPP Seniors & PWD Fun Run 2025 on Dec. 13 in Talomo
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 25 Nov 2025
  • MANNY PACQUIAO PROMOTIONS ANNOUNCES A FULL SELLOUT AND BROADCAST DETAILS AHEAD OF U.S. DEBUT EVENT THIS SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29, AT PECHANGA RESORT CASINO IN TEMECULA, CALIF.
    , Tue, 25 Nov 2025
  • Tomorrow Night's CB Promotions Card at The Cure Insurance Arena in Trenton is Postponed
    , Tue, 25 Nov 2025
  • PHL bids to host WB Congress
    By Joaquin Henson, , Tue, 25 Nov 2025
  • Joel "Lethal" Lewis talks boxing evolution and upcoming Thunderdome 52 fight this Friday in Perth
    , Tue, 25 Nov 2025
  • Granite Chin Promotions signs Milton pro boxer Jenn Perella
    , Tue, 25 Nov 2025
  • Mabuhay at Salamat: ‘The Thirty’ Filipino Boxers Who Became Giants
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Mon, 24 Nov 2025
  • World-ranked Lightweight Dynamo Justin Pauldo Collides with Hard-punching Nike Theran
    , Mon, 24 Nov 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.