Philippines, 18 Mar 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


NBA Playoffs -- Deng drops 31, too much Heat grounds Hornets


PhilBoxing.com




MIAMI- When Loul Deng signed a two-year contract with the Heat ​in July of 2014,​ the ​former Chicago Bull ​expected an annual playoff​s​ trip​.​ But injuries to several key players last season derailed​ those expectations.

​On Sunday night at a sold-out AmericanAirlines Arena, Deng, an 11-year veteran, savored the sweetness of a postseason win when the Miami Heat dominated the Charlotte Hornets, 123-91, in Game 1 of their opening round series.

Deng ​led all scorers with 31 points ​plus ​seven rebounds​​ while Hassan Whiteside added 25 points and 11 boards as both were spectacular in their first playoff appearances in a Heat uniform.

"I thought we did a good job of just moving the ball," Deng spoke to the media after ​a sterling performance in which he drilled 4-of-6 triples. "I just knew that they liked to take away the paint. If you're not excited to play in a game like that, then you don't love the game​,​"​ Deng added.​

Miami outscored the Hornets ​56​-​36 ​in the paint and the Heat ​shot an astonishing 56 % from the field including ​a franchise playoffs record ​41 ​first quarter points.​

The Hornets,​ meanwhile​,​ have now lost ​five​ straight playoff ​against the Heat.​

"Whether you lose by 30 or one, it's 1-0," Hornets' head-coach Steve Clifford said. "So we lost one game. "If Deng and Whiteside are going to combine for those numbers ​then it's going to be hard for us to win."

Nicolas Batum notched 24 points and Kemba Walker added 19 points for the visitors.

"We made a lot of mistakes," Walker said. "Coach gave us an awesome game plan and we just completely went against it. We didn?t do what he told us to do. That?s not really us. We?re usually the team that plays mistake free. Tonight, that wasn?t the case. They played extremely well as well, but we definitely made a lot of mistakes."

Game 2 of the series is Wednesday night ​at ​the ​AmericanAirlines Arena.

Photo: Luol Deng sparked the Heat with 31 points to lead Miami over the Hornets in Game 1 of the opening round of the playoffs​.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Roman David Garay.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Five stitches for Donaire’s cut
    By Joaquin Henson, , Tue, 17 Mar 2026
  • Roberto Gomez Training Camp Notes
    , Tue, 17 Mar 2026
  • Esneth Domingo Trains at the Wildcard Gym in Los Angeles Ahead of His US Debut
    , Tue, 17 Mar 2026
  • Tatay Digong Birthday Run on March 28
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 17 Mar 2026
  • 12-0 prospect Marco Romero to headline This Friday in Independence, Missouri
    , Tue, 17 Mar 2026
  • 700 athletes on March 21-22 at UM
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 17 Mar 2026
  • United States Earns Four Gold Medals on Final Day of 2026 World Boxing Futures Cup
    , Mon, 16 Mar 2026
  • Mexico wins 2 bronze medals at World Boxing Futures Cup in Bangkok
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Mon, 16 Mar 2026
  • Arnold Barboza Jr. Shines in Welterweight Debut, Defeats Kenneth Sims Jr. to Claim Wbo Global Welterweight Title
    , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • WBC top contender Canoy returns to Davao with Unanimous Decision Victory
    , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • John Randall Peralta: The Future of the Philippine Chess
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • Alvin “Felemon” Dologuin Claims Win in Brico Santig’s Show in Thailand (PHOTOS)
    , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • Donaire's Yokohama Showdown: Can our Filipino Flash Outshine the Rising Sun? (WEIGH-IN PHOTOS)
    By Carlos Costa, , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • USA Boxing Youth High Performance Team Wins Five of Eight Bouts on Day Six
    , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • Shai Gilgeous-Alexander surpasses Chamberlain's record of 127 consecutive NBA games with 20 points or more
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • World-Ranked Light Heavyweight Najee Lopez Stops Mexican Terminator Manuel Gallego in Eight Classic Rounds in Main Event of ProBoxTV’s ‘The Contender Series’
    , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Weigh-in from Highland Boxing in Bangkok, Thailand; Dologuin in Action (WEIGH-IN PHOTOS)
    , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Oval rules 35th CityHeights slugfest
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Sims vs. Barboza and Dickens vs. Cacace Headline Doubleheader on DAZN
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Rubilen Amit sustains amazing run of victories at WPBA Pool in New York
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Weights Set in Anaheim: Barboza Jr. and Sims Jr. Ready for Welterweight War; Collazo Defends Titles
    , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Rising Young Star Yoenis Tellez Takes on Top Contender Brian Mendoza in New Co-Main Event of PBC Pay-per-View Event Available on Prime Video Saturday, March 28
    , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Five USA Boxers Qualify for Medal Rounds on Day Six of 2026 World Boxing Futures Cup
    , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Rubilen Amit off to hot start in her WPBA debut
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Pavel Sosulin stops Victor Nagbe to remain unbeaten at IBA Pro 15 in Saint Petersburg
    , Fri, 13 Mar 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.