Philippines, 05 Feb 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


NBA Playoffs -- Still not enough


PhilBoxing.com




CHICAGO -- The Chicago Bulls had enough. Or at least they thought they did.

After losing Game 4 Saturday night against the Milwaukee Bucks in what should have been a 4-game sweep, with Bucks guard Jerryd Bayless cutting along the baseline, marching around Derrick Rose, and putting up a game-winning layup at the buzzer, and with the Bulls committing a season-high 28 turnovers, the Chicago Bulls seemed like they had enough.

The Bulls entered Game 5 back on their home court at the United Center in Chicago on Monday night (Tuesday Manila time). Although sitting comfortably with a 3-1 series lead against the Bucks, the Bulls knew they had to finish out this first round in order to prepare for what awaited the winner of this series in Round 2, a now crippled Cleveland Cavaliers team that saw forward Kevin Love leave Sunday's Game 4 against the Boston Celtics with a dislocated left shoulder and guard J.R. Smith tally a flagrant foul 2 and ejection. The fallout? Love has been ruled out for the entire next series and Smith has been suspended for the next 2 games.

But, first thing's first: the Bulls had to get past the pesky, upstart Bucks. And pesky they were.

The Bucks jumped out to a 9-0 lead well into the first quarter. But, it's not like the Bulls weren't trying to score, as none of their shots dropped for almost five minutes until center Joakim Noah dropped in a layup to put the Bulls on the board and start and 11-0 run. However, after the two teams went basket-for-basket for the rest of the quarter, the Bucks went ahead by one, 23-22.

The Bulls continued to lag a bit into the second quarter until the 10 minute mark when Bulls guard Jimmy Butler got the steal and took off on a fast-break. Although he missed the layup, Butler was fouled and got to sink two free throws anyway. Bulls guard Aaron Brooks then sank a 3-point shot to tie the game at 29-all and then frustrated Bucks guard Bayless into turning over the ball on a loose dribble. Just before the 7-minute mark, Bayless committed the foul, allowing the Bulls to regain possession of the ball.

And then the double technicals happened. Bucks guard O.J. Mayo got into another scuffle with Bulls guard Jimmy Butler, reminiscent to the Game 3 double technicals given against both players in an impending melee on the court. The Bucks appeared to frustrate and agitate the Bulls like they had in Game 4, requiring the Bulls to play catch-up for most of the second quarter and ending the half with a 3-point lead, 52-49.

The Bulls sank further into a hole, going down as much as 9 points in the third quarter, never leading in the quarter, and finishing still down 6 points. However, in the fourth quarter, Jimmy Butler ignited the crowd at the 9-minute mark by sinking a fallback 2-pointer and then drawing the foul from guard Michael Carter-Williams, completing the 3-point play. Bulls center Joakim Noah kept the fireworks going by slamming another basket 30 seconds later.

Ultimately, the Bucks proved to be too much of a handful for the Bulls, as the Bucks won Game 5, 94-88, grabbing a huge second win to put the series at 3-2, and forcing the series back to Milwaukee for a potential series-tying Game 6 on Thursday.

The biggest concern for the Bulls now is whether they can alleviate their continual turnover problem long enough to close this series out in six and get the much needed rest before hopefully facing the Cavaliers next week.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Kristy Gonowon.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Sumalinog Brothers Score Wins in Bohol; Sign with Monty Flores (PHOTOS)
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 05 Feb 2026
  • MANNY PACQUIAO PROMOTIONS ANNOUNCES AGREEMENT WITH TEAM BOXING LEAGUE
    , Thu, 05 Feb 2026
  • Trifon Petrov unveils the signing of another USA Team member in Ariana Carrasco
    , Thu, 05 Feb 2026
  • Jerome Gonzales off to a marvelous start in J&P 10 Ball Cup at Pacman's Cue Club
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 05 Feb 2026
  • DCL amateur MMA on Feb. 21 at Sta. Lucia Mall
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 05 Feb 2026
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 3 FEBRUARY 2026: Shakur Schools Teofimo to Become 4-Division Champ; Zayas Unifies WBA/WBO Superwelter; Kelly Beats Murtazaliev
    By Eric Armit, , Wed, 04 Feb 2026
  • Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimán: A Grand Week for Boxing in NY
    By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Wed, 04 Feb 2026
  • Boxlab Promotions Euri Cedeno and Carlos De Leon Castro Shine in San Juan Victories
    , Wed, 04 Feb 2026
  • National Boxing Hall of Fame 2026 is set to April 26 in Montebello, California
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 04 Feb 2026
  • Vito Mielnicki Jr. Returns Home to Defend WBC USA, IBF USBA and WBO Global Middleweight Championships Against Omar Ulises Huerta
    , Wed, 04 Feb 2026
  • Noah Lucas Palcis sees action in Bangkok chess meet
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 04 Feb 2026
  • Reymond Yanong Edges Out Hayato Ono for Split Decision Win in Japan
    By Carlos Costa, , Tue, 03 Feb 2026
  • “I’m gonna smoke whoever is in front of me, Anthony Wright- Hearn makes his pro debut March 13 at Thunderdome 53
    , Tue, 03 Feb 2026
  • Pacman's Cue Club Hosts J&P 10 Ball Cup from Feb. 4 to 7
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 03 Feb 2026
  • Mt. Apo Boulder Face Challenge is back
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 03 Feb 2026
  • WILDER AND CHISORA FACE OFF IN ICONIC TIMES SQUARE TO ANNOUNCE APRIL 4 HEAVYWEIGHT SHOWDOWN AT THE O2 LONDON
    , Tue, 03 Feb 2026
  • World Boxing appoints Tom Dielen as new Secretary General
    , Tue, 03 Feb 2026
  • Sullivan Management signs 19-1 power-punching Albanian heavyweight Kristian Prenga
    , Tue, 03 Feb 2026
  • Another Grandeza in MMA is coming
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 03 Feb 2026
  • Gracie meets Zubiri in PH
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 02 Feb 2026
  • International Master Eric Labog Jr. rules FIDE rapid chess tourney
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 02 Feb 2026
  • 76ers star Paul George has been suspended for 25 NBA games by doping
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sun, 01 Feb 2026
  • Fit To Be Unified: Xander Zayas Defeats Abass Baraou To Unify Junior Middleweight World Titles
    , Sun, 01 Feb 2026
  • Fit To Be Unified: Xander Zayas Defeats Abass Baraou To Unify Junior Middleweight World Titles
    , Sun, 01 Feb 2026
  • Trazo beats Jabagat in Talisay
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 01 Feb 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.