Philippines, 23 Apr 2025
  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:

  • EUBANK JR VS. BENN GRAND ARRIVALS QUOTES
    , Wed, 23 Apr 2025
  • Headlining again at home a dream come true for 16-0-1 junior middleweight Anthony Velasquez
    , Wed, 23 Apr 2025
  • Amateur Standout Stephanie Simon Signs with Split-T Boxing Management
    , Wed, 23 Apr 2025
  • The Past Week in Action 21 April 2025: Fundora KOs Badillo, Retains Undisputed Belts; Smith UD Germain; Kovalev Returns with a Win
    By Eric Armit, , Tue, 22 Apr 2025
  • Bantamweight Anthony Garnica Scores TKO Against Aston Palicte to Remain Undefeated
    , Tue, 22 Apr 2025
  • Higher Seeds New York, Denver Fall in Playoffs Second Games to Detroit Pistons, LA Clippers
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Tue, 22 Apr 2025
  • Young Gildo: The Baguio Bearcat
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Tue, 22 Apr 2025
  • Filipino International Master Paulo Bersamina places solo runner-up in the 22nd Bangkok Chess Club Open in Thailand
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 22 Apr 2025
  • Female Amateur Boxing Star Sar’ai Brown-El Signs with Split-T Management
    , Tue, 22 Apr 2025
  • Apolinario to fight Hu in Japan
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 21 Apr 2025
  • Warriors Shoot Down Rockets, 95-85 as Celtics, Cavaliers, Thunder Take Care of Business
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Mon, 21 Apr 2025
  • 2025 USA Boxing International Open Finalized on Saturday
    , Mon, 21 Apr 2025
  • Verano to face Thai in Clash of Nations on April 24
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 21 Apr 2025
  • Masangkay to fight Ocampo in JAS on April 23
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 20 Apr 2025
  • Denver Holds Off LA Clippers in OT, 112-110
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Sun, 20 Apr 2025
  • Arca clinches 3rd and final IM norm; Guns for GM norm in last round
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 20 Apr 2025
  • IN HER GOLDEN GIRL ERA: GABRIELA “SWEET POISON” FUNDORA SUCCESSFULLY DEFENDS UNDISPUTED TITLE AGAINST MARILYN BADILLO
    , Sun, 20 Apr 2025
  • Fundora Retains Undisputed Flyweight Titles; Perez Shocks Conwell in Oceanside
    , Sun, 20 Apr 2025
  • Dalton Smith Drops Mathieu German Three Times, Retains WBC Silver Title
    , Sun, 20 Apr 2025
  • Filipino GM Antonio beats Serbia's IM for share of lead in Caberra Chess Tournament
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 20 Apr 2025
  • Villanueva to fight Antaran on April 27 in Gensan
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 20 Apr 2025
  • MASOUD AND MCGRAIL CLASH IN ALL-BRITISH SHOWDOWN
    , Sun, 20 Apr 2025
  • Semifinals Conclude at 2025 USA Boxing International Open
    , Sun, 20 Apr 2025
  • FM Arca is inching closer to his 3rd and final IM norm
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 20 Apr 2025
  • Weigh-In Results: Fundora and Conwell Ready for Golden Boy Fight Night in Oceanside
    , Sat, 19 Apr 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.