Philippines, 19 Jul 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


OKC, Boston Overwhelm Semis Foes


PhilBoxing.com




Top seeds Boston Celtics and Oklahoma City Thunder got off to a good start in their semis openers at home by overwhelming their respective foes, Cleveland Cavaliers and the Dallas Mavericks by more than twenty points.

The Celtics defeated the Cavaliers, 120-95 which was quite expected as Cleveland had sort of a reputation of losing at their opponents' homecourt in their first round series versus Orlando. Which is welcome news to Boston that has lost only once at the TD Garden against Miami.

In what was expected as a dogfight, OKC demonstrated the potency of its deeper bench in thrashing the visiting Dallas Mavericks at its Paycom Center home arena, 117-95 with its emerging superstar Shai Gilgeous Alexander more than holding his own against his veteran counterpart Kyrie Irving.

Boston simply did better in all departments in establishing a 1-0 series lead over the Cavaliers.

The Celts shoot 45 of 92 from the floor including 18 of 46 from the three point land as against the Cavs 37 of 90 and 11 of 44. The Celts also outclassed Cleveland on the boards with 55 rebounds against 38. Boston likewise had 22 assists to Cleveland's 18.

All Celtics starters except center Al Horford who only had 7 points, scored in double figures. Jaylen Brown led with 32 points followed by Derrick White with 25 points. Jason Tatum finished only with 18 points but topped the team in rebounds with 11. Defensive guard Jrue Holiday even scored 14 points while Payton Pritchard came off the bench and poured 16 points.

Dennis Mitchell as expected led the Cavaliers with 33 points followed by center Eric Mobley with 17. Isaiah Okoro had 14 and point guard Darius Garland was good for 11 points.

Luca Doncic and Kyrie Irving came to do battle but Doncic was still hobbled by injury and could not perform as superbly as he used to.

OKC's outstanding center Chet Holmgren and a battery of big men including Lue Dorf, Jalen Willams, Andrew Wiggins and Jaylin Williams were even there to make life hard for him.

Only Irving managed to deliver the numbers he was expected to but Alexander not only kept up with him but did better, even at times helping bottle up Doncic.

The dog fight between the two teams only ensued in the first quarter which ended at 23-all. But OKC outscored the Mavs 39-30 leading to a 62-53 advantage for the Thunder. OKC never let go the initiative from then.

For OKC, Alexander nearly had a triple double with 29 points, 9 rebounds and 9 assists. Holmgren had 19 points, and a couple of blocks, Jaylen Williams poured in 18, reserves Wiggins contributed 16 and Jaylin Williams chipped in 11 points and 9 boards.

Irving led the Mavs with 20 points. Doncic managed 19 points and 9 assists. Center Daniel Galford had 16 points and 11 rebounds. PJ Washington finished with 10 while Josh Green came off the bench for 11 points.

The author Teodoro Medina Reynoso is a veteran boxing radio talk show host living in the Philippines. He can be reached at teddyreynoso@yahoo.com and by phone 09215309477.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Teodoro Medina Reynoso.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Usyk Registers Career-Heaviest Weight as Dubois Looks Ready for Undisputed Rematch at Wembley
    , Sat, 19 Jul 2025
  • Rodriguez vs. Cafu Unification Clash Set for Frisco, Texas; All Fighters Make Weight
    By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 19 Jul 2025
  • LOPEZ VS. VARGAS WEIGHTS FROM PECHANGA RESORT CASINO
    , Sat, 19 Jul 2025
  • “Bambol” Tolentino in Las Vegas: Supporting Filipino Athletes and Pacquiao
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Unstoppable: Team Philippines Storms Into Davis Cup Finals After Qatar Sweep
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Blu Girls Stumble Against Taipei, Look to Regroup vs. Hong Kong
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Fighting for clean sweep
    By Joaquin Henson, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • WBA No. 2 Heavyweight Contender Michael Hunter Is Ready to Take on World Champion Kubrat Pulev; All Systems Go for Purse Bid Winner Don King
    , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Weights from Panama City; WBA Women's Interim Superfly Title at Stake
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Undefeated prospect Pryce Taylor Working hard to join Brooklyn’s Elite list of top heavyweight boxers
    , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Justin Goossen-Brown Set to Make DAZN Broadcasting Debut This Friday at Boxlab Promotions’ Night of Champions in Orlando
    , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Philippine Davis Cup Team Sweeps Kuwait to Stay Unbeaten in Group IV
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Pacquiao Promises Surprise Against Barrios
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • PACQUIAO VS. BARRIOS UNDERCARD MEDIA WORKOUT QUOTES
    , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Rosaupan rules Pasay rapid chess championship
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Blu Girls Fall to China in Nail-Biter, Slip to 5–2 in Asia Cup
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • The 19th Thousand Island Cup Philippine Xiangqi Open tournament on August 3
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Pacquiao’s Legacy in Motion: PacMan contra El Azteca
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Thu, 17 Jul 2025
  • Blu Girls Crush Singapore 13-0, Set Sights on China in Asia Cup Showdown
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 17 Jul 2025
  • Laylo, Dableo to play in Baguio Open
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 17 Jul 2025
  • Pacquiao Shines in Final Press Conference: Can The Pacman Defeat Father Time and Barrios? (Analysis & Prediction)
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 17 Jul 2025
  • More lucrative fights await Manny Pacquiao
    By Leo Reyes, , Thu, 17 Jul 2025
  • Rumors about Pacquiao-Mayweather rematch
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 17 Jul 2025
  • Tapales, Laurente to help Inoue against MJ
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 17 Jul 2025
  • AL BERNSTEIN, CHRISTY MARTIN AND ERIC BOTTJER TO SERVE AS ALL-STAR COMMENTARY TEAM FOR THIS FRIDAY’S ‘LOPEZ VS. VARGAS’ EVENT
    , Thu, 17 Jul 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.