Philippines, 18 Feb 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


OKC Routs Denver; 149-106, Ties Series; Semis Series in East Remain Topsy-turvy as Boston Goes Down 0-2 With 91-90 Loss to NY


PhilBoxing.com




The Oklahoma City Thunder restored a semblance of order in the Western Conference Semifinal series, tying the score with the Denver Nuggets following a decisive 149-106 rout today.

Meanwhile, the Eastern Conference Semifinals remained topsy-turvy as the #2 seed and defending champion Boston Celtics fell again to the #3 New York Knicks, 91-90, falling into a 2-0 hole in the process.

Top seed Cleveland Cavaliers had earlier gone down by the same series deficit against the #4 Indiana Pacers, losing by a point on a Tyrese Haliburton three-pointer after leading for most of their second game. The Pacers took the opener by ten points, almost the same margin posted by New York against Boston in their first game.

The coincidences do not end there. All four teams were also semifinalists last season, only with different opponents. After respectively disposing of Cleveland and Indiana, Boston went on to face New York in the Eastern Conference Finals and won. Which may not be the case this time.

Not wanting to suffer the fate of their Eastern counterparts, the Thunder opened the second game like a house on fire, immediately posting huge early leads. The Nuggets won Game One on a last-second three-pointer by Aaron Gordon.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander immediately went to work in combination with Jalen Williams and Lu Dort. Big men Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein, and Jaylin Williams imposed themselves in the painted area, harassing and limiting the Nuggets' Nikola Jokic, Gordon, and Michael Porter Jr.

This resulted in a huge 45-21 lead in the first quarter that translated to a record 87-56 halftime advantage.

The margin even went up to nearly 50 points at the end of the third period, 124-76, as Alexander continued to pour it on with scoring support from Williams, Dort, Holmgren, and even Hartenstein.

On the other side, only Russell Westbrook was able to score with more consistency as Jokic, Gordon, Porter, and Jamal Murray were all stymied by the Thunder defense and overwhelmed by Oklahoma's blitzkrieg offense.

Alexander topped all scorers with 34 points as he led seven other Thunder players in double figures, scoring from 10 to 17 points.

Westbrook led the scoring for the losers with 19 points. Jokic was limited to only 17, and Murray had just 14.

The Knicks outscored Boston 30-17 in the last quarter for the come-from-behind victory as the Celtics' outside shooting deserted them in the face of New York's resolute zone defense.

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:

  • TRAINING CAMP NOTES: Dainier Pero Locked In Ahead of WBA Continental USA Title Defense in Orlando
    , Wed, 18 Feb 2026
  • A Milestone Birthday: Celebrating Brico Santig's 50 Years of Dedication, and Triumph
    By Carlos Costa, , Wed, 18 Feb 2026
  • PH bet Chezka Centeno finishes 2nd in Florida
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 18 Feb 2026
  • ARNOLD BARBOZA JR. AND KENNETH SIMS JR. SET FOR HIGH-STAKES CLASH IN CAN’T-MISS MAIN EVENT ON DAZN
    , Wed, 18 Feb 2026
  • CALLUM SMITH VS DAVID MORRELL MEGA FIGHT SET FOR APRIL 18 IN LIVERPOOL AS PAT BROWN HEADLINES IN HIS HOMETOWN ON APRIL 3
    , Wed, 18 Feb 2026
  • 2026 USA Boxing Youth High Performance Selection Camp Attendees Announced
    , Wed, 18 Feb 2026
  • Rapid chessfest gets underway February 22
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 18 Feb 2026
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 16 FEBRUARY 2026: Ajagba, Dzambekov, Ruiz Register Stoppage Wins in Zuffa Event
    By Eric Armit, , Tue, 17 Feb 2026
  • Mexican government and WBC join forces to create mega-project “Boxing for Peace”
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 17 Feb 2026
  • All eyes on GM Johan-Sebastian Christiansen in Manny Pacquiao International Open dubbed as 87th Kalilangan Chess Festival 2026
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 17 Feb 2026
  • WBC Champion Mario “El Azteca” Barrios Locked in for Ryan Garcia Showdown February 21 at T-Mobile Arena
    , Tue, 17 Feb 2026
  • Dana White mocks traditional boxing promoters: "No contest, it's like hitting babies"
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 17 Feb 2026
  • LEIGH WOOD OUTLINES PLAN OF ATTACK FOR SOLD OUT REMATCH AGAINST JOSH WARRINGTON
    , Tue, 17 Feb 2026
  • Cain Velasquez released from a California State prison
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 17 Feb 2026
  • Patrick Rivera wins Pacman's Cue Club 10-Ball Tournament; pockets P100,000
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 17 Feb 2026
  • Undefeated Brooklyn heavyweight Pryce Taylor Fighting again in Detroit this Sunday on Claressa Shields’ card
    , Tue, 17 Feb 2026
  • TRAINING CAMP NOTES Gabriela Tellez Ready to Make a Statement This Friday in Orlando
    , Tue, 17 Feb 2026
  • Rapista wins WBC Far East Silver super flyweight title
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 16 Feb 2026
  • IM Christian Gian Karlo Tade-Arca faces tough competition in Manny Pacquiao International Open dubbed as 87th Kalilangan Chess Festival 2026
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 16 Feb 2026
  • Efe Ajagba vs Charles Martin: Zuffa Heavyweights Square Off on Sunday
    By Chris Carlson, , Sun, 15 Feb 2026
  • “The Nightmare” Back in Action: Oguni vs Tapales April 3 in Japan
    By Carlos Costa, , Sun, 15 Feb 2026
  • Cold Comfort: Tapales and Vitor Frozen Out in Moscow Heartbreaker
    By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 14 Feb 2026
  • WBC Celebrates 63 years of dedication to the sports and fighters
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 14 Feb 2026
  • BOXING STARS FROM AROUND THE WORLD LINING UP FOR 2026 HALL OF FAME WEEKEND IN "BOXING’S HOMETOWN"
    , Sat, 14 Feb 2026
  • Filipino Boxers Make Weight in Brico Santig's Valentine's Show in Thailand
    By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 14 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.