Philippines, 18 Feb 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Marvelous Mavs nip Lakers


PhilBoxing.com





West Conference Semifinals

LOS ANGELES -- If the Dallas Mavericks want a name change, they should consider the Dallas Marvelous.

Because the Mavericks were simply just that Monday night, marvelous. They edged the Lakers 96-94 in Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals at the Staples Center here in downtown Los Angeles.

This wasn't just a routine playoffs win. Nor was it just another Dirk Nowitzki show.

This was quite possibly a watershed moment for a franchise notorious for its marshmallow meltdowns. After all, these are the Mavs who lost the 2006 NBA Finals to Miami after going up 2-0 and leading by 13 points with 6:34 left in the fourth quarter of Game 3.

With Kobe Bryant getting untracked early, the Lakers stormed to a 53-44 halftime lead. Kobe and his purple-and-gold accomplices would go on to build an imposing 60-44 bulge at the 9:51 mark of the third quarter.

Punched in the mouth early, bleeding and reeling, the Mavs didn't just turn the other cheek.This time, they fought back. Hard.

"We went to the locker room and felt like we gave a game away," Lakers coach Phil Jackson told reporters in a post-game press conference.

Not exactly. It was more like Dallas snatching victory from the jaws of defeat. And it took a concerted team effort to put it together.

RIDIRKCULOUSLY GOOD. The Mavs improbable comeback began with Nowitzki, who scored 11 of his 28 points in the final period. The 7-foot Nowtizki, a 9-time All-Star, filled the stats sheet with 14 rebounds, three assists, two steals and a shotblock.

And then Jason Kidd sealed it with a turn-back-the-clock performance.

Now 38 and slowed by both age and tender knees, Kidd tallied seven points, five rebounds and three steals. He also had, get this, 11 assists.

The Mavs bench, led by Jason Terry's 15 and Peja Stojakovic's 10, overmatched their Lakers counterparts 40-25. The Mavs were outrebounded 44-40, but they handily won the assists battle, 30-21.

Bryant had a spectacular 36-point total, making 14 of 29 shots. But he missed the one that mattered most -- a potential game-winning 3-pointer which bounced harmlessly off the rim as time expired.

"I'm highly concerned. This team can beat us. That's clear," Bryant told the Los Angeles Times after the Game 1.

The best-of-7 series resumes Wednesday night at Staples Center. (NRR).


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Nicholai R. Roska.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • 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
  • Filipinos Vitor and Tapales Take on Russians for IBF Asia Titles in Moscow Today
    By Dong Secuya, , Fri, 13 Feb 2026
  • Manny Pacquiao Promotions Returns to Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, Calif. with a Pair of World Championship Bouts
    , Fri, 13 Feb 2026
  • IOAN CROFT AND GARAN CROFT SIGN FOR MATCHROOM BOXING AS EDDIE HEARN LOOKS AHEAD TO BRIGHT FUTURE FOR EXCITING WELSH TWINS
    , Fri, 13 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.