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The Los Angeles Lakers shrugged off a late rally by the Minnesota Timberwolves to come away with a 94-85 victory, tying their NBA Playoffs Round 1 series at one game apiece on Wednesday, April 23, (Philippine time) at the Cypro.com Arena in Los Angeles.

Luka Doncic, nearly posted a triple-double finishing with 33 points, 12 rebounds, nine assists, and one block, providing the offensive spark and playmaking Los Angeles needed to secure the much-needed win.

Veteran superstar LeBron James also delivered a well-rounded performance, contributing 21 markers, 11 boards, seven dimes, one steal, and a block.

The supporting cast stepped up as well. Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura provided valuable contributions, scoring 16 and 11 points, respectively. 

The Oklahoma City Thunder once again played dominantly to take a 2-0 advantage in their Round 1 Playoff series against the Memphis Grizzlies after securing a 118-99 Game 2 victory on April 23 (Philippine time) at the Paycom Center.

Thunder star and MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the West’s No. 1 seed with 27 points, eight rebounds, and five assists, while Jalen Williams added 24 markers, six boards, and four dimes to help Oklahoma grab their second straight win.

Chet Holmgren put up double-double numbers with 20 points and 11 rebounds, while Alex Caruso—who didn’t attempt a single shot in Game 1—poured in 13 markers on 5-of-10 shooting from the field, grabbed four boards, issued three dimes, stole the ball thrice, and recorded one block.

Aaron Wiggins, their Game 1 hero, was limited to just eight points in seven minutes of playing time.

The Los Angeles Clippers evened their best-of-seven first-round series against the Denver Nuggets after escaping with a close 105-102 win at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado, on Tuesday, April 22 (Philippine time).

It was a bounce-back win for the Clippers, who lost a tough Game 1 in overtime, 110-112.

Kawhi Leonard came up big for the Clippers. He scored a game-high 39 points on an efficient 15-of-19 shooting, including four three-pointers. He also added three rebounds, five assists, two steals, and a block.

Leonard made the go-ahead basket and delivered a key defensive stop in the final seconds to seal the win.

James Harden also stepped up with 18 markers and four triples. He finished with three boards, seven dimes, one steal, and two blocks.

Ivica Zubac made a strong impact in the paint with a double-double of 16 points and 12 rebounds, along with four assists and one steal.

The Detroit Pistons bounced back from an 11-point loss in Game 1 with a gritty 100-94 win over the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, April 22 (Philippine time), tying their first-round playoff series at 1-1.

More than just a bounce-back victory, the win also marked the end of a long drought—Detroit snapped a 15-game playoff losing streak dating back to 2008, finally breaking through with their first postseason win in 16 years.

Cade Cunningham delivered a commanding performance, finishing with 33 points, 12 rebounds, three assists, and two steals in 42 minutes. He set the tone early and helped the Pistons maintain control in the closing stretch.

Tobias Harris and Jalen Duren both posted double-doubles to support the Pistons' effort. Harris tallied 15 markers and 13 boards, while Duren added 12 points, 13 boards, two assists, one steal, and a game-high three blocks.

Dennis Schröder also provided a crucial lift off the bench, contributing 20 markers, two boards, and three dimes.

Detroit opened the game strong, leading 25-18 after the first quarter. The Knicks cut the deficit to six by halftime, but the Pistons answered in the third, building their largest lead at 68-53 with just over five minutes remaining. New York trimmed it to single digits entering the fourth but couldn’t complete the comeback.

The West No. 1 seed team, the Oklahoma City Thunder, opened their NBA Playoffs campaign with a bang, whipping the No. 8 seed Memphis Grizzlies, 131–80, on Easter Sunday, April 20 (Philippine time).

Aaron Wiggins led all scorers with 21 points off the bench. He also grabbed four rebounds and issued two assists.

Besides Wiggins, all of the OKC starters also put up double-digit scoring, led by Jalen Williams, who tallied 20 points, five rebounds, six assists, three steals, and a block. He was followed by Chet Holmgren, who had a double-double of 19 markers and 10 boards, along with one deflection and two rejections.

Thunder star and MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 15 points, three rebounds, five assists, and two blocks, while Isaiah Hartenstein put up 14 markers, eight boards, five dimes, and one steal. Luguentz Dort finished with a 12-3-2-3-1 line to complete the double-digit scoring cast.

Meanwhile, the Grizzlies—who had just survived the Play-In Tournament, losing to the Golden State Warriors in their first outing and then defeating the Dallas Mavericks to enter the Playoffs—were led by star Ja Morant and off-the-bench player Marvin Bagley III, who had 17 apiece.

In the other matchups, the Eastern No. 2 seed team Boston Celtics also dominated the No. 7 seed Orlando Magic, 103–68, while the East No. 1 seed Cleveland Cavaliers overpowered the No. 8 seed Miami Heat, 121–100.

The West No. 7 seed Golden State Warriors, on the other hand, earned a win away from home after defeating the No. 2 seed Houston Rockets, 95–85.

The Golden State Warriors secured the 7th seed in the Western Conference Playoffs after a hard-fought 121-116 win against the Memphis Grizzlies at the Chase Center in San Francisco on Wednesday, April 16 (Philippine time).

Jimmy Butler and Stephen Curry combined for 75 points to lead the Warriors to victory. 

Butler had a game-high 38 points along with seven rebounds, six assists, and three steals. Curry followed with 37 markers, knocking down 6-of-13 from beyond the arc—including two crucial treys in the closing minutes, one near the corner and another after a triple pump fake that thrilled the home crowd. He added eight rebounds, four assists, and one steal.

Gary Payton II and Quentin Post added 12 and 11 points, respectively. Draymond Green dished out a game-high 10 assists while also contributing four points, six rebounds, three steals, and a block before fouling out with 58.6 seconds left in the game.

The Orlando Magic opened the 2024–25 NBA Play-In Tournament with a bang, dismantling the Atlanta Hawks, 120–95, on Wednesday morning, April 16, (Philippine time) at the Kia Center in Orlando.

From the get-go, the Magic set the tone, dominating the first quarter, 32–17. They dropped the second by just a point but still carried a 61–47 lead into halftime.

The Hawks responded in the third canto with a 26–18 run to trim the deficit to just six, 79–73.

Come the fourth and final period, the Magic turned up the heat again, outscoring Atlanta 41–22 to secure the 25-point victory.

Cole Anthony led the charge off the bench with 26 points on 4-of-9 shooting from beyond the arc. He also added three rebounds and five assists.

Wendell Carter Jr. anchored the starting unit with 19 markers, seven boards, and two dimes, while Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner filled up the stat sheets despite their struggles from long range, going a combined 0-of-8 from downtown.

Banchero posted a near triple-double with 17 points, nine rebounds, seven assists, one steal, and one block. Wagner followed with a gritty double-double of 13 markers and 13 boards, along with three dimes, two swipes, and one rejection.

On April 20 (Philippine time), the NBA postseason officially tips off, with 16 teams vying for the coveted 2024–25 NBA Championship.

But before the Playoffs begin, four remaining spots are still up for grabs through the Play-In Tournament.

In the Western Conference, the No. 9 seed Sacramento Kings will take on the No. 10 seed Dallas Mavericks, while the No. 7 seed Golden State Warriors will battle the No. 8 seed Memphis Grizzlies.

The winner of the 9-vs-10 matchup will then face the loser of the 7-vs-8 game for the right to claim the No. 8 seed in the Playoffs, earning a showdown with the No. 1 seed Oklahoma City Thunder.

Meanwhile, the loser of the 9-vs-10 game will be eliminated from contention, while the winner of the 7-vs-8 clash will secure the No. 7 seed and go on to face the No. 2 seed Houston Rockets.

Other first-round matchups in the Western Conference include:

(4) Denver Nuggets vs. (5) LA Clippers

(3) LA Lakers vs. (6) Minnesota Timberwolves

In the Eastern Conference, the Play-In pairings are:

(9) Chicago Bulls vs. (10) Miami Heat

(7) Orlando Magic vs. (8) Atlanta Hawks

The same Play-In format applies: the 9-10 winner plays the 7-8 loser for the final playoff spot. The winner of the 7-8 game becomes the No. 7 seed and will face the No. 2 seed and defending champions, Boston Celtics. The team that claims the No. 8 seed will go up against the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers.

The San Miguel Beermen held off a fierce rally from the Meralco Bolts, clinching a 110-98 victory in a retro-themed showdown as the PBA marked its golden anniversary on Wednesday, April 9, at the historic Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

In a game that celebrated both history and high-level basketball, the Beermen donned vintage uniforms inspired by the 1982 season, while the Bolts sported kits reminiscent of the Reddy Kilowatts era from the 1970s. The nostalgia-filled atmosphere set the stage for a clash worthy of the league’s 50-year legacy.

San Miguel notched its second straight win in the Philippine Cup to move to 2-0, while Meralco suffered its first loss, falling 2-1.

June Mar Fajardo once again anchored the Beermen with a commanding performance, putting up 28 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists. CJ Perez led all scorers with 29 markers, alongside five boards, four dimes, and two deflections, delivering when it mattered most.

The Beermen came out strong, building a 17-point lead, 50-33, late in the second quarter before heading into the break with a 52-38 advantage.

However, the Bolts refused to back down. Behind the efforts of Chris Newsome and Kurt Reyson, Meralco stormed back in the third period. 

Newsome dropped 11 points, while Reyson added nine as the duo combined for more than half of the Bolts’ 36 points in the quarter. By the end of the frame, Meralco had cut the deficit to just three, 77-74.

Still, San Miguel showed poise in the final period. A 10-2 run sparked by a Perez layup and capped by back-to-back triples from Perez and Juami Tiongson pushed the lead back to double digits, 92-81.

Meralco mounted one last surge, with Reymar Jose and Aaron Black scoring consecutively to trim the gap to 101-95 with just under three minutes left. But San Miguel responded with a game-sealing 6-0 run to restore a comfortable cushion at 105-97, ultimately closing out the victory.

"They were able to cut the lead, but because of our experience, especially June Mar, they know how to deal with those kinds of situations,"  said San Miguel head coach Leo Austria. 

"They were able to cut the lead, but because of our experience, especially June Mar, they know how to deal with those kinds of situations,” he added.

The Beermen also drew solid contributions from Jeron Teng, who chipped in 11 points, three rebounds, and a steal, and Rodney Brondial, who added nine markers, nine boards, a dime, and a block in a well-rounded effort.

For the Bolts, team captain Newsome led the charge with 27 points, seven assists, and four rebounds, while Reyson provided energy off the bench with 14 markers in a gritty performance.

The Scores:

San Miguel 110 – Perez 29, Fajardo 28, Teng 11, Brondial 9, Lassiter 8, Tiongson 7, Rosales 7, Tautuaa 6, Trollano 5, Cahilig 0.

Meralco 98 – Newsome 27, Reyson 14, Black 12, Jose 12, Hodge 10, Cansino 8, Bates 6, Almazan 5, Quinto 4, Torres 0, Rios 0, Caram 0, Pascual 0.

Quarter Scores: 25-21, 52-38, 77-74, 110-98.

The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) announced on Wednesday, April 2, the final 10 names completing its 50 Greatest Players list, as the league prepares to celebrate its 50th Founding Anniversary on April 9.

Joining the prestigious list are Nelson Asaytono, Jeffrey Cariaso, Rene “Bong” Hawkins Jr., June Mar Fajardo, Abraham Columbus “Abe” King Jr., Daniel Charles “Danny” Seigle, Earl Scottie Thompson, Arnulfo “Arnie” Tuadles, Manuel “Manny” Victorino, and Elpidio “Yoyoy” Villamin.

The PBA first honored its 25 Greatest Players in 2000 as part of its 25th anniversary. The inaugural list featured:

• William “Bogs” Adornado
• Freddie Hubalde
• Robert “Sonny” Jaworski Sr.
• Fortunato “Atoy” Co
• Philip Cezar
• Ramon Fernandez
• Alberto “Abet” Guidaben
• Ricardo Brown
• Allan Caidic
• Venancio “Benjie” Paras
• Alvin Patrimonio
• Renato “Ato” Agustin
• Vergel Meneses
• Johnny Abarrientos
• Kenneth Duremdes
• Francis Arnaiz
• Bernard “Bernie” Fabiosa
• Danilo “Danny” Florencio
• Lim Eng Beng
• Isabelo “Jojo” Lastimosa
• Avelino “Samboy” Lim
• Jerry Codiñera
• Manuel “Manny” Paner
• Ronnie Magsanoc
• Hector Calma

TNT extended the PBA 49th Season Commissioner’s Cup Finals to a decisive Game 7 after securing a hard-fought 87-83 victory over Barangay Ginebra on Wednesday night, March 26, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Tropang Giga bounced back from their Game 5 struggles—where tensions flared between Poy Erram and head coach Chot Reyes—by delivering a composed and determined performance in front of 17,654 fans, the largest PBA crowd in two seasons.

Erram, who was at the center of controversy in the previous game, stepped up when it mattered the most. 

The Ateneo de Manila product poured in 10 of his 14 points in the fourth quarter, knocking down crucial baskets, including a three-pointer and a reverse layup, during a pivotal 9-0 run that gave TNT its biggest lead of the night at 72-62. He also calmly sank key free throws in the final minutes to fend off Ginebra’s late surge.  

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson led TNT’s charge with a stellar all-around performance, posting a game-high 29 points, 13 rebounds, six assists, and three steals. 

Despite missing two crucial free throws earlier, he redeemed himself by calmly sinking a pair of charities with six seconds left, securing the win as Ginebra’s Scottie Thompson misfired on a desperate four-point attempt.

Rey Nambatac also played a key role, contributing 23 markers, including a crucial four-pointer that put TNT ahead at the end of the third quarter, 63-62—a lead they never relinquished. He also registered five boards and three deflections to earn Best Player of the Game.

Calvin Oftana was also instrumental in the win as he chipped in 14 points, drilling four three-pointers.  

On the other side, Justin Brownlee paced Ginebra with 22 markers, seven boards, four dimes, and two rejections but struggled with ball security, committing a game-high seven turnovers. 

Thompson managed 12 points but shot 4-of-11, while RJ Abarrientos, returning to action, added 12 markers on 5-of-7 shooting. 

The PBA last saw a Game 7 championship showdown in the 2022-2023 Commissioner’s Cup when Ginebra defeated the Bay Area Dragons before a record crowd of 54,589 at the Philippine Arena.  

With the best-of-seven series now tied at 3-3, TNT and Ginebra will battle for the championship in a high-stakes Game 7 showdown on Friday, March 28, at the Big Dome.

The Scores:

TNT 87 – Hollis-Jefferson 29, Nambatac 23, Oftana 14, Erram 14, Khobuntin 4, Pogoy 3, Heruela 0, Aurin 0, Williams 0.

GINEBRA 83 – Brownlee 22, Thompson 12, Abarrientos 12, Holt 11, J. Aguilar 11, Malonzo 6, Rosario 6, Ahanmisi 3.

Quarter Scores: 22-22; 38-42; 63-62; 87-83.

Barangay Ginebra inched closer to another PBA championship after a hard-fought 73-66 win over TNT in Game 5 of the Commissioner’s Cup Finals on Sunday night, March 23, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Scottie Thompson and Justin Brownlee took charge in the final minutes, scoring the Gin Kings’ last 12 points while their teammates locked down the Tropang Giga defensively.

With under four minutes remaining and Ginebra trailing by one, Thompson hit a crucial jumper to give his team a 67-66 edge. From there, star import Brownlee took over, extending the lead and sealing the pivotal 3-2 advantage in the best-of-seven series. 

“Honestly, we think we all knew from our side that Justin was struggling with his hand a bit more today than the last game and so everybody had to step up,” said Ginebra head coach Tim Cone. 

“And even though Justin made big shots down the stretch, it was the inspiration of Scottie that turned the tide for us. We didn’t play a good first half. The first half was like in second gear. We knew at halftime we had to step it up to a higher gear to have a chance,” he added.

TNT struggled to respond, failing to convert a single field goal after Rey Nambatac’s free throws at the 4:25 mark. 

Despite late attempts from Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Glen Khobuntin, and RR Pogoy following an RJ Abarrientos turnover with 25.2 seconds left, the Tropang Giga couldn’t capitalize, allowing Ginebra to escape with the win.

Brownlee, despite dealing with a right thumb injury, led Ginebra with 18 points on an efficient 9-of-15 shooting, adding 14 rebounds and five assists. 

Thompson led the local unit with a double-double output of 16 markers, 10 boards, and five dimes, while Japeth Aguilar and Maverick Ahanmisi chipped in 11 apiece. 

On the other hand, RHJ paced TNT with 19 points but struggled with his efficiency, making just seven of 26 attempts from the field. Nambatac also recorded 19 markers built on three triples. 

Calvin Oftana, Kim Aurin, and Pogoy each scored eight points, but their efforts weren’t enough to regain control of the series after holding a 2-1 lead earlier. 

With the 3-2 series lead, Ginebra now has the chance to close out the finals and capture the championship on Wednesday, March 26, at the same venue in Quezon City.

The Scores:

GINEBRA 73 – Brownlee 18, Thompson 16, J.Aguilar 11, Ahanmisi 11, Rosario 6, Malonzo 6, Holt 3, Abarrientos 2, Tenorio 0

TNT 66 – Hollis-Jefferson 19, Nambatac 19, Oftana 8, Pogoy 8, Aurin 8, Erram 4, Heruela 0, Williams 0, Exciminiano 0, Khobuntin 0

Quarter Scores: 17-24, 35-45, 57-56, 73-66

TNT moved ahead in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals, securing a hard-fought 87-85 victory over Barangay Ginebra on Wednesday, March 19, at PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.

Rey Nambatac’s crucial three-pointer in the final moments proved to be the game-winner, as the Tropang Giga capitalized on multiple second-chance opportunities to break an 82-82 tie.

Ginebra faced an uphill battle after star import Justin Brownlee exited with a dislocated right thumb in the third quarter. Despite this setback, the Gin Kings remained competitive, briefly leading 82-80 in the closing minutes before TNT seized control.

After RJ Abarrientos turned the ball over, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson connected with Glenn Khobuntin for a fast break layup, pushing TNT’s lead to 87-82 and sealing the win. 

With the victory, TNT now has a chance to take a commanding 3-1 series advantage in Game 4 on Friday, March 21, at Ynares Center in Antipolo City.

Nambatac, stepping up in the absence of Jayson Castro, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in the semifinals, erupted for 24 points, seven assists, and five rebounds.

Hollis-Jefferson bounced back from a tough Game 2 performance, delivering 20 markers, 11 boards, and eight dimes. Meanwhile, Calvin Oftana contributed 16 points, five rebounds, and four assists, but it was his two crucial offensive boards in the play leading to Nambatac’s three-pointer that made a lasting impact on the game.

Before his injury, Brownlee posted 19 markers, four boards, and five dimes for Ginebra. 

The Gin Kings managed to hold a nine-point lead in the first half and remained in control for stretches of the second, even leading 77-74 late in the game. However, TNT’s persistence ultimately turned the tide.

Scottie Thompson recorded 16 points, eight rebounds, and five assists, while Troy Rosario had his best outing of the series with 13 markers and seven boards. Abarrientos and Jamie Malonzo chipped in 13 and 11 points, respectively. 

A highlight of the first half came just before the buzzer, when RHJ drained a jumper to cut Ginebra’s lead to 48-42 at halftime. That momentum helped the Tropang Giga stay within striking distance before executing in the clutch to steal the win.

Now in control of the series, TNT looks to put Ginebra on the brink of elimination in Game 4.

Barangay Ginebra relied on its defense to grind out a 71-70 victory over TNT in Game 2 of the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup Finals, tying the series on Sunday night, March 16, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

Justin Brownlee led the Gin Kings with a stellar 35-point, 11-rebound performance. Scottie Thompson provided crucial support, tallying 16 points, 12 rebounds, and a game-high seven assists, while also delivering a game-saving defensive stop in the final moments.

Japeth Aguilar contributed eight markers and eight boards, while Stephen Holt, who was relentless in guarding TNT’s import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, played a pivotal role alongside Thompson in securing the final stop. Holt also added seven points, four rebounds, and two steals.

Hollis-Jefferson carried the Tropang Giga with 25 markers, 15 boards, two dimes, one rejection, and two deflection. However, he was locked down in TNT’s final two possessions, allowing Ginebra to escape with the win.

Rey Nambatac and RR Pogoy were the only other Tropang Giga players to score in double figures. Nambatac posted 14 points, three rebounds, and five assists, while Pogoy finished with 11, including a clutch three-pointer at the 3:40 mark that gave TNT its first lead of the game.

Ginebra controlled the game from the opening tip until Pogoy’s triple momentarily put TNT ahead. But Brownlee and the Gin Kings came through in the clutch, tightening their defense down the stretch to secure the win in front of more than 12,000 fans.

In Game 1, TNT shot 14-of-37 from three-point range, but Ginebra’s defensive adjustments in Game 2 proved vital, holding the Tropang Giga to just 6-of-31 from beyond the arc.

The scores:

GINEBRA 71 – Brownlee 35, Thompson 16, J. Aguilar 8, Holt 7, Rosario 2, Ahanmisi 2, Abarrientos 1, Malonzo 0, Cu 0.

TNT 70 – Hollis-Jefferson 25, Nambatac 14, Pogoy 11, Erram 6, Oftana 5, Khobuntin 4, Williams 2, Razon 2, Aurin 1, Heruela 0.

Quarter Scores: 21-15; 32-19; 54-45; 71-70.

TNT Tropang Giga held off Barangay Ginebra in the final minutes to secure a hard-fought 95-89 victory in Game 1 of the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup Finals on Friday night, March 14, at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson led the charge for TNT with his usual all-around performance, nearly posting a triple-double with 34 points, 13 rebounds, and eight assists.

Supporting him was RR Pogoy, who tallied 15 points on an efficient 5-of-10 shooting from beyond the arc. Calvin Oftana and Rey Nambatac added 10 apiece, with both knocking down a pair of three-pointers.

TNT capitalized on its outside shooting, draining 14 three-pointers—double Ginebra’s total of seven—providing the edge needed to fend off the Gin Kings' late-game rally.

"We knew Ginebra will make a run (in the second half) so we reminded the players to stay calm and expect it. That team is too good, too strong, too deep for us to have that kind of lead all throughout," said TNT coach Chot Reyes.

"When they made their run, we came back because the players got their composure and the rest was our defense," Reyes added.

Ginebra, as expected, leaned on Justin Brownlee, who delivered 28 points, 15 rebounds, and six assists. However, he struggled from long range, hitting just 1-of-5 from beyond the arc and missing both four-point attempts.

Scottie Thompson contributed 17 points, 13 rebounds, and seven assists, while RJ Abarrientos, who provided a late spark with a four-point play, finished with 13 points, four rebounds, and one assist in 23 minutes off the bench.

The Gin Kings will aim to bounce back and even the series on Sunday, March 17, at the same venue, while TNT looks to take a commanding 2-0 lead.

The Scores:

TNT 95 – Hollis-Jefferson 34, Pogoy 15, Oftana 10, Nambatac 10, Williams 8, Khobuntin 8, Erram 5, Aurin 5, Heruela 0, Razon 0.

GINEBRA 89 – Brownlee 28, Thompson 17, Abarrientos 13, Holt 9, J. Aguilar 9, Rosario 8, Gray 3, Malonzo 2, Ahanmisi 0.

Quarter Scores: 29-18, 55-39, 80-66, 95-89.