Boston Celtics stay alive with a win over New York Knicks
The defending champions Boston Celtics survive another day after beating the New York Knicks, 127-102, on Thursday, May 15 (PH time), at the TD Garden.
Refusing to go down quietly, the Celtics delivered a strong statement at home to extend their Eastern Conference Semifinals series. They now trail the series 2-3 and will need another must-win effort to force a Game 7 and keep their championship hopes alive—this time without their franchise cornerstone, Jayson Tatum, who suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in Game 4.
The first half was a back-and-forth battle, with both squads trading baskets and energy. By halftime, the score was tied at 59, reflecting the intensity of a game where neither side wanted to blink.
But the second half belonged to Boston.
The Celtics came out of the locker room firing, outscoring the Knicks 32-17 in the third quarter behind suffocating defense and precise execution on offense. That run gave them a 91-76 cushion heading into the final frame.
Boston didn't let up in the fourth. With their season on the line, they kept their foot on the gas, closing out the game with a 36-26 quarter to complete a wire-to-wire second-half performance and secure the 25-point blowout win.
In the absence of their star Tatum, Derrick White answered the call and delivered a playoff career performance. He poured in 34 points, shooting an impressive 7-of-13 from the three-point area and 9-of-11 from the stripe. White, who played almost 40 minutes as a starter, also added three rebounds, two assists, and two blocks in a complete performance that energized the home crowd.
Jaylen Brown also took on a bigger role and nearly posted a triple-double. He finished with 26 markers, 12 dimes, eight boards, and a steal, helping orchestrate the offense and anchor the Celtics' aggressive pace throughout the night.
Jrue Holiday and Al Horford chipped in with 14 and 12 points, respectively, providing veteran stability in a high-pressure situation. Meanwhile, Boston’s bench stepped up in a big way. Payton Pritchard contributed 17 points, along with five rebounds, three assists, and a steal—showing his ability to contribute across the board. Luke Kornet was a force inside, tallying 10 points, nine boards, and an impressive seven blocks while shooting a perfect 100% from the field.
The Celtics’ collective effort was key, especially with their top scorer sidelined. They showed depth, heart, and urgency—traits that define a defending champion’s mindset.
On the other side, Josh Hart led the Knicks with 24 points, while Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns added 22 and 19, respectively. Despite a strong first half, New York couldn’t withstand Boston’s second-half surge.
Game 6 is scheduled for Saturday, May 17, at 8:00 AM (PH time), at Madison Square Garden in New York. It’s another win-or-go-home situation for the Celtics as they aim to push the series to the limit and keep their title defense alive.
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For the second consecutive season, the Minnesota Timberwolves are headed to the Eastern Conference Finals after dispatching the Golden State Warriors, 121-110, on Wednesday, May 15 (PH time) in Game 5 of their best-of-seven series.
The Timberwolves leaned on a balanced offensive attack and relentless defensive energy to close out the series at home. Julius Randle led the way with 29 points, eight rebounds, and five assists, setting the tone with his aggression and leadership on both ends of the floor.
Anthony Edwards once again proved his all-around value, notching a double-double with 22 markers and 12 dimes, while also contributing seven boards, a steal, and three blocks in another signature playoff performance.
Another PBA Most Valuable Player takes the spotlight in our Player Profile Series. This time, we go back to 1985 and feature “The Quick Brown Fox” himself—Ricardo Brown.
Born on May 22, 1957, in Brooklyn, New York, Brown holds the distinction of being the first-ever Fil-American to play in the PBA as a ‘local.’ His career in the league ran from 1983 to 1990, but his impact remains legendary.
Standing at 6’1”, Brown was selected 59th overall by the Houston Rockets in the 1979 NBA Draft, but he was never signed. That didn’t stop him from chasing the game he loved. While playing in the United States, he was discovered by Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco Jr., which opened the door for him to come to the Philippines.
Before his PBA debut, Brown suited up for the De La Salle Green Archers in various tournaments in 1982 while taking classes.
Then came 1983—his official entry into the PBA with the Great Taste Coffee Makers. That year, he took home Rookie of the Year honors and was also named to the Mythical Five. He nearly pulled off a rare trifecta, finishing in the MVP conversation alongside Bogs Adornado and eventual winner Abet Guidaben.
Two years later, in 1985, Brown’s dominance was undeniable. He won league MVP and averaged over 30 points and double-digit assists per game. That season included a 56-point outburst against Ginebra and back-to-back 40+ point games in the PBA Open Championship versus Norman Black and Magnolia.
In just seven years and 19 conferences, Brown played for only two teams: Great Taste and San Miguel. But in that time, he won nine championships and rewrote the standards for guard play in the league. His elite ball-handling, court vision, quickness, and ability to score from anywhere made him one of the best point/combo guards in PBA history.
Even in a career that lasted just seven years and 19 conferences, Brown left behind a remarkable statistical legacy. He averaged 23.1 points and 7.3 assists per game—numbers that rank among the best in league history. He also shot 87.9% from the free-throw line over his career, showcasing his elite consistency and skill from the stripe.
He was also part of San Miguel’s Grand Slam run in 1989, playing a key role alongside legends like Hector Calma, Samboy Lim, and Ramon Fernandez.
In 2000, Brown was named one of the PBA’s 50 Greatest Players. He was inducted into the PBA Hall of Fame in 2009, along with former teammates Allan Caidic, Samboy Lim, and Hector Calma.
Life Beyond the Court
Brown’s family has deep Filipino roots. His parents were married in Manila in 1945. His father, Lee Brown, was an American serviceman and a former MLB player for the St. Louis Cardinals. His mother, Conrada Vidal, ran a family photography business in Santa Cruz, Manila. Brown is married to Filipina Lorma Sahagun from Ilocos Norte, and they have two sons—Justin and Kevan. Kevan was born at Cardinal Santos Hospital in San Juan.
In 1987, Brown also dabbled in acting, starring alongside Comedy King Dolphy in Action Is Not Missing, an MMFF entry and box-office hit.
Outside of basketball and entertainment, Brown found another calling: education. Since 1981, he has served as a teacher, dean, assistant principal, and principal. In 2008, he became the first Filipino-American principal in the ABC Unified School District in California. Under his leadership, both Ross Academy and Tracy High School earned state honors for excellence.
The Oklahoma City Thunder took control of their second-round series against the Denver Nuggets in a thrilling 112–105 Game 5 victory on Wednesday, May 14 (PH time) at the Paycom Center. With the win, the Thunder now hold a 3–2 series lead and are just one win away from their first Western Conference Finals appearance since 2016.
It was a tightly contested matchup from the opening tip. The Nuggets led by just two at the half, 56–54, behind strong efforts from Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray. In the third quarter, Denver looked poised to pull away after extending the lead to eight, 88–80, heading into the final frame.
But Oklahoma City’s youthful energy and relentless pace turned the tide in the fourth. The Thunder slowly chipped away at the deficit, staying composed even as the Nuggets tried to hold them off. With under six minutes to go, OKC erased a nine-point gap and eventually tied the game at 92-all, sending the Paycom crowd into a frenzy.
In the final stretch, it became a battle of stars. Tied at 100, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander drew a foul on Jamal Murray after shooting from midrange and calmly completed the three-point play to give OKC the lead. Moments later, Jokic answered with a difficult, off-balance three to level the score at 103–103.