Darius Garland leads Cavaliers in matching franchise-best 8-0 start
Darius Garland scored a season-high 39 points (22 in the first half) together with eight assists to steer the Cleveland Cavaliers to match their best season start with eight straight victories.
The Cavaliers have defeated the Giannis Antetokounmpo-less Milwaukee Bucks, 116-114, at home. It was their second victory over the Bucks in the past three days.
It was a roller coaster in the end game as Milwaukee trailed by 19 points once during the game but after a 108 deadlock, Damian Lillard gave the Bucks a three-point lead with 1:18 seconds remaining in the game.
But Garland responded with five straight points including a 25-foot step-back triple to bring back the lead to Cavaliers, 113-111.
Then, he found his cutting teammate Jarret Allen who made his layup and gave Cleveland a four-point cushion, 115-111.
After that, Allen also contributed on the defensive end when he blocked an attempt from Lillard, and sealed the deal for the Cavaliers.
Evan Mobley produced 17 markers, while Allen had a double-double of 14 points, 15 rebounds, and six assists.
Donovan Mitchell, who hit the game-winning triple in their first encounter in Milwaukee a day ago, had 14.
Meanwhile, Lillard paced the Bucks with 36 points, while Bobby Portis contributed 21 points and 18 boards, and AJ Green got his career high 21 markers built on seven threes but their efforts were put to naught.
It was the sixth straight loss of Milwaukee this season and they now have the worst record in the East at 1-6.
Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo missed the game due to a right adductor strain. The former two-time league's MVP and one-time Finals MVP is averaging 31 points per game through Milwaukee's first six contests alongside averaging 12.3 rebounds and 6.3 assists.
The Cavaliers will face the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday, November 7 (PHT), as they go for a 9-0 start, while the 1-6 Bucks will take on the 0-6 Utah Jazz on Friday, November 8 (PHT).
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The NLEX Road Warriors wrapped up their preseason on a high note, clinching the 40th Kadayawan Invitational championship with a commanding 101-84 victory over the Blackwater Bossing on Sunday night, August 26, at the University of Southern Philippines in Davao City.
It wasn’t the smoothest of starts for NLEX, which found itself down by 11 early in the game. But the tide shifted in the second quarter, where the Road Warriors erupted for a 34-12 run behind the efforts of Robert Bolick, Dominic Fajardo, Tony Semerad, and Xyrus Torres to seize a 52-36 halftime lead.
Blackwater attempted a late push, cutting the gap to 76-65 in the fourth quarter, but NLEX responded with a 12-5 counter that put the game out of reach. Semerad, who buried three triples in the payoff period, earned Finals MVP honors with 16 points and 12 rebounds. Torres topped the scoring for NLEX with 19 markers, while Bolick came close to a triple-double with eight points, six boards, and nine assists. JB Bahio and Fajardo chipped in 12 and 10 markers, respectively. As a team, the Road Warriors torched the net from beyond the arc, going 18-of-34, with Semerad and Torres sinking four each.
Sedrick Barefield paced Blackwater with 15 points, while Richard Escoto added 14. The Bossing, despite falling short in the finals, had an impressive run in the preliminaries, including a comeback win over NLEX, 95-90, earlier in the tournament.
The championship serves as a timely boost for NLEX heading into the new PBA season. Last year, the Road Warriors finished second in the Philippine Cup eliminations before bowing out in the quarterfinals against Rain or Shine. Deputy mentor Adonis Tierra called the shots in their last two games, steering the team to become the second straight PBA squad to lift the Kadayawan crown, following Rain or Shine’s sweep in 2024. NLEX closed the tournament with a 3-1 card, their lone loss coming at the hands of Blackwater.
In the battle for third place, Phoenix avoided a winless campaign with a convincing 101-81 rout of Converge. Raffy Verano led the way with 19 points and nine rebounds, while Tyler Tio and Kai Ballungay contributed 17 and 15 markers, respectively. The win marked the first for new head coach Willy Wilson, who took over during the offseason. Coincidentally, Phoenix also defeated Converge for third place in last year’s edition of the tournament.
The NLEX Road Warriors and Blackwater Bossing opened their campaigns in the 2025 Kadayawan Invitational with victories in their respective first games on Thursday, August 21, at the USEP Gym in Davao City.
In the first game, Sedrick Barefield made an immediate impact for the Bossing. The 2024 second overall pick erupted for 28 points, including six triples. Three of those came in succession in the fourth quarter, turning a slim 72-66 lead into a more comfortable 81-68 cushion.
Troy Mallillin contributed 17 points and six rebounds, while newcomer Jed Mendoza impressed in his debut with 16 points.
For the Phoenix Fuel Masters, Jason Perkins and Kai Ballungay scored 12 points apiece in their first game under new head coach Willie Wilson, who took over from Jamike Jarin after he was moved to a team consultant role.
The East Asia Super League (EASL) is officially set to raise the curtain on its new season with a twin opening in Taipei and Tokyo on October 8, 2025 — a move that reflects the league’s expanding reach and growing stature as Asia’s premier basketball competition.
All eyes in Taiwan will be on the Taipei Heping Basketball Gymnasium, which will host a blockbuster doubleheader featuring some of the region’s most decorated clubs.
The action tips off with a clash between the B.LEAGUE champions Utsunomiya Brex and the P. LEAGUE+ runners-up Taipei Fubon Braves. Utsunomiya, led by veteran guard Makoto Hiejima, entered as one of Japan’s most successful franchises. The Braves, meanwhile, look to prove their resilience after falling short in a grueling seven-game finals series last season, banking on the leadership of Chinese Taipei legend Lin Chih-Chieh.
The second game of the night brings a rematch between the P. LEAGUE+ champions Taoyuan Pauian Pilots and Japan’s Ryukyu Golden Kings. Their last encounter came in the 2025 EASL Final Four semifinals, where Taoyuan stunned Ryukyu, 71–64. This time, the Golden Kings are eager for redemption, while the Pilots hope to reaffirm their place among Asia’s elite.
Game schedule (HKT):
- Utsunomiya vs. Taipei Fubon – 6:30 PM
- Taoyuan vs. Ryukyu – 8:30 PM