Game 4 wins Bring Knicks, Wolves, Pacers, Celtics near 2nd round
The New York Knicks and Minnesota Timberwolves tightened their grip on their series, each securing crucial third wins in thrilling fashion! Meanwhile, the Indiana Pacers flexed their dominance over the Milwaukee Bucks, and the defending champion Boston Celtics kept their crown defense alive with a strong victory against the Orlando Magic. All four teams now hold commanding 3-1 leads.
The Knicks edged out the Pistons, 94-93, in a nail-biter in Detroit. Jalen Brunson once again proved he’s built for the big stage, dropping 32 points, five rebounds, and 11 assists. Karl-Anthony Towns added muscle inside, posting 27 markers, nine boards, and one dime.
New York’s clutch victory spoiled Cade Cunningham’s heroic effort, as the Pistons star notched a monster triple-double — 25 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, and four blocks — in 42 minutes of relentless action.
Over in Los Angeles, the Timberwolves erupted late, powering past the Lakers for a thrilling 116-113 win.
Anthony Edwards exploded for 43 points, nine rebounds, and six assists, delivering a superstar performance. Julius Randle backed him up with 25 markers, seven boards, and three dimes, while Jaden McDaniels added a key double-double with 16 points and 13 rebounds.
Minnesota’s clutch rally overshadowed big games from the Lakers' side: Luka Doncic tallied 38 points, LeBron James poured in 27 markers, 12 boards, and eight dimes, Rui Hachimura scored 23, and Austin Reaves contributed 17 in a strong but ultimately heartbreaking effort.
Meanwhile, the Pacers dominated wire-to-wire against the Bucks, pulling off a statement 129-103 win in Indiana.
Myles Turner led the way with 23 points, five rebounds, three assists, and four blocks, while Indiana’s starting five all contributed. Andrew Nembhard added 20 points, Tyrese Haliburton finished with 17, Aaron Nesmith had 14, and Pascal Siakam chipped in 12.
The Pacers' second unit didn’t miss a beat either, with T.J. McConnell, Obi Toppin, and Jarace Walker came off the bench to add 15, 13, and 12 points, respectively.
Giannis Antetokounmpo fought hard for Milwaukee, posting 28 points, 15 rebounds, and six assists. Kevin Porter Jr. added 23 points, while Bobby Portis finished with 14 — but it wasn't enough to stop the Pacers’ onslaught.
In Orlando, the Celtics showed why they’re still the team to beat, securing a gritty 107-98 win over the Magic.
Jayson Tatum took over with a monster stat line — 37 markers, 14 boards, three assists, and three deflections — while Jaylen Brown delivered a strong double-double with 21 points and 11 rebounds.
Kristaps Porzingis chipped in 19-5-1, and Derrick White filled the box score with 18-7-7 to complete Boston’s strong showing.
Paolo Banchero tried to rally the Magic, finishing with 31 points, seven rebounds, and three assists, but the Celtics’ experience and firepower proved too much.
Tomorrow, April 29 (PH time), the Cleveland Cavaliers will aim for a first-round sweep against the Miami Heat, while the Golden State Warriors will look to seize a crucial 3-1 series lead against the Houston Rockets.
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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