Knicks edge Celtics in Game 1 thriller of East Semifinals
The New York Knicks clawed their way back from a 16-point halftime hole, forcing overtime and eventually gutting out a 108-105 victory over the defending champion Boston Celtics in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals on Tuesday, May 6 (PH time), at TD Garden.
Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby carried the load for the Knicks, dropping 29 points apiece in a gritty all-around performance. Brunson also chipped in four rebounds, five assists, and two steals, while Anunoby added four boards, three dimes, and a crucial deflection down the stretch.
Karl-Anthony Towns and Josh Hart stepped up big with double-doubles of their own—Towns finishing with 14 points and 13 rebounds, and Hart matching him with 14 markers and 11 boards, adding hustle plays that didn’t show on the stat sheet but shifted momentum. Off the bench, Miles McBride made the most of his minutes, firing 11 points and hauling in two rebounds in just 18 minutes of action.
The Celtics, for their part, leaned on Jayson Tatum’s monster stat line: 23 points, 16 rebounds, six assists, two steals, and a block. He had solid support from Jaylen Brown, who also tallied 23 points along with seven boards and five dimes. Derrick White posted his own double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds, while Jrue Holiday added 16 points, six boards, and three assists.
Boston came out with poise, eking out a slim 26-25 lead after the first, then erupting in the second quarter with a 35-20 barrage that gave them a commanding 61-45 cushion at halftime.
But the Knicks never flinched.
They stormed back in the second half, flipping the script with a 53-39 counterpunch to send the game to overtime. The Celtics had a chance to end it in regulation, but Tatum's turnaround jumper missed its mark as time expired.
In the extra frame, the Knicks made sure not to waste their second wind. Towns tipped in a crucial miss to stretch the lead to 108-102. Brown answered with a clutch triple to cut it to three, but with the Celtics pushing for one last shot to tie, Brown coughed up the ball—sealing the gritty road win for New York.
Game 2 stays in Boston and tips off on Thursday, May 8 (PH time) at 7:00 AM.
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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
China came within a single basket of toppling Oceania powerhouse Australia in the FIBA Asia Cup final, bowing 90-89 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, but sending a clear message that it remains a force in Asian basketball.
The Chinese squad, bannered by Hu Mingxuan and Hu Jinqiu, led by as many as 15 points through three quarters before faltering in the final minutes against the defending champions. Despite the heartbreaking loss, the performance was a reminder of China’s proud basketball heritage and its potential return to continental supremacy.
Gilas Pilipinas advanced to the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup quarterfinals after triumphing over host nation Saudi Arabia in a tense 95-88 overtime victory on Monday, August 11 (Tuesday, August 12 in Manila) at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah.
Justin Brownlee once again showed his ‘Never Say Die’ attitude after drilling a contested three-pointer with 3.7 seconds left to force the extra period. He went on to finish with 29 points, five assists, and four rebounds, paving the way for a quarterfinal showdown with two-time defending champion Australia on Wednesday, August 13.
Brownlee’s heroics set the stage for Kevin Quiambao, who buried two triples in OT to complete a 17-point performance alongside three dimes and three deflections.
"It was a special game, it was a special performance from both teams," said head coach Tim Cone. "They (Saudi Arabia) posed a lot of problems for us, and by all rights, they had the game won — except for the guy sitting to my right (Brownlee). If you know his history, that’s not unusual. He’s been hitting big shots."
AJ Edu anchored the middle with 17 points, 11 rebounds, and four assists, while Dwight Ramos chipped in 13 markers, 10 boards, three dimes, and a rejection.
Beyond Brownlee’s late-game magic, the Philippines secured the win by neutralizing Saudi Arabia’s high-scoring duo of Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman and Mohammed Alsuwailem in the extra frame.
Abdur-Rahkman erupted for 33 points on 8-of-14 shooting from deep, while Alsuwailem tallied 26 points, 14 rebounds, and three blocks — but the two combined for only five points in OT as Gilas closed the door on the hosts’ upset bid.
The Scores:
Philippines 95 – Brownlee 29, Edu 17, Quiambao 17, Ramos 13, Fajardo 6, Tamayo 5, Thompson 4, Newsome 4, Malonzo 0, Perez 0, Aguilar 0.
Saudi Arabia 88 – Abdur-Rahkman 33, Alsuwailem 26, Almuwallad 10, Abdel Gabar 8, Ma. Almarwani 4, Belal 3, Kadi 3, Mo. Almarwani 1, Shubayli 0.
Quarters: 25-15, 40-37, 60-59, 79-79 (reg.), 95-88 (OT).