Knicks stun Celtics again with another close finish in Game 2
The New York Knicks pulled off another stunner against the defending champions, the Boston Celtics, in Game 2 of their Western Conference Semi-Final Series on Thursday, May 8 (PH time), at TD Garden, escaping with a nail-biting 91-90 win and taking a commanding 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.
Karl-Anthony Towns delivered a monster performance, finishing with a double-double of 21 points and 17 rebounds to lead the Knicks’ charge. He was ably supported by Josh Hart, who came up big with 23 markers, six rebounds, three assists, and two rejections. Jalen Brunson also played a key role with 17 points, three boards, seven dimes, and a crucial block down the stretch.
But the defining moment of the game came on the defensive end. With the Celtics threatening to steal the game in the dying seconds, it was Mikal Bridges who stepped up—his lockdown defense on Jayson Tatum forced a missed shot and a turnover in the closing seconds, effectively sealing the victory for New York. The gritty sequence underscored the Knicks’ resilience and poise under pressure.
On the Celtics’ side, Derrick White continued his consistent playoff form, leading his team with 20 points, nine rebounds, and five assists. Jaylen Brown also added 20 markers and six boards, providing much-needed firepower. Jayson Tatum posted a double-double with 13 points and 14 rebounds, alongside five assists, three steals, and a block—but his late-game fumble overshadowed what could have been a heroic outing.
Boston came out firing early, racing to a 24-13 lead after the first quarter and maintaining a seven-point cushion at halftime. The Celtics extended the gap to 10 heading into the final frame after another strong third-quarter showing.
But the Knicks refused to go away quietly. New York stormed back with a 30-17 run in the fourth quarter, flipping the script and silencing the TD Garden crowd. Their defensive grit, clutch execution, and balanced scoring proved too much for the Celtics, who now face the daunting task of stealing a win on the road to keep their title hopes alive.
Meanwhile, in the other series, the Oklahoma City Thunder delivered a dominant performance, cruising to a 149-106 victory over the Denver Nuggets to tie their series at 1-1.
The Thunder also etched their name in the history books by scoring 87 points at halftime—the most ever in NBA Playoff history—setting the tone for a blowout win and swinging momentum their way as the series shifts to Oklahoma City.
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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