OKC Thunder sweep Grizzlies, first to reach second round
The Oklahoma City Thunder completed their first-round campaign of the 2024-25 NBA Playoffs, sweeping the Memphis Grizzlies 4-0 in their 1-vs-8 series.
It was a close Game 4 before the Thunder pulled off the 117-115 victory and completed the domination on April 27, Sunday (Philippine time) at the FedExForum in Memphis.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led OKC with his stellar performance of 38 points, five rebounds, six assists, two steals and one block. He also shot 54.2% from the field (13/24) and 84.6% from the stripe (11/13).
Jalen Williams contributed 23 markers, four boards, and five assists, while Isaiah Hartenstein had a double-double of 11 points and 12 rebounds, on top of his three assists and four steals. Chet Holmgren also added 11 markers, two boards, one dime, two deflections, and four rejections.
With the win, OKC became the first team to reach the second round and will now await the victors of the Denver Nuggets–Los Angeles Clippers series for their Western Conference semi-finals match-up.
On the other side, the Grizzlies, who missed Ja Morant due to a left hip injury he suffered in Game 3, relied on Scottie Pippen Jr., Desmond Bane, and Santi Aldama to lead their team in their elimination game.
Pippen finished with 34 points, 11 rebounds, and four assists, while Bane and Aldama contributed 23 apiece. Jaren Jackson Jr. and Vince Williams Jr. helped with 12 and 11, respectively, in trying to carry their team to survival.
In the other series, the Cleveland Cavaliers once again dominated the Miami Heat, 124-87, to have a commanding 3-0 lead in their match-up, while the No. 7 seed Golden State Warriors got their 104-93 triumph at home to take a 2-1 advantage against the No. 2 seed Houston Rockets.
Meanwhile, the Nuggets had a playoff moment when Aaron Gordon made a buzzer-beating dunk after he rebounded a Nikola Jokic missed jumper and emphatically earned the 117-115 success to tie their own series against the Clippers.
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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).