Thunder beat Nuggets to get within reach of West Finals
The Oklahoma City Thunder took control of their second-round series against the Denver Nuggets in a thrilling 112–105 Game 5 victory on Wednesday, May 14 (PH time) at the Paycom Center. With the win, the Thunder now hold a 3–2 series lead and are just one win away from their first Western Conference Finals appearance since 2016.
It was a tightly contested matchup from the opening tip. The Nuggets led by just two at the half, 56–54, behind strong efforts from Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray. In the third quarter, Denver looked poised to pull away after extending the lead to eight, 88–80, heading into the final frame.
But Oklahoma City’s youthful energy and relentless pace turned the tide in the fourth. The Thunder slowly chipped away at the deficit, staying composed even as the Nuggets tried to hold them off. With under six minutes to go, OKC erased a nine-point gap and eventually tied the game at 92-all, sending the Paycom crowd into a frenzy.
In the final stretch, it became a battle of stars. Tied at 100, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander drew a foul on Jamal Murray after shooting from midrange and calmly completed the three-point play to give OKC the lead. Moments later, Jokic answered with a difficult, off-balance three to level the score at 103–103.
Not to be outdone, Jalen Williams responded with a clutch corner three that pushed the Thunder ahead once more. Then, with under a minute to play, Gilgeous-Alexander sank another three over a defender, giving OKC a 109–103 lead with 47 seconds remaining — a dagger that sealed Denver’s fate.
SGA led the charge with 31 points, six rebounds, seven assists, two steals, and two blocks — a complete performance on both ends of the floor. Williams followed with 18 markers, nine boards, and four dimes, while the rest of the starting unit stepped up: Isaiah Hartenstein added 15 points, Chet Holmgren chipped in 14, and Luguentz Dort scored 12.
Alex Caruso, a veteran presence off the bench, contributed valuable minutes and tallied 13 points, four rebounds, and two assists.
On the other end, Jokic did everything he could to will the Nuggets to victory, finishing with a game-high 44 points, 15 rebounds, five assists, and two steals in another MVP-caliber performance. Jamal Murray had 28 markers, four boards, and three dimes, but Denver struggled to find consistent contributions from their supporting cast.
Aaron Gordon posted a solid 13-5-3 line, but Michael Porter Jr. was a non-factor, finishing with just two points on 0-of-5 shooting from beyond the arc — a glaring void in Denver’s offensive rhythm.
The Thunder now hold the momentum heading into Game 6, which will be held at Ball Arena in Denver on Friday, May 16 (PH time). A win there would send OKC to the Western Conference Finals and mark a major milestone for one of the NBA’s youngest and most exciting squads. The Nuggets, meanwhile, are fighting to stay alive and force a decisive Game 7.
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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).