‘I couldn’t breathe’: the sinister spread of France’s killer seaweed

After a series of deaths on the beaches of Brittany, one bereaved family set out to prove the foul-smelling bloom was to blame

When her phone rang at around 5pm on 8 September 2016, Rosy Auffray was still at work. It was one of her daughters, distressed, calling to tell her that their father, Jean-René, had not come back from his daily run. Only the family dog had returned, alone and exhausted. Rosy rushed back home.

When she arrived, Rosy noticed that the dog was behaving bizarrely: she refused to walk, then collapsed under a bush. Her fur stank of rotten eggs, of overflowing sewers. Rosy knew where that smell came from: the mudflats roughly three miles from the family home in Brittany, where seaweed had been accumulating and putrefying. The soggy, decomposing seaweed stretched for miles along the shore, sometimes as much as five feet thick, killing other plants and suffocating fish and small birds.
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J.B. Bickerstaff calls out officials over free throws after Pistons' Game 4 loss to Cavaliers: 'It's unacceptable'

J.B. Bickerstaff didn’t hesitate to call out the officiating on Monday night.

Bickerstaff and the Detroit Pistons stumbled in the second half on Monday and fell to Donovan Mitchell and the Cleveland Cavaliers 112-103. The loss in Game 4 of their second-round playoff series tied it up 2-2.

But it wasn’t just the loss, or the record-tying performance that Mitchell had in the second half, that Bickerstaff was upset with. It was the foul calls, or in his mind, the lack thereof.

“It’s unacceptable, it is,” Bickerstaff said, via the Detroit News’ Coty Davis. “We didn’t do enough honestly to help ourselves, and I’ll start there. But ever since we came to Cleveland, the whistle has changed. There’s no way that one guy on their team shoots more free throws than our team.”

“It’s unacceptable.”

Bickerstaff speaks on the free-throw shooting discrepancy following the #Pistons’ Game 4 loss to the Cavaliers. https://t.co/gKyBRCOSZMpic.twitter.com/pzJbm8gf7P
— Coty M. Davis (@CotyDavis_24) May 12, 2026

The Pistons went 9-of-12 from the free-throw line in the loss at Rocket Arena on Monday. By comparison, the Cavaliers made 30 of the 34 free throws they attempted. Mitchell went 13-of-15 from the line himself.

Now in Mitchell’s defense, he absolutely erupted in the second half. Mitchell had 39 of his 43 points in the game in the final two quarters, which matched an NBA playoff record. He went 13-of-26 from the field and made four 3-pointers, too.

But Mitchell did in fact make more free throws in the win than the Pistons attempted.

“What was done out there tonight, it’s frustrating,” Bickerstaff said. “But we can’t allow that to be the reason why … But again, when you look at the foul count, you look at the disparity, that’s hard to overcome. And you wonder the reason why.”

Zooming out, the Cavaliers shot just 16 free-throw attempts in their Game 1 loss. The Pistons went 27-of-35 from the line that night. Game 2, which the Pistons also won, was much more even, with the Cavaliers shooting just seven more attempts than the Pistons. The Cavaliers shot six more than the Pistons in their Game 3 win, too.

Again, it’s hard to blame the officiating for the loss completely, especially when Mitchell goes off the way he did. Bickerstaff said that up front, too.

But clearly, he’s not happy with how the game was called on Monday night. Whether that changes when the series returns to Detroit for Game 5 on Wednesday remains to be seen.

Comprehensive National Basketball Association news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors...


How to watch Thunder vs. Lakers Game 4 for free: Start time, livestream

New York Post may be compensated and/or receive an affiliate commission if you click or buy through our links. Featured pricing is subject to change.

The Lakers will try to avoid being swept by the Thunder in tonight’s Game 4. Down 3-0, their season is on the line.

Although the Lakers held a slim one-point lead at halftime, the Thunder’s offense exploded in the second half, outscoring Los Angeles by 24 points over the final two quarters for a final score of 131-108.

Ajay Mitchell was the breakout star of the night, with a career-high 24 points and 10 assists, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren each contributed 23 points to help Oklahoma City improve to 7–0 in the postseason.

			Thunder vs. Lakers: what to know

What: NBA Playoffs Second Round, Game 4

When: May 11, 10:30 p.m. ET

Where: Crypto.com Arena (Los Angeles, California)

Channel: Streaming exclusive

Streaming: Prime Video (try it free)

If the Lakers win, the series will move back to Oklahoma City for a Wednesday night Game 5. If the Thunder win, they’ll advance into a second consecutive Western Conference Final against either Minnesota or San Antonio.
Thunder vs. Lakers start time:
The Los Angeles Lakers and OKC Thunder game is scheduled to tip off at 10:30 p.m. ET tonight, May 11.
How to watch Thunder vs. Lakers for free:
Tonight’s Lakers game is one of the NBA Playoffs games streaming exclusively on Prime Video, so you’ll need an Amazon Prime subscription to watch.

If you aren’t a Prime Video subscriber yet, you can get started with a 30-day Amazon Prime free trial, including Prime perks like the Prime Video streaming service, free two-day shipping, exclusive deals, and more. After the free trial, Amazon Prime costs $14.99/month or $139/year.

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PRIME FOR YOUNG ADULTS

All 18- to 24-year-olds, regardless of student status, are eligible for a discounted Prime for Young Adults membership as well, with age verification. After a six-month free trial, you’ll pay 50% off the standard Prime monthly price of $14.99/month — just $7.49/month — for up to six yearswith all the perks.
Lakers-Thunder second round playoff schedule

Game 1: Thunder 108, Lakers 90

Game 2: Thunder 125, Lakers 107

Game 3: Thunder 131, Lakers 108

Game 4: May 11 (10:30 ET, Prime Video)

Game 5: May 13*

Game 6: May 16*

Game 7: May 18*

* if necessary

					TRY DIRECTV FOR FREE
Why Trust Post Wanted by the New York Post

This article was written by Angela Tricarico, Commerce Streaming Reporter for Post Wanted Shopping, Page Six, and Decider.com. Angela keeps readers up to date with cord-cutter-friendly deals, and information on how to watch your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and movies on every streaming service. Not only does Angela test and compare the streaming services she writes about to ensure readers are getting the best prices, but she’s also a superfan specializing in the intersection of shopping, tech, sports, and pop culture. When she’s not writing about (or watching) TV, movies, and sports, she’s also keeping up on the underrated perfume dupes at Bath & Body Works and testing headphones. Prior to joining Decider and The New York Post in 2023, she wrote about streaming and consumer tech at Insider Reviews.


More than 6,000 children treated at obesity clinics in England, figures show

Hundreds of four-year-olds among ‘extremely overweight’ patients at 39 specialist centres since 2021

More than 6,000 children living with obesity, including hundreds as young as four, have required treatment at specialist NHS weight-loss clinics, new figures reveal.

NHS England data, published for the first time, underlines the scale of the growing childhood obesity crisis.
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Latest news, breaking news and current affairs coverage from across the UK from theguardian.com


Woe Vienna? Boycotts and blackouts mar buildup as Eurovision 2026 begins

Usually joyous song contest ‘a little bit sad’ this year, says one expert, with rows over Israel and costs to the fore

It was meant to be the crowning moment of a seemingly never-ending success story: the 70th anniversary of the world’s biggest and ever-expanding live music event, held in a city steeped in history both dramatic and musical.

But as Vienna gears up to host this year’s Eurovision song contest, which starts on Tuesday and culminates in Saturday’s grand final, euphoria will be hard to come by outside the power ballads performed onstage.
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Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice


Cannes spotlight reverts to auteurs as Hollywood retreats from film festival

Absence of big US films heralds renewed focus on international cinema that underpins festival’s reputation

For decades, Cannes has occupied a unique place in the cultural imagination – not just as the world’s most prestigious film festival, but as Hollywood’s most glamorous overseas outpost.

From Grace Kelly on the Croisette, Quentin Tarantino and Uma Thurman at the Pulp Fiction premiere, Julia Roberts walking barefoot up the red carpet, to Tom Cruise shutting down the Riviera with fighter jets overhead, Hollywood has made its mark on Cannes.
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Hot divorcee summer: get ready for big hats, hot sex and don’t-care energy

Fresh out of wedlock and in the mood for some fun? Join your newly single sisters in the glow-up to end all glow-ups

‘Sorry babe I’m a divorced mum on a buffet of magnesium glycinate, ashwagandha, peptides, and sertraline, covering a mortgage alone during late stage capitalism, idgaf about your opinion anymore,” wrote Meghan McTavish, an Australian divorce-fluencer, who went viral a couple of years ago because, even after her split, her parents refused to take down her wedding photos.

This might be the core of hot divorcee energy: an unvarnished devil-may-care spirit that seems to have captured the cultural moment this summer. So, of course, you’re wondering how this differs from the brat, last year’s aspirational muse – who also, emphatically, did not care what the world thought (though if you’re still confused about the difference between that and 2024’s hot girl summer, I suggest you go back in time and take last year’s module again).
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‘It’s like a trans-Barbie world!’: the Indian festival where transgender women can celebrate without fear

The annual gathering at Koovagam is rooted in an ancient poem. Five trans attendees talk about what the event means to them in light of a controversial change to the country’s gender recognition law

The summer air is thick with dust, sweat and the scent of jasmine. In Koovagam, in southern Tamil Nadu, more than 100,000 people have gathered for one of India’s most distinctive festivals. Transgender women from across India, arrive in bright silk saris and gold temple jewellery, their hair oiled and braided with flowers.

For nearly 18 days, the little town swells into a city of devotion, culminating in rituals that blur the boundaries between myth and reality.

The Koovagam festival pageant winner displays her rings
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Yes, Europe’s leaders are finally standing up to Trump. Here’s why | Mujtaba Rahman

Friedrich Merz’s criticism of the US president was not a solo run. It was born of the realisation that US leverage has slipped

Friedrich Merz’s criticism of Donald Trump last month reflected more than a moment of personal candour or a split between Berlin and the White House. It pointed to a broader shift under way among European leaders. Increasingly they are willing to publicly confront the Trump administration on issues ranging from Iran to Ukraine and European sovereignty.

The Trump administration’s ever-more erratic policies and the belief that they necessitate a more forceful response partly explains this shift.

Mujtaba Rahman is the managing director for Europe at Eurasia Group, a political risk research and consulting firm
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From 4 points to tying a playoff record with a 39-point half, Donovan Mitchell flips Game 4 for Cavs

CLEVELAND (AP) — Donovan Mitchell had his worst first half in a playoff game since joining the Cleveland Cavaliers in September 2022.

No problem. The All-Star guard followed it up with one of the best 24-minute stretches by a player in NBA playoff history Monday night.

After scoring only four points in the first half, Mitchell responded with 39 in the second half, tying the NBA playoff record for most points in a half as the Cavaliers rallied for a 112-103 victory over the Detroit Pistons in Game 4 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series.

“It’s pretty impressive. I'm not sure I’ve seen in the playoffs a turnaround like that where a guy is struggling and just absolutely turns the switch and complete opposite of the first half,” Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson said.

Mitchell equaled Eric “Sleepy” Floyd's record on a free throw with 27.6 seconds remaining. He had a chance to break the record, set in 1987 when Floyd's Golden State Warriors faced the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference semifinals, but missed his second foul shot.

“Everybody let me know that I missed a free throw to break the record, though," Mitchell said. "I will say that, but we’re two and two headed to Detroit. That was what we came home to do and that’s all that matters.”

Mitchell didn't score until he made a free throw with 4:19 remaining in the second quarter. He also missed his first six shots from the field before hitting a 3-pointer from the left corner with 2:48 left in the first half.

Despite Mitchell's early struggles, the Cavaliers only trailed 56-52 at halftime. James Harden and Evan Mobley both kept Cleveland in the game in the first half as they combined for 26 points.

“I airball the first layup and was missing shots short," Mitchell said. "Sometimes it’s natural, right? I wasn’t really trying to get in there and force it and then just doubling down on the defensive end, trying to take whoever I’m guarding, take them out of the equation. I’m not tripping, we were down four at half.

"I always tell y’all it’s not just about the scoring, it’s about your overall impact on the game. And for me, it was just like, ‘OK, now I have an opportunity to try to get downhill’ and then started going in.”

Mitchell was 12 of 18 from the field in the second half, including three 3-pointers, and was 12 of 13 at the line. Cleveland's previous mark for most points in a half was 31 by Mitchell in Game 7 of its first-round series against Orlando in 2024.

Mitchell tied a franchise record for points in a quarter with 21 in the third as the Cavaliers seized control, outscoring the Pistons 38-21 in the quarter. He scored 15 during Cleveland’s 24-0 run that went from the last 12 seconds of the first half to the first six minutes of the third quarter.

The 24-0 run was the longest in an NBA playoff game since since Minnesota also scored 24 straight in Game 6 of its Western Conference semifinal series against Denver in 2024. It was also the longest spurt by Cleveland in a postseason game since play-by-play stats were kept in 1997-98. The previous high was 19 in an Eastern semifinal series contest against Boston.

“Donovan Mitchell was killing us, and that’s pretty much it," Pistons center Paul Reed said.

It was Mitchell's eighth playoff game with at least 40 points, his fourth with the Cavaliers. He has at least 30 points in three straight games as the series shifts to Detroit for Game 5 on Wednesday with it even at two games apiece.

Cleveland is still looking for its first road playoff win this season, and will need at least one if it hopes to make the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 2018.

“We’ve had two good games to build off of, but it’s going to be a hostile environment," Mitchell said. “It’s going to be a lot of fun. And I think I know we’re ready for the challenge.”

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba


Why does everyone hate Keir Starmer? - podcast

Aditya Chakrabortty on the Labour leader’s predicament – and if he may be the last prime minister of the two-party system

In these highly polarised times, dunking on the prime minister – and this one in particular – is the one thing that seems to unite people in fury, disappointment and loathing. So as he rolled his sleeves up to address the nation on Monday morning, after one of the worst election results in Labour’s history, Keir Starmer had quite the job on his hands.

The Guardian columnist Aditya Chakrabortty was watching – and wincing. “There are times when I watch Keir Starmer promising he’s going to change,” he said. “He looks to me like a guy on the verge of divorce, holding flowers from the nearest petrol station and saying: ‘Trust me. Honestly, it’s going to be different this time. Honestly, love, stick with me.’” But why does there seem to be such antagonism towards the Labour leader – and can anyone guide the party out of the mess they have found themselves in?
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Dillon Brooks trolls LeBron again, courtside at Lakers-Thunder Game 4

As the Los Angeles Lakers were facing a possible sweep at the hands of Western Conference No. 1 seed Oklahoma City Thunder, one face in the crowd couldn't be happier to see it all unfold.

Dillon Brooks, the Phoenix Suns wing, enforcer, villain and LeBron James pest, was spotted sitting courtside at Crypto.com Arena with a smile on his face as the Lakers entered halftime trailing 49-45. The 30-year-old, fresh off getting swept against the Thunder in the first round, apparently couldn't help but get out to LA to watch his nemesis possibly meet the same fate in the second round.

Nah man Dillon Brooks a REAL VILLAIN

Bro showed up to Game 4 just to hatewatch LeBron I’M IN TEARS 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/noAnFRa7pS
— Hater Report (@HaterReport) May 12, 2026

Brooks and James have a history dating back to the first round of the 2023 playoffs, when he openly taunted the NBA's all-time leading scorer as the two exchanged verbal jabs in the media and got into a confrontation during Game 3, with Brooks later taking jabs at James' age.

"I don't care. He's old. You know what I mean?" Brooks, then with the Memphis Grizzlies, told reporters at the time. "I was waiting for that. I was expecting him to do that [in] Game 4, Game 5. He wanted to say something when I got my fourth foul. He should have been saying that earlier on. But I poke bears. I don't respect no one until they come and give me 40."

After the Lakers took that series in six games, James took to Instagram.

"If you ever see me fighting in the forest with a Grizzly bear," James wrote in his caption. "HELP THE BEAR."

The two were at it again this past December, when Brooks told reporters that James "likes people that bow down. I don't bow down."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dillon Brooks sits courtside at Laker playoff game to spite LeBron


Pistons vs Cavaliers final score: Series tied 2-2 after Detroit loses second straight

May 11, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden (1) knocks the ball away from Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren (0) during the first half of game four in the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images | Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
This one wasn’t all that close.

Everything looked bad at the start of the game as Cleveland got out to a 13-5 run. With two quick fouls on Ausar Thompson, Caris LeVert checked in and started playing his best ball of the season. He helped Detroit reclaim the lead and they took a 24-21 lead at the end of the first quarter. It was a good turnaround after Cleveland led by 11 and had zero fouls called on them.

The off-ball defense from Detroit was poor all game as they lost Cavs shooters multiple times for open catch-and-shoot looks. It was all tied up 38-38 halfway through the quarter until a Tobias Harris three put him in double-digits and gave them a four-point lead a few possessions later. Detroit would take a 56-52 halftime lead.

The Pistons had 10 first half turnovers that let Cleveland stay close while shooting 55% from the field and holding the Cavs to 40%. LeVert, Harris, and Cunningham combined for 43 of Detroit’s 56 points. James Harden had 15 points and Evan Mobley added 11 points.

This game was over as soon as both teams came out of the locker rooms.

Despite shooting 1-for-8 in the first half, Donovan Mitchell came out on fire and never cooled off. Cleveland started the second half with an 8-0 run, all from Mitchell. After JB Bickerstaff called a timeout, the Cavs went on another 8-0 run into another JBB timeout. By the time unsung hero Paul Reed finally put an end to the bleeding, Cleveland went on a 22-0 run.

Bball Paul was the lone bright spot for Detroit in the third quarter. He made all six of his shots for 13 points in the quarter. Mitchell ended up with 21 points in the third, equivalent to the number of points the Pistons scored in the quarter as well.

The final score makes the game look closer than it was. Cleveland was up by 17 with less than three minutes left and a late push by Reed and the third stringers forced the Cavs starters back in late. Detroit would lose 112-103.

This will be a game to forget, and one where the film won’t be pretty. LeVert finished with 24 points, Cade added 19 points, Harris had 16 points, and Reed had 15. Duncan Robinson played 29 minutes to score four points on only two field goal attempts. Ausar Thompson played 12 minutes in the first half and seven minutes in the second while Donovan Mitchell tied an NBA record with 39 second half points.

Jalen Duren was not good. He looked bad from the start of the game and finished with eight points on eight shots while only grabbing two rebounds in 27 minutes. Isaiah Stewart only played seven minutes but grabbed one more rebound. Both bigs were outplayed by third stringer Reed who had 15 points, four rebounds, two assists, and a steal in only 14 minutes.

I dunno, man. We played 11 guys if you don’t include Sasser’s garbage time minutes while Ausar played 19 and Stew played seven. Daniss played 21 minutes and missed all four of his field goal attempts. Leaving Ausar on the bench for six combined points out of Duncan and Daniss is an issue when Mitchell is having an NBA record-tying performance.

It is what it is – it didn’t go well tonight, but the Pistons have homecourt advantage and will look to use that on Wednesday night in Little Caesars Arena. They’ll need to come out with a better performance that tonight if they want to win this series.

Go Stones.


Teen bedroom art installation shines spotlight on Ukraine’s stolen children

Since the start of the current conflict, more than 20,500 Ukrainian children have been taken by Russia

It looks like a typical teenager’s bedroom: football shirts on the wall, crumpled clothes on the floor, exercise books open on the desk. But it is a work of political art, intended to evoke the empty rooms of more than 20,500 Ukrainian children unlawfully taken to Russia.

The work was on display on Monday at the headquarters of the European Commission in Brussels, as delegates from 63 countries and international organisations gathered to discuss how to bring Ukraine’s children home. “It’s essentially a way for someone to step into Ukraine without having to actually travel there,” Isaac Yeung, a co-creator of the installation, said.
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Wes Streeting faces narrow road to Labour members’ favour

Health secretary’s soft-right credentials put him at a disadvantage even with reduced membership under Starmer

UK politics live – latest updates

“Country first, party second” is a mantra Keir Starmer and his cabinet have repeated since being in opposition, seeking to draw a dividing line between Labour and their Conservative predecessors’ inclination for self-destruction.

But party members do matter in politics – and a key problem for Wes Streeting, one of those with ambitions to succeed Keir Starmer, is that many of Labour’s do not like him.
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Seven-day weeks and ‘debt bondage’: China’s first electric car plant in Europe mired in allegations of worker abuse

The BYD factory being built in Szeged, Hungary, is facing scrutiny after reports of EU labour laws being violated among the Chinese migrant workforce

Multilingual signs in most airports in the EU opt for English, but in Hungary, there is also Chinese, making it easy for migrant workers flying in to staff China’s first electric car plant in Europe – due to open in 2027.

The third language was introduced in 2019 as the recently ousted leader Viktor Orbán embarked on a “comprehensive strategic partnership” with China, positioning himself as its most reliable friend in Europe.
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Will Starmer’s old Labour tribute strategy rescue him from the abyss? Probably not, but there’s a logic to it | Gaby Hinsliff

Gordon Brown and Harriet Harman offer experience and political craft, but to reap the benefits, the PM himself will have to change

There comes a time, in the dying days of a relationship, when you start to become irritated merely by the sound of your partner’s breathing. It’s not kind, and it’s not necessarily rational, but it is what it is. Nothing they can do is going to fix it, and nothing they say makes it better – even if they suddenly start promising to do all the things you’ve been begging them to do for years. It all just seems too little, too late. And that is roughly where the parliamentary Labour party now finds itself with Keir Starmer.

His response to the bloodbath of last week’s local elections, in which he brought back Gordon Brown and Harriet Harman as advisers while promising something bigger and bolder than the creeping caution of the 2024 manifesto, was a promise to change aimed squarely at the MPs threatening to oust him and yet somehow it seems only to have deepened the frustration. Most would love nothing better than to get closer to Europe, as he promised; many have been screaming for months that, as he acknowledged, people are crying out for change to come faster. And the back-to-the-future appointments of two more New Labour veterans, to a team already groaning with survivors from the more successful 1997 to 2010 Labour governments, at least shows an understanding of where the plumbing is blocked.
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Lamb with peas and broad beans, caponata and vignarola: Conor Gadd’s recipes for Italian-style spring vegetables

Buttermilk-marinated lamb with fresh peas and broad beans, a classic Sicilian aubergine dish, and a vegetable-stuffed Roman spring stew

Spring is arguably the most exciting time for a chef, or cook. The long – really long – winter has come to an end and, as the shadows shorten, the list of ingredients lengthens: peas, broad beans, wild garlic, spring lamb … It is where nature comes into her own, because, as if by design, all of its bounty goes together in the most wonderful, natural and understated way.
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Thunder hang on late in Game 4 to beat LeBron James and the Lakers, complete series sweep

It was their closest game of the postseason so far, but the Oklahoma City Thunder still haven’t slipped.

The Thunder held on late in a wild final few minutes to grab a 115-110 win over LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday night at Crypto.com Arena. The win completed the sweep for the Thunder, who have now won nine straight playoff games dating back to their championship last season. Their eight straight wins this spring ties the longest win streak to start a postseason by a defending champion in league history.

Monday’s victory officially sent the Thunder into the Western Conference finals, where they’ll wait for either the Minnesota Timberwolves or San Antonio Spurs. That series is tied up 2-2 entering Game 5 on Tuesday night.

James, who is entering free agency this summer at yet another pivotal point in his career, had 24 points and 12 rebounds for the Lakers in the loss.
Thunder hang on late to beat Lakers
The Lakers kept pace early on, and even closed the first quarter on an 18-7 burst to take a slight lead. Austin Reaves had eight points and was a perfect 3-of-3 from the field in the first 12 minutes, too.

But, of course, the Thunder responded immediately. They opened the second quarter on a 17-0 run to take a double-digit lead almost instantly. They never trailed again. The Thunder took a four-point lead into the locker room at halftime, which was much closer than the game felt at the time, behind 14 points from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. James limped into the locker room after rolling his ankle in the final moments of the period, too, but he returned normally to start the third quarter.

The Lakers finally turned it on late in the third after a rough start to the second half, and actually took a four-point lead into the fourth quarter. It was the first time all series at the Lakers held the lead entering the final period — which happened in part after a massive Jaxson Hayes slam through Chet Holmgren.

HAYES SLAM 💥

LAKERS LEAD BY 4 HEADING INTO Q4 OF GAME 4! pic.twitter.com/xEJTvfIbrT
— NBA (@NBA) May 12, 2026

That lead was pushed to five briefly in the fourth quarter, but it too stalled out. The Thunder tied it back up just before the midway point after a tough 3-pointer from Jared McCain. But the Lakers completed a pair of ridiculous and-one buckets, one from Rui Hachimura from behind the arc and then another from Marcus Smart inside the one-minute mark, to regain the lead briefly.

RUI 4-POINT PLAY!

LAKERS LEAD BY 1 WITH 40.9 TO PLAY IN GAME 4 ON PRIME 🍿 pic.twitter.com/Ez4FyhVTPB
— NBA (@NBA) May 12, 2026

Holmgren threw down a two-handed dunk through James on the next possession to put the Thunder out in front. That ended up being enough. James missed a great look at a floater on the other end, and the Thunder then sank their free throws and came up with one final stop to seal the five-point win.

Gilgeous-Alexander led Oklahoma City with 35 points and eight assists while shooting 11-of-22 from the floor. Ajay Mitchell had 28 points on 12 made field goals, too.

Reaves finished with 27 points with six rebounds and six assists for the Lakers to go with James’ 24 points. Hachimura had 25 points, too, and Hayes added 18 off the bench.

What’s next for LeBron James?
While the Thunder will continue on in their title defense, all eyes will now turn to James and what’s next for the Lakers star.

There has been plenty of speculation for months that James might retire at the end of the season, something that has now come for him and the Lakers. And that would make a lot of sense for plenty of reasons.

James is 41 years old and accomplished just about everything possible throughout his NBA career. He’s a four-time NBA champion and a four-time MVP. He surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the league’s all-time scoring leader, and has both played more games and won more games than anyone else. Undoubtedly, James is one of the best to have ever played the sport.

James is set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason, too, so he has the freedom to do whatever he wants — whether that’s returning to the Lakers, signing with another team or retirement.

It’s unclear when James will make that decision. But now, with the Lakers officially out of the playoffs, the basketball world is waiting for James to make that announcement yet again.


Dillon Brooks keeps finding ways to make Lakers fans uncomfortable

Playoff basketball rolls on without the Phoenix Suns. That doesn’t mean they aren’t watching. In some cases, they’re getting quite the view.

The Los Angeles Lakers hosted the Oklahoma City Thunder for Game 4 of the Western Conference Semifinals on Monday night, and a familiar face was sitting in the crowd. Thunder guards Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Luguentz Dort share something in common with Suns forward Dillon Brooks, as all three are members of Team Canada. So, in a game in which SGA and Dort could potentially clinch their second consecutive trip to the Western Conference Finals, it wasn’t surprising to see their national teammate Dillon Brooks sitting baseline at Crypto.com Arena taking in the game.

Dillon Brooks got front row seats to hate watch LeBron 😭😭 pic.twitter.com/UkadcrPwrH
— BrickCenter (@BrickCenter_) May 12, 2026

What made it even more entertaining is Brooks’ ongoing rivalry with LeBron James. The two have had plenty of run-ins over the years, some dating back to Brooks’ time with the Memphis Grizzlies, others happening this past season with Phoenix. When the Amazon Prime broadcast cut to Brooks sitting courtside, iced out in jewelry as LeBron stood at the free throw line, it felt very on brand.

And knowing Brooks, there were probably a few comments exchanged as he rooted for his friends to take down the Lakers.

Dillon Brooks is extension-eligible this upcoming offseason, and it’ll be interesting to see which direction the Phoenix Suns choose to go. Do they get ahead of it now and lock him up early? Or do they wait until next summer, when he becomes an unrestricted free agent and revisit it then?

He was a major part of the identity and culture shift Phoenix experienced this past season, and that carries real value. The question is how much value the organization places on it financially. Until then, it’s nice to see Brooks enjoying the offseason and continuing the Suns tradition of rooting against the Los Angeles Lakers.


I can tell Stephen A Smith why many Black people don’t like him | Etan Thomas

The ESPN star has done brilliant work for Black students. I wrote an open letter to him explaining why his comments on politics alienate much of his audience

Dear Stephen A Smith,

Let me first say that I tremendously respect all you do for historically Black colleges and universities. You have helped generate millions in scholarships, promoted student enrollment and brought national media attention to HBCUs across the United States. Specifically, as ambassador, you have promoted the annual HBCU College Fair, which has garnered over $12m in scholarships. You encourage students to consider HBCUs for their higher education, highlighting the community and nurturing environment they provide.

Etan Thomas played in the NBA from 2000 through 2011. He is a published author, podcaster, poet, activist and motivational speaker.
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TV tonight: Mel Giedroyc’s very fun escape room show

She sets bizarre challenges for comedians like Ed Gamble and Lou Sanders. Plus: what’s the link between Trump and wrestling? Here’s what to watch this evening

9pm, U&Dave
Mel Giedroyc hosts this cheerful gameshow in which teams of comics are placed in themed rooms that, via physical and deductive tasks, they must race to escape. The contestants (who include Ed Gamble, Lou Sanders, Nish Kumar and Chloe Petts) get their sea legs with a fishing challenge, complete with pungent seaside smells and oysters to shuck. Their general ineptitude constitutes most of the fun. Phil Harrison
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Mitchell ties NBA playoff mark with 39 points in 2nd half as Cavs even series vs. Pistons

CLEVELAND (AP) — Donovan Mitchell tied an NBA playoff record with 39 points in the second half and the Cleveland Cavaliers evened their second-round series against the Detroit Pistons with a 112-103 victory Monday night.

Mitchell matched the mark of Eric “Sleepy” Floyd on a free throw with 27.6 seconds remaining. He had a chance to break the record, set in 1987 against the Los Angeles Lakers, but missed his second foul shot.

Mitchell finished with 43 points, including 15 during Cleveland’s 24-0 run that went from the last 12 seconds of the first half to the first six minutes of the third quarter. Cleveland trailed 56-52 at halftime before taking control.

The 24-0 run was the longest in an NBA playoff game since since Minnesota also scored 24 straight in Game 6 of its Western Conference semifinal series against Denver in 2024. It was also the longest spurt by Cleveland in a postseason game since play-by-play stats were kept in 1997-98. The previous high was 19 in an Eastern semifinal series contest against Boston.

James Harden had his 40th playoff double-double with 24 points and 11 assists. Evan Mobley had 17 points, five blocked shots and three steals as Cleveland remained unbeaten at home in six playoff games.

Caris LeVert had a season high 24 points for Detroit. Cade Cunningham scored 19, the first time he has been held under 20 in 11 playoff games this season, and Tobias Harris added 16.

Game 5 is Wednesday night in Detroit.

THUNDER 115, LAKERS 110

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 35 points, Chet Holmgren made a tiebreaking dunk with 32.8 seconds to play, and Oklahoma City swept Los Angeles out of the second round of the NBA playoffs with a victory in Game 4.

Ajay Mitchell scored 10 of his 28 points in the frantic final period as the Thunder overcame the Lakers’ tenacious effort and improved to 8-0 in the playoffs with their toughest victory of the postseason.

LeBron James had 24 points and 14 rebounds in the final game of the unprecedented 23rd season for the top scorer in NBA history, but he missed a driving bank shot with 20 seconds left that would have put the Lakers ahead.

The 41-year-old James has repeatedly said he hasn’t decided whether to play next season, so there was no ceremony or momentousness around this game. Instead, the Lakers desperately tried to extend their year, only to lose to Oklahoma City for the eighth time this season.

Austin Reaves scored 27 points before missing a tying 3-point attempt with eight seconds left for the Lakers, who advanced one round farther than almost anybody expected after losing NBA scoring champion Luka Doncic and Reaves to significant injuries a month ago.


If this is it for LeBron James, appreciate how unprecedented he was

If this is indeed it for LeBron James, give him credit for one thing: he was unprecedented, even until the very end.

The Oklahoma City Thunder unceremoniously swept James’ Los Angeles Lakers on Monday, May 11 in the conference semifinal round in what might be the final game of James’ storied 23-year career. James has not revealed his future plans, but will turn 42 in December and has been more vulnerable recently about how basketball is affecting his body.

James also has nothing more to prove.

What he did this year had never been seen before. Not only did he start all 60 games he played during the regular season (adding 10 more in the postseason), he rewrote the standard for what’s possible for players 40 and older.

In the 46 games he played after turning 41 on Dec. 30, he averaged 21.1 points, 7.3 assists and 6.4 rebounds per contest. Compare that scoring figure with the next closest player, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who averaged just 10.5 points per game after his 41st birthday.

Take this postseason: even though the Lakers fell well short of their objectives, they were missing All-Star Luka Dončić. And for much of L.A.’s first-round series against the Rockets, Austin Reaves was out, too.

That meant that the Lakers' hopes instantly fell squarely on James, who responded by averaging 23.2 points in the playoffs. Simply put: there has been no other player in history to be so consistently reliable this this stage of a career.

“What he’s doing at this stage of his career is remarkable,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault told reporters after the game. “Just the fact that he’s playing at this stage of his career is remarkable. The level he’s able to get to at this stage is unbelievable.

“And he is a guy that … if you make a mistake on him, he’s going to make you pay for it, and it actually helps you improve. Like, he’s developing your team because any crack, he’s going to find it.”

Even in Monday night’s Game 4 loss, James chiseled away to a steady 24 points on 8-of-18 shooting, adding 12 rebounds and 3 assists.

Frankly, that claim could be stretched to his entire career.

James has been available throughout his playing days at a near absurd level. Not only has he avoided major injury, his 61,030 regular season minutes are an all-time record and come out to 42.4 days.

He also entered Monday night with 12,405 playoff minutes, another all-time record.

FAN WEIGH IN:  What to make of LeBron's tenure with Lakers

Forget the discussions about where James ranks compared with Jordan or Kobe or Kareem or Wilt because those conversations tend to be reductive and difficult to quantify.

What’s undeniable is that James has been the premier player of this generation — a 22-time All-Star and four-time Most Valuable Player who won four championships with three different teams. If this was his last game, he was an ambassador of the sport and he elevated the play of his teammates. He outworked his competition and stayed in peak physical condition. He stayed out of controversy and enriched the communities in which he played.

James did have his detractors, as all great players do. But if this was in fact his last game, appreciate the production and longevity. Appreciate the commitment to the sport. Because like Jordan, like Kobe, like Kareem and like Wilt, there will never be another LeBron James.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Reflecting on LeBron James' career after what might be his final game


British Steel nationalisation: what went wrong, and what happens now?

Keir Starmer’s plan for full state ownership marks latest chapter in Scunthorpe plant’s troubled history

Full nationalisation of British Steel expected in king’s speech

Nils Pratley: More questions than answers on the future

Four queens – blast furnaces named after Anne, Bess (Elizabeth), Victoria and Mary – loom over the British Steel works at Scunthorpe. Within days the queens could be under public ownership, after Keir Starmer on Monday promised legislation to nationalise the plant.

“Strong nations in a world like this need to make steel,” Starmer said on Monday in a speech. The prime minister was hoping decisive action would fend off challenges to his leadership.
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Royal Caribbean ‘unfairly’ charged me over booking for disabled son

We had booked a cruise for him and his carers, but we had a string of problems when we tried to change names

In November 2024, I booked a cruise for my wife, myself and our severely disabled son for this July. I’d booked well in advance to ensure an accessible cabin for my son. At home, he needs round-the-clock care from a rota of eight carers, so we made extra bookings for three to accompany him.

Because the care team has other commitments, I couldn’t confirm their names at the time of booking and was told to do so by this April, when the balance had to be paid.
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Here are three ways to keep Reform out of No 10 – and one of them starts with you | Daniel Trilling

Nigel Farage’s ascent to power is not inevitable, and his party’s success in the May elections will expose its major weaknesses

There is no sugarcoating the fact that on the basis of last week’s elections, Reform UK is now the largest party in British politics, if only by vote share. It is still a long way from ever winning power at Westminster, but we don’t need to look far to see whether a Reform government would try to make good on its various threats – because Reform is our local version of an international wave of populist rightwing nationalism.

This loosely connected movement has declared its hostility to the checks and balances that prevent democracy from becoming a tyranny of the majority, or even of those with only a plurality of support. It can be chaotic and destructive, like Nigel Farage’s beloved Donald Trump, or slow and grinding like the recently departed Hungarian government of Viktor Orbán. But we can make a reasonable guess as to what life under a Reform government might look like – and I suspect it’s something that neither you nor I would welcome.
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Sailm nan Daoine (Psalms of the People) review – one man’s quest to keep Gaelic psalm singing alive

Jack Archer’s gentle film follows the immensely likable Rob MacNeacail as he journeys across Scotland and Ireland in a bid to save these traditional songs of people and place

There’s no word in Scottish Gaelic for “moreish” – or if there is, it slips Rob MacNeacail’s mind as he reaches for another biscuit in a church hall. MacNeacail is a Gaelic psalm singer and the eccentric star of this gentle and rather lovely film from Jack Archer that follows him on a mission to meet other singers keeping the tradition alive. Not that you’ll learn an awful lot about the history of psalm singing from this film; it is essentially an observational portrait of MacNeacail, at his home on the Scottish borders then out on the road to the Outer Hebrides, Skye, Belfast and County Cork.

But no knowledge is necessary to enjoy the extraordinarily rich and textured sound of psalm singing, once practised at Free Presbyterian churches all over Scotland. It’s a community activity: one person – the precentor – sings a line of a psalm from the bible, and everyone else sings it back slowly, each with their own interpretation, at their own tempo. No instruments, just voices; like the sea, the sound comes in great swells and then retreats. It’s haunting; shut your eyes and you might be in a stone chapel in the 1800s.
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The Savage Landscape by Cal Flyn review – into the wild

An awe‑inspiring investigation of the untamed places and inhospitable environments in which life – besides humans – finds a way

Off the coast of California, two miles down, there exist geothermal nurseries: gatherings of tens of thousands of small violet octopuses, each the size of a grapefruit. Known as pearl octopuses (Muusoctopus robustus), they congregate around hydrothermal springs which warm their eggs, allowing them to hatch in less than two years (in cold water it can take 10 years). When I want to calm my mind, I think of these gatherings, this factory of octopuses powered by the Earth’s energy that exists quietly away from our gaze, and might easily never have been discovered. How many more such worlds exist?

The seafloor is just one setting in Cal Flyn’s carnival of a book, The Savage Landscape, a wondrous personal journey to locate and understand wilderness. It’s a work of extraordinary physical and narrative movement that takes us from the depths of the ocean to volcanoes and icebergs, but is also a journey into our own psyches, and the stories we tell ourselves about “wild” landscapes. Above all, it is a reminder that the places we might conceive of as empty or barren are no such thing; that within wildernesses there is abundant life, both human and nonhuman.
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The sunny Danish island that’s a poster child for the good life – and perfect for a spring break

The island of Samsø offers tranquil walks, biking, birding, distillery and pottery tours, and locally sourced fare – including citrusy ants

‘We have lammerullepøllse – lamb rolled sausage – today,” says Daniel Hesseldal-Haines, chef at Det Lille Sommerhotel on the Danish island of Samsø. “It tastes better than the translation sounds. And,” he gestures towards a woman sitting by the window, “the lamb is from Camilla’s farm.”

Camilla gives us a friendly wave, and my eyes fix upon her sweater, featuring row upon row of colourful motifs. Think Fair Isle but less orderly: each stripe holds a different design. “Oh, I made this,” she says. “It’s hønsestrik – chicken knitting. You can use it to tell your story – so this one is about hiking,” she adds, pointing to each section: “These are my footprints, this is my tent, my coffee flask …”
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Close encounters: the new wave of women photographers – in pictures

From Black debutantes to Bolivian matriarchs, this year’s Saltzman-Leibovitz prize shows the diverse subjects being tackled by the next generation of female storytellers
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Draft Notes: Boozer To Memphis Makes Sense, But Where Will Evans Go?

Mar 12, 2026; Charlotte, NC, USA; Duke Blue Devils forward Cameron Boozer (12) reacts with guard Isaiah Evans (3) in the second half at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images | Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
With the draft lottery out of the way and the selection order set, intrigue about the 2026 NBA Draft is rising.

Cameron Boozer is going to go early, and just how early depends on priorities. But he almost certainly won’t fall below Chicago at #4.

Apparently, there are rumors suggesting that the Bulls might take Darius Acuff, but Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times says don’t buy it: “Problem is there are talking heads in Chicago that don’t know ball, selling themselves on Acuff at No. 4. Ignore them. Talking puppets.

“I love Acuff … and if the Bulls were picking #5, I’m in. But this is a big man’s league. Steph and Zeke the only small guards to win rings … and you have to build an exact team around that. Boozer or Caleb (Wilson) … no brainers.”

That assumes that Boozer falls past Memphis, and we’ve seen some pretty convincing arguments for the Grizzlies. That said, they might finish their research and decide that Wilson is the better fit.

By the way, Isaiah Evans may be moving up a bit himself. At least one mock draft has him moving up from going to Dallas with #30 to the Lakers at #25.

As we always say about mock drafts, it’s all ridiculous, but it’s less ridiculous after the order is set by the lottery.

The other thing which we think is absolutely true for any rookie is that it’s better to go to a well-managed franchise than one that is poorly run.

Take the Washington Wizards, for example.

We don’t know much about the current ownership group, but the Wizards/Bullets have struggled for decades. Maybe the current group is better, but they’ll have to prove it.

On the other hand, Memphis seems to be building intelligently, and Boozer  along with Zach Edey and Cedric Coward, would be a credible frontline.

That could work out well for Evans, too. If he falls to Dallas at #30, the Mavs have overhauled their front office, and it looks impressive. But if he ends up with the Lakers, JJ Redick is proving to be a good coach, and he would be a great mentor for Evans. It could be a win-win either way.

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Champion Thunder hold off tenacious Lakers 115-110 in Game 4 for another playoff series sweep

LOS ANGELES — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 35 points, Chet Holmgren made a tiebreaking dunk with 32.8 seconds to play, and the Oklahoma City Thunder swept the Los Angeles Lakers out of the second round of the NBA playoffs with a 115-110 victory in Game 4 on Monday night.

Ajay Mitchell scored 10 of his 28 points in the frantic final period as the Thunder overcame the Lakers’ tenacious effort and improved to 8-0 in the playoffs with their toughest victory of the postseason.

LeBron James had 24 points and 14 rebounds in the final game of the unprecedented 23rd season for the top scorer in NBA history, but he missed a driving bank shot with 20 seconds left that would have put the Lakers ahead.

The 41-year-old James has repeatedly said he hasn’t decided whether to play next season, so there was no ceremony or momentousness around this game. Instead, the Lakers desperately tried to extend their year, only to lose to Oklahoma City for the eighth time this season.

Austin Reaves scored 27 points before missing a tying 3-point attempt with eight seconds left for the Lakers, who advanced one round farther than almost anybody expected after losing NBA scoring champion Luka Doncic and Reaves to significant injuries a month ago.

Los Angeles still lost six of its final seven playoff games and fell well short of the conference finals for the third straight season.

Oklahoma City faced its first fourth-quarter deficits of the entire playoffs in Game 4 as the Lakers repeatedly refused to fold.

After this test, the Thunder will get at least the rest of the week off before they open the conference finals against the winner of San Antonio’s second-round series with Minnesota. The Spurs and Timberwolves are even heading to Game 5 on Tuesday night.

Oklahoma City went 8-0 against the Lakers this season, winning all four regular-season matchups as well — but this one was the toughest. The Lakers took the lead and kept it close down the stretch with big buckets from Reaves and Rui Hachimura, who scored nine of his 25 points in the fourth quarter.

Holmgren’s dunk with 2:03 left put the Thunder up 109-103, but Hachimura coolly converted a four-point play. Marcus Smart then drove the lane and hit a layup while being fouled in the final minute, converting a three-point play for a 110-109 Lakers lead.

But Holmgren got the ball inside and triple-pumped for a dunk with 32.8 seconds left, and James missed on his drive. After Gilgeous-Alexander hit two free throws, Reaves missed again, and the Thunder hung on to secure their sixth berth in the Western Conference finals in the last 16 seasons.

The Thunder won the first two games of the series at home by 18 points apiece, and they routed the Lakers 131-108 in Game 3.

Doncic missed the final 15 games of the Lakers’ season after incurring a grade 2 hamstring strain on April 2 in Oklahoma City, and he watched the season finale on the bench in a black sweatsuit. The Slovenian superstar apparently didn’t get close to returning from the injury, which often requires two months of recovery.


Lakers fight to the finish but are eliminated by Thunder

Lakers guard Austin Reaves has the ball knocked away from his by Thunder guard Ajay Mitchell during the first half of Game 4 on Monday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
All Lakers coach  JJ Redick asked of his group was to “win the day.”

That day had to be Monday night, the only day that mattered for a Lakers team on the brink of elimination.

The Lakers came close, but they did not win the day, losing Game 4 115-110 to the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday night at Crypto.com Arena.

The Lakers’ season is over, having been swept 4-0 in the Western Conference semifinal series.

Austin Reaves led the Lakers with 27 points, Rui Hachimura had 25 points and LeBron James had 24 points and 12 rebounds.

When the game was over, James hugged several of the Thunder players.
Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ties up Lakers guard Marcus Smart during a scramble for a loose ball during the first half of Game 4 on Monday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
James is in the final year of a contract that paid him $52 million this season, and at 41 and in his 23rd season, the conversations now turn to his future.

Will James retire? Will James return to the Lakers? Will James play for another team?

Those are the big questions going forward.

With 40.9 seconds left in the game, Marcus Smart scored, was fouled and made the free throw for a 110-109 Lakers lead.

But Chet Holmgren scored on a dunk for a 111-110 Thunder lead with 32.8 seconds left.

The Lakers called a timeout to set up a play.

James missed a floater just outside the lane and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who finished with 35 points and eight assists, was fouled with 12.2 seconds left. He made both free throws for a 113-100 Thunder lead.

The Lakers called another timeout to set up another play with their season on the line.

Reaves missed a potential game-tying three-pointer and Alex Caruso got the rebound, leading to a timeout for the Thunder with 7.6 seconds remaining.

Ajay Mitchell was fouled after the inbounds pass and made two free throws for a 115-110 lead that stood.

Earlier in the fourth quarter, Jared McCain drilled a three-pointer to tie the score at 92-92.

Then James threw a pass away that bounced off two Thunder defenders and Reaves, with the officials ruling it was still the Lakers' possession. The call was challenged by the Thunder. The official review determined that the ball went off Reaves, giving the Thunder the ball with six minutes and 35 seconds left.

Mitchell scored, was fouled by Smart and made the free throw for a three-point play and a 95-92 Thunder lead.

For the first time in this series, the Lakers won the third quarter, outscoring the Thunder 39-31 to open an 84-80 lead heading into the fourth.

Jaxson Hayes punctuated the third with a two-handed dunk, bringing the crowd out of their seats.

The Lakers sizzled in the third quarter, shooting 76.5% from the field and 71.4% from three-point range.

Hachimura was on fire in the third quarter, scoring 12 points on four-for-six shooting.

Reaves had a strong first quarter, scoring eight points on three-for-three shooting, two for two on three-pointers.

With James adding six points and six rebounds, the Lakers opened a 26-21 lead after the first quarter.

But the Thunder hit the Lakers with a 17-0 run to open a 12-point lead in the second quarter.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter on all things Lakers.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.


Keir Starmer to face crucial cabinet meeting as ministers and MPs urge him to resign – UK politics live

PM on the brink with Yvette Cooper and Shabana Mahmood believed to be among those urging him to set out a timetable for departure

Starmer on the brink as cabinet ministers urge him to quit

Good morning. “Stories beat spreadsheets,” Keir Starmer declared in his speech yesterday. But yesterday was a day when the spreadsheets had the upper hand. Most news organisations were using them to keep a track of Labour MPs who were coming out and calling for Starmer’s resignation and, after his speech in the morning, the numbers started to escalate. Here is the LabourList one; by the end of last night they were on 77.

The sort of names on the spreadsheets changed too. Initially it was mostly leftwingers calling for the PM to go, with the Andy Burnham supporters stressing the need for a timetable for an orderly transition (ie – a slow process, allowing Burnham to win a byelection before a leadership contest). But in the afternoon government loyalists, and some prominent Wes Streeting supporters, started speaking out. And by early evening parliamentary private secretaries (technically, people on the government “payroll”) were joining in too.

The Guardian understands that two senior cabinet ministers – Yvette Cooper, the foreign secretary, and Shabana Mahmood, the home secretary – told the prime minister he should oversee an orderly transition of power after crushing election defeats risked ringing the death knell on his premiership.

At least two others – believed to be John Healey and David Lammy – discussed with Starmer how they should take a “responsible, dignified, orderly” approach to what might follow. Several others – including Richard Hermer and Steve Reed – were defiant, urging him to fight on.
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Iran war oil shortage forces Japan snack giant to use black-and-white packaging

Calbee to switch its brightly coloured packaging to black and white because war has disrupted supply of certain raw materials used in ink

Japan’s biggest snack maker has been forced to use black-and-white packaging for some flagship products because of ink ingredient shortages caused by the strait of Hormuz blockade.

Calbee, whose potato chip brands in particular are known for brightly coloured bag designs, said 14 of its products would switch to monochrome branding by the end of May.
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The connoisseur of the crumhorn, the showman of the shawn: the brilliance of early music pioneer David Munrow

Six decades ago, Munrow’s passionate and persuasive advocacy for early music opened audience’s eyes and ears – and took the rackett on to primetime TV.  Fifty years after his early death, we look back at an inspirational and influential musician

In March 1968, a 25-year-old musician strode on to the stage of London’s Wigmore Hall with a collection of unusual instruments. He proceeded to entertain the audience with tongue-in-cheek descriptions of a shawm, a crumhorn and a rackett – the first time they’d ever been seen, let alone heard, on the Wigmore stage – and he played them with breathtaking virtuosity. That concert, the London debut of the Early Music Consort, was greeted with delight, which set the pattern of things to come. With all the bravura of the 1960s, David Munrow erupted into the world of early music and transformed what had been a minority interest into popular listening.

His flame burned brightly, but briefly: in May 1976 he took his own life at the age of 33. But his impact lives on in the music he rediscovered and popularised, and the innovative ways in which he presented and performed it. The Dufay Collective’s William Lyons has said that his own “programming ethos was very much influenced by that of Munrow: variety and information”. Recently, Skip Sempé, the director of Capriccio Stravagante, wrote that “Munrow … inspired all those who, however unconsciously, followed him with great professional and commercial success. To this day, I feel that every early musician in the UK owes their career to him.”
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LeBron James still undecided about future after Lakers' postseason exit: 'I don't know'

It’s now once again decision time for LeBron James.

James and the Los Angeles Lakers fell to the Oklahoma City Thunder 115-110 on Monday night at Crypto.com Arena, which knocked them out of the playoffs. While the Thunder, who have yet to lose this postseason, will continue on with their title defense attempt, all eyes in the NBA world will turn to James and what’s next for him.

James, shortly after Monday’s loss, wasn’t ready to reveal anything about his future plans as he heads to free agency. Instead, he said he wants to head home and regroup with his family first before coming to any decisions.

“I don’t know [what’s next]. Obviously it’s still fresh from losing,” James said. “I don’t know. I don’t know what the future holds for me obviously as it stands right now, tonight.”

LeBron James and the Lakers were knocked out of the playoffs by the Thunder on Monday night. (David Crane/MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty Images)MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty Images via Getty Images
There has been plenty of speculation for months that James might retire at the end of the season, something that has now come for him and the Lakers. And, for plenty of reasons, retirement would make sense.

James is 41 years old, and he’s accomplished just about everything possible in the NBA. He’s a four-time NBA champion and a four-time MVP, among plenty of other accolades. He surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the league’s all-time scoring leader, and he’s both played more games and won more games than anyone else. Undoubtedly, James is one of the best to have ever played basketball.

James averaged 20.9 points, 7.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds per game this season, his 23rd in the league. He had 24 points and 12 rebounds in Monday’s loss. This season was his eighth with the Lakers, which marks his longest singular stretch with any of the three franchises he’s played for throughout his career.

James will become an unrestricted free agent this offseason, so he has the freedom to do whatever he wants. He could sign a new deal with the Lakers. He could opt to join any of the other 29 teams in the league. Or he could call it a career and move on to his next stage, whatever that may be. No choice would be wrong.

As for when that decision comes, however, is anybody’s guess.

“I haven’t even thought about that,” Lakers head coach JJ Redick said about James’ future, via the OC Register’s Benjamin Royer. “Again, we’ll deal with the offseason in the offseason, which is in the next two months.”

Regardless, with the Lakers now out of the playoffs, the basketball world is waiting for James to make that announcement.


LeBron James doesn't 'know what the future holds' after Lakers eliminated

LOS ANGELES — Finality for came for the Los Angeles Lakers with a season-ending loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Then in the air hung the possibility of a much bigger ending.

Potentially the end of LeBron James’ tenure with the Lakers, if not the end of his illustrious NBA career.

“I don’t know what the future holds for me obviously as it stands right now,’’ James said after the Lakers lost to the Thunder, 115-110, on Monday, May 11 in Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals and got swept in the series.

“It’s obviously still fresh with us losing. I don’t know," James said after the game when asked about his future. "I don’t know what the future holds for me, as it stands right now tonight. I think I said last year after we lost to Minnesota that I’ll go back and recalibrate with my family and talk to them, spend some time with them. And when the time comes, obviously, you guys will know what I decide to do.”

If it was the end for the 41-year-old James, he went out in inspired fashion. He had 24 points and 12 rebounds and helped rally the Lakers, who fell behind by as much as 12 points in the second half.

But he also missed a short floater with 20 seconds left with the Lakers trailing 111-110.

It was touch of heartbreak during a celebrated career for James, who completed his eighth season with the Lakers and his 23rd season overall.

James, when asked if he still loves basketball, said, "The love of the game is always there. I don’t think that every goes away."

More important, he said, is the process, which involves getting to the arena 5½ hours before the game.

"... the process for me has always been so much more important," James said. "For me, if I fell out of the love with the process, I’d probably fall out of love with the game."

He has won four NBA titles, the last coming with the Lakers in 2020. He also is the league’s all-time leading scorer.

His role became more limited as Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves emerged as the team’s scoring leaders. But when Doncic and Reaves suffered injuries late in the season, it was James who led the Lakers past the Houston Rockets in the first-round playoff series.

JJ Redick, when asked about LeBron possibly ending his career, said, “I haven’t even thought about that yet. We’ll deal with that the offseason.’’

Reaves made it clear he hopes he’ll have a chance to play with James again.

“Man, it would mean the world to me,’’ Reaves said. “I don’t know anything different."

With eight seconds left, Reaves missed a 3-pointer that would have tied the game. After that miss, Reaves said James was walking behind him and said, “Helluva shot.’’

Luke Kennard, who joined the Lakers midseason, said of James, “He doesn’t take the game for granted. He loves basketball, he loves the process.’’

In fact, his love for basketball and that James continues to play at a high level has fueled speculation he’ll continue to play, whether it’s in Los Angeles or in another NBA city.

Doncic called Reaves and James “two great players’’ and said “it was really fun to share the court with them.

Will he help recruit James to return to the Lakers?

“We’ll see,’’ Doncic said. “I can’t tell you nothing.’’

With that, Doncic grinned.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: LeBron James unsure about NBA future after Lakers ousted from playoffs


Greens’ Zack Polanski admits failing to pay correct council tax on houseboat

Party says leader has ‘immediately taken steps’ to pay any tax owed after ‘unintentional mistake’

The Green party leader, Zack Polanski, has admitted he may have failed to pay the correct council tax while living on a London houseboat.

Polanski had faced mounting questions over whether the houseboat, moored in east London, was his primary residence.
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A Text System Sent Safety Alerts to Private Schools. Now, It’s Silent.

New York City’s emergency management agency, which ran the alert network, said it needed to free up personnel to help translate messages for the World Cup.


Deadly Gang Feud Left Bystander Paralyzed in Brooklyn

The police said 15 people were indicted after a series of shootings across Brooklyn that were linked to gang disputes. At least six people were injured and another was fatally shot.


Trump heads to China to spread the gospel of American tech while emulating Xi Jinping on AI

Tim Cook and Elon Musk, among other tech CEOS, will accompany the US president on a trip to China

Donald Trump is heading to China this week. If his guest list is any clue, he wants to discuss technology with Xi Jinping, though perhaps after the war in Iran.

On Monday, news broke that outgoing Apple CEO, Tim Cook, as well as SpaceX and Tesla CEO, Elon Musk, would join the US president. Other guests from the tech sphere include Meta’s recently appointed president, Dina Powell McCormick; Sanjay Mehrotra, CEO of computer memory maker Micron; Chuck Robbins, CEO of longtime telecom giant Cisco; and Cristiano Amon, CEO of semiconductor maker Qualcomm, according to a White House official.
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Scotland’s elections confirmed that our nation’s leftwing identity is part myth, part reality | Rory Scothorne

There is optimism even after Nigel Farage’s party swept to victory in many postindustrial areas – as radical progressives won more seats than ever

James IV, King of Scots, never had to worry about elections. This freed him up to satisfy his voracious curiosity with strange experiments: according to one old tale, in 1493 he trapped two children, and a nurse who couldn’t talk, on Inchkeith Island in the Firth of Forth.

James hoped that the children, deprived of modern influences on their speech, would naturally return to the true, divine language. They supposedly came back speaking Hebrew; for Walter Scott, it was “more likely they would scream like their dumb nurse, or bleat like the sheep and goats on the island”.

Rory Scothorne is a historian and writer based in Edinburgh
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Too many of us were traumatised by sport at school – but it’s never too late to change | Cath Bishop

A recent study showed millions are put off by early experiences of physical education. But sport can bring camaraderie and joy

There is a disconnect between the proliferation of reports recommending we should be more active and actual levels of activity, that are scarcely budging. Sports councils, health bodies, charities and thinktanks are piling up the evidence that sport and physical activity help us live healthier, happier lives, improve academic attainment at school and productivity at work, connect our communities and help prevent crime and reoffending. Why can’t we turn this into reality?

Reports often call for better coordination, including the recent House of Commons inquiry Game On: Community and School Sport. But sport and physical activity remains poorly linked among schools, sports clubs, community organisations, parks and playgrounds. In an era of superintelligence and rockets flying around the moon, surely we could do better?
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De Zerbi ready for relegation fight ‘until the last minute’ after Leeds frustrate Spurs

Tottenham two points ahead of 18th-placed West Ham

‘We can’t forget what was the situation just 15 days ago’

Roberto De Zerbi vowed that Tottenham will take their relegation battle to the wire after their hopes of staying up were dented by a frustrating 1-1 draw with Leeds.

The north Londoners looked set to move four points clear of 18th-placed West Ham with two games to play after a brilliant goal from Mathys Tel set them on the path to a first home win in the league since 6 December. However Tel ruined a good night’s work when he gave away a penalty with a wild foul on Ethan Ampadu, allowing Dominic Calvert-Lewin to equalise from the spot.
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Fifa’s failure to agree World Cup TV deals in China and India a headache for Infantino

With the tournament a month away, there are still no agreements done with the two Asian giants to ensure fans there can watch all 104 games

When Fifa expanded the World Cup from 32 to 48 teams, it was in the hope that countries such as India and China, with their 2.7 billion residents, would qualify rather than countries such as Cape Verde and Curaçao, whose combined population of about 700,000 barely equals a district of a megacity such as Mumbai or Shanghai. What the governing body did not account for was that, with the 2026 tournament a month away, there would be no broadcasting deals done with the two Asian giants to ensure fans there can watch the 104 games.

A few months ago, Fifa was said to be offering this World Cup, and the next, to New Delhi and Beijing for respective sums of $100m (£73m) and between $250m and $300m. There have been no deals struck despite the asking price falling steadily.
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Sunset Boulevard: The Backstage Cut review – does Norma Desmond really need another closeup?

Perth theatre
Aside from a brief pre-shoot ‘discussion’, this take on Billy Wilder’s classic 1950 film has little to offer – despite some fine performances

Over the past decade or so, Morag Fullarton has been developing a popular line in bijou Hollywood adaptations. With a camp flourish and a multitasking cast, the writer and director has boiled down favourites including Casablanca and It’s a Wonderful Life. She last had a crack at Sunset Boulevard, then billed as a “lunchtime cut”, in 2015 at Glasgow’s A Play, a Pie and a Pint, the company she went on to co-run for four years.

Now associate director at Perth, she has reunited the fine four-strong company who went down so well the first time around, worked in an extra 20 minutes of material and given it a handsome main-stage production. But for all its strengths of mimicry and its affection for Billy Wilder’s 1950 original, it is a show severely lacking in purpose.

At Perth theatre until 16 May
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Buyers of Liza Minnelli memoir claim it was not signed by hand

Premium editions of Kids, Wait Till You Hear This! cost up to $250 but some say signatures are unnaturally identical

Liza Minnelli fans who bought signed copies of her memoir are seeking refunds because they believe her signature is fake.

Copies of Kids, Wait Till You Hear This! by the American 80-year-old singer were marketed around the world as “hand-signed collectibles”, with premium editions costing up to $250 (£185).
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LeBron James hasn't decided whether to return for a 24th NBA season after Lakers' playoff run ends

LOS ANGELES (AP) — LeBron James says he has no idea whether his 24-point performance in the Los Angeles Lakers' season-ending playoff loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday night was the final game of his NBA career.

The top scorer in league history stuck to the strategy he has taken into the past several summers when he declined to announce his future immediately after the Lakers' final postseason defeat.

He hasn't ruled out retirement or a return to the Lakers, and he said nothing about the possibility of moving to another team as he contemplates an unprecedented 24th NBA season.

“I don’t know what the future holds for me, obviously, as it stands right now tonight,” the 41-year-old James said. “I’ve got a lot of time now. I think I said it last year after we lost to Minnesota. I’ll go back and recalibrate with my family and talk with them and spend some time with them, and then obviously when the time comes, you guys will know what I decide to do.”

James' record 23rd season ended with a heartbreaking 115-110 loss, completing a four-game sweep of the short-handed Lakers by the defending NBA champions. Los Angeles began the playoffs without NBA scoring champ Luka Doncic and second-leading scorer Austin Reaves due to injury, yet James led the Lakers to a first-round upset of Houston before running into the league's best team in the second round.

“It’s amazing what he’s doing out there at this age," Thunder superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said. “It's very impressive. It's hard to put it to words. He's not very old in the grand scheme of life, but for the NBA, he's pretty old, and he doesn't seem like it out there. He was a force. He was the top of the scouting report all series. His size gave us issues at times. He was impressive out there. I'm not sure we'll see anything like that again, his longevity and his greatness.”

James has played in more games, won more games, scored more points and taken more shots than everybody else who ever put on a uniform, but he has never put a limit on his time in the game.

Instead, he repeated his oft-stated declarations that he'll figure it out with his family over a few glasses of wine in the next couple of months.

“Nobody has any idea what the future holds, and I don’t either,” James said. “I’ll take time to recalibrate and look over the season and see what’s best for my future, and when I get to that point, everyone will know.”

James showed only marginal signs of age's encroachment in his 23rd season, continuing to play versatile basketball at an elite level throughout the Lakers' successful regular season.

Injuries forced his largest compromises: He missed training camp and the first 14 games of the season with sciatica, and he missed eight additional games during the regular season, eliminating him from consideration for inclusion on the All-NBA teams for the 22nd consecutive time.

With Doncic winning the NBA scoring title and Reaves emerging as a legitimate top-level NBA scorer, James willingly assumed a supporting role as the No. 3 option in the Lakers' offense — and it worked.

His 20.9 points per game were his fewest since his rookie season, largely because his 3-point shooting accuracy declined to 31.7%, and his 33.2 minutes per game were his fewest ever. Yet he contributed 7.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds with another season of steady performances — and when the Lakers needed him to step up, he did it repeatedly.

“It was so many different seasons in one season with our ballclub,” James said. “Obviously injuries played a big part in it, but as far as our identity, I thought it was super-resilient.”

James was chosen for the All-Star Game for the 22nd time, and right before the midseason break, he became the oldest player in NBA history to record a triple-double. He surpassed Robert Parish's record for the most regular-season games played in late March.

The Lakers picked up steam down the stretch in the regular season, winning 16 of 18 heading into April and kindling hope of being a dark-horse candidate to give trouble to the Thunder or Spurs in the playoffs. But that's when Doncic and Reaves both incurred major injuries, sidelining both indefinitely.

James handled the disappointment by stepping up and coolly taking charge of the Lakers' offense again. While nearly every NBA observer wrote off Los Angeles' chances of any playoff run, James and his supporting cast improbably knocked off the fifth-seeded Houston Rockets in six games in the first round, sending the Lakers into the second round for only the second time since 2020.

“For our group to have the moment that we had when Luka goes down with the hamstring and AR goes down with the oblique and we’re staring down the barrel of a playoff series with Houston, I thought our guys responded and were just super-resilient,” James said. “To win that series was big-time for the group that went out there.”

James' reasons to prolong his career in Los Angeles would be multifold.

He has spent the past two seasons playing alongside Bronny James, his oldest son and a backup guard for the Lakers. They even got significant playoff minutes together this season, allowing LeBron to live another dream.

His family loves living in Southern California — and while his sons are both out of the family home, he has spoken frequently of his desire to watch the progress of his 11-year-old daughter, Zhuri, a competitive volleyball player.

And the Lakers' outstanding play down the stretch suggested they could be among the NBA's best teams with full health for Doncic, James and Reaves — who is expected to sign a massive contract to stay with the Lakers this summer.

Whether the Lakers can actually contend for a championship next season will be one factor that James must weigh, but finding a true title contender to join at this stage of his career would be difficult even if the Thunder and the rising San Antonio Spurs didn't appear to be head and shoulders above the rest of the league.

For now, James will take time off to enjoy life away from the daily grind that has allowed his career to reach unprecedented lengths — and if he decides not to come back, he doesn't appear to have regrets about how this season ended."

“I left everything I could on the floor,” James said. “I control what I can control, and I can leave the floor saying even though I hate losing, I was locked in on what we needed to do.”

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA


Relentless Thunder do just enough to beat resilient Lakers, take game four 115-100, sweep series 4-0.

LOS ANGELES — Oklahoma City is relentless.

The Lakers did not roll over after being down 0-3 in their series, they came out with a game plan and energy, got an early spark from Austin Reaves, and led by five after 12 minutes. When they got down double digits in the third quarter, they fought back again to take the lead.

Give the Lakers credit, they were not the 76ers. They showed up and showed resilience.

"I thought there were two different times during the game where our team could have gave in, could let go the rope," Lakers coach JJ Redick said. "We didn't."

But the Thunder are relentless.

With the game tied with 49 seconds left, Oklahoma City closed the game on a 6-1 run to pull away for a 115-110 victory, completing their sweep of Los Angeles.

The Thunder remain undefeated in these playoffs, 8-0, and now will have at least close to a week off (and maybe more) waiting for the winner of the Minnesota vs. San Antonio series, which is tied 2-2.

The Lakers head into an offseason with a lot of questions, and changes are coming — five Lakers are free agents, and another three have player options. LeBron James is one of the free agents and said he is going to take some time to decide if he wants to come back for a record 24th NBA season — and if he does, where he might play. Austin Reaves has a player option he is not going to pick up — he is going to get paid. Whether that is by the Lakers or someone else remains to be seen.

Reaves and LeBron showed their value on Monday night, but it wasn't enough against a Thunder team that just had too many weapons and executes too well on both ends of the court.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander showed why he is about to be named the two-time NBA MVP, scoring 35 points with eight assists on the night.

SGA SHINED IN THE SERIES-CLINCHER!

⛈ 35 PTS
⛈ 8 AST

The Thunder secure their 2nd consecutive 4-0 series win and advance to the Western Conference Finals for the 2nd straight season  pic.twitter.com/dXyhgtp7wE
— NBA (@NBA) May 12, 2026

What makes the Thunder so tough to beat — so relentless — is that SGA is not a one-man band.

Ajay Mitchell — a second-year pro who played just 84 minutes in the playoffs a year ago — scored 28 points on 12-of-19 shooting, taking some of the shot creation load off of Gilgeous-Alexander as the Lakers doubled him. Chet Holmgren had 16 points on 6-of-9 shooting, including some clutch buckets late, and had nine rebounds.

OKC WINS THE SERIES, 4-0

⛈ Chet records 24 PTS and 12 REB in Game 1
⛈ SGA/Mitchell/Chet all score 20+ PTS in Game 2
⛈ Mitchell scores 24 PTS in Game 3
⛈ SGA (35 PTS) and Mitchell (28 PTS) lead the way in Game 4

The Thunder secure their 2nd consecutive 4-0 series win and… pic.twitter.com/M9RerWGJkj
— NBA (@NBA) May 12, 2026

Reaves led the Lakers with 27 points, while LeBron had 24 points and 12 rebounds. Rui Hachimura — another of the Lakers' free agents — scored 25 points, including 4-of-8 from 3-point range.

The Lakers did a better job defensively in the first half than they had all series, holding the Thunder to a 102.1 offensive rating despite 14 from Gilgeous-Alexander. The challenge was scoring on the Thunder defense: The Lakers shot just 39.5% in the first half and were 2-of-13 from beyond the arc (they just missed some open looks). Remove LeBron and Reaves from the equation and the Lakers shot 35% in the first 24 minutes. Still, they only trailed by four, 49-45. They were playing hard.

The Thunder had owned the third quarter in this series and for the first half of the quarter that did not change, Oklahoma City went on a 17-0 run holding the Lakers scoreless for 6:40 in the third quarter to take control of the game.

OKC pushed its lead out to 12. The Lakers did not quit.

Behind Reaves getting downhill and drawing fouls, plus 12 points from Rui Hachimura, the Lakers ended the third on a 6-1 run and had an 84-80 lead after 3. That was the first time the Thunder have trailed entering the fourth quarter all playoffs.

But the Thunder are relentless. And they are moving on.


James future unclear as Thunder eliminate Lakers

LeBron James is the only player to feature in 23 consecutive NBA seasons [Getty Images]
NBA legend LeBron James could have played his last game for the Los Angeles Lakers following their defeat in the play-offs.

Reigning champions Oklahoma City Thunder won 115-110 to seal a 4-0 victory in the best-of-seven Western Conference semi-final.

James, 41, is out of contract in the summer and it remains unclear if he will play a record-extending 24th season in the NBA.

Widely regarded as one of the best players of all time, he is the leading points scorer in NBA history and has won four titles and four Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards.

James scored 24 points at Crypto.com Arena in LA, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the current MVP, scored 35 points and contributed eight assists for the Thunder.

The Thunder, who beat the Phoenix Suns 4-0 in the first round of the play-offs, will play the Minnesota Timberwolves or the San Antonio Spurs - their semi is level at 2-2 - in the Western Conference final.

In the Eastern Conference semi-finals, the Cleveland Cavaliers earned a 112-103 home win against the Detroit Pistons to level their series at 2-2.

Donovan Mitchell scored 43 points at Rocket Arena for the Cavs, who lost the first two games in the series.

Mitchell scored 39 in the second half, equalling the record - set by Eric Floyd of the Golden State Warriors in 1987 - for the most points in one half of a post-season game.

The Cavs or the Pistons will play the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference final.


Donovan Mitchell goes off for 39 points in second half as Cavaliers win Game 4 to even series with Pistons

The Cavaliers defeated the Pistons on Monday.
CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Cavaliers are back on even footing in their second-round series after Donovan Mitchell’s huge second half.

Mitchell tied an NBA playoff mark with 39 points in the final two quarters as he rallied the Cavaliers to a 112-103 victory Monday night.

“What a shift, right? Really struggled in the first half and then big-time, second-half performance by Don,” Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson said.

The home team has won all four games in the series, which shifts to Detroit for Game 5 Wednesday night.
Donovan Mitchell reacts during the Cavaliers’ May 11 game against the Pistons. NBAE via Getty Images
Mitchell matched the mark of Eric “Sleepy” Floyd on a free throw with 27.6 seconds remaining. He had a chance to break the record, set in 1987 when the Golden State Warriors faced the Los Angeles Lakers, but missed his second foul shot.

“Everybody let me know that I missed a free throw to break the record, though,” said Mitchell, who finished with 43 points. “I will say that, but we’re two and two headed to Detroit. That was what we came home to do and that’s all that matters.”

James Harden had his 40th playoff double-double with 24 points and 11 assists. Evan Mobley had 17 points as Cleveland remained unbeaten at home in six playoff games.

Caris LeVert had a season-high 24 points for Detroit. Cade Cunningham scored 19, the first time he has been held under 20 in 11 playoff games this season, and Tobias Harris added 16.

Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff, who takes pride in the physical style his team plays, was not pleased with the free throw disparity. Mitchell had more trips to the foul line (15) than Detroit (12).
Donovan Mitchell attempts a shot during the Cavaliers’ May 11 win. Getty Images
“There is no way one guy on their team should have more free throws than our team. We’re not a settling for jump shots team,” he said. “We didn’t do enough to help ourselves, but ever since we came to Cleveland, the whistle has changed.”

Even though Mitchell struggled in the first half and the Cavaliers shot 15 of 38, with most of their shots being 3-pointers, the Cavaliers felt pretty fortunate to be down 56-52 at halftime.

Atkinson’s message at halftime was to play with more pace and attack downhill, which opened things up.

Mitchell scored 15 during Cleveland’s 24-0 run that went from the last 12 seconds of the first half to the first six minutes of the third quarter. Cleveland trailed 56-52 at halftime before taking control.
Cade Cunningham looks to drive during the Pistons’ May 11 game. NBAE via Getty Images
The Cavs were 10 of 12 from the field and made three 3-pointers. They also converted five turnovers by the Pistons into nine points.

“When (Mitchell) sees a gap, he’s going to go. We’ve got to eliminate his touches and catches on the run,” Cunningham said. “That run, we just never caught our footing again. That was the first time they really got loose in the series.”

The 24-0 run was the longest in an NBA playoff game since since Minnesota also scored 24 straight in Game 6 of its Western Conference semifinal series against Denver in 2024. It was also the longest spurt by Cleveland in a postseason game since play-by-play stats were kept in 1997-98. The previous high was 19 in an Eastern semifinal series contest against Boston.

“We understood if we could just get some stops and get out in transition and get some easier looks, we’ll be in good shape. We were doing a solid job, we just weren’t scoring,” Mitchell said, “I think understanding that we were in a good spot and did a good job of weathering a storm.”

Mitchell and Harden accounted for 49 points apiece with their points scored and points off assists. Mobley was a force on both ends of the court with eight rebounds, five assists, three steals and five blocked shots.

“Don’s going to get all the flowers, but we should give a lot of flowers to Mobley for tonight’s performance,” Atkinson said.


Gaborone gold rush: how Botswana rose to the top of men’s sprinting

Country with a population of just 2.5m credits investment in young athletes for its rise but this progress is under threat

It was a fairytale ending to the World Athletics Relays in Gaborone. In the final strait, Collen Kebinatshipi surged past South Africa’s Zakithi Nene to win the men’s 4x400m relay for Botswana. The home crowd, a sea of light blue, went wild.

“It means so many things to us,” Letsile Tebogo, 22, the reigning 200m Olympic champion, who ran the second leg, told reporters afterwards. “Not just the team … but for the people that always cheer for us behind the TV. Now they had that experience to see first-hand how much effort, how much pressure, how much we give for them.”
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Multiple Olympic, world and European champion cyclist Katie Archibald retires

Endurance specialist won Olympic gold in Rio and Tokyo

‘I don’t know where I’ll get these feelings again’

Katie Archibald, the Scottish track cyclist who won gold medals at the Rio and Tokyo Olympics, has announced her retirement with immediate effect.

The decision means the 32-year-old, who also won multiple world, European and Commonwealth titles, will not compete in July’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
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Close Starmer ally declines to say if he will lead Labour into next election

Chief secretary, Darren Jones, says PM is ‘listening to colleagues’ but will make own decisions on way forward

UK politics live – latest updates

One of Keir Starmer’s closest aides has declined to say whether he would lead his party into the next election amid mounting calls for him to resign.

The prime minister is “listening to colleagues” who are asking him to set out a timetable for departure but would make his own decisions about the way forward, the prime minister’s chief secretary has said.
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Middle East crisis live: Trump says Iran ceasefire is on ‘massive life support’

US president says Tehran’s peace proposal ‘totally unacceptable’ and ‘a piece of garbage’

Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported this morning that six people were killed and seven others injured after an Israeli attack on a house in Kfar Dounine last night. Since this report, the NNA said Israeli forces detonated a number of houses in a neighbourhood of the southern Lebanese town of Bint Jbeil.

The Israeli military has ordered residents of towns and villages in southern Lebanon to evacuate immediately “by a distance of at least 1000 meters to open areas” in advance of attacks against the locations.
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Lorry gets stuck in hole it was sent to fix in Somerset

Lorry left at near 45-degree angle after ground gave way on road near Walton

A lorry became stuck in a sinkhole after being sent to fix it.

Contractors from a company called Stabilised Pavements were sent to fix the sinkhole on Butleigh Drove, near Walton in Somerset, when the ground gave way, the Times reported.
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Man charged with arson over alleged attack on ex-synagogue in east London

Moses Edwards, 45, from Wanstead, to appear in court in connection with incident in Whitechapel last week

A 45-year-old man has been charged with arson with intent to endanger life after reports of a fire at a former synagogue in east London.

Moses Edwards, from Wanstead, will appear at Westminster magistrates court on Tuesday after the alleged arson attack on the building in Nelson Street, Whitechapel, on 5 May.
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De Zerbi’s impact at Spurs is undeniable but team’s fragile self-destruction remains | Jonathan Wilson

Mathys Tel’s stupid penalty concession underlines being Spursy is just who Spurs are to leave them still within sight of West Ham

You’re 1-0 up with 20 minutes to go. You’re about to win your first home league game in 156 days. You’re well on top and playing your best football in 18 months. If you can just see it through you’ll be four points clear of the relegation zone with two games to go, crisis all but averted. And then your left-winger attempts an overhead in the corner of your own box and kicks an opponent in the head nearly eight feet off the ground. It may have been the highest altitude penalty awarded in the Premier League this season; it was certainly the stupidest. Never underestimate the Spursiness of this Spurs.

The gap to West Ham is two points. Spurs must go to Chelsea three days after the FA Cup final then face Everton at home. West Ham have Newcastle away and Leeds at home. But perhaps the most important aspect is the sense that the momentum has shifted. The pendulum that had seemingly been swinging decisively towards Tottenham has slowed; it could easily swing back again.
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Luka Doncic says he wasn't close to returning from injury before Lakers' season ended

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Luka Doncic says he never got close to being healthy enough to rejoin the Los Angeles Lakers in the playoffs.

Doncic incurred a grade 2 hamstring strain on April 2, and the NBA scoring champ missed the Lakers' final 15 games, including their entire postseason run. After a shocking first-round series victory over Houston without Doncic, Los Angeles' season ended Monday night with a 115-110 loss to the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder, who completed a four-game sweep.

“I know some people wanted me (to come) back, but obviously I wasn’t close to clearing,” Doncic said. “If I could be out there, I would be, 100%. Everybody in that room knows this is really tough. This is the best time to play basketball.”

Doncic said he is running and shooting, but he hasn't progressed to contact work in practice. The Slovenian superstar will probably need another week or two to reach that stage, which pushes his total recovery time toward the two full months that is often required for a return from that level of hamstring injury.

Doncic acknowledged that the disappointing end overshadowed the many good elements of his first full season with the Lakers. He averaged 33.5 points, 8.3 assists and 7.7 rebounds while playing in 64 games.

His partnership with LeBron James and Austin Reaves bloomed down the stretch of the regular season, when the Lakers made a 14-2 run through March before Doncic and Reaves both incurred major injuries in the same game at Oklahoma City.

“Obviously this season didn’t end how we wanted, but I feel like the last push we made in the end of the regular season, we thought we could compete for a championship,” Doncic said. “I think we had a great team. We had great chemistry. Playing with AR and LeBron, it’s an incredible experience. Two great players, and it was really fun to share a court with them.”

Doncic thrived in uniform during a tumultuous year off the court: He separated from his fiancee — the mother of their two daughters, who still live in Europe. Shortly after the Lakers' season ended Monday night, Doncic announced on social media that he won't play for Slovenia's national team this summer because he plans to continue to work toward acquiring joint custody of his daughters.

“First of all, I want to spend time with my daughters, and that’s probably the only thing that’s on my mind right now,” Doncic said of his immediate summer plans. “Second of all, obviously get the work in and come back ready for the season.”

While James is contemplating his future after his 23rd NBA season and Reaves is likely to be in line for a massive contract extension if he can reach a deal with the Lakers, Doncic made it clear he is locked in on the future with the team that acquired him from the Dallas Mavericks in a seismic trade in February 2025.

Doncic signed a three-year, $165 million contract extension with the Lakers last summer, keeping him with the 17-time NBA champions for at least two more seasons.

“I feel very comfortable,” Doncic said. “I like living here. I like playing for the Lakers. It’s one of the best organizations in the world, so just being a Laker means a lot to me, and I feel very good here.”

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA