one more post and i'm done
","guid":"http://scripting4.wordpress.com/2026/05/11/592/","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 00:28:55 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 00:29:00 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 00:29:00 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://1.gravatar.com/avatar/d1f026c099fa51d2957b1612f11412cd08dd69c2bb160968068ed0f337b8918b?s=96&d=identicon&r=G","type":"image"},"metadata":{"wpSiteId":223088957,"wpPostId":592},"feedTitle":"An experimental blog","feedLink":"https://scripting4.wordpress.com/","feedDescription":"A place for interesting experiments.","feedUrl":"https://scripting4.wordpress.com/feed/"} {"title":"Fantasy Basketball Exit Interview: A second-round sweep pushes 76ers to confront future","link":"https://sports.yahoo.com/fantasy/article/fantasy-basketball-exit-interview-a-second-round-sweep-pushes-76ers-to-confront-future-002249543.html","description":"The Philadelphia 76ers pulled off one of the more stunning upsets in the 2026 NBA playoffs, knocking off the Boston Celtics in seven games at TD Garden. In hindsight, that might as well have been their championship. The New York Knicks were waiting in the second round and made it a quick, ugly series. The celebration didn't last long in Philly, as they were swept in four games, leaving a fanbase wondering where it goes from here.
With that in mind, here’s a recap of the Sixers season and what to expect from a fantasy perspective going forward.
Tyrese Maxey is locked in as a first-round fantasy pick heading into next season. He is reliably the engine of everything Philadelphia does offensively and he proved it again this season. He finished sixth in High Score and fifth in 9-cat leagues, exceeding his 18th overall ADP. What sets him apart is his availability paired with top-end production — that’s why he was so integral for both Philly and fantasy managers. Maxey played in 70 games, averaging career highs in minutes, points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks per game, while shooting 37% on 3s and 89% from the line at a high volume. He’s an All-NBA talent and has become one of the best guards across fantasy basketball at just 25 years o.
VJ Edgecombe is on a star trajectory after an outstanding rookie campaign. The third pick in the 2025 NBA Draft ranked 74th in High Score and 57th in 9-cat leagues, far outpacing his 121st preseason ADP. What’s even more impressive is that he went undrafted in 57% of leagues. He was one of the top fantasy pickups of the season. I came away even more encouraged for what’s next after hearing his pledge to improve his shooting this offseason. I expect he’ll be off draft boards by the sixth or seventh rounds next season.
Joel Embiid made it through — well, sort of. Availability was a consistent issue during the regular season, with the former MVP playing in just 38 games, perpetuating his narrative as a fantasy headache. That’ll likely continue because the Sixers need a healthy Embiid for the postseason. He was the difference-maker in the first-round series against Boston, leading them to defeat the Celtics for the first time in a playoff series since 1982. That won’t help in fantasy, and I’d anticipate his 46th overall ADP falling even further ahead of next season. With Kawhi Leonard back to his former self, Embiid is now the greatest high-risk, high-reward player in the game.
Paul George's best days as a fantasy asset are behind him. Despite finishing 72nd in High Score on a per game average and 31st in 9-cat, like Embiid, he played fewer than 40 games. George was suspended for 25 games for violating the NBA anti-drug policy, which he attributed to an error in his medication. True or not, PG’s body is failing him. It’s pretty concerning that PG admitted to spending this offseason “figuring out how to get his explosion back.” George is 36, coming off another letdown, averaging 17-5-4 on 43% shooting. I wouldn’t draft George inside the top 75 like this season, as the injury and production aren’t worth the cost.
Embiid's massive three-year contract, which lasts through the 2028-29 season, kicks in this offseason, complicating any trade scenario. George is also sitting on the books for an average cost of $55M for the next two seasons. Changes are inevitable after the embarrassing sweep by the Knicks, and the front office may feel the heat.
Philadelphia holds the 22nd pick in a deep draft — the price for the (questionable) Jared McCain trade — giving them at least one asset to work with. The core four are all draftable heading into next season, but Maxey and Edgecombe provide the most upside. I’d stay away from Embiid and George and look to see which players re-up (Kelly Oubre Jr.), leave (Quentin Grimes) or join the squad.
","guid":"4437b1b5-d92b-438c-900a-8f1e82fa82de","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 00:22:49 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 00:32:07 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 00:32:07 GMT","metadata":{},"feedLink":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/","feedDescription":"Comprehensive National Basketball Association news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors...","feedUrl":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rss/"} {"title":"P&T Interview: Danilo Gallinari on his time with Knicks, the success of international players, making it in the playoffs, and more","link":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/p-t-interview-danilo-gallinari-215322759.html","description":"NEW YORK - JANUARY 22: Danilo gallinari #8 of the New York Knicks shoots a three-pointer against Ron Artest #37 of the Los Angeles Lakers on January 22, 2010 at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2010 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images\tJust hours after Knicks fans collectively exhaled at the news that OG Anunoby had avoided a major hamstring injury, I got the opportunity to hop on a call with former Knick Danilo Gallinari.
Before getting into basketball, there was one thing worth acknowledging first: Gallinari had just won a BSN (Baloncesto Superior Nacional) championship. When congratulated on the title, he seemed pleasantly surprised that it was brought up, flashing a brief but unmistakably genuine smile before offering a quick thank you.
For a player whose NBA journey began in New York, it felt only natural to start with his first impressions of the Knicks organization and the city itself. “I didn’t know much about the organization,” Gallinari admitted. Relaxed and candid throughout the conversation, he explained how the franchise laid out its vision for the future after drafting him in 2008 before joking, “Obviously I didn’t stay long,” with a laugh.
His introduction to the NBA, however, came rather brutally. “When most people think about a welcome moment, it’s good,” Gallinari said. His was anything but. Even now, he recalled the week of February 1, 2009 in remarkable detail. First came Kobe Bryant, who walked into Madison Square Garden and dropped 61 points on the Knicks in what was then the highest-scoring game ever by an opposing player at the arena. Two nights later, LeBron James followed with 52 points, 11 assists, and what Gallinari still remembers as a triple-double, despite one rebound later being taken away.
For Knicks fans, those games remain burned into memory for all the wrong reasons. But for Gallinari, the welcome tour still wasn’t over. That Friday, the defending champion Boston Celtics came into the Garden and beat New York 110-100. More than anything, Gallinari remembered the awe of suddenly sharing the floor with the biggest stars in basketball night after night.
That experience, he explained later in the conversation, is part of what makes New York such a difficult place to play. “You got to be strong-minded,” he said. “New York is a tough place to play with tough fans, so you have to be able to take that.”
Because of how the latter stages of his career unfolded, it can be easy to forget just how productive Gallinari was at his peak. Across a 10-season stretch, the 6’10” forward averaged 16.7 points per game while building a reputation as one of the league’s most skilled offensive forwards. A player capable of handling the ball, shooting from deep, posting up smaller defenders, and attacking off the dribble, Gallinari was a very good player for a very long time.
Naturally, that versatility meant drawing some difficult defensive assignments. When asked about that, after pausing for a few seconds, Gallinari gave his answer decisively. “Metta World Peace.” Then came a few more names. “Tony Allen, Kawhi [Leonard], Draymond [Green]. They defended me well.”
The conversation eventually shifted from the NBA Gallinari entered to the one that exists today. At 37 years old and officially retired, Gallinari was asked whether there are any current players who remind him of himself.
“Cooper [Flagg],” he answered immediately before laughing. “He had a few more posters than I did as a rookie.” Gallinari pointed to Flagg’s versatility. His ability to handle the ball, shoot, and play multiple positions were all traits that he resonated with.
That naturally led to an interesting thought: what might Gallinari’s own career have looked like had he entered the league in today’s pace-and-space era? He agreed that today’s NBA may have suited him even more, though he was quick to credit his first NBA coach, Mike D’Antoni, for already implementing an early version of the modern game. That style, Gallinari explained, fit him perfectly.
Still, the funniest moment of the entire conversation came when discussing the differences between eras. “The money,” he said with a grin.
Beyond styles of play, Gallinari also reflected on how much the perception of international basketball has evolved since his initial years in the NBA. As one of the most successful international players of his generation, he has witnessed that change firsthand. “Just the global level has gotten so much higher,” he said. “It’s a bit easier now. When I came into the league, there were stereotypes.”
That comment stood out.
It wasn’t long ago that international prospects, particularly European ones, were often labeled as soft. Since then, though, those preconceived notions have slowly disintegrated, and the league has become increasingly dominated by international talent.
Gallinari has partnered with AT&T for the AT&T Dunk Bus, a traveling game-day experience designed to bring fans closer to the game and the league through live dunk showcases, NBA 2K competitions, and player meet-and-greets.
Gallinari spoke enthusiastically about the partnership and how it creates an interactive experience for fans before revealing one final detail with a laugh.
“I don’t know if AT&T knows this,” he said, “but I’ve been a customer of theirs for 18 years, so it’s a neat opportunity.”
","guid":"bdb2b264-42e2-3ebe-9855-159f341f2c4b","pubDate":"Mon, 11 May 2026 21:53:22 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 00:32:07 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 00:32:07 GMT","metadata":{},"feedLink":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/","feedDescription":"Comprehensive National Basketball Association news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors...","feedUrl":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rss/"} {"title":"Trump says ceasefire with Iran on ‘life support’ after rejecting peace proposals","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/11/donald-trump-ceasefire-with-iran-on-life-support-reject-peace-proposals","description":"US president says he is considering restarting naval escorts in strait of Hormuz in attempt to end Iranian blockade
Donald Trump has said the ceasefire with Iran is on “life support” and that he is considering restarting US navy military escorts of ships through the strait of Hormuz in an attempt to end the Iranian blockade of the vital waterway.
The US president dismissed Iran’s peace proposals as stupid, and denied he was under any domestic pressure to reach a deal.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/11/donald-trump-ceasefire-with-iran-on-life-support-reject-peace-proposals","pubDate":"Mon, 11 May 2026 18:13:40 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 00:57:00 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 00:57:00 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/2cbc1f0da929176cc8b6ad15e35f6dc6b4602ae5/1292_470_5831_4665/master/5831.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=b93e2456ef66b24eb9a6672b8b51dece"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"Bezos Family Gives $100 Million for Preschool Education in New York","link":"https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/11/nyregion/bezos-donation-nyc-education-robin-hood.html","description":"Free child care is one of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s top goals. Now the Bezos Foundation is giving Robin Hood, a favorite philanthropy of wealthy New Yorkers, big money for early childhood education.","guid":"https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/11/nyregion/bezos-donation-nyc-education-robin-hood.html","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 01:07:20 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 01:17:50 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 01:17:50 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://static01.nyt.com/images/2026/05/11/multimedia/11met-robinhood-glqc/11met-robinhood-glqc-mediumSquareAt3X.jpg","type":"image"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"NYT > New York","feedLink":"https://www.nytimes.com/section/nyregion","feedUrl":"https://rss.nytimes.com/services/xml/rss/nyt/NYRegion.xml"} {"title":"The case for re-signing Mark Williams","link":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/case-signing-mark-williams-230000246.html","description":"PHOENIX, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 21: Mark Williams #15 of the Phoenix Suns reacts after dunking the ball against the Orlando Magic during the second half at Mortgage Matchup Center on February 21, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images\tThe Phoenix Suns have numerous decisions ahead of them this upcoming offseason, including multiple restricted free agents, unrestricted free agents, and players with trade value. The following series will examine those decisions as our writing team presents both a point and a counterpoint for each.
Mark Williams. The acquisition came moments after the Phoenix Suns drafted Khaman Maluach, leaving many people confused. It was obvious Phoenix already had a deal lined up with the Charlotte Hornets before the draft even started. Then the Duke center falls into their lap at 10, and the Suns still execute the trade to acquire another Duke center anyway. A team that had almost no depth at center suddenly had plenty of it. They also had a built-in succession plan.
The question with Williams was always the same. Can he stay healthy? Because if he can, the skill set is there for him to be a quality starting center in the NBA. He rim runs. He has strong hands. He provides rim deterrence. The wingspan is massive. Above all else, he runs. The motor is real.
That’s what made this season important. The Suns essentially got a test drive. They acquired him on a $6.3 million contract with a team option, one they ultimately picked up, and now they have a clearer picture of what he is heading into restricted free agency.
So now comes the next phase of the Mark Williams conversation. Do you bring him back? And if you do, how much are you willing to pay?
I’ll start by acknowledging that Mark Williams had a good year for the Phoenix Suns. He exceeded expectations relative to games played, appearing in 60 contests and blowing past his previous career high by 15 games. When called upon, the production was there. He averaged 11.7 points on 64.4% shooting, adding 8.5 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game.
Part of me still wonders what it could have looked like if the Suns leaned into him more offensively. It felt like whenever they involved him, the results were positive. Too often, the team drifted back toward perimeter-heavy basketball, and Williams’ overall numbers suffered because of it.
As the season wore on, the injuries piled up. We never saw him in the postseason, and that matters when discussing his value on the open market. Through the first 50 games of the year, Williams played in 45, and his value was climbing. Then the back half of the season reminded everyone what the risk is with him. Injuries are part of the equation. If you’re making the argument to keep Mark Williams, that has to be part of the conversation.
So why should the Phoenix Suns retain Mark Williams? I think it starts with the organization’s timeline. You have a young center in Khaman Maluach who will be 20 years old next season. The flashes are there, still, there’s a lot of development left in front of him. If you have the opportunity to build a buffer and support system around that development, it should be a priority. That’s where Williams comes in.
The key becomes the contract, and this is where Phoenix has leverage. Williams is a restricted free agent, meaning he can test the open market and see what teams are willing to offer. The Suns then decide whether they want to match. At the same time, Phoenix can use the threat of matching to push for a sign-and-trade if another team values Williams higher than they do.
Let’s use the Brooklyn Nets as an example. Say Brooklyn offers Williams three years, $60 million. Personally, I think that’s above where his value should land, and I’d imagine Phoenix feels similarly. At that point, the Suns have two options. Option one: let him walk. He heads to Brooklyn and earns $20 million a season. Option two: force the conversation into sign-and-trade territory. Phoenix tells Brooklyn that if they want Williams, they need to work with the Suns. Otherwise, Phoenix threatens to match the deal.
It becomes a high-stakes game of chicken. If multiple teams are bidding, Phoenix gains leverage. If only one team is truly interested, that leverage starts to disappear.
That being said, with his qualifying offer at $9.6 million, I think the Phoenix Suns would be smart to offer Mark Williams a three-year, $36 million deal, with the final season as a team option. It gives Williams security over the next couple of years and gives him runway to position himself for a bigger payday later if the health and availability continue trending in the right direction. It also gives Phoenix two more years, with the option for a third, to continue developing Khaman Maluach. That’s the priority here. If Maluach starts accelerating faster than expected, you can always move off Williams later, and that contract would be attractive to another team.
My guess is the Suns probably come in higher than that. Something closer to three years, $48 million, around $16 million annually. Hopefully, they build in that team option. Even at that number, I don’t know if I’d be upset. It might be a slight overpay. But if you’re viewing this through the lens of the next few seasons, it becomes a tradable contract if needed.
The goal for Phoenix right now is continuity and development, and bringing back Williams supports both. You still have to be financially responsible in how you approach it. At the same time, retaining him should be a priority. He’s a good player and an ideal bridge option before eventually passing the baton to Khaman Maluach when the time comes.
For those reasons, I think you keep Mark Williams.
","guid":"ca3d2c40-8917-3ac9-8070-de3586c7a95f","pubDate":"Mon, 11 May 2026 23:00:00 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 01:29:50 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 01:29:50 GMT","metadata":{},"feedLink":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/","feedDescription":"Comprehensive National Basketball Association news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors...","feedUrl":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rss/"} {"title":"NBA Playoff Monday discussion","link":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/nba-playoff-monday-discussion-230000686.html","description":"LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 9: The Oklahoma City Thunder celebrates during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers during Round Two Game Three of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 9, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images\tAs basketball fans, we know that there is no rest for the weary. Sure, the Washington Wizards have the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. But life and the playoffs go on. Here are the games for today, May 11, 2026.
Do you know the craziest part of the Lakers’ second-round playoff series against the Thunder?
There’s such a wide chasm between the two teams that it has all-but-nullified what would’ve been a burning question in every other series involving LA.
Would things have been different had Luka Doncic played?
Without knowing it then, the Grade 2 hamstring strain Luka Doncic suffered on April 2 was the last time he took the court this season. NBAE via Getty ImagesDoncic, who has been sidelined since April 2 because of a strained hamstring, was a top-five MVP contender. He led the league in scoring (33.5 points), was third in assists (8.3) and sixth in steals (1.6). He became the second player in NBA history to score 600-plus points in March alongside Michael Jordan.
Would a generational talent like that have swayed things?
Nope. And it’s very obvious.
So obvious that pundits have hardly postulated about the question on talk shows. Journalists haven’t really mulled over it in columns.
The Thunder are that good.
Even without Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City looks like a juggernaut and the favorites to win the NBA title again. APSure, the Lakers would’ve had an easier time scoring if Doncic had been on the court.
But it still wouldn’t have been enough.
The Thunder’s top-rated defense would’ve collapsed on him and they still would’ve had ample depth to swarm everyone else.
It’s really incredible.
Players one through five on the court for Oklahoma City at all times are gnats, including Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Lu Dort, Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein, Alex Caruso, Cason Wallace and Ajay Mitchell.
The Lakers’ offense simply wouldn’t have been able to withstand it.
Wallace has discombobulated Austin Reaves. Dort has frustrated LeBron James. Luke Kennard has only made a dent in one game this series. Really, Rui Hachimura has been the only Laker who has consistently shot well.
As for the other end of the court?
Doncic would’ve been a defensive liability. He would’ve been yet another target for the Thunder to attack with their dribble-drives, alongside Austin Reaves and Luke Kennard, who have basically been rendered unplayable together this series.
Doncic has missed the entire postseason after leading the NBA in scoring during the regular season. NBAE via Getty ImagesGet past them?
Deandre Ayton has been largely ineffective patrolling the paint.
Chet Holmgren has had his way down low. Mitchell has had his way everywhere.
The Lakers one bright spot on the defensive end is they’ve stunningly held Gilgeous-Alexander to 21 points a game this series, a marked dip from the postseason-leading 33.8 points he averaged in the team’s first-round sweep against the Suns, but that hasn’t even made a dent.
The Thunder are simply too deep, They have no holes.
Meanwhile, they took a floodlight to the Lakers’ roster, exposing their many deficiencies.
This was no surprise. The Lakers lost their four regular season games to the Thunder by an average of 29 points. When Doncic was on the court, nothing changed for them. And nothing would’ve changed now.
With Doncic on the sidelines, the Lakers trail the Thunder 3-0 in the Western Conference semifinals heading into Monday’s Game 4. Getty ImagesAs for Lakers coach JJ Redick, when asked if he has thought about how differently things could’ve looked if Doncic had been on the court, he didn’t hesitate.
“Never,” he said.
He likely didn’t want to waste his time on hypotheticals. He had too much on his plate. But we all know this wasn’t a burning “what if” question anyway.
Even an MVP-contender couldn’t have plugged the Lakers’ problems.
They need to remake their roster. They need to have a huge offseason. It’s obvious they can’t compete against the reigning champions. They can for a quarter. Maybe two. Three on a good day. But they simply aren’t deep enough to sustain that effort for an entire game.
If they had Doncic, they likely would’ve won one game.
But the outcome of this series wouldn’t have changed.
Even though he wasn’t available for the end of the season, the Lakers are expected to build around Doncic in the offseason. Alonzo Adams-Imagn ImagesNo Doncic? No difference.
The Thunder are just too good.
","guid":"74ef85e8-5434-3c0c-92bd-49003beef6ab","pubDate":"Mon, 11 May 2026 20:51:09 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 01:29:50 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 01:29:50 GMT","metadata":{},"feedLink":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/","feedDescription":"Comprehensive National Basketball Association news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors...","feedUrl":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rss/"} {"title":"Rick Pitino questions expanded March Madness pushback: 'Why and who cares?'","link":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/rick-pitino-questions-expanded-march-013738381.html","description":"Consider Rick Pitino on board with the expanded NCAA Tournament.
The Hall of Fame coach alluded to as much on Monday, May 11 when he went onto X (formerly Twitter) to question why there is pushback on March Madness expanding from 68 to 76 teams on both the men's and women's side of college basketball starting this upcoming 2026-27 season.
\"When I hear people are upset the NCAA expanded to 76 teams, I think \"why and who cares?\" The best teams advance and more teams get to experience the greatest tournament on earth,\" the St. John's basketball coach wrote on X.
When I hear people are upset the NCAA expanded to 76 teams, I think “why and who cares?”. The best teams advance and more teams get to experience the greatest tournament on earth.
— Rick Pitino (@RealPitino) May 11, 2026
LIKE IT OR NOT: March Madness is expanding to 76 teams, starting next season
The expanded tournament won’t impact the first round or any that follow, since games will still tip off from noon to midnight ET on that opening Thursday when 32 teams take the floor. The real impact will come in the days leading up to the first round.
On the men's side, the First Four will expand from eight teams playing four games in Dayton to 24 teams playing 12 games across two sites. Dayton will remain a host for the play‑in round, while the NCAA will announce the second location at a later date.
The 73-year-old Pitino isn't one to be shy about giving his opinions on NCAA-related topics and the current landscape of college basketball. He told a group of reporters, including USA TODAY Sports, at the 2024 Big East Media Day that he wanted college basketball to create 18- to 20-team \"super leagues\" to \"combat football\" at the then-height of conference realignment, which was triggered by football.
The May 11 social media post also isn't the first time Pitino has expressed his pro-expansion thoughts. He told CBS Sports' Matt Norlander at Big East Media Day in October of 2025 that expanding the field \"can only help\" and he'd be on board for it.
\"What makes the difference?\" Pitino said. \"I don't think it could hurt, it can only help. Anytime you get more teams, more excitement, more TV coverage, more things to speak about, more athletes participating, it can only be a good thing.
\"For people who say, 'No, we got to keep it.' C'mon. I was around when I think it was 24, 32 (teams) whatever it was. ... In this situation, you talk about eight more games. ... It doesn't hurt anything. It only helps. ... What bad could come from it?\"
Pitino has led St. John's to back-to-back NCAA Tournaments (after being left out of the tournament in 2024 as a bubble team), and has led six different programs — others being Kentucky, Louisville, Providence, Iona and Boston University — to the NCAA Tournament.
The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Rick Pitino defends expanded 76‑team March Madness: 'Best teams still advance'
","guid":"4ab753c3-5911-3a46-92b2-4d17594327cf","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 01:37:38 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 01:58:32 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 01:58:32 GMT","metadata":{},"feedLink":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/","feedDescription":"Comprehensive National Basketball Association news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors...","feedUrl":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rss/"} {"title":"Pistons vs. Cavs Discussion: Game Time, TV, Odds, and More","link":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/pistons-vs-cavs-discussion-game-234827183.html","description":"May 9, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Detroit Pistons forward Tobias Harris (12) drives to the basket against Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) during the second half of game three in the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images | Ken Blaze-Imagn Images\tThe Detroit Pistons had a chance to steal a win on the road against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday. They couldn’t pull it off. Instead of having a historically insurmountable 3-0 lead, now the Pistons are staring down the chance of an even series if they can’t pull off a win tonight. There was a lot that went wrong for Detroit in Game 3, and a lot that went right for the Cavs. But both sides of that equation also feel entirely repeatable. The Pistons are prone to error-laden balls, they struggle without Cade Cunningham on the floor, and the Cavs have premier talent in Donovan Mitchell. Every game has felt closer than it should have been, and it feels like any night could tip into blowout territory. Is tonight that night? Which side will that favor?
Game VitalsWhen: 8 p.m. ET
Where: Rocket Arena, Cleveland, Ohio
Watch: NBC/Peacock
Odds: Pistons +3.5
Cade Cunningham, Duncan Robinson, Ausar Thompson, Tobias Harris, Jalen Duren
James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Dean Wade, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen
","guid":"ac916969-5bad-3f24-94f6-bbdef4da69e9","pubDate":"Mon, 11 May 2026 23:48:27 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 01:58:32 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 01:58:32 GMT","metadata":{},"feedLink":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/","feedDescription":"Comprehensive National Basketball Association news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors...","feedUrl":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rss/"} {"title":"Lakers’ Adou Thiero’s postseason opportunity is an audition for next year","link":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/lakers-adou-thiero-postseason-opportunity-211650612.html","description":"As Adou Thiero was standing in front of the scorer’s table at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City early in the second quarter of the Lakers’ Game 2 loss to the Thunder, a familiar face followed Thiero’s path with a message.
Luka Doncic, the team’s star player who’s been sidelined since April 2 because of a strained left hamstring, made the walk from his seat on the Lakers’ bench to the scorer’s table before putting his arm to Thiero.
Doncic was there to give the Lakers rookie pieces of advice before getting his first opportunity of being in the Lakers’ playoff rotation after Jarred Vanderbilt suffered an open right pinky dislocation, opening up playing time.
“He just told me to go out there and play hard, just do what I do and don’t overthink anything,” Thiero said of Doncic’s message. “Just kept it simple and trying to lighten the pressure on me.”
Lakers rookie Adou Thiero has found himself in the rotation in Games 2 and 3 against the Thunder. NBAE via Getty ImagesDuring a loss that didn’t provide many bright spots for the Lakers, outside of Austin Reaves bouncing back from a rough Game 1 to kick off the series, Thiero provided what the coaching staff was looking for.
He had three rebounds in his six-minute shift in the quarter.
He hustled.
He was energetic.
He was physical.
All of the areas the Thunder have had the edge over the Lakers entering Monday’s Game 4 at Crypto.com Arena.
“High energy and physicality,” coach JJ Redick said of what’s expected of Thiero. “Thought he played well.”
The good impression led to more playing time for Thiero in Saturday’s Game 3 loss.
Thiero had a team-high eight rebounds in 13 minutes – five defensive rebounds and three offensive boards – and four points.
“[I] prayed for moments like these and worked for moments like these,” Thiero said, “Just to get that opportunity has been special; go out there and do what I can for the guys.”
After spending the majority of the season in the G League, Adou Thiero now finds himself defending the reigning MVP in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the postseason. Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn ImagesThiero has felt the shift in focus and energy during the 19 combined minutes he played in Game 2 and Game 3 compared to when he’d get playing time in the regular season.
“It’s definitely very intense,” Thiero said. “You got a loud atmosphere. Everybody is into it. Every possession, leave it all out there. It’s very intense. I felt the change in pace and everything as soon as I got out there.”
Thiero’s inexperience showed when he was called for a moving screen while trying to initiate a dribble handoff with Rui Hachimura late in the third quarter.
Or other moments when he passed up shots, with his energy and hustle masking the fact the No. 36 pick in the 2025 draft only played 149 minutes across 25 regular season games before the playoffs.
“They told me I did a lot of good things, but there’s still a lot of things I need to work on, which, granted, I haven’t gotten that many reps. But still gotta be disciplined with what we’re doing as a team and keep picking up our principles.”
But if the Lakers hope to compete with teams like the Thunder, or even the Spurs, in the future, they need to develop players like Thiero into quality rotation players.
Thiero had only played 149 minutes across 25 regular season games before the playoffs.Thiero, a 6-foot-8, 220-pound forward who impresses with his leaping ability and athleticism, not only represents what the Lakers lacked for most of the season, but also an advantage the Thunder and Spurs have over the Lakers.
The Lakers have lacked inexpensive, younger talent that they’ve developed who can be counted on to step up when needed.
Austin Reaves was once that player, but is 27, now five years into his NBA career and is set for a big pay day this offseason.
Max Christie, who the Lakers drafted in the second round in 2022, was turning into that type of player before they included him in the trade for Doncic last winter.
Both of the Lakers’ draft picks from 2023, Jalen Hood-Schifino and Maxwell Lewis, are no longer in the NBA.
Their 2024 picks, Dalton Knecht and Bronny James, have only played against the Thunder when the game results were essentially decided. James was in the rotation during the first round against the Rockets while Reaves was sidelined.
Selected with the 36th pick in the 2025 draft, the Lakers need to see if Thiero can emerge as a part of their rotation next season. APCompare that to the Thunder, who have multiple younger players on rookie scale contracts or inexpensive deals (Cason Wallace, Jared McCain, Ajay Mitchell)) who have contributed to the 3-0 series lead they had going into Monday, and it’s clear the Lakers are missing out on an important factor for team building.
It’s why they need Thiero to get this playing time.
And for the Lakers sake, hopefully grow from it.
","guid":"9745307e-a8e8-3dc7-a49b-d022ad26b46a","pubDate":"Mon, 11 May 2026 21:16:50 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 01:58:32 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 01:58:32 GMT","metadata":{},"feedLink":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/","feedDescription":"Comprehensive National Basketball Association news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors...","feedUrl":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rss/"} {"title":"Bucks ‘open for business’ on Giannis Antetokounmpo trade","link":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/bucks-open-business-giannis-antetokounmpo-211108875.html","description":"Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo looks on during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Indiana Pacers, Sunday, March 15, 2026, in Milwaukee.The Bucks’ on-again, off-again relationship with Giannis Antetokounmpo has entered a new chapter.
After unsuccessfully engaging in trade talks about the two-time MVP in February, the Bucks are again “open for business” on offers for Antetokounmpo ahead of the NBA draft, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Monday.
As was the case in February, when the Bucks ultimately decided to hold on to the Greek Freak, Milwaukee’s front office will reportedly be looking for a “young blue-chip talent” and/or a sizable package of draft picks.
The Milwaukee Bucks are reportedly “open for business” on Giannis Antetokounmpo trade calls once again APAntetokounmpo, 31, has spent his entire 13-year career in Milwaukee and helped lead them to a championship in the 2020-21 season.
But with the Bucks falling out of contention in recent seasons, his relationship with the franchise has frayed and he reportedly told team brass last year that he wanted to play for the Knicks.
Talks between the two sides never materialized, as ESPN reported, while contenders like the Timberwolves, Cavaliers, Celtics and Lakers are all said to have made calls on Antetokounmpo at this year’s deadline.
Antetokounmpo has just one more guaranteed year on his contract before a player option kicks in the following season.
Novak Djokovic (l.) and Giannis Antetokounmpo (r.) attend a EuroLeague game between Olympiacos Piraeus and Monaco in Athens, Greece on April 30, 2026. Euroleague Basketball via GettyAfter Antetokounmpo reportedly expressed an openness to leaving Milwaukee last May, the team decided to hand a $108.7 million deal to Myles Turner in the summer to try to build a contender around their star player.
However, the Bucks never got going this season and looked to be heading for the exit with Antetokounmpo this winter.
That didn’t come to fruition, though, setting up for an awkward last few months of the season as the Bucks finished 32-50 and ultimately parted ways with coach Doc Rivers.
The Bucks will be juggling Antetokounmpo’s future with their plans for the NBA draft, after landing the No. 10 pick in Sunday’s lottery.
The first round of the draft is June 23.
","guid":"c6166afa-f665-3342-9052-47d2151f5204","pubDate":"Mon, 11 May 2026 21:11:08 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 01:58:32 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 01:58:32 GMT","metadata":{},"feedLink":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/","feedDescription":"Comprehensive National Basketball Association news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors...","feedUrl":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rss/"} {"title":"Draymond seemingly calls out hypocrisy as Victor Wembanyama avoids suspension","link":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/draymond-seemingly-calls-hypocrisy-victor-183437548.html","description":"Draymond seemingly calls out hypocrisy as Victor Wembanyama avoids suspension originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
The Minnesota Timberwolves’ win over the San Antonion Spurs in Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals on Sunday was overshadowed by Victor Wembanyama throwing a blatant elbow at Naz Reid in the second quarter.
Wembanyama received a Flagrant 2 and was ejected for the remainder of the game, but he won’t face further discipline, such as a fine or suspension, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Monday, citing sources.
There will be no further discipline for Spurs star Victor Wembanyama after he was ejected for elbowing Naz Reid in Minnesota on Sunday night, sources tell ESPN. No suspension, no fine. Wembanyama will play in Game 5 against the Timberwolves on Tuesday night in San Antonio. pic.twitter.com/GOGCbIcbQP
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 11, 2026
Before that announcement, Warriors star Draymond Green chimed in on X with his belief of what would have happened had it been him delivering the elbow.
Y’all have called for my career for less. https://t.co/CUDr4X7yJK
— Draymond Green (@Money23Green) May 11, 2026
Among active players, Green leads the NBA with 23 career ejections, is second with 177 technical fouls and third with 21 flagrants.
While Green’s reputation certainly precedes him, he also knows a thing or two about what happens on the hardwood – especially from a mental standpoint.
And that’s why Green added on “The Draymond Green Show” that with Wembanyama not receiving more repercussions that that could mean the Wolves should return the favor to the superstar.
Draymond on Wemby's ejection from Game 4 for elbowing Naz Reid
“I saw Mitch Johnson's press conference, I was like 'Woah'… Jaden McDaniels and Joker just got fined for much less, I would say to the Minnesota Timberwolves 'Hey guys, this is fair game, there's no suspension,… pic.twitter.com/z1QmiSK0nP
— The Draymond Green Show (@DraymondShow) May 11, 2026
“I would say to the Minnesota Timberwolves, ‘Hey guys, this is fair game, there’s no suspension, there’s no fines, this is fair game,’” Green said.
“If nobody’s coming back at those guys, going back at Wemby, you lose the war because what he just did was set a tone.”
Wembanyama’s ejection led to the Spurs dropping Game 4 and the Wolves evening the series at two games apiece as it shifts back to San Antonio.
Both series in the West semifinals have seen their fair share of scrutiny for the referees, so it will be interesting to see how the rest of the series goes from this point on.
Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast
","guid":"cb0b78a2-7bb7-3985-b4c4-8bcd80a2ec94","pubDate":"Mon, 11 May 2026 18:34:37 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 01:58:32 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 01:58:32 GMT","metadata":{},"feedLink":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/","feedDescription":"Comprehensive National Basketball Association news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors...","feedUrl":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rss/"} {"title":"Why does everyone hate Keir Starmer? – podcast","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/news/audio/2026/may/12/why-does-everyone-hate-keir-starmer-podcast","description":"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 PM 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?
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/news/audio/2026/may/12/why-does-everyone-hate-keir-starmer-podcast","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 02:00:11 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 02:12:26 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 02:12:26 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/9888d2b91ba9e0baaf6def30e33cc258fb83d455/0_0_5160_4128/master/5160.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=b1a4ae12372b7a02355d9d08024a8f12"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"UK news | The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news","feedDescription":"Latest news, breaking news and current affairs coverage from across the UK from theguardian.com","feedUrl":"http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/rss"} {"title":"Why does everyone hate Keir Starmer? – podcast","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/news/audio/2026/may/12/why-does-everyone-hate-keir-starmer-podcast","description":"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 PM 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?
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/news/audio/2026/may/12/why-does-everyone-hate-keir-starmer-podcast","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 02:00:11 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 02:22:49 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 02:22:49 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/9888d2b91ba9e0baaf6def30e33cc258fb83d455/0_0_5160_4128/master/5160.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=b1a4ae12372b7a02355d9d08024a8f12"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"Mayor of California city resigns over charges of being a foreign agent of China","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/may/11/california-city-mayor-resigns-foreign-agent-charges","description":"Eileen Wang, 58, mayor of Arcadia, agreed to plead guilty over the felony count brought by the justice department
Eileen Wang, the mayor of a southern California city, resigned suddenly on Monday after the US Department of Justice (DoJ) announced she had been charged with acting as an illegal foreign agent of China.
Wang, 58, agreed to plead guilty to the felony count and could face a sentence of 10 years in prison.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/may/11/california-city-mayor-resigns-foreign-agent-charges","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 01:22:06 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 02:22:49 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 02:22:49 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/5826b401a96122bf3b6a513c659029db230167dc/0_220_2667_2132/master/2667.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=53d381c5ee1ab8054f0608da9b33c423"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"Macron at Africa summit seeking allies and a foreign policy less tied to France’s colonial past","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/12/macron-move-on-francophone-past-africa-summit","description":"French president reaches out to new allies after setbacks in relations with his country’s former colonies in west Africa
A French-African summit held every few years since 1973 is taking place in a non-francophone country for the first time on Tuesday as Emmanuel Macron tries to rebuild France’s role on the continent after setbacks in its former colonies.
More than 30 heads of state and government are meeting in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, for this year’s iteration of the summit. Named Africa Forward, it is being seen by analysts as an attempt by France to court new allies.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/12/macron-move-on-francophone-past-africa-summit","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 02:00:11 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 02:22:49 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 02:22:49 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7d2f9ae0d46db383f726799bc6c1a6de92e6c4e0/416_0_4169_3335/master/4169.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=cb8643bdbd19f68b3a73c39862f760bd"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama escapes NBA playoff suspension after Game 4 ejection over elbow","link":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/spurs-victor-wembanyama-escapes-nba-213148255.html","description":"Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) commits a flagrant foul against Timberwolves center Naz Reid (11) during Game 4.The Spurs’ loss was punishment enough for Victor Wembanyama.
Following the French big man’s ejection for elbowing the Timberwolves’ Naz Reid on Sunday, he will not face a suspension, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
During the Spurs’ Game 4 loss to Minnesota in their second-round series, Wembanyama was tossed with 8:39 left in the second quarter after whacking Reid in the face after fighting for possession.
Spurs center Victor Wembanyama commits a flagrant foul against Timberwolves center Naz Reid during Game 4. Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn ImagesStatus alert: Victor Wembanyama has been ejected Sunday after being assessed a Flagrant 2 foul. pic.twitter.com/G02YylonQE
— Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) May 11, 2026
The hard contact from the 7-foot-4 center sent Reid to the floor, though he was fine to continue playing and finished the game with 15 points in 31 minutes.
With Wembanyama sidelined for much of the contest, the Timberwolves took their chance to even the series, winning 114-109.
Anthony Edwards finished with a game-high 36 points, while Wembanyama was forced to leave the floor with just four points in 12 minutes.
While Wembanyama will be available to play in a pivotal Game 5, his wallet may take a hit as a result of his actions on Sunday.
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said he believes “there’s a chance” the reigning Defensive Player of the Year gets fined for his elbow.
Nonetheless, Spurs coach Mitch Johnson defended Wembanyama for sticking up for himself amid a perceived lack of protection by the referees from the Timberwolves’ physical play.
Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) reacts after he was ejected for a flagrant foul during the first half of Game 4. AP“I’m glad he took matters into his own hands. Not in terms of hitting Naz Reid, I want to be very clear about that,” Johnson told reporters.
“… But he’s going to have to protect himself if [the refs] are not. The amount of physicality that people play with, with him, at some level, you have to protect yourself.”
The Spurs will welcome Minnesota back to San Antonio on Tuesday night for a pivotal Game 5.
","guid":"6e2a8648-3a91-3de8-90ae-37e470ef2ddd","pubDate":"Mon, 11 May 2026 21:31:48 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 02:27:26 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 02:27:26 GMT","metadata":{},"feedLink":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/","feedDescription":"Comprehensive National Basketball Association news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors...","feedUrl":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rss/"} {"title":"Donovan Mitchell explodes for NBA playoff record-tying 39 second-half points, leads Cavaliers to 2-2 series tie with Pistons","link":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/breaking-news/article/donovan-mitchell-explodes-for-nba-playoff-record-tying-39-second-half-points-leads-cavaliers-to-2-2-series-tie-with-pistons-024018910.html","description":"James Harden set them up. Donovan Mitchell knocked them down.
And the Cleveland Cavaliers ran away with a 112-103 Game 4 win over the Detroit Pistons Monday night. A series that the Pistons once led, 2-0 is now up for grabs at 2-2.
Harden paced the Cavaliers early with 11 straight Cleveland points in the first quarter. Mitchell then exploded with 21 points in the third quarter after a four-point first half to spark a 23-0 Cavaliers to start the second half.
History for Mitchell, CavaliersMitchell finished with 43 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists. He shot 13 of 25 from the field and 4 of 12 from 3. His 39 second-half points are tied with Sleepy Floyd for the most in a half in postseason history.
DONOVAN MITCHELL'S GOT 34 PTS IN THE 2ND HALF 😲
— NBA (@NBA) May 12, 2026
38 PTS FOR THE GAME.
Cavs lead by 19 in Q4 of Game 4! pic.twitter.com/WGPZ5dmEKV
The 20-plus point quarter was the fifth of Mitchell’s playoff career, tying him with Stephen Curry and Jamal Murray for the most in postseason history. It also sparked some team history for the Cavaliers.
The 23-0 second half run extended to 25-0 with the last bucket of the second quarter. And it added up to Cleveland’s largest postseason scoring run since the start of the play-by-play era that started in the 1996-97. That’s a stretch that featured nine LeBron James postseasons.
And the run turned a 56-52 halftime deficit into a 75-56 lead that the Cavaliers never relinquished. Detroit punched back. But it never recovered to threaten Cleveland’s lead.
“I apologized to the group,” Mitchell told NBC of his halftime message to his teammates after a four-point first half. … “I came in and told the guys, it’s on me. I tried to make a statement in the second half.”
Make a statement, Mitchell did. And the Cavs are back in the series with a trip to the Eastern Conference finals at stake.
Mitchell wasn’t alone Monday night. Harden deferred to his red-hot backcourt mate after halftime, but still managed to finish with 24 points, 11 assists and 4 steals.
And the turnovers that plagued Harden and the Cavaliers through the first two games weren’t an issue. Harden committed just two turnovers, and the Cavaliers secured an 18-13 edge in takeaways.
This story will be updated.
","guid":"697fc86f-8666-425e-984e-4fcfcb7407e2","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 02:40:18 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 02:55:56 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 02:55:56 GMT","metadata":{},"feedLink":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/","feedDescription":"Comprehensive National Basketball Association news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors...","feedUrl":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rss/"} {"title":"Donovan Mitchell goes scorched Earth, Cavs beat Pistons 112-103 in Game 4","link":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/donovan-mitchell-goes-scorched-earth-024000162.html","description":"CLEVELAND, OH - MAY 11: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives to the basket during the game against the Detroit Pistons during Round Two Game Four of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 11, 2026 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images\tThe Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Detroit Pistons 112-103 in Game 4, riding Donovan Mitchell’s 43 points to a tied series back to Motown.
Cleveland started this game hot. They jumped out to a 14-5 lead in the opening minutes as James Harden poured in 11 of those points all on his own. He nabbed two steals and banged home a pair of triples as the Cavs had their best start to a game this series.
That didn’t last long.
The lead was quickly reversed once Harden went to the bench and the Cavs offense went frigid. Some timely shot-making from Tobias Harris and Caris LeVert allowed the Pistons to change momentum and end the first quarter with an advantage. LeVert started the game with 17 points on 7-12 shooting.
LeVert changed the dynamic of this game. Before his run, the Pistons’ offense was having a difficult time finding support for Cade Cunningham. LeVert not only provided aid but practically took the wheel and started driving this thing himself.
Then the third quarter came, and the Cavaliers gave us another example of how quickly playoff basketball can change.
A dominant 23-o run put the Cavs back in front. Donovan Mitchell erupted for 15 points during that sequence, breaking free from a hellish first half where he only scored 4 points. Mitchell’s scoring was complemented by an elite stretch of defense, with Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley shutting down the paint.
The Cavalanche is a real phenomenon and it’s maybe what makes them the most terrifying. Just an ability to absolutely pour it on.
— Esfandiar Baraheni (@JustEsBaraheni) May 12, 2026
An insane 23-0 run to start the 3rd quarter.
Detroit made a run to keep it within range through the third quarter. But Mitchell continued to apply pressure until the dam finally broke. He ended the night with 43 points to complement Harden’s double-double.
We have to take a moment to shout out both Allen and Mobley, who seem totally unbothered by Jalen Duren. The Cavs bigs have flipped the script by dominating Duren in the paint, combining for 26 points and 13 rebounds while holding Duren to just 8 points and 2 rebounds.
Still, the story of the night is Mitchell erupting for 39 points in the second half. This team is built around the idea of him being an All-NBA superstar. That looked pretty good tonight.
Game 5 is Wednesday in Detroit.
","guid":"57a60a88-b7ba-3bd6-9b6c-d92a87fcf882","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 02:40:00 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 02:55:56 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 02:55:56 GMT","metadata":{},"feedLink":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/","feedDescription":"Comprehensive National Basketball Association news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors...","feedUrl":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rss/"} {"title":"What We Learned from the Spurs Game 4 loss to the Timberwolves","link":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/learned-spurs-game-4-loss-002647448.html","description":"MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MAY 10: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs goes up for the rebound during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves during Round Two Game Four of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 10, 2026 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images\tThere’s this great trick that Francis Ford Coppolla pulls at the beginning of The Godfather, where he opts to forgo having a narrator and/or title cards to explain the story.
It’s a very purposeful move, motivated partly (I suspect) by the popularity of Mario Puzo’s novel. The original novel was quite the financial success it its own right, sitting on the bestseller list for well over a year, and selling over nine million copies in that time.
But the book features an omniscient narrator, and Coppola didn’t want that degree of separation to come between his film and his audience.
Foreknowledge can inform us, but it rarely moves us. I know this, because no matter how many times I watch the Spurs old championship games, I just cannot fully recapture the feeling.
There’s still joy, but the joy has turned nostalgic. I cannot craft anticipation from a place of perfect knowledge.
That’s what’s so thrilling about the postseason. The Spurs won at a 50-game pace for most of my life, and still, *only* came home with five titles. Only 6 championship berths.
That irregularity, that unpredictability, is where the adrenaline and the exhilaration live.
And that’s why, when Coppolla drops us right into the film, in medias res, mid-conversation with the kingpin of the title, we’re immediately locked in. It’s a perfect opening, with almost no hint of the frivolity of the occasion outside filtering though, so intimate and hushed that it almost feels like we’re eavesdropping, or part of the room.
And that is, I think, the whole point. The film encourages you, from the very beginning, to play witness to the intimacies of a crime family. The voices are warm and domestic. Even the directions and doings of the gathered mafioso are delivered with decorum and a certain air of courtliness.
It wants you to like them. It wants you to get swept up in the affection and the domesticity that’s masking the violence. It does its level best to make you a fan of the Corleones.
Why? Because fandom has a way of thwarting objectivity. I’ve always found the shortening of the word ‘fanatic’ to ‘fan’ to be fascinating.
It’s almost as if those engaged in fandom are incapable of considering that it is a form of fanaticism. As if fanaticism is something that only exists within the context of politics or religion. As if abbreviating the word will somehow change the nature of truth itself.
The truth is that last night Victor Wembanyama elbowed Naz Reid right in the face.
The truth is also that it was absolutely premeditated.
There are in fact a whole list of truths that I could rattle off, such as:
The elbow is an incredibly personal part of the body. We don’t think about that because of how little we see our own, but virtually all of our upper body movements hinge on the engineering marvel that is the Articulatio Cubiti.
Almost every sporting movement is dependent on it, from the very obvious varieties of throwing to even the act of running itself, when we depend on our elbows to assist in the repetition of form and balance.
Or even more intimately, in the act of feeding ourselves and cleaning ourselves (I sincerely hope that I never learn what it’s like to try to use toilet paper without the aid of an elbow), or embracing our loved ones.
All of mythology surrounding the elbow appears to function in extremes, whether it’s the indigenous legends of the Ojibwe talking about the terrifying cannibalistic “elbow witches” of the great lakes and northern plains, who murder their victims with the knives embedded in their olecranons (elbow-tips), or vodoo folklore claiming the act of rubbing elbows with another person can swap the destinies and/or energies of the individuals involved.
Or old urban legends suggesting that children can change gender by kissing their own elbow. Or The Book of Ecclesiastes claiming that “stretching your elbow at dinner” (reaching across the table) is as shameful a thing as the breaking of a vow.
Taoism even goes as far as to assign specific traits to each elbow, with the right elbow serving as a conduit to the power, action, movement, and choices of the individual, and the left to receptivity, emotions, and the receiving of love or support. I guess in that context, throwing the right elbow really was a choice.
And yet, all levity aside, I can’t really convince myself that it was a ‘good’ choice.
For fans in my age group and older, I suspect an elbow to the head is still a pretty sore spot for those of us who can vividly recall the viciously premeditated elbow that Malone delivered with such force that it knocked David Robinson unconscious for the better part of two minutes.
And while it was quickly obvious that Reid hadn’t received a blow on par with that one, it wasn’t an enjoyable flashback to the anxiety of those two minutes of April 8th, 1998, when no one knew what the overall state of the Admiral was/would be yet.
Those are not two minutes that I would wish on any fan-base.
But to that end, I think there’s something we have to acknowledge about this Spurs team, and about Victor, when it comes to the legends of the past: they’re different.
Maybe (probably) because they’re so young, these players carry themselves differently. That “we don’t care”mantra is a markedly different banner to unite under, after years of Spurs teams that (while also probably not caring), did their best to never give the opposition bulletin board material.
They talk trash, even going as far as to (per Express News scribe Jeff McDonald) tell Kevin Durant that they were doubling and tripling him not because he’s good, but because his teammates suck.
Relevant a commentary as it may have been, it takes a special level of audacity to tell a legend of the game that right to his face, in the middle of the game, within earshot of his comrades/co-workers/scapegoats.
And this is something I’ve started to wonder about lately, as I compared this team’s efforts to the heartless business attitude of organized criminals and the swagger of a souteneur:
Just how hated are these Spurs going to be? And how deserving of that hatred?
There’s a certain blindness that affects a fan. Thunder fans are incapable of seeing their team as a cadre of floppers extraordinaire. Golden State fans were largely incapable of admitting their dynasty hinged on an unprecedented MVP-level addition to a team that had won 73 games. Heat fans were unwilling to admit that the unholy alliance that benefited them forever warped the concept of competitive balance within the league, to the point of the NBA enforcing the most restrictive CBA since the dawn of free-agency.
And these are just a few examples. Fandom bewitches us all. And sometimes it implicates us too.
That’s why Coppola wanted us to feel close to the Corleones. Why Scorsese wanted us caught up in the awe emanating from Henry Hill in Goodfellas. It’s the same trick that David Chase later pulled with Tony Soprano’s therapy sessions and that Vince Gilligan pulled in drawing us into the humble beginnings of a cancer-stricken meth-lord in Breaking Bad.
Everyone is a villain in someone else’s story. That elbow earned permanent (and perhaps justifiable) hatred from someone, in the same way that I’ll probably never stop wishing ill on the Utah Jazz.
And part of that is just in the nature of being a fan — the thrill of us versus them that plays out in virtually every arena. But the contrast is becoming more and more apparent, justifiable reasons or not.
In the context of film, I’m starting to see Tim Duncan as Obi Wan Kenobi, and Victor Wembanyama as Anakin Skywalker.
Duncan, like Kenobi, almost unassumingly defeated the majority of his most impressive foes, and Wemby, like Anakin, came into the fold as the chosen one, and has suffered an emotional outburst.
Will he bring balance to the force? I can’t say that I’d include that elbow under the category of ‘ethical hoops’.
Maybe it was necessary. Maybe it’ll lead to better basketball and better officiating. Maybe players will think twice before messing with Wemby. Maybe it was a one time thing that we’ll largely have forgotten years from now.
Or maybe this Spurs team is shaping itself into a different kind of Silver and Black villain.
I think maybe I’m so deep inside it now, that I have to withdraw, because I cannot be impartial
At this point I’m just hoping that Wemby takes the high ground first. The Imperial March is actually a really beautiful piece of music if you really think about it.
TakewaysPlaying You Out – The Theme Song of the Evening:
You’re Gonna Go Far, Kid by The Offspring
","guid":"df936292-50b1-3949-b121-fb01cd054ea0","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 00:26:47 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 02:55:56 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 02:55:56 GMT","metadata":{},"feedLink":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/","feedDescription":"Comprehensive National Basketball Association news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors...","feedUrl":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rss/"} {"title":"Winners and Losers: Cavs vs Pistons Game 4 – Donovan Mitchell drops 43 points","link":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/winners-losers-cavs-vs-pistons-030925903.html","description":"CLEVELAND, OHIO - MAY 11: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers shoots the ball over Cade Cunningham #2 of the Detroit Pistons during the fourth quarter in Game Four of the Second Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Rocket Arena on May 11, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images\tThe Cleveland Cavaliers ran the Pistons back to Detroit, tying the series at 2-2 behind a huge second half.
Let’s go over today’s winners and losers.
WINNER – Third Quarter CAVALANCHEAn aspect of this era of Cavalier basketball is that no matter how a game is trending, one four-minute stretch can change everything. While that’s true for both the good and bad — the Cavalanche has earned its name for a reason.
Detroit rolled into halftime feeling pretty good. They had weathered an early storm and controlled the rest of the half behind their defense. They ended the second quarter with a 56-52 lead.
Four minutes into the third quarter, the Pistons still had 56 points, while the Cavs had jumped to 75. That’s a 23-0 run led by Donovan Mitchell, who scored 15 points during that sequence. Rocket Arena turned into a madhouse, and a full-throated ‘Jarrett Allen’ chant capped off the run.
It just takes a couple thousand people yelling Jarrett Allen’s name for him to dunk it. pic.twitter.com/zs3796KVfF
— Jackson Flickinger (@JacksFlickinger) May 12, 2026
This type of heavyweight punch is what makes it hard to count the Cavs out.
WINNER – First Quarter HardenYou can’t ask for a much better start than that.
Cleveland lost both games in Detroit largely because of their slow starts. James Harden made sure that no matter what happened tonight, the Cavs wouldn’t leave with that same feeling.
Harden opened the game on fire. He scored 11 points in the first four minutes, banging three-pointers and even racking up two steals during that stretch. The Cavs defense was successful early on, and Harden surprisingly played a key role in setting that tone.
Sadly, that hot start didn’t spread to the rest of the team (or the rest of the quarter). Cleveland went cold once Harden went to the bench, somehow shooting just 30% from the floor and ending the quarter down by three points.
LOSER – The Caris LeVert WheelCavs fans will be familiar with this. But in case you’re not, the ‘LeVert Wheel’ refers to the idea that on any given night, LeVert will play like any number of former players. For instance, sometimes he’s Michael Jordan, other times he’s closer to Alonzo Gee.
The wheel landed on Jordan tonight.
LeVert had confidence early. His first few jumpers hardly even touched the net. Shot after shot went through the basket as LeVert worked his way to 17 points on 7-12 shooting in the first half. All the while, he gave Donovan Mitchell fits defensively and forced several turnovers on various Cavs drives, including one where he stripped the ball out of bounds off Evan Mobley’s knee.
That type of support from a role player can be enough to steal a game on the road.
WINNER – Donovan MitchellWe’ve already talked a bit about Mitchell. But he took so many lumps throughout the first round, I think it’s worth focusing on him one more time.
This whole thing was built around Mitchell.
Maybe not originally. The Cavs probably thought that Mobley would have been their best player by now when they first traded for Mitchell. But as Mitchell blossomed into a legit First-Team All-NBA player, and Mobley’s development crawled at a slower pace than expected, it became clear who was the centerpiece of this team.
The Harden trade cemented that. No more two-timelines. Only one. And that would be Mitchell’s.
With all this in mind, it was alarming to see Mitchell struggle to start this postseason. No version of the Cavs competes for a title without a superstar leader in Mitchell. His inefficient scoring and questionable decision-making were a significant concern.
That’s starting to change.
Mitchell found life in Game 2. He carried that over for a monstrous 35 points in Game 3. Then, after a slow start to Game 4, he broke free for 21 points in the third quarter, matching LeBron James and Kyrie Irving for the highest scoring quarter in franchise history. Reminding us of why this team has the expectations it does, in the first place.
“To turn it around the way he did, I’m not sure I’ve seen something like that in the playoffs,” said Kenny Atkinson after the game.
A whopping 39 points in the second half tied an NBA record and brought Mitchell’s total to 43 for the night. It’s his eighth playoff game of 40+ points and his fourth as a Cavalier. His best performances give Cleveland a punch it can’t get anywhere else on the roster.
","guid":"c80c737b-5e46-3706-8169-81755e8250c7","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 03:09:25 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 03:24:15 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 03:24:15 GMT","metadata":{},"feedLink":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/","feedDescription":"Comprehensive National Basketball Association news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors...","feedUrl":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rss/"} {"title":"Andrej Stojakovic put on a show to start NBA Draft Combine","link":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/andrej-stojakovic-put-show-start-025559568.html","description":"CHICAGO, IL - MAY 11: Andrej Stojakovic participates in the shuttle run drill during the 2026 NBA Draft Combine on May 11, 2026 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images\tUhhhhhh.
Andrej might not be coming back.
The Illini wing put on a show Monday night at the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago. A good week for Stojakovic in the Windy City could push him to stay in the NBA Draft rather than return for his second year at Illinois (and his fourth overall in college).
In the maximum vertical jump, Stojakovic finished atop the leaderboard at 41.5 inches.
Max vert pic.twitter.com/SiKQtuAOt9
— Tyler Rucker (@tyler_rucker) May 12, 2026
Andrej Stojakovic 41.5” Max Vert @NoCeilingsNBApic.twitter.com/oMEdhkrd4J
— ALBERT GHIM (@albertoeghim) May 11, 2026
While he won’t participate in the 5-on-5 scrimmages at the combine, Stojakovic is making a name for himself with his athleticism, which he flashed at times last year off the bench during Illinois’ Final Four run.
It’d be great to have him back in orange and blue next year, but you can’t blame him if he’s able to assure that he’s a high second-round pick and has a real chance at the NBA.
","guid":"98c86729-09e4-3d6e-b768-ad3ed12db336","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 02:55:59 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 03:24:15 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 03:24:15 GMT","metadata":{},"feedLink":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/","feedDescription":"Comprehensive National Basketball Association news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors...","feedUrl":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rss/"} {"title":"Why Lakers fans at Crypto.com Arena are NBA’s most misunderstood playoff atmosphere","link":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/why-lakers-fans-crypto-com-225822115.html","description":"The first thing you notice when you enter Crypto.com Arena for a Lakers playoff game isn’t the noise or the roar of the crowd.
Oftentimes, it’s the famous faces that walk right past you.
On any given night it could be the biggest names in sports, music, and entertainment. Stand in line for the bathroom with Bad Bunny, overhear a joke from Eddie Murphy, or high-five Matthew Stafford.
Laker fans cheer during a slam dunk by LeBron James. MediaNews Group via Getty ImagesIt’s true that the arena feels more like a stage than a furnace. ESPN broadcaster Doris Burke commented on it just before tipoff of Game 3 between the Thunder and Lakers.
“Is this building remarkably quiet for a playoff game?” she asked Dave Pasch. She wasn’t wrong. But she wasn’t entirely right either.
A Lakers game doesn’t behave like other NBA arenas. It’s not meant to be a college-like atmosphere, or have a PA announcer yelling at the crowd what to do every second of the game.
Lakers fans cheering at Game 2 between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Los Angeles Lakers. NBAE via Getty ImagesFormer Lakers’ owner Jerry Buss always envisioned a Lakers game as a theatrical experience.
He wanted fans to experience a “show.” He added a live band, the Laker girls, and courtside celebrities. He dimmed the crowd lights low and put a spotlight on the court. He mixed basketball with Hollywood glamour, music and performance. He wanted you to feel like you were in “the hottest night club” in town.
It was a must-see event, and fans flocked to be seen.
And that is still the vibe to this very day.
Bad Bunny sitting courtside at a Lakers game. Getty ImagesMatthew Stafford and Kelly Hall watching a Lakers game. Getty ImagesIn OKC, the experience is engineered. A voice booms through the speakers, directing every emotional beat. “Stand up!” “Get Loud!” Chant “De-fense” on cue.
The arena is much smaller, the ceiling lower, the acoustics sharper. The sound has nowhere to go but down. Yes, it’s louder, and an exceptional atmosphere, but it’s also a lot different than LA for a reason.
Lakers starting lineups introductions and Thunder hype video for Game 1 pic.twitter.com/FPSuWcMdh9
— Michael J. Duarte (@michaeljduarte) May 6, 2026
In Houston, at the Toyota Center, they leaned on volume too—sometimes artificially.
The in-house sound system is the loudest we’ve ever heard. It’s constantly blasting music that rattles your chest and hurts your ear drums. But turn that music off and you’ll notice a half-empty arena for a playoff game with at least 40% of the fans in attendance wearing purple and gold.
When the Lakers go on a run, and the music stops playing, guess which fanbase you hear?
Once again the Toyota Center is half-empty at tipoff. The red you see are empty seats with t-shirts on them. For those in attendance, there’s a lot of purple and gold pic.twitter.com/oqppXrH33F
— Michael J. Duarte (@michaeljduarte) April 27, 2026
At a Lakers game, there is no conductor commanding the crowd or music to drown out everyone.
Lakers fans operate on instinct. They recognize matchups before they unfold. They sense momentum shifts like a change in the wind. When the moment demands it, the building responds organically. Not because it was told, but because it knows it has to.
Lakers fans watch a game from the sidelines. William Navarro-Imagn ImagesDuring several sequences in Game 3, the referees didn’t blow the whistle on obvious fouls committed by the Thunder.
“Good no call,” said Burke on the broadcast.
But fans in the arena knew better.
ESPN broadcaster Doris Burke commented on the atmosphere just before tipoff of Game 3 between the Thunder and Lakers. NBAE via Getty ImagesThey knew the history of one of the worst officiated games ever seen in Game 2. “Refs you suck!” The sellout crowd chanted in unison. Minutes later, after Rui Hachimura drained a corner three, they chanted “Rui! Rui! Rui!”
That nuance doesn’t always translate on television.
The camera loves the celebrities sitting courtside.
It’s Leonard DiCaprio, Will Ferrell, and Noah Wyle.
Emmy Award-winning actor Noah Wyle with his wife Sara Wells clapping at a Lakers game. Los Angeles Times via Getty ImagesSome celebrities are diehards. Some are guests. Some are there because a studio handed them a seat hours before tipoff to promote their new movie, show, or album. The result can feel detached through a screen.
But that’s only a fraction of the room.
Beyond the floor is a different audience.
Season-ticket holders who have been through every era of Lakers basketball. They know the playoffs are not a fashion show but a war of attrition. Fans will save for months just to sit in the upper bowl and cheer for four quarters. Tourists from all over the world come for the experience of seeing LeBron James and the Lakers in action.
But the Lakers are just one experience in a city that never stops moving.
Flea sticking out his tongue next to Melody Ehsani at a Lakers game. Getty ImagesOn any given night you can see the back-to-back World Series champion Dodgers a few miles away. LAFC and LA Galaxy are kicking off down the street. There’s concerts, movie premieres, live shows. It’s a constant competition for attention.
OKC doesn’t have that problem. The Thunder are the main event in town. They are the only event in town.
So yes, Lakers fans can arrive late and leave early. Traffic will do that to you. They’ll take photos because everything in L.A. is a backdrop. And yes, they’ll even bet against their own team. But they’re also one of the largest and well-represented fanbases in the world.
The Lakers playoff atmosphere might not be the loudest in the NBA.
But it might be the most misunderstood.
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Who experts predict Warriors, Kings will pick in first round of 2026 NBA Draft originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
The 2026 NBA Draft lottery has come and gone, so that means now comes the fun part: mock drafts.
The Kings, who finished the 2025-26 NBA season with a 22-60 record, lost a tie-breaking coin flip that would have given them the No. 4 slot in the lottery — which ultimately turned into the No. 2 pick for the Utah Jazz — and dropped two spots to the No. 7 selection.
As for the Warriors, they were projected to get the No. 11 pick and that’s exactly what the team received after a 37-45 campaign. With Steve Kerr returning to lead the charge, it’ll be interesting to see what the team whether the team uses the pick as trade-bait or not, but for now, here are some of the projected picks if the team keeps the selection.
ESPNKings (No. 7): Kingston Flemings, PG, Houston
“Flemings’ explosive speed and winning intangibles swayed NBA executives this season, and he projects as a lead playmaker who puts downhill pressure on defenses and should also add value as a defender. The continued progression of his jump shot is key for him and something he’ll need to demonstrate effectively in team workouts, but he got positive results at Houston (38.7% from 3, 84.5% from the line) and has shown growth already in that area.”
Warriors (No. 11): Karim Lopez (Mexico), SF/PF, New Zealand Breakers
“The top player in a thin international prospect class, Lopez has a chance to help himself in pre-draft workouts, where teams will gain a better sense of his physical traits and skill level coming off a positive year in the NBL. Showing progress as a perimeter shooter in those settings would help his case to sneak into the top 10.”
– Jeremy Woo
CBS SportsKings (No. 7): Kingston Flemings, PG, Houston
“Flemings is an elite athlete who can get a piece of the paint on demand, rise up explosively at the rim, get to his pull-up at virtually any time, and be solid on the defensive end. His swing skill is his shooting, and if it holds up, then he too has legit star-type outcomes. In Sacramento, Flemings will have an opportunity to earn the starting point guard job from day one.”
Warriors (No. 11): Aday Mara, C, Michigan
“Mara kept getting better as the college season went on and ultimately led Michigan to a national championship. At 7-foot-3, he’s a giant, even by NBA standards, and a tremendous rim protector. He’s also got sneaky mobility, good hands, real passing ability, and provides vertical spacing. With Steve Kerr returning next season, the Warriors’ style of play will be staying largely the same, and Mara’s facilitating ability fits that.”
– Adam Finkelstein
USA TodayKings (No. 7): Darius Acuff Jr., PG, Arkansas
“The Kings need a potential star like Arkansas freshman Darius Acuff Jr. in this class. …He led freshmen for field goals made in transition (72) and field goals made from both the left and right side of the court. He was among the freshmen leaders in alley-oop assists (17) as well. He has significant defensive deficiencies but is one of the most exciting offensive prospects in recent memory.”
Warriors (No. 11): Karim Lopez (Mexico), SF/PF, New Zealand Breakers
“Lopez had a low usage rate and played few minutes than other players in this range while playing against pros but was still very productive for the NBL Next Stars program in Australia. The Mexican-born forward is physically gifted, athletic, and universally seen as the top prospect from this class currently playing overseas.”
– Bryan Kalbrosky
The AthleticKings (No. 7): Kingston Flemings, PG, Houston
“Flemings has potential to use his speed and athleticism on offense and defense to make an impact — which is how Fox was described as a young player. The Kings need to find a young player with All-Star potential, and Flemings might be that player as he joins some young players who showed potential to be rotational pieces in the NBA.”
— Jason Jones
Warriors (No. 11):Yaxel Lendeborg, F, Michigan
“The big man fills a lot of gaps for the Warriors. He can shoot from the outside, he has length and he comes from a Michigan team that just won a national title. He averaged 15.1 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists while shooting 37.2 percent from beyond the arc. He should be able to play well off the space Stephen Curry creates (shouldn’t everybody?) while providing a stabilizing presence on both ends.”
— Nick Friedell
Yahoo! SportsKings (No. 7): Darius Acuff Jr., PG, Arkansas
“Acuff is a wiry scorer who can get a bucket from anywhere on the floor with a quick trigger, slippery handle, and a feel for manipulating defenses. He has a knack for clutch moments too. He is not the biggest guard or the most explosive athlete, but he reads defenses like someone who’s been in the league for a decade. He emerged as a freshman as a skilled, low-turnover playmaker. The question that follows every undersized guard into the draft is whether the brilliance survives contact with bigger, longer, faster defenders.”
Warriors (No. 11): Karim Lopez (Mexico), SF/PF, New Zealand Breakers
“Lopez is the best basketball prospect Mexico has ever produced. He left Hermosillo at 14 to play professionally in Barcelona, then at 17 moved to Auckland, New Zealand, where he shined for two years in the NBL Next Stars program. He checks a lot of boxes with his excellent physical tools, a hardnosed approach, and a well-rounded ability to defend multiple positions, handle the ball, and a blossoming shot.”
– Kevin O’Connor
Sports IllustratedKings (No. 7): Darius Acuff Jr., PG, Arkansas
“Acuff was a revelation for the Razorbacks this season, thriving despite his being smaller with 23.5 points and 6.4 assists on 48% shooting. The league is seemingly moving away from small-ish guards, but Acuff might just have the poise and pace to blow away expectations anyways.”
Warriors (No. 11):Yaxel Lendeborg, F, Michigan
No description provided.
– Derek Parker
Hoops HQKings (No. 7): Kingston Flemings, PG, Houston
“Flemings is the quintessential Houston guard and was consistent throughout conference play in the Big 12. In the month of January he averaged 19.8 points, and 6.3 assists and had a 42-point game against Texas Tech. He’s a tough two-way player who gets to his spots and shoots well off the dribble.”
Warriors (No. 11):Yaxel Lendeborg, F, Michigan
“Lendeborg was a buzzy name coming out of last year’s draft combine and his decision to return to school paid off in a big way while helping Michigan win a national title. He has great size as an interior player and moves well for his size.”
– Krysten Peek
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","guid":"c5427f42-2da7-34e0-b1ae-c72d80a56734","pubDate":"Mon, 11 May 2026 19:55:43 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 03:24:15 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 03:24:15 GMT","metadata":{},"feedLink":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/","feedDescription":"Comprehensive National Basketball Association news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors...","feedUrl":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rss/"} {"title":"Player Grades: Cavs vs Pistons Game 4 – Cleveland ties the series","link":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/player-grades-cavs-vs-pistons-033000496.html","description":"CLEVELAND, OHIO - MAY 11: Donovan Mitchell #45 and Dennis Schroder #8 of the Cleveland Cavaliers talk during the fourth quarter against the Detroit Pistons in Game Four of the Second Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Rocket Arena on May 11, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images\tThe Cleveland Cavaliers tied the series, beating the Detroit Pistons in Game 4.
All grades are based on our usual expectations for each player.
43 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 turnover
Mitchell only scored 4 points in the first half. His first bucket came midway through the second quarter. He’d immediately break out of that shell to start the third quarter, scoring 8 points and forcing a Detroit timeout only 90 seconds into the second half.
The run didn’t stop there. The Cavs broke out into a Cavalanche-worthy 23-0 run, and Mitchell’s shot-making led the way. He poured it on until the Pistons finally rolled over, scoring an NBA record 39 points in the second half for one of his best performances to date. Maybe even his best.
Grade: A+++
24 points, 11 assists, 4 steals, 2 turnovers
Harden put the Cavs in front early with his scoring, nailing a pair of triples and netting 11 of Cleveland’s first 14 points.
He’d continue to elevate the offense, recording a double-double with 18 points and 10 assists by the four-minute mark of the third quarter. The Beard was in full control tonight.
Grade: A+
17 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, 5 blocks
Mobley isn’t an elite offensive hub, but he’s better than he gets credit for. He’s done a fine job of converting his opportunities in this series, scoring at an efficient rate when handling in the pick-and-roll and creating for others.
“Donovan’s gonna get all the flowers tonight, but Evan deserves just as many,” said Kenny Atkinson. “It seemed like he was swatting everything, maybe the best I’ve seen him defensively, and that’s saying something,”
Evan Mobley is the first EC player since Michael Jordan with
— StatMuse (@statmuse) May 12, 2026
5+ assists
3+ steals
5+ blocks
in a playoff game. pic.twitter.com/Vau3L20mkv
On the other side of the floor, he’s played a role in shutting down Jalen Duren and crushing the Pistons in the paint. Eight stocks speak for themselves. Mobley was everywhere, and Detroit had no solution.
Grade: A+
9 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 blocks
Rocket Arena was chanting ‘Jarrett Allen’ during the 23-0 Cavalanche. That happened just moments before Allen crushed a two-handed dunk. I’m not sure if life gets any better than that.
Good vibes aside, Allen has handled all of the physicality thrown at him this series. He’s battled with Duren and come out victorious more often than not. If he continues to meet the moment, this will be a narrative-reversing postseason for Allen (if it isn’t already).
Grade: A-
0 points, 5 rebounds
Wade, to some chagrin, stayed in the starting lineup tonight. And for the first time in this series, that lineup won its opening minutes. This was mainly because of Harden, but it was an important stretch that has defined the first few games of this matchup. Wade is valuable when the Cavaliers’ offense is able to withstand him being on the floor.
“I thought Wade took his defense to another level,” said Kenny Atkinson after the game.
Grade: B-
5 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals
Strus has forced some of the most impactful turnovers I can recall in this series. His Game 3 heroics speak for themselves, but tonight, he forced an eight-second violation on Cade Cunningham at a pivotal junction of the night. His intensity has helped the Cavs form an identity that’s worthy of standing the tests of a difficult playoff series.
Grade: B+
1 point, 3 rebounds, 2 assists
Tyson only played 8 minutes as this just wasn’t his night. He’s struggled to find his range as a three-point shooter in the playoffs and will need to rediscover his touch before earning any more minutes.
Grade: D
7 points, 2 rebounds
Schroder finished as a minus-15. But this is why we always say plus/minus can be wonky. Schroder felt much more impactful, at least to me. His bursts to the rim remain helpful, and he shot 3-4 from the floor.
Grade: C+
6 points, 2 assists, 1 rebound
Merrill nailed his first two three-point attempts and had Rocket Arena going crazy. He went 0-6 from the floor the rest of the way.
Still, Merrill’s off-ball activity opens gaps for the Cavs offense to attack. He’s a positive for this reason.
Grade: C+
","guid":"9d20843f-623a-3e15-9167-84e3dd9d7410","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 03:30:00 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 03:52:54 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 03:52:54 GMT","metadata":{},"feedLink":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/","feedDescription":"Comprehensive National Basketball Association news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors...","feedUrl":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rss/"} {"title":"Donovan Mitchell ties NBA playoff scoring record as Cavaliers even series","link":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/donovan-mitchell-ties-nba-playoff-032138187.html","description":"Donovan Mitchell seemed to disappear in the first half Monday, May 11 as the Cleveland Cavaliers hosted the Detroit Pistons in Game 4 of the conference semifinals.
Then the seven-time All-Star completely took over in the second half with an explosive scoring display to propel the Cavaliers to a 112-103 victory, tying the series 2-2.
Mitchel scored 39 points in the second half to tie the all-time NBA playoff record for most points in a half. The Golden State Warriors’ Eric \"Sleepy\" Floyd set the record on May 10, 1987, against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Mitchell could not find the basket in the first half, shooting just 1-for-8 and tallying just four points as the Pistons took a 56-52 lead into the locker room. But the guard nicknamed “Spida” emerged as an entirely different player after the break.
SPIDA SCORED 39 OF HIS 43 POINTS IN THE 2ND HALF 🤯
— NBA (@NBA) May 12, 2026
IT'S THE MOST POINTS IN ANY HALF IN A POSTSEASON GAME IN THE PLAY-BY-PLAY ERA!
CAVS WIN GAME 4 TO EVEN THE SERIES AT 2-2 IN THE EAST SEMIS 🍿 pic.twitter.com/0ZUmxWGRQu
Mitchell went from couldn’t make to couldn’t miss in the third quarter. He scored 21 points in the period, making 8-of-9 field goals, draining two of three 3-pointers and knocking down all three of his free throw attempts.
His scoring tear continued in the fourth with 18 points, shooting 4-of-9 from the field (1-for-4 on 3-pointers) and hitting 9 of 10 free throws.
Mitchell said he apologized to his team at halftime for his low output and his decision-making.
“I set the tone in Game 3 (a 116-109 Cleveland win), came downhill in transition, and I don’t think I did that one time in the first half. So, I came in and told the guys, ‘That’s on me.’ So, I tried to make a statement in the second half.”
Cleveland began the third period on a 23-0 run, largely spurred by Mitchell, but he credited the game plan and the team for the second-half surge.
“Just continue to play together and continue to move the ball, so that’s where it starts. I was also able to get into the paint. We did a great job of getting everybody involved in the second half.”
The biggest stories, every morning. Stay up-to-date on all the key sports developments by subscribing to USA TODAY Sports' newsletter.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Donovan Mitchell leads Cavaliers past Pistons, ties NBA playoff record
","guid":"b36b4cc7-da81-36c1-899e-94aa0935d00d","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 03:21:38 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 03:52:54 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 03:52:54 GMT","metadata":{},"feedLink":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/","feedDescription":"Comprehensive National Basketball Association news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors...","feedUrl":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rss/"} {"title":"Donovan Mitchell scores 39 in second half, sparks 24-0 run, earns Cavaliers win to even series 2-2","link":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/donovan-mitchell-scores-39-second-031720242.html","description":"There were a lot of things to note in this game: A red-hot Donovan Mitchell dropping 39 in the second half, James Harden spraying the ball all over the floor and racking up 11 assists, the way the Cavaliers attacked the Pistons' defense, getting them in rotation (and the way Detroit kept helping off good 3-point shooters for some reason), the Pistons turnovers, and much more.
But this game was decided in the 6:03 stretch at the start of the third quarter, when the Cavaliers went on a 24-0 run to take control.
After scoring just 4 points in the first half, Donovan Mitchell drops a quick 8 points in the first 2 minutes of the 3rd quarter!
— NBA on NBC and Peacock (@NBAonNBC) May 12, 2026
NBC and Peacock pic.twitter.com/bBOfSsDYA6
Mitchell scored 21 in the third quarter on 8-of-9 shooting, and behind that, the Cavaliers went from down 4 at the half to up 18, and the game was never seriously in doubt again.
Cleveland went on to win 112-103, tying up their series with Detroit 2-2.
A critical Game 5 is in Detroit on Wednesday — Cleveland is 6-0 at home these playoffs and 0-5 on the road.
It was a tale of two halves for Mitchell, who had just four points on 1-of-8 shooting in the first half. It was Harden, with 15 points and six assists — 11 of those points coming early in the first – that kept the Cavaliers in striking distance.
Then Mitchell put on his cape and came out like Superman in the second half, scoring 39 — tying an NBA record for points in a half in the play-by-play era.
With a free throw with 27.6 left, Mitchell got to 39, tying him with Eric \"Sleepy\" Floyd for the honor.
Mitchell finished with 43 points, Harden had 24 points to go with his 11 dimes, and Evan Mobley added 17 for the Cavs.
It was a rough day for the Pistons starters. Cade Cunningham had 19 points on 16 shot attempts with four turnovers, Jalen Duren scored just eight points, and Tobias Harris scored 16 but needed 17 shots to get there.
It was a strong night off the bench from Caris LeVert with 24 points on 10-of-16 shooting, and 15 from Paul Reed on 7-of-9 from the floor, that kept them close.
It looked like it might be the Cavs night from the start. Cleveland forced five early turnovers and that became 11 points going the other way, leading to the Cavaliers being up by as much as 11 early — not coincidentally Harden had 11 early points. But the Pistons righted themselves and quickly walked that down, especially thanks to a fast start from LeVert off the bench, and after a quarter it was Detroit by 3, 24-21.
The second quarter was back-and-forth, with Cleveland doing a much better job of attacking mismatches (including being willing to go at Duran on the perimeter) and getting the Pistons in rotation. Despite that, it was the Pistons by four at the half.
Then Mitchell took over, the Cavaliers went on their run, and changed the feel of this series. It's now a best-of-three.
","guid":"0831757a-35f0-3b97-8b37-902572043031","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 03:17:20 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 03:52:54 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 03:52:54 GMT","metadata":{},"feedLink":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/","feedDescription":"Comprehensive National Basketball Association news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors...","feedUrl":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rss/"} {"title":"Has LeBron James' tenure with the Lakers been a failure? Fans weigh in.","link":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/lebron-james-tenure-lakers-failure-031438155.html","description":"LOS ANGELES — Clara Massey stood behind her walker and methodically moved in front of Crypto.com Arena after trekking from her nearby apartment. She was wearing a purple Los Angeles Lakers jersey, a purple Lakers cap and sunglasses with yellow frames (or, as any self-respecting Lakers fans would point out, Lakers gold.)
“I just come down, walk around and get the good energy and give the good energy,’’ Massey told USA TODAY Sports.
That energy was mostly pro-LeBron James with the Lakers on the verge of elimination from the playoffs on Monday, May 11 and Game 4 against the Oklahoma City Thunder potentially being James’ last with the Lakers, if not the NBA altogether.
As tipoff grew closer, the moment prompted the following question: Has James' time with the Lakers been a failure?
Despite the fact James led the Lakers to a championship – the 17th in franchise history in 2020 that culminated in the NBA bubble in Walt Disney World in Florida. Despite the fact he became the NBA's all-time leading scorer in front of Lakers fans when he overtook Lakers great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Despite the dunks, the 3-pointers and, well, more than a few turnovers.
“I think he did a lot,’’ Massey said. “Won a championship. And he’s still contributing. He’s a pretty strong force.’’
Massey’s fondness for James goes beyond his on-court accomplishments in Los Angeles.
“I think he’s a great basketball player, a great figure in sports,’’ she said, reflecting on the time LeBron James and Bronny spent on the court together during the Lakers first-round series against the Houston Rockets.
“Did someone else do that for their child?’’ she said. “I bet if he could he would teach the world basketball.’’
Higher expectationsFour young men wearing Kobe Bryant jerseys and t-shirts surely would offer a tougher assessment.
“If LeBron can win another championship here, he deserves a statue,’’ Matthew Dominguez of Sylmar, California, said, of the statues outside Crypto.com Arena reserved for Laker greats like Kobe Bryant, Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. “I think he knew what we expected. But we’re so grateful. He doesn’t deserve all the hate.’’
In fact, Dominguez said he hopes the Lakers keep James. That James could be key to the team winning another NBA title, something the fans like Dominguez are craving.
“And if he doesn’t do it for us, do it for Bronny,’’ Dominguez.
'No small feat'Aiden Rivas, wearing a No. 6 jersey with James on the back, was standing in line outside Crypto.com Arena more than an hour before the doors opened. Speaking of which, Lakers fans might not have been so open to James’ coming to the Lakers, according to Rivas.
They feared Los Angeles might just be another stop as he jumped from one team to another. They assumed he was here to live in Los Angeles more than play for the Lakers.
Those concerns receded, Rivas, 20, told USA TODAY Sports.
“He brought us a ring, and that’s no small feat,’’ Rivas said. “Overall, I think he did a great job of getting us to the playoffs almost every year. That’s huge.
“I remember the times we couldn’t make it to the playoffs and we had Jordan Clarkson.’’
Sorry, Jordan.
Siblings perspectiveJesse and Lizbeth Medina, siblings who live in Los Angeles, sat outside Crypto.com Arena.
Jesse Medina, 25, said of James, “I think LeBron was good for PR, good for fan engagement but Luka (Doncic) will transform the team.’’
Lizabeth Medina, wearing a Kobe Bryant jersey, said of James' time here, “I was expecting another championship.’’
But she sounded optimistic it’ll happen.
With Doncic, not James, leading the Lakers.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: LeBron James' Lakers tenure may be coming to an end. Was it a failure?
","guid":"dc62be46-c2a5-3ef7-a421-2644b07b6799","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 03:14:38 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 03:52:54 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 03:52:54 GMT","metadata":{},"feedLink":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/","feedDescription":"Comprehensive National Basketball Association news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors...","feedUrl":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rss/"} {"title":"Don’t you dare trade up, Utah","link":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/don-t-dare-trade-utah-013301328.html","description":"SALT LAKE CITY, UT - JANUARY 30: (L-R) Team Owner Ryan Smith of the Utah Jazz talks with CEO Danny Ainge and President of Basketball Operations Austin Ainge during warmups before their game against the Brooklyn Nets at the Delta Center on January 30, 2026 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images) | Getty Images\tIt happened. The Utah Jazz moved up in the NBA Draft Lottery. After three years of soul-searching, serial-killer-esque bulletin-boarding, and mass panic flowing through the bloodstream of every resident in the greater Salt Lake City area (you remember), all of the tanking has been worth it. An empty viewing experience, hoping your team loses every one of 246 regular-season games, is not good for the spirit, nor is it healthy for a fanbase to see its star players build a white picket fence and lay brick and mortar around their designated seat on the bench.
The Utah Jazz will select second overall in the 2026 NBA Draft, happily awaiting the gourmet table scraps of whichever 5-star entree the Washington Wizards avoid. Smiling through it all. I can’t believe this is my life.
By any measure, AJ Dybantsa or Darryn Peterson will be the number-one pick. It’s an inevitability, like eating a second potato chip or some vaguely successful movie from the 2000s getting a sequel and/or reboot (looking at you, The Devil Wears Prada 2: It’s All Gucci, Fam, or whatever that movie is called).
This year’s number-two pick is practically as valuable as the one above it.
Though BYU’s star holds the edge, Peterson is likewise considered to be a player of number-one quality. A potential All-NBA mainstay, with an annual appearance on MVP ballots. On the SLC Dunk Draft Board, we ranked Dybantsa and Peterson 1A and 1B, respectively, for one simple reason: they’re both so darn good.
So drafting second overall is almost a blessing. You get all the excitement of picking a potential franchise cornerstone, and none of the pressure of “picking the right guy”. Whether Washington takes Dybantsa or Peterson, Utah can lean back in the tranquility of their war room and take whoever remains.
This year’s number-two pick is practically as valuable as the one above it. That’s a rare luxury.
Of course, our relaxation was rudely interrupted by rumors of a shakeup in the order, as Jake Fischer’s conversation with Michael Winger, president of the Wizards, sparked a thousand aggregations.
[Winger] insisted that this is ‘not a savior moment’ for Washington, given that the franchise just traded for two former All-Stars in Trae Young and Anthony Davis on top of the slew of recent lottery picks it already has accumulated. He added that, in accordance with Wizards general manager Will Dawkins’ prospect evaluations, Washington will not rule out a move downward if Dawkins determines there are two or three players that the Wizards are eager to come away with.”
Sigh.
It was only a matter of moments before the Utah Jazz — noted AJ Dybantsa fanboys — were rumored to take a shot at prying Washington away from their spot atop the ladder.
Ryan Smith’s comments on the Pat McAfee Show only tossed lighter fluid onto the already-aflame dumpster of draft speculation.
“It would be irresponsible if everything wasn’t on the table,” Smith told McAfee on ESPN, though noting that the decision would be Austin and Danny Ainge’s to make.
\"Danny Ainge and Austin have a pretty good track record with how they handle the lottery..
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) May 11, 2026
There's a lot of time between now and the draft\"@RyanQualtrics#PMSLivepic.twitter.com/NH0NGm7fQo
I’m here to plant my flag in the earth. Utah Jazz, do not trade up.
Draw the shades. Lock the doors. Disconnect the phone lines. Unplug the internet router. Sequester whoever you must to absolutely ensure that the second overall pick does not leave the premises of the Delta Center until it’s announced over the podium at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. You cannot go wrong with either Darryn Peterson or AJ Dybantsa, so don’t waste your assets when you’re already guaranteed a chance with either of them.
Peterson slots perfectly alongside Keyonte George in the starting lineup, standing at 6’6” in shoes with a scorer’s mentality and a demonic streak on the defensive end. The Kansas star could effortlessly round out Will Hardy’s starting 5, with Ace Bailey the first man off the pine.
If the Jazz want to step up, it will cost them dearly. How far would you go to jump from 2 to 1?
But if Washington goes all alt-rock on us and dodges Dybantsa, you won’t hear any teeth gnashing in the Beehive State. A player who has spent his last two years of life living in Utah, Dybantsa would be a gigantic 6’9” shooting guard, making the Jazz perhaps the tallest starting 5 in NBA history.
And both players could someday be MVPs.
Call me overzealous, but adding either player to an already dangerous core of George, Bailey, Markkanen, Jackson Jr., Kessler, Sensabaugh, and Williams makes the Jazz a top-four team in the Western Conference next season. This was the ultimate goal of the tank all along, right?
Washington’s asking price will be very high — this ain’t no Zaccharie Risacher draft pool, God rest his soul. If the Jazz want to step up, it will cost them dearly. How far would you go to jump from 2 to 1? A future first-round pick? Two? Ace Bailey? Why give Washington anything when you get an elite prospect either way?
Again, I urge you: don’t you dare trade up, Utah.
Sarah Todd stepped in to stamp down any rumors of interest on both Utah’s and Washington’s end. “When they say things like ‘yeah, we’re going to be willing to listen to offers for the pick’, they can’t say anything else, right?”
“Both AJ and Darryn Peterson look like they have the potential to be MVP-type players. […] The Wizards are not going to disappoint their fans; they’re going to pick number one. The Jazz are probably not going to disappoint their fans; they’re going to get an excellent player with the number-two pick.”
Stay out of your own way, Utah, and stay on course. Pick second overall and leave the NBA Draft as a winner.
Calvin Barrett is a writer, editor, and prolific Mario Kart racer located in Tokyo, Japan. He has covered the NBA and College Sports since 2024.
","guid":"3b89d182-b352-3510-8154-da400d24dc85","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 01:33:01 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 03:52:54 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 03:52:54 GMT","metadata":{},"feedLink":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/","feedDescription":"Comprehensive National Basketball Association news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors...","feedUrl":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rss/"} {"title":"‘I couldn’t breathe’: the sinister spread of France’s killer seaweed","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/news/2026/may/12/i-couldnt-breathe-the-sinister-spread-of-frances-killer-seaweed","description":"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.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/news/2026/may/12/i-couldnt-breathe-the-sinister-spread-of-frances-killer-seaweed","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 04:00:14 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 04:17:02 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 04:17:02 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f71415fa303b46dbbe1639ac78aadb828c3ace32/435_0_4977_3981/master/4977.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=9ab206237fe8199d770e37214e6b767e"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"J.B. Bickerstaff calls out officials over free throws after Pistons' Game 4 loss to Cavaliers: 'It's unacceptable'","link":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/article/jb-bickerstaff-calls-out-officials-over-free-throws-after-pistons-game-4-loss-to-cavaliers-its-unacceptable-035206464.html","description":"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.”
— Coty M. Davis (@CotyDavis_24) May 12, 2026
Bickerstaff speaks on the free-throw shooting discrepancy following the #Pistons’ Game 4 loss to the Cavaliers. https://t.co/gKyBRCOSZMpic.twitter.com/pzJbm8gf7P
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.
","guid":"b34932b7-78cd-4002-afba-5f89ed5f5eb1","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 03:52:06 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 04:21:42 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 04:21:42 GMT","metadata":{},"feedLink":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/","feedDescription":"Comprehensive National Basketball Association news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors...","feedUrl":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rss/"} {"title":"How to watch Thunder vs. Lakers Game 4 for free: Start time, livestream","link":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/watch-thunder-vs-lakers-game-000000194.html","description":"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.\n
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.
\n\t\t\tThunder vs. Lakers: what to know\t\tIf 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.
\n\n\nPRIME VIDEO\n\nPRIME FOR YOUNG ADULTS\n\n\nAll 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* if necessary
\n\t\t\t\t\tTRY DIRECTV FOR FREE \t\t\tWhy 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.
","guid":"a514310e-10fd-36bd-9ebf-5cfd901197c6","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 04:31:06 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 04:31:06 GMT","metadata":{},"feedLink":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/","feedDescription":"Comprehensive National Basketball Association news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors...","feedUrl":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rss/"} {"title":"More than 6,000 children treated at obesity clinics in England, figures show","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/may/12/more-than-6000-children-treated-at-obesity-clinics-in-england-figures-show","description":"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.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/may/12/more-than-6000-children-treated-at-obesity-clinics-in-england-figures-show","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 04:00:13 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 04:36:22 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 04:36:22 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/33902e1ff8b12ab0743fbd7f2534f929985f6bca/232_0_4449_3559/master/4449.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=e8eda2125f535d0516a5962241fe1b94"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"UK news | The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news","feedDescription":"Latest news, breaking news and current affairs coverage from across the UK from theguardian.com","feedUrl":"http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/rss"} {"title":"Woe Vienna? Boycotts and blackouts mar buildup as Eurovision 2026 begins","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2026/may/12/vienna-boycotts-blackouts-buildup-eurovision-song-contest-2026-israel","description":"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.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2026/may/12/vienna-boycotts-blackouts-buildup-eurovision-song-contest-2026-israel","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 04:00:13 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 04:45:34 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 04:45:34 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/2af9287ff0632ced7fd1861aaecadbb9d79a35c2/281_0_2760_2208/master/2760.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=8c53e8bffcc8ab124968a6fe1e8199ff"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"More than 6,000 children treated at obesity clinics in England, figures show","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/may/12/more-than-6000-children-treated-at-obesity-clinics-in-england-figures-show","description":"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.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/may/12/more-than-6000-children-treated-at-obesity-clinics-in-england-figures-show","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 04:00:13 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 04:45:34 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 04:45:34 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/33902e1ff8b12ab0743fbd7f2534f929985f6bca/232_0_4449_3559/master/4449.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=e8eda2125f535d0516a5962241fe1b94"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"Cannes spotlight reverts to auteurs as Hollywood retreats from film festival","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/may/12/cannes-film-festival-comeback-auteurs-hollywood-retreats","description":"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.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/may/12/cannes-film-festival-comeback-auteurs-hollywood-retreats","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 04:00:15 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 04:45:34 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 04:45:34 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/e98567593373be5f051cafc39d086d3927f8248b/187_0_5833_4667/master/5833.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=20030b3fde3164bbd99bec41ac6d69df"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"Hot divorcee summer: get ready for big hats, hot sex and don’t-care energy","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2026/may/12/hot-divorcee-summer","description":"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).
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2026/may/12/hot-divorcee-summer","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 04:00:14 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 04:45:34 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 04:45:34 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d01a889b95fe7dfc633575bba1f46dc24535b2b5/514_0_4209_3367/master/4209.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=593cd4d9b27f2be5f1e0a3e1aea9ceeb"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"‘It’s like a trans-Barbie world!’: the Indian festival where transgender women can celebrate without fear","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2026/may/12/koovagam-india-festival-transgender-women-recognition-law","description":"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
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2026/may/12/koovagam-india-festival-transgender-women-recognition-law","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 04:00:13 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 04:45:34 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 04:45:34 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/1b5966e2df8a4da1ad930a2ae445e4e090cd1182/706_259_5016_4013/master/5016.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=2a60388411ab6d8c8f2df43a89ce15f6"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"Yes, Europe’s leaders are finally standing up to Trump. Here’s why | Mujtaba Rahman","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/may/12/friedrich-merz-europe-leaders-standing-up-to-trump","description":"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
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/may/12/friedrich-merz-europe-leaders-standing-up-to-trump","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 04:00:14 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 04:45:34 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 04:45:34 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/b5a4a1265ecb77845f05d49d33b7c3a406d1040d/488_0_2438_1951/master/2438.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=0294e7973f456df81df89faebd0fc3ad"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"From 4 points to tying a playoff record with a 39-point half, Donovan Mitchell flips Game 4 for Cavs","link":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/4-points-tying-playoff-record-044527801.html","description":"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
","guid":"50449798-5d76-3533-91aa-8afb20239540","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 04:45:27 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 04:59:40 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 04:59:40 GMT","metadata":{},"feedLink":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/","feedDescription":"Comprehensive National Basketball Association news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors...","feedUrl":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rss/"} {"title":"Why does everyone hate Keir Starmer? - podcast","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/audio/2026/may/12/why-does-everyone-hate-keir-starmer-full-story-podcast","description":"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?
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/audio/2026/may/12/why-does-everyone-hate-keir-starmer-full-story-podcast","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 04:30:14 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 05:04:59 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 05:04:59 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/e8777fb5229890191bdcd002aa914fc8bb596eaf/313_0_1875_1500/master/1875.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=cce263c0cc80ad98b166c01d19aec484"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"UK news | The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news","feedDescription":"Latest news, breaking news and current affairs coverage from across the UK from theguardian.com","feedUrl":"http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/rss"} {"title":"Dillon Brooks trolls LeBron again, courtside at Lakers-Thunder Game 4","link":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/dillon-brooks-trolls-lebron-again-045207929.html","description":"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
— Hater Report (@HaterReport) May 12, 2026
Bro showed up to Game 4 just to hatewatch LeBron I’M IN TEARS 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/noAnFRa7pS
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
","guid":"e73cd0a5-b8b4-335d-8a20-240a0c751747","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 04:52:07 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 05:10:28 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 05:10:28 GMT","metadata":{},"feedLink":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/","feedDescription":"Comprehensive National Basketball Association news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors...","feedUrl":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rss/"} {"title":"Pistons vs Cavaliers final score: Series tied 2-2 after Detroit loses second straight","link":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/pistons-vs-cavaliers-final-score-030542109.html","description":"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\tThis 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.
","guid":"9e8de5a4-3efc-3708-80c0-6f829e3de115","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 03:05:42 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 05:10:28 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 05:10:28 GMT","metadata":{},"feedLink":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/","feedDescription":"Comprehensive National Basketball Association news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors...","feedUrl":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rss/"} {"title":"Teen bedroom art installation shines spotlight on Ukraine’s stolen children","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/12/teen-bedroom-art-installation-shines-spotlight-on-ukraines-stolen-children","description":"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.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/12/teen-bedroom-art-installation-shines-spotlight-on-ukraines-stolen-children","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 05:00:15 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 05:14:32 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 05:14:32 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8cb293c10ee9df5816e11e4e62151e5462ee704c/0_0_3780_3024/master/3780.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=4e7e1577d5bc2035bd8457644caac469"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"Wes Streeting faces narrow road to Labour members’ favour","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/12/wes-streeting-faces-narrow-road-to-labour-members-favour","description":"Health secretary’s soft-right credentials put him at a disadvantage even with reduced membership under Starmer
“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.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/12/wes-streeting-faces-narrow-road-to-labour-members-favour","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 05:00:15 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 05:14:32 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 05:14:32 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/1479fd8cb88b205144f85c783be2badfa851285c/63_0_1411_1129/master/1411.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=e118e1f1dff386a9bdf1a14c7e1d5ee9"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"Seven-day weeks and ‘debt bondage’: China’s first electric car plant in Europe mired in allegations of worker abuse","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2026/may/12/china-first-electric-car-plant-europe-allegations-worker-abuse","description":"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.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2026/may/12/china-first-electric-car-plant-europe-allegations-worker-abuse","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 05:00:15 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 05:14:32 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 05:14:32 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/75459e00d45e38b9b08f1e0cee0433896226acc5/0_0_3937_3151/master/3937.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=9d5ac200c9cf88ec4b0bf758be174a27"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"Will Starmer’s old Labour tribute strategy rescue him from the abyss? Probably not, but there’s a logic to it | Gaby Hinsliff","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/may/12/keir-starmer-labour-reset-gordon-brown-harriet-harman","description":"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.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/may/12/keir-starmer-labour-reset-gordon-brown-harriet-harman","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 05:00:14 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 05:14:32 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 05:14:32 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/497c971cfd7d2ac3c2f7b551411134cff9373354/1092_593_5463_4371/master/5463.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=3b52426db992f89e5b5f74b8b23a7a27"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"Lamb with peas and broad beans, caponata and vignarola: Conor Gadd’s recipes for Italian-style spring vegetables","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/food/2026/may/12/lamb-peas-broad-beans-caponata-vignarola-recipes-conor-gadd","description":"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.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/food/2026/may/12/lamb-peas-broad-beans-caponata-vignarola-recipes-conor-gadd","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 05:00:14 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 05:14:32 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 05:14:32 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f3201deee906457b4a8f014e2412497e883beab3/0_0_5252_4201/master/5252.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=4df6a0c6965e3e749fc7c97a3e082089"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"Wes Streeting faces narrow road to Labour members’ favour","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/12/wes-streeting-faces-narrow-road-to-labour-members-favour","description":"Health secretary’s soft-right credentials put him at a disadvantage even with reduced membership under Starmer
“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.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/12/wes-streeting-faces-narrow-road-to-labour-members-favour","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 05:00:15 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 05:33:36 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 05:33:36 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/1479fd8cb88b205144f85c783be2badfa851285c/63_0_1411_1129/master/1411.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=e118e1f1dff386a9bdf1a14c7e1d5ee9"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"UK news | The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news","feedDescription":"Latest news, breaking news and current affairs coverage from across the UK from theguardian.com","feedUrl":"http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/rss"} {"title":"Thunder hang on late in Game 4 to beat LeBron James and the Lakers, complete series sweep","link":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/breaking-news/article/thunder-hang-on-late-in-game-4-to-beat-lebron-james-and-the-lakers-complete-series-sweep-052337550.html","description":"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 LakersThe 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 💥
— NBA (@NBA) May 12, 2026
LAKERS LEAD BY 4 HEADING INTO Q4 OF GAME 4! pic.twitter.com/xEJTvfIbrT
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!
— NBA (@NBA) May 12, 2026
LAKERS LEAD BY 1 WITH 40.9 TO PLAY IN GAME 4 ON PRIME 🍿 pic.twitter.com/Ez4FyhVTPB
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.
","guid":"d3d69eeb-21c0-4bd8-9e6b-b6d8197e2b00","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 05:23:37 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 05:38:52 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 05:38:52 GMT","metadata":{},"feedLink":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/","feedDescription":"Comprehensive National Basketball Association news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors...","feedUrl":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rss/"} {"title":"Dillon Brooks keeps finding ways to make Lakers fans uncomfortable","link":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/dillon-brooks-keeps-finding-ways-031233534.html","description":"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.
","guid":"f036dffd-1aa0-38f3-a72f-00c2c56b8530","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 03:12:33 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 05:38:52 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 05:38:52 GMT","metadata":{},"feedLink":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/","feedDescription":"Comprehensive National Basketball Association news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors...","feedUrl":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rss/"} {"title":"I can tell Stephen A Smith why many Black people don’t like him | Etan Thomas","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/may/11/stephen-a-smith-black-voters","description":"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.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/may/11/stephen-a-smith-black-voters","pubDate":"Mon, 11 May 2026 13:17:17 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 05:43:03 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 05:43:03 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/c174bfbede62d7bb3b7743172031cfda67c8d660/750_201_3834_3069/master/3834.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=adb929ac7c26b56691bd7111104a9006"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"TV tonight: Mel Giedroyc’s very fun escape room show","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2026/may/12/tv-tonight-mel-giedroycs-very-fun-escape-room-show","description":"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
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.
","guid":"99823ab1-5789-3ba7-9d14-34fa3b83a895","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 05:34:30 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 06:07:44 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 06:07:44 GMT","metadata":{},"feedLink":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/","feedDescription":"Comprehensive National Basketball Association news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors...","feedUrl":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rss/"} {"title":"If this is it for LeBron James, appreciate how unprecedented he was","link":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/lebron-james-appreciate-unprecedented-053220214.html","description":"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
","guid":"2dee9a73-3f60-331d-a490-15d3c6461f7f","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 05:32:20 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 06:07:44 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 06:07:44 GMT","metadata":{},"feedLink":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/","feedDescription":"Comprehensive National Basketball Association news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors...","feedUrl":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rss/"} {"title":"British Steel nationalisation: what went wrong, and what happens now?","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/may/12/british-steel-nationalisation-jingye-keir-starmer-scunthorpe-plant","description":"Keir Starmer’s plan for full state ownership marks latest chapter in Scunthorpe plant’s troubled history
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.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/may/12/british-steel-nationalisation-jingye-keir-starmer-scunthorpe-plant","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 06:00:17 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 06:27:29 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 06:27:29 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/09aa838570419a860894d6903891fa55e1a56539/368_0_4169_3335/master/4169.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=69958fc8ae1919543adfa3b2c682e71b"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"Royal Caribbean ‘unfairly’ charged me over booking for disabled son","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/money/2026/may/12/royal-caribbean-booking-disabled-son-cruise","description":"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.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/money/2026/may/12/royal-caribbean-booking-disabled-son-cruise","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 06:00:16 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 06:27:29 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 06:27:29 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8bfdcf8e431593bcf6ae038ca109ef4e23e277a9/642_0_2823_2260/master/2823.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=8b7c75f479e3f1f5f63d62b74821ed4b"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"Here are three ways to keep Reform out of No 10 – and one of them starts with you | Daniel Trilling","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/may/12/nigel-farage-reform-election-results-politics","description":"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.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/may/12/nigel-farage-reform-election-results-politics","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 06:00:16 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 06:27:29 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 06:27:29 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a9f29aa43611d195455bdf026f8ce5f69221d58c/987_0_5000_4000/master/5000.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=0b5e32eec0830a8aedc9ebdc7c428505"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"Sailm nan Daoine (Psalms of the People) review – one man’s quest to keep Gaelic psalm singing alive","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/may/12/sailm-nan-daoine-psalms-of-the-people-review-one-mans-quest-to-keep-gaelic-psalm-singing-alive","description":"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.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/may/12/sailm-nan-daoine-psalms-of-the-people-review-one-mans-quest-to-keep-gaelic-psalm-singing-alive","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 06:00:16 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 06:27:29 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 06:27:29 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a6b54811688f63621542b659f2ec35eea3e24228/630_0_2979_2384/master/2979.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=83baa36ad1d7ec495b60306ad4d93dd5"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"The Savage Landscape by Cal Flyn review – into the wild","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/books/2026/may/12/the-savage-landscape-by-cal-flyn-review-into-the-wild","description":"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.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/books/2026/may/12/the-savage-landscape-by-cal-flyn-review-into-the-wild","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 06:00:16 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 06:27:29 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 06:27:29 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d8c5235a19b88379b778bbda23c0a6a479a2429a/0_1865_3992_3194/master/3992.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=69c7e795a73541f7d5405bb14115fe6e"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"The sunny Danish island that’s a poster child for the good life – and perfect for a spring break","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2026/may/12/denmark-sunny-island-samso-good-life-spring-break","description":"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 …”
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2026/may/12/denmark-sunny-island-samso-good-life-spring-break","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 06:00:16 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 06:27:29 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 06:27:29 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d3691b9c9e7ef5b29e05d0c0dcc51c7230c1515c/295_0_2953_2362/master/2953.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=ebf1db6ac0936d2923c94798cb1492cb"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"Close encounters: the new wave of women photographers – in pictures","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2026/may/12/close-encounters-the-new-wave-of-women-photographers-in-pictures-saltzman-leibovitz-photography-prize","description":"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
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2026/may/12/close-encounters-the-new-wave-of-women-photographers-in-pictures-saltzman-leibovitz-photography-prize","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 06:00:16 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 06:27:29 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 06:27:29 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/6d2a7ae81d4bc2995abd50d3b375139f6ff68046/892_136_3176_2542/master/3176.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=cb492ebb7d726330859b21f3f95cad5a"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"Draft Notes: Boozer To Memphis Makes Sense, But Where Will Evans Go?","link":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/draft-notes-boozer-memphis-makes-061947369.html","description":"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\tWith 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.
Go to the DBR Boards to find Blue Healer Auctions || Drop us a line
","guid":"14fab587-db4d-382f-b005-4cd38419473e","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 06:19:47 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 06:36:31 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 06:36:31 GMT","metadata":{},"feedLink":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/","feedDescription":"Comprehensive National Basketball Association news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors...","feedUrl":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rss/"} {"title":"Champion Thunder hold off tenacious Lakers 115-110 in Game 4 for another playoff series sweep","link":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/champion-thunder-hold-off-tenacious-060259496.html","description":"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.
","guid":"45eea5b6-8cfb-3033-beb0-b43ccfc05b04","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 06:02:59 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 06:36:31 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 06:36:31 GMT","metadata":{},"feedLink":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/","feedDescription":"Comprehensive National Basketball Association news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors...","feedUrl":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rss/"} {"title":"Lakers fight to the finish but are eliminated by Thunder","link":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/lakers-fight-finish-eliminated-thunder-054808836.html","description":"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.
","guid":"e412cd96-7e85-3a29-af48-021f14d36c8d","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 05:48:08 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 06:36:31 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 06:36:31 GMT","metadata":{},"feedLink":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/","feedDescription":"Comprehensive National Basketball Association news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors...","feedUrl":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rss/"} {"title":"Keir Starmer to face crucial cabinet meeting as ministers and MPs urge him to resign – UK politics live","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2026/may/12/keir-starmer-prime-minister-resignation-labour-leadership-cabinet-meeting-yvette-cooper-shabana-mahmood-andy-burnham-wes-streeting-uk-politics-latest-news-updates","description":"PM on the brink with Yvette Cooper and Shabana Mahmood believed to be among those urging him to set out a timetable for departure
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.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2026/may/12/keir-starmer-prime-minister-resignation-labour-leadership-cabinet-meeting-yvette-cooper-shabana-mahmood-andy-burnham-wes-streeting-uk-politics-latest-news-updates","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 06:19:32 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 06:45:28 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 06:45:28 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/39b53edc87d083379f1f151a6ff11de1b81780e6/327_0_4529_3624/master/4529.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=1b9a95e8898ab02734c648c1a566d96b"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"UK news | The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news","feedDescription":"Latest news, breaking news and current affairs coverage from across the UK from theguardian.com","feedUrl":"http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/rss"} {"title":"British Steel nationalisation: what went wrong, and what happens now?","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/may/12/british-steel-nationalisation-jingye-keir-starmer-scunthorpe-plant","description":"Keir Starmer’s plan for full state ownership marks latest chapter in Scunthorpe plant’s troubled history
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.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/may/12/british-steel-nationalisation-jingye-keir-starmer-scunthorpe-plant","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 06:00:17 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 06:45:28 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 06:45:28 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/09aa838570419a860894d6903891fa55e1a56539/368_0_4169_3335/master/4169.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=69958fc8ae1919543adfa3b2c682e71b"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"UK news | The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news","feedDescription":"Latest news, breaking news and current affairs coverage from across the UK from theguardian.com","feedUrl":"http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/rss"} {"title":"Keir Starmer to face crucial cabinet meeting as ministers and MPs urge him to resign – UK politics live","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2026/may/12/keir-starmer-prime-minister-resignation-labour-leadership-cabinet-meeting-yvette-cooper-shabana-mahmood-andy-burnham-wes-streeting-uk-politics-latest-news-updates","description":"PM on the brink with Yvette Cooper and Shabana Mahmood believed to be among those urging him to set out a timetable for departure
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.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2026/may/12/keir-starmer-prime-minister-resignation-labour-leadership-cabinet-meeting-yvette-cooper-shabana-mahmood-andy-burnham-wes-streeting-uk-politics-latest-news-updates","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 06:19:32 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 06:55:58 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 06:55:58 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/39b53edc87d083379f1f151a6ff11de1b81780e6/327_0_4529_3624/master/4529.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=1b9a95e8898ab02734c648c1a566d96b"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"Iran war oil shortage forces Japan snack giant to use black-and-white packaging","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/12/calbee-japan-snack-giant-black-white-packaging-iran-war-oil-ink-shortage","description":"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.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/12/calbee-japan-snack-giant-black-white-packaging-iran-war-oil-ink-shortage","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 05:56:03 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 06:55:58 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 06:55:58 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/3426c580b20c4170dc428b14b2e7ddc7a353af31/186_0_1250_1000/master/1250.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=f267215c59125c570d5890e78cebf5cc"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"The connoisseur of the crumhorn, the showman of the shawn: the brilliance of early music pioneer David Munrow","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/music/2026/may/12/the-brilliance-of-early-music-pioneer-david-munrow-by-edward-blakeman","description":"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.”
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/music/2026/may/12/the-brilliance-of-early-music-pioneer-david-munrow-by-edward-blakeman","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 06:30:16 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 06:55:58 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 06:55:58 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/17e2c23a219d09e57856ec23c8dad7112381e640/92_311_2881_2304/master/2881.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=27f1f7177e369c4274cf5693cc3e1845"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"LeBron James still undecided about future after Lakers' postseason exit: 'I don't know'","link":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/article/lebron-james-still-undecided-about-future-after-lakers-postseason-exit-i-dont-know-064017508.html","description":"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.
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“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.”
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.
","guid":"b8e32acb-b7dc-4d76-8b3d-c0ef9edef80c","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 06:40:17 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 07:05:33 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 07:05:33 GMT","metadata":{},"feedLink":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/","feedDescription":"Comprehensive National Basketball Association news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors...","feedUrl":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rss/"} {"title":"LeBron James doesn't 'know what the future holds' after Lakers eliminated","link":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/lebron-james-doesnt-know-future-063240164.html","description":"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
","guid":"4a58f1d1-2416-3a0a-9451-d23d09f6caf9","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 06:32:40 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 07:05:33 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 07:05:33 GMT","metadata":{},"feedLink":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/","feedDescription":"Comprehensive National Basketball Association news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors...","feedUrl":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rss/"} {"title":"Greens’ Zack Polanski admits failing to pay correct council tax on houseboat","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/12/zack-polanski-greens-council-tax-houseboat","description":"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.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/12/zack-polanski-greens-council-tax-houseboat","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 06:53:08 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 07:13:45 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 07:13:45 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/5abed5a0fc2be756e0a716a837bd503734633401/865_165_4648_3718/master/4648.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=6b290d172fa71352c3e825ae72b2af1a"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"UK news | The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news","feedDescription":"Latest news, breaking news and current affairs coverage from across the UK from theguardian.com","feedUrl":"http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/rss"} {"title":"A Text System Sent Safety Alerts to Private Schools. Now, It’s Silent.","link":"https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/12/nyregion/nyc-emergency-alerts-schools.html","description":"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.","guid":"https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/12/nyregion/nyc-emergency-alerts-schools.html","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 07:00:10 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 07:23:46 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 07:23:46 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://static01.nyt.com/images/2026/05/12/multimedia/12met-school-alerts1-fpqk/12met-school-alerts1-fpqk-mediumSquareAt3X.jpg","type":"image"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"NYT > New York","feedLink":"https://www.nytimes.com/section/nyregion","feedUrl":"https://rss.nytimes.com/services/xml/rss/nyt/NYRegion.xml"} {"title":"Deadly Gang Feud Left Bystander Paralyzed in Brooklyn","link":"https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/12/nyregion/brooklyn-gangs-deadly-shootings.html","description":"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.","guid":"https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/12/nyregion/brooklyn-gangs-deadly-shootings.html","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 07:00:10 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 07:23:46 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 07:23:46 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://static01.nyt.com/images/2026/05/11/nyregion/11met-gang-shootings1/11met-gang-shootings1-mediumSquareAt3X.jpg","type":"image"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"NYT > New York","feedLink":"https://www.nytimes.com/section/nyregion","feedUrl":"https://rss.nytimes.com/services/xml/rss/nyt/NYRegion.xml"} {"title":"Greens’ Zack Polanski admits failing to pay correct council tax on houseboat","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/12/zack-polanski-greens-council-tax-houseboat","description":"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.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/12/zack-polanski-greens-council-tax-houseboat","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 06:53:08 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 07:24:33 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 07:24:33 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/5abed5a0fc2be756e0a716a837bd503734633401/865_165_4648_3718/master/4648.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=6b290d172fa71352c3e825ae72b2af1a"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"Trump heads to China to spread the gospel of American tech while emulating Xi Jinping on AI","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/may/12/trump-china-ai-big-tech-xi-jinping","description":"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.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/may/12/trump-china-ai-big-tech-xi-jinping","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 07:00:17 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 07:24:33 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 07:24:33 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8d4a09d5769f37d40b50f9cebd042507a166af8e/464_0_4640_3712/master/4640.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=10f74ac9b4bebe5964fc7915f87769f6"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"Scotland’s elections confirmed that our nation’s leftwing identity is part myth, part reality | Rory Scothorne","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/may/12/reform-scotland-elections-hostility-right-leftwing-identity-myth","description":"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
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/may/12/reform-scotland-elections-hostility-right-leftwing-identity-myth","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 07:00:17 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 07:24:33 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 07:24:33 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/fe1dbb4049ae196f62d970a4e2578f5b5ee327b6/302_0_2750_2200/master/2750.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=74406ebe824f9be68309ca64da510f13"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"Too many of us were traumatised by sport at school – but it’s never too late to change | Cath Bishop","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/may/12/physical-exercise-pe-school-trauma-curriculum-activity-levels-uk","description":"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?
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/may/12/physical-exercise-pe-school-trauma-curriculum-activity-levels-uk","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 07:00:17 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 07:24:33 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 07:24:33 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/b260fc5a6574f78f374c31b0d78bfc0c7047a02d/620_0_5600_4480/master/5600.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=c752f5199c74f25f1f245af4ad2fde26"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"De Zerbi ready for relegation fight ‘until the last minute’ after Leeds frustrate Spurs","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/may/11/de-zerbi-ready-for-relegation-fight-until-the-last-minute-after-leeds-frustrate-spurs","description":"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.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/may/11/de-zerbi-ready-for-relegation-fight-until-the-last-minute-after-leeds-frustrate-spurs","pubDate":"Mon, 11 May 2026 22:48:00 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 07:24:33 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 07:24:33 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/1c4834ff97019474e1b1d3d9b93a581c1403f233/0_0_3968_3174/master/3968.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=1bde2185413ce5e21eb2c65f32b96a6b"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"Fifa’s failure to agree World Cup TV deals in China and India a headache for Infantino","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/may/12/fifa-failure-to-agree-world-cup-2026-broadcasting-deals-china-india-gianni-infantino","description":"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.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/may/12/fifa-failure-to-agree-world-cup-2026-broadcasting-deals-china-india-gianni-infantino","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 07:00:17 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 07:24:33 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 07:24:33 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7d06764121dced64fd4d5ecc8b7240dbbde21664/458_0_4583_3667/master/4583.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=1c1d951c219bea01a3b32a290f670d3b"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"Sunset Boulevard: The Backstage Cut review – does Norma Desmond really need another closeup?","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2026/may/12/sunset-boulevard-the-backstage-cut-review-perth-theatre","description":"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.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2026/may/12/sunset-boulevard-the-backstage-cut-review-perth-theatre","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 07:00:17 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 07:24:33 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 07:24:33 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d32ea88f97162339413fdcfd7ec85139ac21819b/1336_0_6676_5341/master/6676.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=af229a5254b5111ac62d8f24beb771e1"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"Buyers of Liza Minnelli memoir claim it was not signed by hand","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/music/2026/may/12/liza-minnelli-memoir-signed-by-hand-signatures-autopen","description":"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).
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/music/2026/may/12/liza-minnelli-memoir-signed-by-hand-signatures-autopen","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 07:00:18 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 07:24:33 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 07:24:33 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7553fd745f366c39d57ae3a9e42fac14c2450583/61_0_1563_1250/master/1563.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=a67a6a35a1fa517fec2364c84c3bb602"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"LeBron James hasn't decided whether to return for a 24th NBA season after Lakers' playoff run ends","link":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/lebron-james-hasnt-decided-whether-071849282.html","description":"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
","guid":"8933868d-4310-3813-957a-5ae6ee5441e2","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 07:18:49 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 07:34:26 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 07:34:26 GMT","metadata":{},"feedLink":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/","feedDescription":"Comprehensive National Basketball Association news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors...","feedUrl":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rss/"} {"title":"Relentless Thunder do just enough to beat resilient Lakers, take game four 115-100, sweep series 4-0.","link":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/relentless-thunder-just-enough-beat-065657641.html","description":"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!
— NBA (@NBA) May 12, 2026
⛈️ 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
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
— NBA (@NBA) May 12, 2026
⛈️ 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
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.
","guid":"ada4b00a-cd5d-3261-8e08-2c1654c25aec","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 06:56:57 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 07:34:26 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 07:34:26 GMT","metadata":{},"feedLink":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/","feedDescription":"Comprehensive National Basketball Association news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors...","feedUrl":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rss/"} {"title":"James future unclear as Thunder eliminate Lakers","link":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/james-future-unclear-thunder-eliminate-065230676.html","description":"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.
","guid":"7ca98abe-eaf0-30a6-90f7-97390d8ab7cc","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 06:52:30 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 07:34:26 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 07:34:26 GMT","metadata":{},"feedLink":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/","feedDescription":"Comprehensive National Basketball Association news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors...","feedUrl":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rss/"} {"title":"Donovan Mitchell goes off for 39 points in second half as Cavaliers win Game 4 to even series with Pistons","link":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/donovan-mitchell-goes-off-39-030630176.html","description":"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 ImagesMitchell 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 ImagesThe 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.
","guid":"77531981-727a-3003-8ebd-457cdd2dad19","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 03:06:30 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 07:34:26 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 07:34:26 GMT","metadata":{},"feedLink":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/","feedDescription":"Comprehensive National Basketball Association news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors...","feedUrl":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rss/"} {"title":"Gaborone gold rush: how Botswana rose to the top of men’s sprinting","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/12/gaborone-gold-rush-botswana-sprinting-athletics","description":"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.”
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/12/gaborone-gold-rush-botswana-sprinting-athletics","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 07:17:30 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 07:41:01 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 07:41:01 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/58631b3978281c186bf828d106951ace8bda8298/0_0_3713_2971/master/3713.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=8e81794924bfc3e92dbc27f19b36efa4"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"Multiple Olympic, world and European champion cyclist Katie Archibald retires","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/may/12/cycling-katie-archibald-retires","description":"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.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/may/12/cycling-katie-archibald-retires","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 07:10:17 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 07:41:01 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 07:41:01 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a6c1f0a5326a00511edcc4019f0281430a2851b3/1704_1380_3606_2885/master/3606.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=0ebc9076048672a28a6bbc78fcecc1b3"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"Close Starmer ally declines to say if he will lead Labour into next election","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/12/darren-jones-keir-starmer-future-labour-leader","description":"Chief secretary, Darren Jones, says PM is ‘listening to colleagues’ but will make own decisions on way forward
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.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/12/darren-jones-keir-starmer-future-labour-leader","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 07:24:10 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 07:42:32 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 07:42:32 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/e9409782d201e73961b82beeacc1c1d37b46937c/574_0_4120_3296/master/4120.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=79641f4669734fc81c204f4d4a4e6c3d"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"UK news | The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news","feedDescription":"Latest news, breaking news and current affairs coverage from across the UK from theguardian.com","feedUrl":"http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/rss"} {"title":"Buyers of Liza Minnelli memoir claim it was not signed by hand","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/music/2026/may/12/liza-minnelli-memoir-signed-by-hand-signatures-autopen","description":"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).
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/music/2026/may/12/liza-minnelli-memoir-signed-by-hand-signatures-autopen","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 07:00:18 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 07:42:32 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 07:42:32 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7553fd745f366c39d57ae3a9e42fac14c2450583/61_0_1563_1250/master/1563.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=a67a6a35a1fa517fec2364c84c3bb602"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"UK news | The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news","feedDescription":"Latest news, breaking news and current affairs coverage from across the UK from theguardian.com","feedUrl":"http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/rss"} {"title":"Middle East crisis live: Trump says Iran ceasefire is on ‘massive life support’","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/may/12/middle-east-crisis-us-iran-israel-donald-trump-ceasefire-peace-plan-latest-news-updates","description":"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.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/may/12/middle-east-crisis-us-iran-israel-donald-trump-ceasefire-peace-plan-latest-news-updates","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 07:30:11 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 08:00:14 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 08:00:14 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/3d7be290c51a2db4ec2f6ab612c7fff4ad153480/686_0_5563_4451/master/5563.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=5e44882ccb7c040b7ab36ca646537fbd"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"Lorry gets stuck in hole it was sent to fix in Somerset","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/may/12/lorry-gets-stuck-in-hole-walton-somerset","description":"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.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/may/12/lorry-gets-stuck-in-hole-walton-somerset","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 07:38:15 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 08:00:14 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 08:00:14 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/55556e83b5b7a5ba82093ad6933b59d10db113c3/631_0_4164_3333/master/4164.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=4748255a3cde65e3f77fa4b3d7630529"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"Man charged with arson over alleged attack on ex-synagogue in east London","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/may/12/man-charged-arson-former-synagogue-whitechapel-london","description":"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.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/may/12/man-charged-arson-former-synagogue-whitechapel-london","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 07:46:38 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 08:00:14 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 08:00:14 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/5af736e5c78b3e983f136d980fb77826b5865227/1161_534_3839_3071/master/3839.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=ede47e889770b02ca50db70e2a9d57e7"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"De Zerbi’s impact at Spurs is undeniable but team’s fragile self-destruction remains | Jonathan Wilson","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/may/11/de-zerbis-impact-at-tottenham-is-stark-but-teams-fragile-self-destruction-remains","description":"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.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/may/11/de-zerbis-impact-at-tottenham-is-stark-but-teams-fragile-self-destruction-remains","pubDate":"Mon, 11 May 2026 22:21:39 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 08:00:14 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 08:00:14 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/dc3d5b7d87d4faee2d52df4d37efc7180247d220/276_0_4888_3911/master/4888.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=f646b406c1e8f527be66c0882db1ee96"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"Luka Doncic says he wasn't close to returning from injury before Lakers' season ended","link":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/luka-doncic-says-wasnt-close-074131907.html","description":"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
","guid":"6b221912-1ef4-35c5-a784-9d183f92de39","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 07:41:31 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 08:02:22 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 08:02:22 GMT","metadata":{},"feedLink":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/","feedDescription":"Comprehensive National Basketball Association news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors...","feedUrl":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rss/"} {"title":"Lakers go down with a fight against Thunder in Game 4","link":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/lakers-down-fight-against-thunder-052603434.html","description":"LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 11: Rui Hachimura #28 of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots a three point basket during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder during Round Two Game Four of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 11, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images\tOn the brink of elimination, the Lakers went down swinging.
LA overcame its second-half woes and took OKC all the way to the final minute before losing late, 115-110, as the Thunder completed the sweep.
In the most hotly-contested game of the series, the two teams battled throughout the fourth quarter. The Lakers had the lead late on a Marcus Smart and-one layup, but the Thunder responded with the next five points to win the game.
Deandre Ayton started things offensively for LA with a tip-in layup off a missed shot by LeBron James. Lu Dort and Ajay Mitchell responded with a combined five points immediately after.
Rui Hachimura started cooking for Los Angeles with four points.
At the 6:42 mark, the Lakers were down by six.
The Lakers surged with nine straight points to jump into the lead. Austin Reaves was now the leading scorer for LA with five points. Smart was the only starter who had yet to score.
Los Angeles ended the first well with Reaves and LeBron combining for five points, helping give the team a five-point lead.
For the first time in this series, the Lakers have won the first quarter. They are up 26-21 over the Thunder. Austin Reaves is off to a great start. He has 8 points on perfect shooting.
— Edwin Garcia (@ECreates88) May 12, 2026
Alex Caruso opened the second period with back-to-back evil 3-pointers. Mitchell then converted on a layup, which forced the Lakers to call an early timeout as they saw their lead vanish. Out of the break, Caruso finally missed a triple. Unfortunately, LA was also missing shots.
The Thunder were up by five with 9:50 left.
Oklahoma City’s scoring run extended to 17-0 as Los Angeles tried to score, but couldn’t figure out any consistency with their offense. LeBron stopped some of the bleeding with two free throws.
Jaxson Hayes ended the field goal drought by converting on a layup. The Lakers responded well, making it a four-point game at halftime, despite their shooting struggles.
The Thunder lead the Lakers 49-45. LA went over half the second quarter without a field goal, which is how a five-point advantage has turned into a four-point deficit. The Lakers need a comeback in the second half to extend their season.
— Edwin Garcia (@ECreates88) May 12, 2026
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander converted on a midrange jumper to open the third period. Hachimura had the hot hand early for LA with seven points in the quarter. Mitchell had eight in the quarter already for the Thunder.
Cason Wallace drilled a triple that forced Los Angeles to call a timeout after yet another OKC run had the Lakers down 12.
Reaves now had six of LA’s 12 overall turnovers. Out of the break, LeBron converted on one of two free throws. Hachimura also knocked down a big-time 3-pointer.
SGA was the only OKC player scoring; he was up to 23 for the night. LeBron drained two massive 3-pointers that helped keep Los Angeles within striking distance.
The purple and gold were down by five with 4:04 left in the quarter.
LA went on a massive 14-5 run that turned the game in their favor. They added to that run to take the lead by one with 3:08 left.
Both teams then took turns leading. Hayes’ four points at the end of the third helped give Los Angeles a lead of four going into the fourth.
This was the first time in the series that they beat OKC in the third.
Jaxson Hayes has provided a huge lift off the bench, with 16 points now on 5 of 6 FG's and 6 of 6 FT's.
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) May 12, 2026
His put-back with 0.6 to play in the 3rd Q gave the Lakers an 84-80 lead.
It's a 16-point turnaround from OKC's 66-54 lead at the 7:35 mark of the 3rd (a 30-14 push).
LeBron split a pair of free throws to open the scoring in the final frame. Jared McCain converted on a layup on the other end for Oklahoma City. Despite two from Mitchell, LeBron scored four points, helping keep LA in the lead by five.
Out of a break, McC ain drained a triple.
Reaves launched a ridiculous 3-pointer over Caruso that kept Los Angeles up by five. SGA nailed two free throws that cut into the deficit for the Thunder. McCain knocked down yet another three that tied the game with 6:34 left.
OKC went up by three after Mitchell completed a three-point play. Hachimura responded with his signature midrange shot on the other end. A back-and-forth battle was taking place over the final five minutes.
The teams took turns leading by one until a triple from SGA put the Thunder up four with 3:47 left. At the 2:13 mark, Oklahoma City was up by six. With 1:41 left, Hachimura completed a wild four-point play to make it a two-point game.
Smart was then fouled and completed a three-point play that put the Lakers up by one with 40 seconds left, capping off a 7-0 run. Chet Holmgren dunked on the next possession and put Oklahoma City up one with 32.8 seconds left.
LeBron missed a floater with roughly 20 seconds left and, on the other end, SGA was fouled and converted on both free throws, giving the Thunder a three-point lead with 12.2 seconds left.
Reaves had a nice look at a 3-pointer and unfortunately missed. With 7.6 seconds left, Mitchell was fouled and converted on both free throws, sealing the win for OKC.
Key Player StatsLeBron finished with 24 points and 12 rebounds. Reaves added 27 points with seven rebounds and six assists. Hayes had 18 points off the bench.
Hachimura scored 25 points on 9-15 shooting. Ayton logged six points. Kennard pitched in with five points.
You can follow Karin on Twitter at @KarinAbcarians.
","guid":"b52e3a45-5489-3546-b587-6e1a018406e5","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 05:26:03 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 08:02:22 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 08:02:22 GMT","metadata":{},"feedLink":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/","feedDescription":"Comprehensive National Basketball Association news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors...","feedUrl":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rss/"} {"title":"Labour must offer more than ‘better managed decline’ on economy, MPs urge","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/may/12/labour-economy-mps-tribune-group-keir-starmer","description":"Soft-left Tribune group issues thinly disguised attack on Keir Starmer, calling for bold policy renewal
An influential group of MPs has said that Labour needs an urgent renewal of economic strategy to offer voters “more than better management of decline” before the next general election.
With Keir Starmer fighting to ward off a leadership challenge, the leading backbenchers from the soft-left Tribune group published a series of essays calling for bolder action to salvage its remaining time in power.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/may/12/labour-economy-mps-tribune-group-keir-starmer","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 08:00:18 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 08:10:44 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 08:10:44 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/fd84be3875e9650f52096dcd3765d8fc1f4b3e2b/428_0_4393_3514/master/4393.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=e518effe7439ef969f44d6e2947096f1"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"UK news | The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news","feedDescription":"Latest news, breaking news and current affairs coverage from across the UK from theguardian.com","feedUrl":"http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/rss"} {"title":"Five former Carillion executives banned by accountancy regulator","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/may/12/carillion-finance-directors-banned-frc","description":"Richard Adam, Zafar Khan and three others are also fined by Financial Reporting Council
Five former executives at the collapsed government contractor Carillion have been bannedby the UK’s accountancy regulator, effectively ending the career of its former finance chief, after they “acted recklessly”.
Before Carillion collapsed into compulsory liquidation in January 2018 – one of the biggest corporate failures in UK history – it was a large multinational construction and facilities management services company and employed 43,000 people around the world.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/may/12/carillion-finance-directors-banned-frc","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 08:00:16 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 08:10:44 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 08:10:44 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/078b9b52131087735ad0da9fdf6b5e6e2fb36606/51_0_3333_2667/master/3333.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=6ad8f6f2aac61803259a9a9b7088feff"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"UK news | The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news","feedDescription":"Latest news, breaking news and current affairs coverage from across the UK from theguardian.com","feedUrl":"http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/rss"} {"title":"Man charged with arson over alleged attack on ex-synagogue in east London","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/may/12/man-charged-arson-former-synagogue-whitechapel-london","description":"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.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/may/12/man-charged-arson-former-synagogue-whitechapel-london","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 07:46:38 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 08:10:44 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 08:10:44 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/5af736e5c78b3e983f136d980fb77826b5865227/1161_534_3839_3071/master/3839.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=ede47e889770b02ca50db70e2a9d57e7"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"UK news | The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news","feedDescription":"Latest news, breaking news and current affairs coverage from across the UK from theguardian.com","feedUrl":"http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/rss"} {"title":"Lorry gets stuck in hole it was sent to fix in Somerset","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/may/12/lorry-gets-stuck-in-hole-walton-somerset","description":"Lorry left at near 45-degree angle after ground gave way on road near Walton
A lorry has become stuck in a sinkhole after being sent to fix it.
Contractors from a company called Stabilised Pavements were sent to fix the sinkhole near Walton, in Somerset, when the ground gave way, the Times reported.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/may/12/lorry-gets-stuck-in-hole-walton-somerset","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 07:38:15 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 08:10:44 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 08:10:44 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/55556e83b5b7a5ba82093ad6933b59d10db113c3/631_0_4164_3333/master/4164.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=4748255a3cde65e3f77fa4b3d7630529"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"UK news | The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news","feedDescription":"Latest news, breaking news and current affairs coverage from across the UK from theguardian.com","feedUrl":"http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/rss"} {"title":"‘There’s too much risk’: Britons on changing holiday plans amid Iran war","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/may/12/britons-changing-holiday-plans-iran-war-flight-cancellations-petrol-shortages","description":"Prospect of flight cancellations and petrol shortages prompt people to switch from air and road to rail and bus
The Middle East crisis, now in its 11th week, has resulted in higher fuel prices for drivers and prompted fears of jet fuel shortages, rising air fares and cancelled flights.
Given the uncertain outlook, prospect of higher travel costs and potential disruption, we asked whether people had changed their holiday plans.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/may/12/britons-changing-holiday-plans-iran-war-flight-cancellations-petrol-shortages","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 08:00:18 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 08:10:44 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 08:10:44 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8cf1e4653706cc2ba97fbcd6cef35632aebaf212/95_0_3790_3032/master/3790.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=123cf002ce1adefde87bcfeb36819302"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"UK news | The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news","feedDescription":"Latest news, breaking news and current affairs coverage from across the UK from theguardian.com","feedUrl":"http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/rss"} {"title":"‘There’s too much risk’: Britons on changing holiday plans amid Iran war","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/may/12/britons-changing-holiday-plans-iran-war-flight-cancellations-petrol-shortages","description":"Prospect of flight cancellations and petrol shortages prompt people to switch from air and road to rail and bus
The Middle East crisis, now in its 11th week, has resulted in higher fuel prices for drivers and prompted fears of jet fuel shortages, rising air fares and cancelled flights.
Given the uncertain outlook, prospect of higher travel costs and potential disruption, we asked whether people had changed their holiday plans.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/may/12/britons-changing-holiday-plans-iran-war-flight-cancellations-petrol-shortages","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 08:00:18 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 08:28:54 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 08:28:54 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8cf1e4653706cc2ba97fbcd6cef35632aebaf212/95_0_3790_3032/master/3790.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=123cf002ce1adefde87bcfeb36819302"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"Starmer’s on the brink and who knows what will happen next: hope for the best Britain, and prep for the worst | Frances Ryan","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/may/12/keir-starmer-britain-senior-cabinet-ministers-prime-minister","description":"As senior cabinet ministers move against the PM, his words of defiance seem moot. I’m planning ahead – which is more than he ever did
A news report last week described how growing instability means millions of Britons are building up a stash of cash, tinned food and torches at home. I don’t know about you, but I’ve always thought there is no better litmus test of how things are going for a country than whether the populace is stockpiling emergency rations.
Watching Keir Starmer stubbornly cling on to his leadership as members of his cabinet and MPs move against him, it seems only a matter of time before the PM himself is prepping. With the end moving closer, you half expect Starmer to barricade himself in Downing Street with a jumbo pack of baked beans and a carton of cigarettes.
\r\n “I’m not going to shy away from the fact that I’ve got some doubters,” Starmer told reporters on Monday after what could be his 73rd major speech to “reset” his premiership in less than two years.
\r\n “Some” doubters. That seems a generous summary of events at this point. At time of writing, those doubting Starmer include his former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner, foreign secretary Yvette Cooper, home secretary Shabana Mahmood, four resigned ministerial aides, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, union bosses, peers, and what increasingly feels like most of the backbenchers who have access to an X account.
Francs Ryan is a Guardian columnist
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/may/12/keir-starmer-britain-senior-cabinet-ministers-prime-minister","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 08:11:39 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 08:28:54 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 08:28:54 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/79a531982f78e7e37f996cd23212cb7725f88ab5/547_0_4913_3930/master/4913.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=a9b2537e4bfa84c09a761267b63c6200"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"Internal displacements caused by violence or conflict at record high in 2025","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/12/internal-displacements-violence-conflict-record-high-2025","description":"The 32.3m surpasses those caused by disasters for the first time, as 82.2m people displaced in total around world
The number of internal displacements triggered by conflict or violence around the world reached a record high in 2025, surpassing the number of disaster-driven internal displacements for the first time.
A report published by the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) shows that by the end of 2025 there were 32.3m conflict-driven internal displacements. That is 60% higher than those recorded the previous year, and – for the first time since data collection began in 2008 – above displacements driven by natural disasters, which reached 29.9m in 2025.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/12/internal-displacements-violence-conflict-record-high-2025","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 08:01:28 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 08:28:54 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 08:28:54 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/b811e0f2e21092d50146ecede9734b90a211d2bd/1170_0_6385_5108/master/6385.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=818d50be8f7fb79f7dd106fc577a558b"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"Five former Carillion executives banned by accountancy regulator","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/may/12/carillion-finance-directors-banned-frc","description":"Richard Adam, Zafar Khan and three others are also fined by Financial Reporting Council
Five former executives at the collapsed government contractor Carillion have been banned by the UK’s accountancy regulator, effectively ending the career of its former finance chief, after they “acted recklessly”.
Before Carillion collapsed into compulsory liquidation in January 2018 – one of the biggest corporate failures in UK history – it was a large multinational construction and facilities management services company and employed 43,000 people around the world.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/may/12/carillion-finance-directors-banned-frc","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 08:00:16 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 08:28:54 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 08:28:54 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/078b9b52131087735ad0da9fdf6b5e6e2fb36606/51_0_3333_2667/master/3333.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=6ad8f6f2aac61803259a9a9b7088feff"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"Ciao UFO review – Hong Kong tear-jerker is less ET than time-hopping chronicle of housing estate kids","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/may/12/ciao-ufo-review-hong-kong-tear-jerker-is-less-et-than-time-hopping-chronicle-of-housing-estate-kids","description":"In 1985, four working-class characters are bonded for ever by a strange sighting in this sentimental saga that tracks their lives into adulthood
Directed by Patrick Leung, this affecting saga from Hong Kong is a bit tricksy to get to grips with because it keeps hopping back and forth between an assortment of time frames. It tracks a set of characters as children in the mid-1980s, played by one group of young actors, and then later in the 1990s and early 00s when an adult cast takes over. But as it spirals in towards its surprising and dramatic conclusion, everything falls into place and the last 10 minutes is properly tear-jerking – even if it’s unabashedly sentimental, like a classic melodrama.
The key incident foretold in the title happens around halfway through, although it’s no spoiler to know it’s coming. In 1985, a quartet of kids growing up on a working-class Hong Kong housing estate – boys Kin (Matthew Wong Cheuk-yin) and Heem (Chui Ka-him), and girl Hoyi (Lam Seung-yu) and her kid brother (Shawn Heung Sung-yu), for ever called Little Brother – see a UFO in the sky one night. The experience bonds them for ever, even if each kid grows up to pursue goals one wouldn’t expect based on what they’re like as tots. Sailor’s son Kin (played by Chui Tien-you as an adult) pursues wealth in the stock market as it booms in the aftermath of the 1997 handover of Hong Kong to China, itself an understandably big deal in the story. Heem (a very engaging Wong You-nam) had leukaemia as a child, and lives constantly in the short term under the shadow of illness. Hoyi, who everyone describes as a pudgy little girl, grows up to be a slim-hipped beauty (Charlene Choi Cheuk-yin) – this is considered a great achievement along with becoming an accountant and planning to marry a dullard named Austin (Joey Cho Yiu Leung) who has his life all planned out.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/may/12/ciao-ufo-review-hong-kong-tear-jerker-is-less-et-than-time-hopping-chronicle-of-housing-estate-kids","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 08:00:18 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 08:28:54 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 08:28:54 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/3317cf8afac25140d344ed0ee271562cc5948cc0/693_0_6126_4903/master/6126.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=2dd6b836a5b6164f3695761095ed0a64"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"High and Low by Amanda Craig review – will Britain boil over?","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/books/2026/may/12/high-and-low-by-amanda-craig-review-will-britain-boil-over","description":"A north London cafe is under siege in a state-of-the-nation satire that brings together the haves and have-nots
Britain, muses trainee barrister Xan, was getting “hotter, crueller and angrier”. Amanda Craig’s 10th novel watches as it boils over. Her setting is Prospect Park, a fictional north London suburb caught between gentrification and decline, on the 12th day of Christmas. Outside a hotel housing asylum seekers, protesters and counter-protesters have gathered. In a flat nearby, a man has been stabbed, and thugs go from shop to shop, searching for the teenage boy they think did it.
Locals look on anxiously. Jade from the beauty parlour and Daisy from the health food shop brave the central street to warn others of trouble. In the kebab shop, Mehmet locks up his doner meat and sharpens his knives. Places with shutters close them.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/books/2026/may/12/high-and-low-by-amanda-craig-review-will-britain-boil-over","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 08:00:18 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 08:28:54 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 08:28:54 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/aa40ffd392be6a0c80870594fff87f089902268f/0_0_2500_2000/master/2500.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=22402b2a4f455663113cda90c7689086"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"'I don't know.' LeBron James unsure if he'll return for 24th season or retire","link":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/dont-know-lebron-james-unsure-081050342.html","description":"LeBron James stands on the court during the Lakers' 115-110 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 4 of the NBA Western Conference semifinals Monday at Crypto.com Arena. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)As LeBron James sat at the podium following the Lakers’ season-ending loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals on Monday night, he was asked about his future.
He had just completed his 23rd season in the NBA at 41 years old and he will become a free agent this summer.
James has been asked about retirement all season — and if he would return to the Lakers next season or play for another team.
So after finishing with 24 points and 12 rebounds in the 115-110 loss, James addressed the situation again.
“With my future, I don't know, honestly,\" James said. \"It's still fresh from obviously losing. And I don't know. I don't know what the future holds for me, obviously. As it stands right now, tonight, I got a lot of time. I'll sit back, like I think I said last year after we lost, I think to Minnesota, to go back and recalibrate with my family and talk with them, and spend some time with them. And then when the time comes, then obviously you guys will know what I've decided to do.”
Read more:Plaschke: For the sake of their future, Lakers should bid farewell to LeBron James
James said he’ll talk to his wife, Savannah, his daughter, Zhuri, and his son, Bryce.
James was asked what his decision process will be like.
“I don't know,” he said. “If I can commit to still being in love with the process of showing up to the arena five-and-a-half hours before a game to start preparing for a game, giving everything I got, diving for loose balls and doing everything that you know that it takes to go out and play. Showing up to practices, 11 o'clock practice, I'm there at eight o'clock preparing my body, preparing my mind, preparing to practice, to put the work in.
“So I think for me, I've always been in love with the process and not the aftermath of, OK, we won that game, or we won a championship. I've always enjoyed the process and not the outcome. So, I think that would be a big factor.\"
LeBron James, center, celebrates with his Lakers teammates after defeating the Miami Heat for the NBA title on Oct. 11, 2020. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)James has been with the Lakers for eight seasons. He helped the team win an NBA championship in 2020 in the COVID-19 bubble in Orlando, Fla.
James was asked what has stood out during his time with the Lakers.
\"Obviously winning a championship in 2020 would stand at the top,\" James said. \"That was the reason why I came here, to restore that level of play and restore this franchise back to what it was known for, winning championships and playing at a high level. ... So that would be at the top.”
After the loss to the Thunder, James shook hands with All-Star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Alex Caruso, Lou Dort before walking off the court.
James was asked if those were the last handshakes of his career.
\"Last handshakes? No, I don't know. 'Cause I don't, I have no idea,” James said. \"None of us even know what the future holds. None of us.\"
The Lakers know that they could have eight unrestricted free agents in their immediate future.
Read more:Lakers fight to the finish but are eliminated by Thunder
After James, the next biggest potential free agent is Austin Reaves. He is expected to opt out of his deal that will pay him $14.8 million and become a free agent, according to people familiar with the situation not authorized to comment. The Lakers can pay Reaves a maximum deal of $241 million over five years, with a starting salary of about $41.5 million next season.
The Lakers value Reaves and are expected to meet his demands. Reaves could sign with another team that has salary-cap space, but that deal would be for four years and about $178 million.
“I take life day by day and I'm just blessed to have an opportunity to play for this organization, play a kid's game,” Reaves said. “I make good money. But like I said, don’t think about what I’m really going to do in the future. Just day by day.”
Center Deandre Ayton had an inconsistent season, averaging 12.5 points on 67.1% shooting and 8.0 rebounds. He can opt out of his deal that pays him $8.1 million next season and become a free agent. But Ayton hasn’t yet made a decision, according to people familiar with the situation not authorized to comment.
Lakers star Austin Reaves celebrates after shooting a three-pointer against the Thunder on Monday. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)Marcus Smart, a locker room leader and their best defensive player, also has a player option for next season at $5.3 million. He hasn't made a decision yet on whether he'll test the free-agent market. According to several NBA executives, a few teams probably will show interest in him.
The deadline to exercise or decline an option is June 29.
Rui Hachimura’s ($18.2 million), Luke Kennard ($11 million), Maxi Kleber ($11 million) and Jaxson Hayes ($3.4 million) are also in the final year of their deals.
Doncic, who missed the playoffs and the last five games of the regular season with a Grade 2 left hamstring strain, signed a three-year, $165-million extension last summer, keeping him under contract through the 2027-28 season.
Jarred Vanderbilt ($12.4 million), Jake LaRavia ($6.0 million), Dalton Knecht (4.2 million), Bronny James ($2.2 million) and rookie Adou Thiero ($2.1 million) are under contract for next season.
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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
","guid":"8f22b006-2748-3007-bd96-a67c5b24e874","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 08:10:50 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 08:31:11 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 08:31:11 GMT","metadata":{},"feedLink":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/","feedDescription":"Comprehensive National Basketball Association news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors...","feedUrl":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rss/"} {"title":"NBA combine measurements for potential Utah Jazz draft targets","link":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/nba-combine-measurements-potential-utah-060915696.html","description":"CHICAGO, IL - MAY 11: NBA draft prospect, Darryn Peterson poses for a portrait during the 2026 NBA Draft Combine on May 11, 2026 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images\tAfter an incredible NBA lottery, the Utah Jazz are sitting pretty at the #2 spot in the NBA Draft. That means they will have a chance to choose from the top tier of the draft with their pick. The NBA Combine is now happening, and it officially kicks off draft season. The measurements become vital for teams at the top of the draft and can help shape the most important decision each team will make. Here are the measurements of the main prospects the Utah Jazz will be looking at. Oh, and just a reminder, the height is measured without shoes. But since basketball is played with shoes on, you typically want to have an inch or so added when you’re thinking about the different prospects.
AJ DybantsaHeight: 6’8.5”
Weight: 217
Wingspan: 7’0.75”
Standing Reach: 8’8”
Dybantsa comes out with solid numbers that confirm great size with his 6’8.5” height minus shoes. His wingspan is really good at the +4 differential. That said, this doesn’t raise any real red flags or give teams interested in the potential #1 pick any reason to question taking him. Dybantsa brings the measurements of a prototypical wing creator that teams dream of building their team around.
Darryn PetersonHeight: 6’4.5”
Weight: 199
Wingspan: 6’9.75”
Standing Reach: 8’7”
Peterson’s measurements are also unsurprising and great for a shooting guard. With shoes, Peterson will be about 6’6” and also brings a fantastic wingspan ratio at +5. The biggest question for Peterson will come from his medicals. If Peterson checks out clean, he makes a big case for the #1 pick in this draft. Dybantsa gets an edge on Peterson with his size, which gives him a fantastic ceiling, but Peterson should get the edge in pure skill. His scoring ability is the best in the draft, and we’ll see if the Washington Wizards make a surprise pick come draft night.
Cam BoozerHeight: 6’8.25”
Weight: 253
Wingspan: 7’1.5”
Standing Reach: 9’.0”
Boozer ends up with height just a hair shorter than AJ Dybantsa, but he brings a slightly longer wingspan and standing reach, which is great. Boozer combines a high level of skill and IQ that comes with fantastic functional strength. Boozer comes into the draft with one of the highest floors but could also be considered to have the lowest ceiling among the top prospects. The question for Boozer will be whether he can be the hub of an NBA offense or more of an off-ball player. It will be fascinating to see just how effective he can be. His production in college was fantastic, but does that translate to the NBA, or was he more of a bruiser that overpowered inferior college talent?
Caleb WilsonHeight: 6’9.25”
Weight: 211
Wingspan: 7’0.25”
Standing Reach: 9’0”
The numbers for Wilson are a little disappointing and could put him at #4 to Chicago if the Grizzlies are torn between Wilson and Boozer. He’s surprisingly light at 211, and I expected a longer wingspan than just 7’0.25”. What this does is lock Wilson into the 3/4 mold, although that’s not a change for teams that have followed him closely. Wilson does have fantastic athleticism, which could potentially help him go higher.
","guid":"db487186-b912-3fb3-8991-70d5d8f117bf","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 06:09:15 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 08:31:11 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 08:31:11 GMT","metadata":{},"feedLink":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/","feedDescription":"Comprehensive National Basketball Association news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors...","feedUrl":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rss/"} {"title":"3 takeaways from Lakers Game 4 loss vs. Thunder","link":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/3-takeaways-lakers-game-4-062812197.html","description":"LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 11: Jaxson Hayes #11 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after a slam dunk against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the third quarter in Game Four of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on May 11, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images) | Getty Images\tWith their season on the line, the Lakers played with the necessary desperation to try to extend it one more game.
Even after it looked like the third quarter was headed down a familiar path, LA righted the ship and actually won that quarter. The result was a fourth quarter worthy of a playoff game with back-and-forth momentum swings and huge shots from either side.
But even with all that extra fight, the end result was the same, with the Thunder making more plays and coming away victorious to sweep LA out of the playoffs.
It’s a tough ending to the series, considering how hard the Lakers fought throughout. But it’s also a just ending as the Thunder were clearly the better team in the series.
With that being said, let’s dive into the three takeaways from the loss…
Going out on their swordThere were two ways this game could have played out.
The Lakers could have looked like the Sixers on Sunday as they lay down and let the Knicks batter them at home in an embarrassing loss or they could put up the fight they did. It’s apropos that they went down fighting given it’s the trait this team has had all season.
So many times this season, the Lakers were dealt a challenge — often in the way of an untimely injury to a star — and were forced to adapt and keep fighting. The postseason was no different. The final scores often didn’t show how close the purple and gold were to the Thunder this series.
But Monday’s Game 4 will not be forgotten because of a humiliating blowout, but instead will be remembered as a team going out on its sword.
Rui and Austin step upThe Lakers were going to need big contributions from multiple players if they were going to finally nab a win in this series and both Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura did all they could to make that possible.
Austin’s night was a mixed bag at times. He did turn the ball over eight times. But given the ask of him and the focus the defense had on him, it was his best game of the series. He finished with 27 points, seven rebounds and six assists and carried the Lakers’ offense throughout the night. If nothing else, playing 43 minutes in a game of this intensity so soon after returning from injury was impressive.
Rui’s night, meanwhile, was not mixed at all. In a postseason where he already was turning heads, Rui had the game of his life, finishing with 25 points on 9-15 shooting from the field. But, as has been the case, it was his 3-point shooting that was most important, none bigger than his late four-point play with 1:41 left that trimmed a six-point deficit down to just two.
RUI 4-POINT PLAY!
— NBA (@NBA) May 12, 2026
LAKERS LEAD BY 1 WITH 40.9 TO PLAY IN GAME 4 ON PRIME 🍿 pic.twitter.com/Ez4FyhVTPB
Both players are set for free agency. Both earned big paydays with their play either this season and in the playoffs. And, hopefully, both are Lakers again next season.
The crowd did their partI was critical of the Lakers crowd earlier these playoffs when it felt like they didn’t do their part in a closeout game. And if there was ever a reason for them not to bring the energy, it was on a night when the team was on the brink of being swept.
Instead, it was the best crowd of the postseason for the Lakers. Is it a coincidence that multiple Twitter/X accounts pointed out how cheap the tickets were, meaning actual fans of the team could afford to attend? Probably not!
Whatever the reason or rationale, the crowd was as lively as they’ve been and played a huge role in spurring the team on to its most impressive performance of the series.
Hats off to them.
You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.
","guid":"04294546-7a80-304d-a368-ea9acdaafc71","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 06:28:12 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 08:43:28 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 08:43:28 GMT","metadata":{},"feedLink":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/","feedDescription":"Comprehensive National Basketball Association news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors...","feedUrl":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rss/"} {"title":"Eddie Murphy, Sean Penn, and Leonardo DiCaprio attend Thunder vs. Lakers Game 4 in what could be LeBron James last game","link":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/eddie-murphy-sean-penn-leonardo-041841572.html","description":"The stars came out to Crypto.com Arena on Monday night to watch the Lakers fight to keep their season alive against the Thunder in Game 4 of the Western Conference Semifinals.
Entering the game, OKC led the series 3-0 and a Lakers loss would not only end their season, it might also be the final time we see LeBron James in a Lakers’ uniform or any other uniform for that matter.
Those takes alone were enough to bring out Hollywood royalty for one last game.
Leonardo DiCaprio arrived quietly, dressed nearly identical to how he did in Game 3. He took his seat next to his “One Battle After Another” co-star Sean Penn and friend and fellow actor Kevin Connolly.
(L-R) Actors Kevin Connolly, Leonardo DiCaprio and Sean Penn attend Game Four between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Los Angeles Lakers in the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on May 11, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images) Getty ImagesA few seats away sat Eddie Murphy, dressed in all black with his shades on.
Eddie Murphy in the house pic.twitter.com/l0MM9BYNbO
— Michael J. Duarte (@michaeljduarte) May 12, 2026
TV personality Shannon Sharpe was nearby, as was “Top Gun 2” star Miles Teller.
Miles Teller catching Game 4 between the Thunder and Lakers pic.twitter.com/SgWIJHGyjC
— Michael J. Duarte (@michaeljduarte) May 12, 2026
Bu the celebrity row didn’t stop there.
Jessica Alba smiled and waved to nearby fans. Gold medal skier Lindsey Vonn, Tinashe, Andy Garcia, Usher, and rapper 21 Moneybagg Yo all enjoyed the courtside view as well.
Getty ImagesGetty ImagesNBAE via Getty ImagesGetty ImagesNBAE via Getty ImagesNBAE via Getty ImagesNBAE via Getty ImagesNBAE via Getty ImagesNBAE via Getty ImagesGetty ImagesGetty ImagesGetty ImagesGetty ImagesGetty ImagesThe sons of famous actors Jack Nicholson and Denzel Washington were also in attendance, with Ray Nicholson and John David Washington sitting in their famous fathers’ courtside seats.
And because no major Lakers playoff game is complete without basketball royalty as well, Dwyane Wade, Robert Horry, and Phoenix Suns guard Dillon Brooks, a villain among fans, were also in attendance.
Dillon Brooks got a seat right under the basket for Game 4 of Lakers-Thunder pic.twitter.com/9bvf8F7Naf
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 12, 2026
Here’s the rest of the list of stars spotted at the game: Jeffrey Katzenberg, Adam Corolla, Jay Mohr, Dyan Cannon, Lukas Haas, James Goldstein, Lou Adler, Corey Gamble, and more.
In most cities, playoff basketball is just a game.
In Los Angeles, it’s theater.
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Communities minister Miatta Fahnbulleh is first minister to leave government after heavy election losses
Miatta Fahnbulleh has become the first minister to resign from Keir Starmer’s government, calling on the prime minister to quit.
The communities minister’s resignation came as one of Starmer’s closest aides declined to say whether he would lead Labour into the next election amid mounting calls for him to resign.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/12/darren-jones-keir-starmer-future-labour-leader","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 08:24:13 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 08:58:02 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 08:58:02 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/655fedee6d8167ae58a8013138b21b2e0f389615/792_0_7920_6336/master/7920.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=1505cb41925a82f7ab647ae914e2199d"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"Three-day ceasefire ends with fresh wave of Russian attacks on Ukraine – Europe live","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/may/12/europe-defence-ukraine-russia-hungary-latest-news-updates","description":"At least one person killed as Moscow launches drone strikes on energy facilities and apartments
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization’s Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus is currently giving a briefing alongside the Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez on the current situation on hantavirus, following the evacuation of the MV Hondius cruise ship over the weekend.
The key lines appears to be that Tedros conceded that the WHO is expecting more cases to emerge given the prolonged incubation period of six to eight weeks.
“We would expect more cases, because, as you may remember, the index case, the first case in the ship, was on 6 April, and until … the report was confirmed as infectious – that’s around 24 April or 25 – there was a lot of interaction [between] the passengers.
As you know, the incubation period is also six to eight weeks. Because of the interaction while they were still on the ship, especially before they started taking some infectious prevention measures, … we would expect more cases.”
“But of course the situation could change, and given the long incubation period of the virus, it’s possible we might see more cases in the coming weeks.”
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/may/12/europe-defence-ukraine-russia-hungary-latest-news-updates","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 08:54:38 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 08:58:02 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 08:58:02 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/57dc0536b75ab98ecd0dfaaf69f4977258d804f8/87_155_1007_805/master/1007.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=574887b15a0023b47f7d917b1f5900b7"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"Chaos in Philippines as Duterte ally wanted by ICC takes refuge in senate to avoid arrest","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/12/ronald-dela-rosa-icc-arrest-warrant-philippines-senate-refuge","description":"Former police chief Ronald dela Rosa spends night at senate office after another Duterte ally offers protective custody
The unusual pursuit was captured on CCTV cameras inside the Philippine senate. Ronald dela Rosa, a longtime ally of the former president Rodrigo Duterte, raced along the hallways of the upper house complex, stumbling on the staircase, as he fled government agents.
“They want to forcibly bring me to The Hague, to surrender me there,” Dela Rosa said later on a Facebook livestream, pleading for public support.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/12/ronald-dela-rosa-icc-arrest-warrant-philippines-senate-refuge","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 08:20:37 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 08:58:02 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 08:58:02 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/58a00fbc0f7869d1efb348b652066cbb0bbe0d8e/603_0_6033_4827/master/6033.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=746263dc5a15befb6e6b3715b2ad3a0a"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"Labour must offer more than ‘better managed decline’ on economy, MPs urge","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/may/12/labour-economy-mps-tribune-group-keir-starmer","description":"Soft-left Tribune group issues thinly disguised attack on Keir Starmer, calling for bold policy renewal
An influential group of MPs has said that Labour needs an urgent renewal of economic strategy to offer voters “more than better management of decline” before the next general election.
With Keir Starmer fighting to ward off a leadership challenge, the leading backbenchers from the soft-left Tribune group published a series of essays calling for bolder action to salvage its remaining time in power.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/may/12/labour-economy-mps-tribune-group-keir-starmer","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 08:00:18 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 08:58:02 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 08:58:02 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/fd84be3875e9650f52096dcd3765d8fc1f4b3e2b/428_0_4393_3514/master/4393.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=e518effe7439ef969f44d6e2947096f1"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"UK borrowing costs hit highest since 1998 amid Starmer uncertainty","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/may/12/uk-borrowing-costs-keir-starmer-bond-yields-pound-dollar-labour","description":"Bond yields soar and pound falls against dollar as investors brace for potential Labour leadership change
Long-term UK borrowing costs have soared to the highest level in nearly three decades while the pound and stocks fell as investors braced for a potential change of leadership, with cabinet ministers urging Keir Starmer to quit.
Starmer was consulting colleagues before a cabinet meeting on Tuesday morning after ministerial aides quit and more than 70 MPs publicly called for him to go.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/may/12/uk-borrowing-costs-keir-starmer-bond-yields-pound-dollar-labour","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 08:48:23 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 09:09:05 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 09:09:05 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/0ec06bbd14696444370d10765c3d43400fadc7d8/645_0_6475_5182/master/6475.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=8bad37b924daab5e5838c04d66566ef5"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"UK news | The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news","feedDescription":"Latest news, breaking news and current affairs coverage from across the UK from theguardian.com","feedUrl":"http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/rss"} {"title":"Cavs playoff fate to determine interest in Giannis Antetokounmpo","link":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/cavs-playoff-fate-determine-interest-090000366.html","description":"CLEVELAND, OHIO - NOVEMBER 17: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks looks on during the first half against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena on November 17, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images\tAs if the stress of a playoff series was not enough, the Cleveland Cavaliers’ front office is bracing for potential changes if things go south over the next few games. One of those changes may involve the highest-profile player in the rumor mill, Giannis Antetokounmpo.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Milwaukee Bucks (whose owner is Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslem) are listening to offers for Antetokounmpo with just six weeks from the NBA Draft. The Bucks will have numerous offers made for Antetokounmpo’s services, with several of those coming from teams that had interest in him at the previous trade deadline. The Cavs are one of those teams, based on Charania’s report.
The caveat to this is that offers from those teams will likely hinge on playoff performance. Charania says the Minnesota Timberwolves, Boston Celtics, New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers, and the Cavs represent the teams that had called about Antetokounmpo a few months ago and would be prepared to do so again this summer. ESPN reported last October that Antetokounmpo desired to play for the Knicks, but that appeared to fizzle.
Anything bought from the links helps support Fear the Sword. You can buy the comfortable Cavs hoodie HERE. You can also shop all of Homage’s Cavs gear HERE.
Milwaukee is reportedly seeking a young blue-chip prospect and/or multiple draft picks, something that only a handful of those aforementioned teams can do. For example, the Lakers would have to get creative with their picks and salary to outdo the Knicks and Cavs, who both have the assets to meet what the Bucks want. New York can send almost anything but Jalen Brunson, while the Cavs could dangle Evan Mobley and draft picks and swaps.
Then the question becomes if the Cavs should push every last chip into the middle to try and win a championship. Moving on from Mobley is the most all-in the Cavs could get, even after sending out Darius Garland last year for a player a decade older — but more ready to win immediately. That gets magnified even more when the Cavs would also likely have to include two first-round picks and at least one pick swap. Suddenly, things are not only win-now, but the Cavs are mortgaging the future too.
Unless the Cavs are constructing something bigger — say, James Harden and Donovan Mitchell with Antetokounmpo and LeBron James for his farewell tour — the front office is taking on a huge risk by potentially trading Mobley and the rest of their picks into the 2030s. That will make a lot of fans uneasy to see the Cavs swing so hard for the fence, but another early playoff exit that doesn’t yield a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals may be the final straw of failure. If the Cavs lose to a team led by their former head coach (and scapegoat) J.B Bickerstaff, someone they fired for being unable to get over the hump, it may be enough to send owner Dan Gilbert into a frenzy to fix the most expensive mess in the league.
Now things can’t, and won’t, be all bad if the Cavs acquire Antetokounmpo and add him to a core of Mitchell and Harden (never mind James, who is a big if). In fact, it would likely make the Cavs the team to beat in the Eastern Conference. Antetokounmpo, who is still one of the three best players in the league, would have a dynamic scoring backcourt to rely on, and his front-court mate in Jarrett Allen, who would make the paint uninhabitable on defense. The Cavs would be a force on both sides of the ball and one of the most-watched teams in the league. Of course, they would also be a league villain — especially if James dons the wine and gold one last time.
","guid":"2e2acabe-362d-378a-a16b-87f0bd653efe","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 09:00:00 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 09:11:45 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 09:11:45 GMT","metadata":{},"feedLink":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/","feedDescription":"Comprehensive National Basketball Association news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors...","feedUrl":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rss/"} {"title":"LeBron James' uncertain future becomes Lakers' biggest offseason question: 'We’re not good enough right now'","link":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/article/lebron-james-uncertain-future-becomes-lakers-biggest-offseason-question-were-not-good-enough-right-now-085431085.html","description":"LOS ANGELES —Three minutes into a sudden second quarter Thunder storm, as the Lakers gathered around each other in hopes of solving a growing problem, LeBron James plopped into a seat a few slots down from the group.
The uneasiness and nervousness that had enveloped the building in the moments leading up to tipoff — despite a brief shift toward excitement and belief in extending a series — were back once again. From a micro lens, the bulk of apprehension centered around avoiding a sweep but the potential outcome of the game — and to a larger extent, James’ future — provided an eerie backdrop on a clear spring night.
Eight years ago, James walked out the same tunnel onto the floor for his Lakers home debut, offering a flurry of fistbumps, high-fives and handshakes to eager onlookers. That evening, hope was on the cards, for a better future, together — despite being overtaken by a massive brawl that ended in ejections and suspensions. On Monday night, with the 41-year-old staring a second-round sweep in the face, the first of his storied career, a different fight ensued. The fight to win a game. The fight for dignity. For ego. For maybe, just maybe, the next chapter of his basketball journey.
“What my future holds, I don’ t know,” James said following the Lakers’ 115-110 loss. “Obviously, we’re still fresh from losing. I don’t know. I don’t know what the future holds for me as it stands right now tonight. I got a lot of time, I’ll sit back and recalibrate with my family. Talk with them, spend some time with them and when the time comes, you guys will know.”
The wounds from defeat are likely still too fresh for James and the Lakers to fully process. They certainly were for the thousands of fans in the stands, trapped between emotions so strong that James shook the hands of his opponents and walked off the floor without as much as a smattering of applause, attempting to come to terms with a sweep. They certainly were for James’ teammates as they shared embraces and said their goodbyes in the locker room afterward, some wondering what the next few months will hold for the individuals as well as the collective. And they certainly were for an emotional JJ Redick as he sat on the podium, praising his soldiers for enduring a long, confusing season while acknowledging the great unknown on the horizon.
“I believe in continuity,” Redick said. “But I do think that if you’re trying to win a championship and this organization is, you have to be realistic and assess where you’re at and we’re not good enough right now. There probably will be some continuity and there probably won’t be, but that’s what the next two months are for.”
Los Angeles, CA - May 11:Lakers LeBron James (23) reacts to a Laker turnover during second quarter action in game 4 of the NBA West semifinals at Crypto.com Arena on Monday, May 11, 2026. (Photo by David Crane/MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty Images)MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty Images via Getty ImagesRegardless of your point of view — whether watching the game remotely, in person or even as a member of the media — nothing suggested that this would be the last time that James took an NBA floor. James spoke at length about the “process” of basketball, detailing a routine that has allowed him to remain at the top of his game for over two decades and shuddered at the mention of him falling out of love with the game. His Game 4 performance — 24 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists and a block — giving everything he had on both ends of the floor didn’t resemble a player that suddenly wants to call it quits. The ability to rest, recover and mentally prepare for a final season on his terms certainly has appeal from an outsider’s perspective.
“I don’t think it’s his last year,” Suns forward Dillon Brooks, who was in attendance, told Yahoo Sports. “I think he got one more in him. I watched him when I was in the NBA, when I was a kid in high school. He’s got a phenomenal career and battled everybody and done it at a high level throughout. It’s been amazing to watch overall, a pleasure to battle against him.”
The real question, the one that will dominate airwaves, water cooler talk and group chats within the basketball world for the next few weeks and months, is whether or not James’ next steps will be with the Lakers. Austin Reaves, Marcus Smart and Deandre Ayton — 60 percent of the Lakers’ playoff starting lineup — all have player options for the 2026-27 season. Los Angeles’ brass will be tasked with presenting a plan for James to still remain a viable contender in an increasingly competitive top layer of the basketball ecosystem. Is such a plan more advantageous — not just to James, but to the organization as well — than a homecoming to Cleveland, landing in New York or finally syncing up with Steph Curry? Should the Lakers be so willing to pony up millions of dollars for James’ services, who will be 42 by year’s end, as opposed to fully committing to a heliocentric system tailored to Luka Dončić’s skill set?
The truth is somewhere in the middle. James, entering his 24th season, is likely a hard sell as a commanding size of a team’s cap space — especially in today's restricted economy — while still retaining value as an elite playmaker, connective tissue, positive rebounder and transition defender, in addition to the marketing/revenue boost his presence dictates.
“I haven’t even thought about that,” Redick said pertaining to James’ future. “We’ll deal with the offseason in the offseason, which is the next two months.”
James’ and Redick’s preference to kick the can down the road is understandable, but any decision will likely involve the deconstruction of the now-completed Western Conference semis. The absence of Dončić increases the difficulty of proper evaluation, but the Lakers’ 109.6 postseason offensive rating with James as a No. 1 option would rank just above the Brooklyn Nets over the course of the regular season and their net rating lines them up with a bottom-ten unit. Consequently, miscalculations on the shooting and scoring prowess of Thunder guards Ajay Mitchell and Jared McCain, Chet Holmgren’s complete two-way dominance (and Ayton’s gradual erasure) also play a part. Additionally, James’ decline in shooting efficiency — 97th percentile in shot usage, 46th in true shooting percentage — and a game plan gone awry (surrounding James with floor spacers yet finishing the postseason ranked 18th out of 20 in 3-point rate) must be addressed as well.
Before every Laker game, the jumbotron shows a montage of the franchise’s most iconic moments — with cameos from Magic Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal, the late Kobe Bryant and others. James’ accomplishments over eight seasons, the most he’s spent with any team, are also featured. But the duality of hope, as Los Angeles has come to experience over the last few weeks, is crippling by nature. James’ Lakers legacy, while not as robust as some of the names that have come before him, is still deserving of a fitting end in purple and gold. But what that exactly looks like, and how the greatest player of this generation plans to navigate unforeseen waters, will keep an organization in a holding pattern until clarity takes over.
“S*** I left everything I could out 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. I tried to make sure that our guys were locked in throughout the postseason. We fell a little short but I’m not looking at my year as a disappointment, that’s for damn sure.”
","guid":"02ba4723-e1b8-43e0-a29b-8c378997b751","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 08:54:31 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 09:11:45 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 09:11:45 GMT","metadata":{},"feedLink":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/","feedDescription":"Comprehensive National Basketball Association news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors...","feedUrl":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rss/"} {"title":"Game Five Preview: San Antonio Spurs vs. Minnesota Timberwolves","link":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/game-five-preview-san-antonio-070000821.html","description":"MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - MAY 10: Stephon Castle #5 of the San Antonio Spurs drives to the basket past Jaden McDaniels #3 of the Minnesota Timberwolves during the third quarter in Game Four of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Target Center on May 10, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images\tThe San Antonio Spurs did what they needed to do in Minnesota. The Spurs reclaimed home-court advantage with a win in Game Three. After losing a winnable Game Four, 114-109, the Spurs will head back to San Antonio to defend their home court and re-take a series lead.
Game Five will be one of intrigue for several reasons. Chief among them is the return of Victor Wembanyama, who was ejected from Game Four after earning a Flagrant 2 foul for elbowing Naz Reid in the neck. Wembanyama avoided d a fine and a suspension, which has drawn some ire from national media talking heads. Now, an already physical series will be played under a microscope, with both teams motivated to beat up on each other, and the officials watching even more closely for extracurricular contact.
What this game and series will ultimately come down to is the performance of each team’s star player. Anthony Edwards has been nothing short of incredible playing on two bum knees, but still scoring 36 points in Game Four. Wembanyama dominated Games Two and Three, and will certainly be looking to bounce back from a regrettable moment in Game Five. Whichever one can out-duel the other may leave San Antonio with a 3-2 advantage.
San Antonio Spurs (2-2) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (2-2)May 12th, 2026 | 7:00 PM CTWatch: NBC / Peacock | Listen: WOAI (1200 AM)Spurs Injuries: De’Aaron Fox – Questionable (ankle)
Timberwolves Injuries: Donte DiVincenzo – Out (achilles)
Despite what most people would say online, the winner of a basketball game is not determined by the referees. That said, they will have a crucial role to play in Game Five. Both sides will come after each other physically, and both will complain when they don’t get the foul calls they think they deserve. Wembanyama’s elbow has escalated the stakes of the physical play in this series. Both teams have been enforcing their will on the other. Whether it be the Spurs’ aggressive point-of-attack defense and tough drives to the rim, or the Wolves’ swarming help defense and dominance on the offensive glass. Whatever team can play physical enough without getting into foul trouble will have a distinct advantage.
Securing the boardsIn Game Four, the Spurs allowed the Wolves to grab 15 offensive rebounds for the second game in a row. Granted, they didn’t have their best rebounder in Wembanyama for three-quarters of the game. A lot of the rebounds they are giving up would be out of Wembanyama’s control anyway. Minnesota is grabbing long rebounds off misses or scooping up 50/50 balls while the Spurs are busy blocking out bigger rebounders like Rudy Gobert. San Antonio has to negate the Wolves’ advantage on the glass to reclaim a lead in this series.
Three-point shootingSan Antonio has struggled to shoot from three in both of their losses this series. In Game One, they shot 28% from deep, and they hit just 23% of their deep shots in Game Four. Devin Vassell and Julian Champagnie have to knock down every wide-open three-pointer they have. If not, they are handing over free possessions to Minnesota. De’Aaron Fox’s shooting has gone cold for most of the series. His offense is of the utmost importance heading into the final games of the series. Fox is questionable for Game Five after sustaining an ankle injury in Game Four. The Spurs will need him and the rest of their shooters to warm up to take down the Wolves at home.
","guid":"81475d2c-5c60-3d23-a02b-e65967cb9f32","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 07:00:00 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 09:11:45 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 09:11:45 GMT","metadata":{},"feedLink":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/","feedDescription":"Comprehensive National Basketball Association news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors...","feedUrl":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rss/"} {"title":"Ex-NBA player Desmond Mason arrested on felony theft warrant","link":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/ex-nba-player-desmond-mason-042739276.html","description":"Ex-NBA player Desmond Mason was arrested in Oklahoma City on a felony warrant out of Texas late last week.
Police in Oklahoma City arrested Mason on Thursday on a felony warrant for theft of property that stemmed from an incident that started back in spring 2025, according to multiple reports.
Former Thunder player Desmond Mason arrested on theft warrant Oklahoma County JailOklahoma City police arrested Mason in a downtown section of OKC known as Bricktown and he was taken to the Oklahoma County Detention Center, but before he was booked, he was transported to a local hospital to treat a medical issue, News9 in Oklahoma City reported.
Mason was booked and listed as a flight risk.
Desmond Mason of the Seattle Sonics drives to the basket in the Sprite Rising StarsA couple from Collin County, Texas, filed a police report in January with the Melissa Police Department after they claimed they hired Mason in March 2025 to frame a piece of sports memorabilia, paying the 10-year NBA vet $9,822.86 to do so.
The memorabilia and authentication documents were valued at roughly $40,000.
Mason allegedly sent the couple proof he completed the job in April of that year and was going to deliver the finished product, but then cut off communication with them.
By January of this year, Mason was said to have begun re-engaging with the couple, trying to explain the delay.
The warrant for Mason’s arrest was issued in February.
Desmond Mason is pictured during a December 2008 game. NBAE via Getty ImagesThis is not the first time Mason has ended up in jail, having been thrown behind bars for contempt of court stemming from his divorce proceedings with his ex-wife Andrea Mason.
Mason spent 10 years in the NBA after he was drafted by the Seattle SuperSonics in 2000 and became the first player in franchise history to win the NBA dunk contest during the 2000-01 season.
He was traded to the Bucks in 2003, where he played until 2005, and was traded again to the New Orleans Hornets.
Mason returned to the Bucks for a second stint ahead of the 2007-08 season and then played the 2008-09 season with the Thunder.
He appeared in just five games for the Kings in 2009 before he was waived in early November of the 2009-10 season.
","guid":"c737a9e3-e801-3995-a8ef-756fb72c52aa","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 04:27:39 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 09:11:45 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 09:11:45 GMT","metadata":{},"feedLink":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/","feedDescription":"Comprehensive National Basketball Association news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors...","feedUrl":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rss/"} {"title":"What is PCOS, what are the symptoms and treatment, and why is it being renamed PMOS?","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/may/12/polycystic-ovary-syndrome-pcos-pmos-symptoms-meaning-treatment-causes-risk-factors-new-name-explained","description":"Polycystic ovary syndrome is being relabelled polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome to correct the misconception that it is solely a gynaecological disease that creates ovarian cysts. Here’s what you need to know about the condition
• ‘Unprecedented’ global effort gives new name to polycystic ovary syndrome – and new hope to millions of women
• ‘I still want to scream’: the loneliness and confusion of living with PMOS
With polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) now being rebadged as polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS), we take a look at the condition and explore why experts have decided it is time for a new name.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/may/12/polycystic-ovary-syndrome-pcos-pmos-symptoms-meaning-treatment-causes-risk-factors-new-name-explained","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 09:00:44 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 09:13:31 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 09:13:31 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/c695f29785f02dff9c53b082898cc81db1f5a2f2/0_0_5000_4000/master/5000.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=d68e52b9c2201e9151b523ab9566fc09"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"‘Unprecedented’ global effort gives new name to polycystic ovary syndrome – and new hope to millions of women","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/society/ng-interactive/2026/may/12/polycystic-ovary-syndrome-pcos-new-name-polyendocrine-metabolic-ovarian-syndrome-pmos","description":"Decades-long campaign powered by patient perspectives results in switch from PCOS – a name that caused confusion and undue suffering – to PMOS
• What is PCOS, what are the symptoms and treatment, and why is it being renamed PMOS?
• ‘I still want to scream’: the loneliness and confusion of living with PMOS
After more than a decade of global consultation, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) – a condition that affects one in eight women – has been renamed.
The hormonal disorder, estimated to impact 170 million women worldwide, will now be known as polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS).
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/society/ng-interactive/2026/may/12/polycystic-ovary-syndrome-pcos-new-name-polyendocrine-metabolic-ovarian-syndrome-pmos","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 09:00:45 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 09:13:31 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 09:13:31 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/671167a0f46996f7aca0d17938e1ca9093baaac6/556_0_6827_5464/master/6827.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=8abcf8e8011a5073da972aa944374925"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"‘Six lanes of tarmac and vehicles doing 70mph’: can ‘green bridges’ help animals cross the UK’s motorways in safety?","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/may/12/cockrow-green-bridge-wildlife-road-crossings-aoe","description":"Cockrow Bridge in Surrey will open in the coming weeks to provide wildlife, including lizards and insects, with the ability to move between fragmented habitats
When James Herd moved near to Wisley Common 17 years ago, the heathland nature reserve was teeming with wildlife. “I’d take the dog around the common in spring and summer, and every few hundred metres I’d hear the rustle of a lizard in the undergrowth – and I’d see adders,” he says.
But over the past decade, the Surrey Wildlife Trust’s director of reserves management, who oversees the internationally important habitat, has seen that wildlife become depleted.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/may/12/cockrow-green-bridge-wildlife-road-crossings-aoe","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 09:00:43 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 09:13:31 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 09:13:31 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/21125c63c66c7c48038369138f536bf6534538c6/2205_799_3151_2522/master/3151.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=4d30359d4ccf6c6f0d811380d3171df9"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"Drake lost the beef and embraced the manosphere. Is it too late for him to win back his audience?","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/music/2026/may/12/drake-iceman-essay-toronto-manosphere-adin-ross-new-album-nokia","description":"After his Kendrick Lamar feud, Drake alienated female fans. With new album Iceman, he’s aiming for the top of the charts again
Despite his A-list pop star status, there’s been a noticeable scrappiness to Drake’s rollout for his ninth album, Iceman. Last month, the rapper iced out his favorite court-side seats at the Toronto Raptors’ arena, with faux icicles dangling from the chairs. He followed that up with a more brazen stunt: a huge block of ice in downtown Toronto for the public to chip at until it thawed, revealing the album date. In early May, he debuted a quirky episodic series on YouTube featuring skits in an ice manufacturing plant and the rapper driving an Iceman-branded truck around Toronto. The mood seemed cheeky and defiant: good news for anyone who missed the memester of his 2016 viral hit Hotline Bling.
It has been an eventful and complicated time for Drake since his most recent solo studio album, 2023’s For All the Dogs. While he is still the highest streamed rapper artist in the world, he has been attacked by hip-hop. Two years ago, Compton rapper Kendrick Lamar and Drake engaged in a battle that no one came out of unscathed. There were accusations of intimate partner violence towards Lamar, a song about a possible daughter that Drake has hid, and Lamar’s Grammy-winning death blow – Not Like Us – about Drake being a hip-hop “colonizer” who chases after young women. Consensus has said that he lost the beef between him and Lamar, and the consensus is right, but the backlash against Drake was already starting to formulate before Lamar issued the first warning shot in 2024 diss track Like That.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/music/2026/may/12/drake-iceman-essay-toronto-manosphere-adin-ross-new-album-nokia","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 09:00:44 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 09:13:31 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 09:13:31 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/64f40e72f3767d996f0771cd9d9c2bc9b191aa90/0_286_5606_4482/master/5606.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=ef42371cba604cd33f5dc8ffd31893b4"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"The Bahamas goes to polls in three-way battle with immigration a key issue","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/12/bahamas-goes-to-polls-caribbean-election-battle","description":"Rising cost of living such as high gas prices also a concern in election that will have record number of voters
Voters in the Bahamas head to the polls on Tuesday in a hotly contested general election featuring high-profile candidates such as the former basketball champion Rick Fox.
Voters in the Caribbean archipelago are divided over concerns about immigration, especially from neighbouring Haiti, and the rising cost of living, with significant spikes in gas prices caused by war in the Middle East.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/12/bahamas-goes-to-polls-caribbean-election-battle","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 09:00:43 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 09:13:31 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 09:13:31 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/df0fcc5bc54c10a967a5de3493412d601275bf87/333_0_3333_2667/master/3333.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=7b90cfe24dadd0834720efc3a5307701"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"Mississippi teen becomes one of youngest people ever to graduate law school","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/may/12/mississippi-teen-graduate-law-school","description":"James Chilimigras, 18, graduated summa cum laude from Loyola University New Orleans’ law school
A Mississippi teenager recently became one of the youngest people ever to graduate from law school after gaining admission in 2023 at age 15.
James “Jimmy” Chilimigras, 18, graduated on Sunday with highest honors from Loyola University New Orleans’ law school, a little more than three years after he earned national news headlines with an entrance exam score that was the highest in a region encompassing his home state, Alabama to the east, and Louisiana to the west.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/may/12/mississippi-teen-graduate-law-school","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 09:00:44 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 09:13:31 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 09:13:31 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/4a41a0a6f9607fad8e1e63f18b25e760924c16c8/369_143_1242_994/master/1242.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=b20a0779b969413ca8ba2a402631ade0"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"Paying in sweat! How Debbie Allen went from stardom in Fame to conquer Hollywood","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2026/may/12/how-debbie-allen-went-from-stardom-in-fame-to-conquer-hollywood","description":"She played the world’s coolest dance teacher and has had big success as an actor, director and choreographer, winning a Golden Globe, Emmys and an Olivier. Now, she is back on Broadway. She discusses Trump, the Kennedy Center and where the US goes next
Debbie Allen once found herself judging the Miss America pageant in Atlantic City alongside a charismatic property developer named Donald Trump. He had just bought an 86-metre superyacht named Nabila and rebranded it the Trump Princess. Eager to flaunt his prize, he invited Allen, a dancer, choreographer, actor and director, and her sister, the actor Phylicia Rashad, aboard for a private tour.
The opulence of the vessel was astonishing, Allen recalls: there was a bathroom carved from lapis lazuli, a fully equipped nightclub and fine paintings hanging on the walls. “It was incredible. I remember him telling me: ‘Debbie, you can have a party on this.’ I said: ‘If I do it, honey, it’s going to be all Black people.’”
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2026/may/12/how-debbie-allen-went-from-stardom-in-fame-to-conquer-hollywood","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 09:00:43 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 09:13:31 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 09:13:31 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/eaf6574db59d69efb82db30dadd14f2966902c7c/499_0_5002_4002/master/5002.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=8472adec197022ec3fba51b2a705e695"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"Getting New York’s Piers Ready for the ‘Semiquin’ on July 4","link":"https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/12/nyregion/piers-july-4-semiquincentennial.html","description":"The city expects 45 tall ships from 20 nations for the 250th anniversary celebration. Where will they dock?","guid":"https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/12/nyregion/piers-july-4-semiquincentennial.html","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 09:03:36 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 09:18:31 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 09:18:31 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://static01.nyt.com/images/2026/05/12/nyregion/12nytoday/12nytoday-mediumSquareAt3X.jpg","type":"image"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"NYT > New York","feedLink":"https://www.nytimes.com/section/nyregion","feedUrl":"https://rss.nytimes.com/services/xml/rss/nyt/NYRegion.xml"} {"title":"Starmer tells cabinet he will not quit without leadership challenge","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/12/starmer-cabinet-labour-leadership","description":"Prime minister says process for challenging a leader has not been triggered and Labour should get on with governing
• UK politics live – latest updates
• Who are the main threats to Starmer’s leadership?
Keir Starmer has told his cabinet he will not resign as prime minister, saying the threshold for a leadership challenge has not been met.
In comments that effectively dared the health secretary, Wes Streeting, to launch a challenge against him, Starmer said he intended to get on with governing.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/12/starmer-cabinet-labour-leadership","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 09:10:12 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 09:34:08 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 09:34:08 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/0c6b19c4a7cb21c2a5ab437bdb3fd3f2474801a5/535_0_2710_2169/master/2710.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=7d873a05bcb9f22fce3f62f609a6c3a6"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"UK news | The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news","feedDescription":"Latest news, breaking news and current affairs coverage from across the UK from theguardian.com","feedUrl":"http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/rss"} {"title":"Labour MP in seat eyed by Burnham allies says she will not stand aside","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/12/labour-mp-seat-burnham-allies-not-stand-aside-marie-rimmer","description":"Exclusive: Marie Rimmer backs Keir Starmer and deals blow to Greater Manchester mayor’s byelection hopes
Andy Burnham’s hopes of returning to Westminster were dealt a blow on Tuesday as the Merseyside MP whose seat had been named by key allies for a potential byelection said she would not stand down and backed Keir Starmer to stay in office.
Marie Rimmer, the MP for St Helens South and Whiston, said the mayor of Greater Manchester had not spoken to her “in years” – and that her priority was to avoid the chaos of a leadership contest.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/12/labour-mp-seat-burnham-allies-not-stand-aside-marie-rimmer","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 09:07:34 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 09:34:08 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 09:34:08 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/0a5e17265d30df93b42210568c0db499521bb95a/150_86_1180_944/master/1180.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=fee2cd037b2e8d06b7a01748f662d279"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"UK news | The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news","feedDescription":"Latest news, breaking news and current affairs coverage from across the UK from theguardian.com","feedUrl":"http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/rss"} {"title":"Tax cuts and cost of living help proposed by Labour-linked groups allied to Streeting and Burnham","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/12/tax-cuts-and-cost-of-living-help-proposed-by-labour-linked-groups-allied-to-streeting-and-burnham","description":"With Starmer under growing pressure to resign, Growth and Tribune groups put forward ideas for policy revamps
Groups connected to the health secretary, Wes Streeting, and the Greater Manchester mayor, Andy Burnham, have proposed large changes to government policy, giving a sense of how the country may change should either one succeed Keir Starmer.
The Growth Group, allied to Streeting, and the Tribune group of Labour MPs, allied to Burnham, have published competing visions for how Britain should run, including sweeping tax cuts, help with the cost of living and big reforms to government machinery.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/12/tax-cuts-and-cost-of-living-help-proposed-by-labour-linked-groups-allied-to-streeting-and-burnham","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 09:03:06 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 09:34:08 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 09:34:08 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d75e55f4bde8a2c1b06953c461d59f335e2e8cae/597_0_6169_4935/master/6169.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=8db06739aaa54ecf477a52f8166cad75"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"UK news | The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news","feedDescription":"Latest news, breaking news and current affairs coverage from across the UK from theguardian.com","feedUrl":"http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/rss"} {"title":"Labour MP in seat eyed by Burnham allies says she will not stand aside","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/12/labour-mp-seat-burnham-allies-not-stand-aside-marie-rimmer","description":"Exclusive: Marie Rimmer backs Keir Starmer and deals blow to Greater Manchester mayor’s byelection hopes
Andy Burnham’s hopes of returning to Westminster were dealt a blow on Tuesday as the Merseyside MP whose seat had been named by key allies for a potential byelection said she would not stand down and backed Keir Starmer to stay in office.
Marie Rimmer, the MP for St Helens South and Whiston, said the mayor of Greater Manchester had not spoken to her “in years” – and that her priority was to avoid the chaos of a leadership contest.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/12/labour-mp-seat-burnham-allies-not-stand-aside-marie-rimmer","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 09:07:34 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 09:42:11 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 09:42:11 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/0a5e17265d30df93b42210568c0db499521bb95a/150_86_1180_944/master/1180.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=fee2cd037b2e8d06b7a01748f662d279"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"UK long-term borrowing costs hit highest since 1998 as Starmer faces pressure to stand down – business live","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/business/live/2026/may/12/uk-bond-yields-borrowing-costs-pound-falls-oil-inflation-live-updates","description":"Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial news
Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at investing and trading platform IG, says:
There is no clear plan for what comes next, but markets are already pricing in a new PM who will open the floodgates on spending despite the UK’s dangerous fiscal situation.
Faced with hordes of Labour MPs worried about their re-election chances as Reform surges, a new PM will find it very hard to resist calls to spend more money in order to shore up their embattled party.
We could see a blowout in longer-dated gilts if this turns into a dogfight– political, fiscal and inflationary risks will rise.
Markets tend to dislike a lack of certainty over who runs a government; the fiscal position is already fragile and likely to become worse should a left-leaning ticket prioritise spending; and that this makes inflation stickier.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/business/live/2026/may/12/uk-bond-yields-borrowing-costs-pound-falls-oil-inflation-live-updates","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 09:16:27 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 09:42:11 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 09:42:11 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/dbfb82dd9f42a6b85a47b9afd6250edb90434984/161_0_4167_3335/master/4167.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=6fd7bc6f33d21d2d1cf209c0af114c57"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"‘I shared a single bed with my mother for three years’: Sung Tieu on her monument to immigrant workers in Venice","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2026/may/12/sung-tieu-interview-german-pavilion-venice-biennale","description":"At the German pavilion, the artist has re-created the housing estate where she grew up to tell the forgotten history of migrants, including her parents, hired under a socialist agreement between East Germany and Vietnam – then abandoned
An air of civilisational wipeout hangs over the Gehrenseestrasse complex, an abandoned housing estate on the north-eastern outskirts of Berlin, where the city still looks shabby without the chic. The insides of the nine prefabricated blocks have long been gutted; six floors of empty window frames stare hollow-eyed over multi-lane carriageways. In the courtyard, paintballers have left behind wooden barricades from when they played at World War III.
Yet in one of the second-floor rooms of Berlin’s largest ruin, artist Sung Tieu is waltzing across the concrete floor and reliving scenes from her childhood. “Here was the single bed I shared with my mother for three years,” she says, pointing into a corner of the small room. “Two metres by 90cm, can you believe it?” There in the corridor is where her neighbours used to make bánh bao dumplings on camping stoves, for lack of private kitchens. “I still remember the smell.” Here was the door through which she used to entertain her best friend when his mother locked him in during working hours. “We played cards through the gaps,” she recalls with glee.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2026/may/12/sung-tieu-interview-german-pavilion-venice-biennale","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 09:36:55 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 09:42:11 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 09:42:11 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/e1aabc262994841b749ae3cc20303801c4e2b734/258_0_7740_6192/master/7740.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=38af7c1f8e0b81131fb415784af19873"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"Player Grades: Lakers vs. Thunder","link":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/player-grades-lakers-vs-thunder-073042746.html","description":"Los Angeles, CA - May 11:Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15) celebrates with fans after hitting a three-pointer against the Oklahoma City Thunder in game four of the second round of the NBA playoffs in Los Angeles, CA on Monday, May 11, 2026.(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)\tIn a season defined by their resiliency, the Lakers ended the year in a fitting manner.
With their backs firmly against the wall, the team responded with its stiffest punch. LA knocked OKC back on its heels in the third quarter for the first time this series, then went toe-to-toe with them in the fourth.
Even if the final score amounted to the same result as the preceding three contests, the Lakers could head home knowing they went out giving it all they had. Moral victories mean nothing in the playoffs, but LA can have plenty of pride in how its season ended.
So, let’s dive into the loss. As always, grades are based on expectations for each player. A “B” grade represents the average performance for that player.
LeBron James40 minutes, 24 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block, 4 turnovers, 1 foul, 8-18 FG, 2-6 3PT, 6-8 FT, -17
The schedule certainly seemed to catch up to LeBron as the series played on, but it still was an impactful showing in Game 4. He was still able to get to the rim, though finishing there was a different story, as evidenced by his final shot of the game — and as a Laker? — late in the game.
He also had a really untimely turnover late after a rebound. But considering what was asked of him at 41 years old? He held up as well as you could hope.
Grade: A-
Rui Hachimura43 minutes, 25 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, 5 fouls, 9-15 FG, 4-8 3PT, 3-3 FT, -2
More than one Laker had the game of their life with Rui at the top of that list. He capped off a truly incredible postseason run with the biggest game of his career. No shot was more important than his four-point play with under two minutes to go, but every basket he had felt huge.
Grade: A+
Deandre Ayton21 minutes, 6 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 fouls, 3-3 FG, -2
It was a nightmare series for Ayton, who ended it on a sour note. Whatever hopes this team had for him as a center of the future disappeared in this series. He was thoroughly outplayed nearly every second he squared off with Chet Holmgren or Isaiah Hartenstein.
His player option means he’ll hold the cards at first as to whether he’s a Laker next year, but I wouldn’t be surprised if this was a one-and-done partnership.
Grade: D
Austin Reaves43 minutes, 27 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 blocks, 8 turnovers, 5 fouls, 8-16 FG, 3-7 3PT, 8-9 FT, -6
Without question, the eight turnovers and five fouls were bad. And yet, there’s an argument to be made that this was both his best game of the series and, subsequently, the best game of his career, given the context.
Fresh off an injury that ruled him out for a month, Reaves returned to play the best team in basketball in a role he wasn’t in when he went down, a nearly impossible task. He carried the Lakers offensively throughout the contest in his Luka-lite role and did so about as well as you could reasonably ask.
And if his final three fell, there’d have been no question this was his best game ever.
Grade: A
Marcus Smart36 minutes, 5 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 6 turnovers, 5 fouls, 2-8 FG, 0-4 3PT, 1-1 FT, +5
It wasn’t a great Smart game. He turned the ball over six times and committed five fouls. And when your starting backcourt has 14 turnovers and 10 fouls, you’re not going to win many games.
But he made just enough of the little plays to make him valuable, then made one really big play with his late and-one layup.
Grade: B+
Luke Kennard24 minutes, 5 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 foul, 2-5 FG, 1-2 3PT, +15
A relatively quiet night for Kennard, who returned back to his regular form in the playoffs after a strong Game 3. He had a nice reverse layup when the Lakers were rolling, but he also was being picked on relentlessly by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander when they shared the floor.
It would have been nice if the Lakers could have gone to someone else in those minutes, but, alas.
Grade: C+
Jaxson Hayes27 minutes, 18 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, 1 turnover, 2 fouls, 6-8 FG, 6-6 FT, -1
The last Laker to have the game of his life was Jaxson Hayes, who was possessed by some otherworldly spirit in this one. He had multiple huge poster slams and a huge, momentum-shifting block of Ajay Mitchell. Considering he’s spent the vast, vast majority of his Lakers tenure being unplayable in postseason games, this was a welcome, and shocking, surprise.
Grade: A+
Jarred Vanderbilt, Adou Thiero, Maxi KleberWith 10 functioning fingers, Vando was borderline unplayable this series. In 2:45 on Monday, he was a -12. Thiero was given another chance in Game 4, but two of his offensive possessions included him cutting down the lane in front of a teammate and airballing a 3-pointer, so that, too, was short-lived.
Kleber only came in to set a screen late to help Austin get a good look at the game-tying shot.
JJ RedickIt’s hard to believe the same guy who played five guys in the second half of a playoff game is the one who had the Lakers battling the defending champions to the wire on Monday. Against a team with clearly more talent and depth, Redick schemed the team into a position to win on both ends of the floor.
If there’s any takeaway from these playoffs, it’s that Redick’s errors of last year can be written off as rookie blunders.
Grade: A
Monday’s DNPs: Bronny James, Dalton Knecht, Jake LaRavia, Nick Smith Jr.
Monday’s inactives: Luka Dončić
You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.
","guid":"ee19021d-95d0-355e-87af-ab66e90f2f28","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 07:30:42 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 10:03:17 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 10:03:17 GMT","metadata":{},"feedLink":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/","feedDescription":"Comprehensive National Basketball Association news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors...","feedUrl":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rss/"} {"title":"Southampton launch internal review into Middlesbrough spying allegations","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/may/12/southampton-launch-internal-review-middlesbrough-spying-allegations","description":"Saints ‘request time to complete process thoroughly’
Playoff semi-final second leg at St Mary’s on Tuesday
Southampton have confirmed they have launched an internal review into allegations that one of their analysts spied on a Middlesbrough training session. Southampton, who host Boro in their playoff semi-final second leg on Tuesday, have asked for “the full context to be established before conclusions are drawn” after the English Football League charged the club with misconduct on the eve of their first-leg draw.
An independent disciplinary commission will determine any punishment, with potential sanctions ranging from a fine to expulsion from the playoffs. Boro, who believe they caught a member of Southampton’s backroom staff on their premises last Thursday, 48 hours before the first leg that finished 0-0, are adamant Saints should not receive a financial penalty in the event they are found guilty.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/may/12/southampton-launch-internal-review-middlesbrough-spying-allegations","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 09:45:03 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 10:11:25 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 10:11:25 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/fddddf4dd3f711b0793f11c2115131a7603b5f72/780_303_4621_3697/master/4621.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=cdfd227709976ff10da77a30abc4cd56"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"The Breakdown | Frontrunners’ defeats hint at twists and turns to come in Prem Rugby finale","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/may/12/rugby-union-breakdown-northampton-bath-leicester-exeter-prem-finale","description":"Northampton and Bath were well beaten over the weekend: will Leicester or Exeter force themselves into the top two?
There are small but significant moments in every league campaign. Until the weekend it was widely assumed that Northampton and Bath, the two frontrunners in the English Prem, were all but nailed on for home semi-finals and, by extension, would almost certainly meet in the grand final at Allianz Stadium in Twickenham on 20 June.
That could still happen but, suddenly, others are entering the chat. Not only did Saints and Bath lose at the weekend but both were well beaten, 41-17 by Leicester and 35-12 by Exeter respectively. Bath, including their Champions Cup semi-final in Bordeaux, have lost three games on the trot. Northampton were not so much batted aside by the Tigers as unceremoniously flattened.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/may/12/rugby-union-breakdown-northampton-bath-leicester-exeter-prem-finale","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 08:50:34 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 10:11:25 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 10:11:25 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/00b55fba15d2ee932a7fdef5ef40bd42aaae1881/375_0_2858_2286/master/2858.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=352d4a10a6cdfc77d7f90d0a52e58a95"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"12 Takeaways from Cavs series-tying Game 4 victory over Pistons: Cavaliers go as Donovan Mitchell does","link":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/12-takeaways-cavs-series-tying-100000402.html","description":"CLEVELAND, OHIO - MAY 09: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers celebrates after a basket against the Detroit Pistons during the first quarter in Game Three of the Second Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Rocket Arena on May 09, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images\tCLEVELAND — The Cleveland Cavaliers’ Game 4 win over the Detroit Pistons to even the series confirmed Koby Altman’s vision for the team when he made the blockbuster trade that brought James Harden to town in February.
“It’s hard being the number one option on a championship-level team,” Altman said right after the trade deadline. “The good news for him is he has another number one option right next to him.”
For the second game in a row, the Cavs showed the value of having two guys who can comfortably shift into the number one role.
There’s a trust between Mitchell and Harden that you don’t always see with superstar teammates.
Mitchell has reiterated during this playoff run that he’s more than happy to get out of the way if Harden has it going.
“With the way they’re guarding me, it’s kind of like four on four in a sense,” Mitchell said after Game 3. “They’re not leaving me so he can create the way he can. He gets in the paint, there’s no help.”
Mitchell willingly ceded control of the offense out of the gate, just as he did down the stretch on Saturday. Harden scored or assisted on Cleveland’s first 11 points, which helped them avoid digging a hole at the start of the game, as they did in their previous three games.
That was much needed on a night Mitchell struggled to get anything going early when he tried to. He compiled just four points on 1-8 shooting in the first half. Despite the strong overall start, the Cavs found themselves down by four at the break.
Mitchell determines the ceiling of this team. We’ve seen this repeatedly throughout the playoffs. The Cavs barely scraped by a Toronto Raptors team that they were far more skilled than, partially because they contained Mitchell.
“Toronto was unique in how they sold out on taking him (Mitchell), and James away,” Cavs’ head coach Kenny Atkinson said before Game 4. “Detroit has a little more comfort in their base defense and what they do.”
Mitchell made a compelling argument that the Pistons should shift out of their base defense.
Mitchell’s game is predicated on getting into the paint. He scored the first five points of the third quarter by getting to his floater in the lane, finding a rhythm he wasn’t able to discover in the first half. And once he gets the defense on its back foot, the outside shot opens up.
A three off a Harden assist, a pull-up triple, and then a step-back with his foot on the line took Mitchell’s strong start to the quarter into the stretch that essentially ended the game.
This all led to a 22-0 run for the Cavs that saw them turn a four-point deficit into an 18-point advantage. Mitchell provided 15 of those 22 points during that span.
In total, Mitchell poured in 21 points on 8-9 shooting in the third quarter alone. That mark tied him with LeBron James and Kyrie Irving for the most in a quarter for a Cavalier in the postseason.
Anytime your name is mentioned with those two, you’re in pretty good company.
Anything bought from the links helps support Fear the Sword. You can buy the comfortable Cavs hoodie HERE. You can also shop all of Homage’s Cavs gear HERE.
That impressive third-quarter run was only possible because of Cleveland’s defense, specifically Evan Mobley’s.
The reigning Defensive Player of the Year reminded everyone how impactful he can be, as he registered five blocks and three steals in what his head coach called possibly the best game he’s seen from him defensively.
Mobley has done a great job of controlling the paint and making life difficult for Detroit’s All-Star center, Jalen Duren.
This was another tough outing in what has been a rocky road for Duren. He was limited to just eight points and two rebounds on Monday.
Both Mobley and Jarrett Allen have done a good job of not ceding offensive ground to Duren. They’ve contained him in the pick-and-roll and have been physical with him when he’s gotten the ball on the block.
Limiting Duren has forced more of the scoring burden onto Cunningham’s shoulders. He wasn’t able to carry it like he needed to on a day when Cleveland’s backcourt had it going.
The Cavaliers won the possession game. They had five fewer turnovers and five more points off opponent giveaways. Additionally, they won the second-chance points battle by five.
Detroit’s two wins have come off dominating both categories. The Cavs have done a much better job of cleaning this up since the series shifted to Cleveland.
Mitchell didn’t stop with an impressive third quarter.
The onslaught continued in the fourth until he put up 43 points. His 39-second-half points tie a league record for the most points scored in a half of a playoff game.
“He’s electric,” Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said afterward. “You let him get going, we know what he’s capable of. He hit some tough shots, but that’s what he does.”
Part of Mitchell’s effectiveness came from his ability to get to the line. He attempted 15 free throws while the Pistons as a group took just 12. That is something Bickerstaff took issue with, calling the free-throw disparity “unacceptable.”
“Ever since coming to Cleveland, the whistle has changed,” Bickerstaff said. “There’s no way that one guy on their team shoots more free throws than our team. We’re not a settle team. We’re not a jump shooting team. We drive the ball, attack the paint. … It’s frustrating, but we can’t allow that to be the reason why [we lost]. Because we didn’t play well enough or to the best of our capabilities.”
Mitchell was on the other end of this issue earlier in this series, but has changed how he’s played since initially complaining.
“You can control what you can control,” Mitchell said. “And I can control getting downhill. Like I told y’all, I can’t say something about not getting calls and then shoot jump shots.”
Cleveland’s backcourt has done a good job of finding ways to be impactful at the same time.
Even though Harden didn’t have the same scoring numbers in the second half as he had in the first, he still was orchestrating the offense with 11 assists and finished with 25 points.
The current duo has struck a balance that Mitchell and Darius Garland weren’t able to discover.
One of the common criticisms of the Mitchell and Garland backcourt was that only one of them could be at the top of their game at a time. Something about their styles didn’t mesh as cleanly as it should’ve. While it’s true the pairing disproved some of those concerns last regular season, they were never able to actually do so in the playoffs.
Conversely, Harden and Mitchell have already shown numerous times this postseason run that they can, due to the quick chemistry they’ve developed in just three months.
“You have to learn to play together with somebody like that,” Jarrett Allen said about the current backcourt. “You have to learn how to share the ball and co-exist with two excellent players on your side. I feel like every single game, they learn something different about each other. They’re willing to take a step back and let the other one shine…it’s incredible to watch.”
The Cavs have defended their home court and have evened the series at two. Now, they need to find a way to steal at least one game in Detroit — a place they’ve melted late in the first two games.
So what’s it going to take to get it done in Game 5?
“Everything,” Mitchell said. “It’s been a hostile environment. We need each other. We’ve had two good games to build off of. … It’s going to be a lot of fun. I know we’re ready for the challenge.”
","guid":"79218df0-355b-3bb3-90d5-a288e7577f4c","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 10:31:51 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 10:31:51 GMT","metadata":{},"feedLink":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/","feedDescription":"Comprehensive National Basketball Association news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors...","feedUrl":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rss/"} {"title":"Just say no. Lakers should learn their lesson, avoid Giannis Antetokounmpo","link":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/just-no-lakers-learn-lesson-100000678.html","description":"Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, cheering on the team he's coaching in the Celebrity All-Star Game at the Kia Forum in February, might not be the best fit in the future for the Lakers. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)I get it, you’re still thinking about the Lakers getting swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round of the playoffs.
It was a valiant fight to the end, Monday’s season-ending 115-110 loss. A thriller for naught.
But now we’ve finally reached the big, beautiful offseason the Lakers have been teasing for months. This pivotal moment that’s had them hoarding assets and fencing off their financial flexibility. All but paralyzed by possibility.
Even after jogging in place all this time, they’ve finally caught up with the can they kicked down the road: All indications are that the Milwaukee Bucks’ superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo is about to hit the trade market.
And the Lakers — loaded with trade ammunition and cap space and forever wishing on star players — are going to be expected to make a play.
But they should run a different play.
Read more:Lakers fight to the finish but are eliminated by Thunder
For months, they’ve been signaling as if with a searchlight how much they covet the 6-foot-11 Greek forward. So, of course, they’re going to take a run at the two-time NBA MVP, 10-time All-Star, 2021 NBA champion who will earn about $58 million next season, when the 31-year-old will expect a massive, multi-year extension.
They should run the other direction.
The Lakers have stockpiled cap space and picks — as of draft night, they’ll have 2026, 2031 and 2033 first-rounders to offer — like they’re doomsayers outfitting a bunker. If they fill all that available cap space with Antetokounmpo’s salary, they won’t be using it on LeBron James or Rui Hachimura. The Lakers likely also will have to empty their cupboard of those first-round picks.
And, yes, it would be a disaster to dedicate all of that to an aging Antetokounmpo instead of doing the work to build a suitable army of role players to take on OKC’s corps — and to orbit Doncic, the guy who the Lakers already brought in to save the days ahead.
But, wait, you say, this is the Lakers. This is stars shine here.
Sure, but what does L.A. love most? Winners.
Lakers guard Austin Reaves questions an official about a call during Game 4 against the Thunder on Monday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)You know what constitutes a winning formula in today’s NBA?
Depth. Athleticism. Versatility. Optionality. Think, the 2019-2020 Lakers.
You know what doesn’t win?
Imbalanced rosters. Top-heavy teams. All your dang eggs in one basket. The misfit Russell Westbrook Lakers. These 2026 three-or-D Lakers. And certainly not a flimsy, clunky Luka Doncic-and-Antetokounmpo Lakers.
Sure, those guys are great players. They could figure it out.
But would it be an optimum use of their respective talents?
In Greek: όχι. In Slovenian: Ne.
In Los Angelese: Oh, heck no.
Read more:Plaschke: For the sake of their future, Lakers should bid farewell to LeBron James
Everyone knows to get the best out of a Luka-led team, you surround him with shooters — and Antetokounmpo is 28.5% from deep for his career. But Hachimura — proven playoff riser and certified laser — is a 51.6% three-point shooter in the postseason; the better more-gifted player isn’t necessarily the better fit.
Because everyone also knows Antetokounmpo is at his best when he’s barreling toward the rim with the ball in his hands — during which time Doncic is going to be doing what? Standing in the corner, arguing with the refs?
The last time they waited to catch the big fish, he didn’t bite. Fortuitously. They missed out on injury-prone Kawhi Leonard, who chose the Clippers before the 2019-20 season and left the Lakers to scramble to assemble … a championship roster.
Around James and Anthony Davis — who, fun fact, made just $27 million that season before agreeing to a historic and more cumbersome three-year extension — the Lakers had shooters who could defend, like Danny Green. And defenders who could shoot, like Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Alex Caruso. Length all over the court. Athleticism in the post: JaVale McGee and Dwight Howard who could play with or for AD.
It’s the blueprint OKC has been using, the same one the Lakers discarded to go big-name hunting, bringing aboard Westbrook by trading away Caldwell-Pope, Kyle Kuzma, Montrezl Harrell and a No. 22 pick.
Talk about a brick.
Milwaukee fired coach Doc Rivers and might be trading superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo this offseason. (Jeffrey Phelps / Associated Press)Similar story in Milwaukee, where Antetokounmpo’s Bucks went all in for Damian Lillard and have nothing but failure to show for it.
So if — or, well, when — the Lakers go in mad pursuit of Giannis, I will have questions.
I’ll question why the Bucks would have the appetite to send another singular, single-name talent to L.A. after Kareem Abdul-Jabbar came and won five championships here.
I’ll question whether Giannis wants to be in L.A., our “superficial” city, as he called it.
I’ll question why the Lakers would invest so heavily on an aging, oft-injured star whose game is predicated on athleticism and not the out-of-this-world basketball IQ like 41-year-old LeBron.
And, yes, I’ll question the fit and the function and whether the Lakers have fully missed what’s been happening around them — and to them.
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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
","guid":"1c90d36a-986c-3ed8-8f41-5bb3379f3be3","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 10:31:51 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 10:31:51 GMT","metadata":{},"feedLink":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/","feedDescription":"Comprehensive National Basketball Association news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors...","feedUrl":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rss/"} {"title":"The Lakers can proud of how they went out against Thunder","link":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/lakers-proud-went-against-thunder-081636893.html","description":"LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 11: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder during Round Two Game Four of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 11, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images\tLOS ANGELES – Entering Monday’s contest, it was clear that the Thunder were a better team than the Lakers. Oklahoma City had won every playoff game against LA in blowout fashion and swept the regular-season series 4-0.
The only question left was whether the Lakers would put up a fight in Game 4.
In their most competitive game of the season, the Lakers took the Thunder to the wire in a back-and-forth fourth quarter. In the end, though, the result mirrored the three previous games, but the energy, effort and execution, particularly in the second half, did not.
“You’ve seen these 3-0 games before,” JJ Redick said postgame. “I thought there were two different times during the game where our team could’ve gave in, could’ve let go of the rope. We didn’t.
“I thought the crowd was awesome tonight. I’ve been part of these on both sides where it’s a 3-0 [series] and you’re playing on the road or you’re playing at home and the crowd can just not be great. The crowd was awesome. Our fans were awesome.”
The Lakers showed rather quickly in the first quarter what type of fight they would have as they played some of their best basketball of the series.
Austin Reaves led the charge, going 3-for-3 from the field, and with the Lakers taking care of the ball, they held a lead after the first quarter for the first time in the series.
The Lakers kept on fighting.
Jaxson Hayes was a wrecking ball in the paint in the second half. He was dunking with authority and being a defensive disruptor. LeBron James and Luke Kennard were hitting shots from beyond the arc and, after a Hayes slam late in the third quarter, the Lakers had their first lead since the start of the second.
As the third quarter buzzer sounded with the Lakers up three, the crowd erupted in approval. Reaves was clapping emphatically and Kennard raised his hands up like he was Rocky Balboa standing at the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
But in the end, the result was the same. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander made some clutch free throws late and Ajay Mitchell continued to dominate scoring in bunches. The Thunder, for the fourth time in this series and the eighth consecutive time this season, beat theLakers and eliminated them from the playoffs.
Sometimes, the attempt at greatness is the reward. It’s part of the process and, while only one team wins the championship every year, there are a handful that commit to the process necssary for greatness. The Lakers fit the bill.
“I think one of the biggest wins for us is the multiple times throughout the regular season and the multiple times towards the end of the regular season with the injuries and during the playoffs, where we could have just laid down,” Redick said.“Tonight would have been an easy night for us to lay down.
“And I don’t know, who the F came up with moral victories. I don’t even know what that phrase means. I don’t believe in it. But, I look at all the small wins along the way as part of the journey.”
They were shorthanded the entire postseason and understood the Thunder just had more weapons, but while the results never went their way, their effort was never in question.
Throughout this series, Hachimura was a playoff riser, delivering some incredible performances. Reaves struggled in Game 1 and overcame those challenges to have some really solid games against the Thunder. And Marcus Smart defended SGA as well as anyone has.
The truth is, they just don’t have the roster necessary to combat the depth the Thunder have. OKC is flat-out the better team.
\"They're really f–king good,\" Auston Reaves' analysis of the Thunder.
— Edwin Garcia (@ECreates88) May 12, 2026
While moral victories are worth as much as monopoly money, there is something to be said about having a never-say-die attitude. It’s why the Lakers have had back-to-back 50-win seasons under Redick.
It’s why the Lakers beat the Rockets without Luka entirely while only having Reaves for two games. And it’s why the futures in Los Angeles, even after a disappointing end to the season, remain bright.
Before the game, Redick quoted Dermot Kennedy’s song “Refuge,” saying, “We can’t know the end until it’s over.”
Well, the time has come to put an end to this chapter of the Lakers’ book. So what better way to do it than with the final lines from Kennedy’s record?
“Darling, I’m shaking tonight. Chasing a dream, but I’m tired. If we never make it, at least we can say we died trying.”
You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.
","guid":"02de88eb-5b47-3d24-a6ca-994e9f02efe4","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 08:16:36 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 10:31:51 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 10:31:51 GMT","metadata":{},"feedLink":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/","feedDescription":"Comprehensive National Basketball Association news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors...","feedUrl":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rss/"} {"title":"Open Thread: A pair of Spurs Super fans make the news","link":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/open-thread-pair-spurs-super-080000883.html","description":"Oct 25, 2023; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Fans wait for San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) to enter the court before the game against the Dallas Mavericks at the Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images\tI have a confession. I am obsessed with the Spurs. How many of you know exactly what I’m talking about?
My Twitter feed is Spurs- Spurs players, Spurs journalists, Spurs fans, the Jackals, even former Silver Dancers, and some other sports and NBA outlets and pundits.
My Facebook feed is constantly populated by Spurs Sixth Man updates. There is a community of Spurs family that share their favorite moments.
If you saw my Instagram feed, you might assume I was President of the Jacob Tobey Fan Club. (Unofficially, yes, but it’s not a recognized charter…yet.)
So imagine my surprise when I saw this:
Thank you KSAT for the love 💯 #Puro#PorVidahttps://t.co/AUFdMTtqon
— Spurnandez (@RealSpurnandez) May 9, 2026
KSAT 12, San Antonio’s primary affiliate for ABC, posted how two Spurs fans are “spreading love outside of SA.”
Mark Burnett known as @SpursSixthMan has been facilitating multiple social media outlets dedicated to the San Antonio Spurs. For those who frequent Spurs socials, he is the fan who went to the Naismith Hall of Fame when Gregg Popovich, Tony Parker, Pao Gasol, and Becky Hammon were inducted. After procuring their autographs on his arm, he had them tattooed. He also has Wemby’s signature tattooed on his arm.
ScreenshotI ran into him at a game and got a quick photo of him with my daughter.
Mark’s a great guy a wealth of knowledge about the team. He is always head-to-toe Spurs dedication when attending games, and probably most days just hanging around his house.
Ric Fernandez, known as @RealSpurnandez on social media, just infiltrated the Target Center for Game 3 of the Western Conference Semifinals. He’s another who lives his fandom to the fullest and posts Spurs stories and adventures regularly. He is a military veteran and proud family man, and he reps the Spurs with all he’s got. This is the guy you want to be sitting next to when the Spurs hit that big shot.
We made Minnesota San Antonio territory, yall could never… #PorVidahttps://t.co/3FWvkU15TJpic.twitter.com/Eey5O7u9dI
— Spurnandez (@RealSpurnandez) May 11, 2026
Tattoos. Repping fiesta colors in enemy territory. Living the Silver & Black (and Fiesta) dream.
I’m sure we all have those great personal stories. Share yours, Pounders!
Welcome to the Thread. Join in the conversation, start your own discussion, and share your thoughts. This is the Spurs community, your Spurs community. Thanks for being here.
Our community guidelines apply which should remind everyone to be cool, avoid personal attacks, not to troll and to watch the language.
","guid":"59336ded-cd84-373a-8903-b54076dab857","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 08:00:00 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 10:31:51 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 10:31:51 GMT","metadata":{},"feedLink":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/","feedDescription":"Comprehensive National Basketball Association news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors...","feedUrl":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rss/"} {"title":"What might LeBron James do next? He has plenty of options for next season and beyond","link":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/might-lebron-james-next-plenty-064954760.html","description":"LeBron James has options.
He could stay with the Los Angeles Lakers. He could decide to join another team. He could even retire and end the longest career in NBA history. He knows all this.
He just doesn't know the answer.
“I don't know what the future holds for me, obviously,” James said.
His 23rd season ended Monday night when the Lakers were eliminated by the Oklahoma City Thunder. At 41, James likely doesn't have many years left to play — if any. And now he'll start the process of figuring out what he wants to do, what his family wants him to do and what's best for all parties involved.
Dwyane Wade, James' longtime friend and former teammate, was on the Amazon Prime broadcast of Game 4 of the Thunder-Lakers series as an analyst. And when the conversation turned to what James is going to do, he had some thoughts.
“That’s the question,\" Wade said. \"And I think if we all know LeBron James, he’s going to take some time off and go drink some wine, go yacht a little bit around the world. He’s going to spend some time with his family. He’s going to sit down and try to make the best decision for the James family at the end of the day.
“And then from there, you've got to look at the picture of the Lakers,\" Wade continued. \"LeBron, Year 24 coming back next year if he does, he wants to play for something. So, are they in a position that he can play for something and compete for something?”
Salary will be another issue. He made nearly $53 million this season. He could command somewhere around $60 million next season if he wanted. If he gives a team a discount to preserve flexibility, he could certainly afford to do so.
Wade doesn't seem to think that's likely.
“History shows that Mr. James ain’t taking a lot of discounts, right? I don’t think no one knows,\" Wade said. “I think one of the things that him and his entire team have been great at is they hold their cards close to their chest. Decisions are made by LeBron, and they all respect it. And they wait on him to decide what he wants to do.”
A look at some of what James' next moves could be (and for purposes of this exercise, the realities of the salary cap, the aprons, tax ramifications and whatever James will command in salary if he decides to keep playing do not apply):
RetirementThis one doesn't seem likely even though James posted the lowest scoring average of his career — 20.933 points per game, down a teeny-tiny sliver from his 20.937 average as a rookie. Another made free throw this season would have been enough to keep this season's average from being his worst.
The pessimists, or the anti-LeBron crowd, can say — accurately — that his numbers are declining. They are. He averaged 30.3 points in 2021-22, and his per-game scoring average has fallen in every season since, going to 28.9 in 2022-23, 25.7 in 2023-24, 24.4 last season and 20.9 this season.
Of course, his role has changed as well and that has some effect on the numbers. James spent much of this season as the Lakers' third option behind Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves and did so happily.
Stay with the LakersTo be fair, this wasn't a bad season. Getting ousted in Round 2 by the overwhelming favorite to win the NBA title — the defending champion, too — isn't exactly a collapse, and Doncic not being able to play because of injury almost made the outcome expected.
The Lakers have the seventh-best record in the NBA during James' eight seasons there. Not great, not bad. But the playoffs, even with the run to the bubble championship in 2020, have not been to James' expectations. The Lakers went 32-31 in playoff games during these last eight seasons, and remember, 16 of those wins came in the bubble. Since then, the Lakers are just 16-26 in playoff games.
Good enough? It wouldn't seem so. The Lakers will have to give James reasons to stay. It's simple as that.
Return to MiamiJames' jersey will sway from the rafters one day in Miami, assuming he ever actually retires and allows such tributes to finally take place. And there's no question that James still holds many people within the organization — Pat Riley, Erik Spoelstra and more — in high regard.
But it's not like James has unfinished business in Miami. He became a champion in Miami; two of his four titles were won with the Heat. He'd be welcome, of course, but it's hard to envision James saying Miami would be the place for his final act.
Return to ClevelandNortheast Ohio is home and will forever be close to James' heart. He's still (and forever will be) beloved there, and whatever anger existed over him leaving in 2010 was washed away forever when he delivered Cleveland's NBA title in 2016.
Time healed all wounds. If James wants to go the sentimental route, he might go home again. It would likely be contingent on the Cavaliers finding a way to keep a roster that's capable of contention.
He takes his talents to New YorkThe Knicks have tried and failed before to land James.
They have some serious selling points right now — among them, a good team and Madison Square Garden. That's a place James has always revered.
The bright lights of New York wouldn't scare him off. Then again, wherever James plays, the lights will be bright there, too.
Pair up with Stephen Curry againJames won Olympic gold in Paris in 2024 with Steve Kerr coaching and Stephen Curry starring at the end.
The respect James has for Curry is off the charts, and he's often raved about Kerr as well. Kerr's coming back to the Warriors, and you know Golden State will do anything it can to give Curry one more chance at a title.
Bear in mind, it's highly improbable that this would ever work financially. But if James wants to play there, the Warriors will surely find a way.
The wild scenario: James and Wemby?The greatest scorer ever teaming up with the game's most prolific defensive player in San Antonio?
Now that would be fun.
James is one of the people who dubbed Victor Wembanyama as an “alien” and did so with the utmost of respect. James is unlike anyone the league has ever seen, and Wembanyama might be thought of in the same way.
And even though Gregg Popovich doesn't coach the Spurs anymore, he's still there and James has always had the utmost respect for the NBA's winningest coach. James would be accused of ring-chasing if he tried this one, but then again, he knows detractors won't like anything he does anyway.
___
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA
","guid":"e4d7930d-b1a6-32d8-91ad-060251793329","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 06:49:54 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 10:31:51 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 10:31:51 GMT","metadata":{},"feedLink":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/","feedDescription":"Comprehensive National Basketball Association news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors...","feedUrl":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rss/"} {"title":"Lakers eliminated by Thunder after crushing Game 4 loss as LeBron James suffers rare sweep","link":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/lakers-eliminated-thunder-crushing-game-055059979.html","description":"The Thunder eliminated the Lakers from the playoffs with their Game 4 win.Before the Lakers successfully ended their first round playoff series against the Rockets, coach JJ Redick explained what makes close out games so challenging.
“You have to kill them,” Redick said. “It’s difficult to kill someone. Survival instincts say, ‘I want to stay alive.’ So, you got to be able to kill them. That’s what [it takes].”
The Lakers’ sense of urgency in Monday’s Game 4 against the Thunder at Crypto.com Arena, with their season on the line, showed exactly why that’s the case.
LeBron James reacts during the Lakers’ May 11 loss to the Thunder in Game 4. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectBut in the end, the Thunder killed the Lakers’ 2025-26 season, with the Lakers falling to the Thunder, 115-110, in Game 4 to be eliminated from the playoffs.
“When the season ends there’s always a whirlwind of emotions,” Redick said. “I am certainly feeling a sense of gratitude for our players, the Lakers, and our fan base. You’ve seen these 3-0 games before; I thought there were two different times during the game where our team could have gave in or let go of the rope. We didn’t.”
Each fourth-quarter bucket from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Ajay Mitchell were deep gashes into the Lakers’ chest.
The Lakers kept responding, not letting anything take away from their fight, getting big plays from everyone on the floor late.
But there were too many daggers to recover from.
The Lakers didn’t score in the final 30 seconds. And the Thunder got dunks from Chet Holmgren and pairs of free throws from Gilgeous-Alexander and Mitchell to close out Game 4.
Austin Reaves (27 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists), Rui Hachimura (25 points), LeBron James (24 points, 12 rebounds) and Jaxson Hayes (18 points, 5 rebounds) all came up big late.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander drives to the basket during the Thunder’s Game 4 win against the Lakers on May 11. Getty ImagesBut the Thunder still delivered. And were simply better for the entire series.
“They’re really f—–g good,” Reaves said.
Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 35 points and eight assists.
Mitchell added 28 points on 12-of-19 shooting, while Holmgren added 16 points and nine rebounds.
What it meansThe Lakers’ season ended with a four-game sweep to the defending champions — just the fourth time in James’ career his team has been swept in the playoffs.
The other times: 2007 NBA Finals against the Spurs, 2018 Finals against the Warriors and the 2023 Western Conference finals to the Nuggets.
The Thunder will face either the Spurs or Timberwolves in the Western Conference finals.
Turning pointWhen Jared McCain hit a 3-pointer to cut the Lakers’ lead from 89-84 to three with 8:24 left in the fourth.
It provided a screeching halt to the Lakers’ momentum that they carried over from the third quarter, which they won 39-31.
MVP: Gilgeous-AlexanderThe reigning league MVP saved his best game for the end of the series.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander looks to move the ball during the Thunder’s Game 4 win against the Lakers on May 11. Getty ImagesGilgeous-Alexander shot 11-for-22 from the field and 12-for-15 on free throws.
He and Mitchell combined for 19 of the Thunder’s 35 points in the fourth quarter.
Stat of the game: 19Taking care of the ball was an emphasis entering the series.
The Lakers once again failed to do that, turning the ball over 19 times. Reaves had a team-worst eight turnovers, while Marcus Smart had six.
The Thunder scored 22 points off of the Lakers’ giveaways.
Up nextExit interviews for the Lakers, with Redick and president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka speaking with reporters on Tuesday morning.
","guid":"c8fa2033-d179-34f0-af65-465799efce21","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 05:50:59 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 10:31:51 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 10:31:51 GMT","metadata":{},"feedLink":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/","feedDescription":"Comprehensive National Basketball Association news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors...","feedUrl":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rss/"} {"title":"The global sand crisis: it’s being used up faster than it can be replaced","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/may/12/global-sand-crisis-land-reclamation-extraction","description":"It is the most extracted solid material on Earth – but this extraction can threaten ecosystems and livelihoods
Malé is one of the world’s most overcrowded cities, but it faces double pressure. As well as a growing population, the capital of the Maldives is also threatened by rising sea levels. Owing to climate breakdown, its living space is shrinking.
So the justification for a land reclamation project seemed clear. Take sand from elsewhere in the archipelago and use it to build up the land available for Malé’s people. What could go wrong? After all, it’s only sand, right?
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/may/12/global-sand-crisis-land-reclamation-extraction","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 10:00:54 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 10:40:05 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 10:40:05 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/226ed1d6f404d3042dad48aaaa5084303a89ab48/469_0_3333_2667/master/3333.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=c1492a7c06ca0a2183238e13f7857f17"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"David Squires on … Arsenal, West Ham and a Royal Rumble for the ages","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/football/picture/2026/may/12/david-squires-on-arsenal-west-ham-and-a-royal-rumble-for-the-ages","description":"Our cartoonist on the Premier League title potentially being decided by a lengthy VAR check after grappling
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/football/picture/2026/may/12/david-squires-on-arsenal-west-ham-and-a-royal-rumble-for-the-ages","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 10:02:36 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 10:40:05 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 10:40:05 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/22ab6ce4ccbcce870851e6e475633c956f3fe4d7/197_244_756_605/master/756.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=ba15f9aa23cf4343d8d0079bf885f300"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"I gave up coffee and acquired a Pro Plus habit – now I have the energy of a 15-year-old | Zoe Williams","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/may/12/i-gave-up-coffee-acquired-pro-plus-habit-energy-15-year-old","description":"With my usual espressos off the menu, I was looking at a future of sluggishness and headaches. Then I embraced an alternative caffeine delivery system
For reasons purely related to vanity, I’ve had to give up coffee. It’s not for ever, unless it takes me for ever to get my teeth whitened, so I’m not minded to wean myself off caffeine entirely. But it’s not for a short enough time that I can simply stop whining and weather the low-level headache, the mental sluggishness and the frankly unbearable taste of water.
No problem, I thought: I will survive on energy drinks. What’s embarrassing about that? What could possibly be shameful about going into a Tesco, picking up a black and neon green can of Monster Energy, its name in a satanic font, at 8.05am? What could conceivably make anyone give me the fish eye, that I’m setting off the age-verification flashing light, and a dude is having to come over and attest that I am indeed over 16? All of that social opprobrium was before I’d even opened an energy drink and had to taste it.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/may/12/i-gave-up-coffee-acquired-pro-plus-habit-energy-15-year-old","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 10:00:53 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 10:40:05 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 10:40:05 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/2e30e94279c373bf0d9e9a2d9de2696d4d9d360c/0_0_4634_3707/master/4634.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=ba5dd1df4a5e73830cc2cde9b90233b2"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"Bryson DeChambeau could give up golf for YouTube in his athletic prime. Is he right?","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/may/12/bryson-dechambeau-youtube-liv-golf","description":"The two-time major champion has mused about life as a full-time streamer. But sport should be more than just a platform to grow an athlete’s brand
Golf: a feeder sport for aspiring YouTubers? When Bryson DeChambeau, faced with the expiry of his LIV Golf contract at the end of this year and the implosion, possibly even sooner, of the now Saudi-less LIV Golf, mused last week that he might give up life on tour to focus on his YouTube channel, most professional golf watchers scoffed. This was just a bluff, a move to gain leverage as DeChambeau, like every other LIV player, contemplates an uncertain future and negotiates the fraught path back to the PGA Tour.
“I think, from my perspective, I’d love to grow my YouTube channel three times, maybe even more,” DeChambeau said. “I’d love to do a bunch of dubbing in different languages, giving the world more reason to watch YouTube. And then I’d love to play tournaments that want me.”
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/may/12/bryson-dechambeau-youtube-liv-golf","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 10:00:54 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 10:40:05 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 10:40:05 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7028f534e968f7fd6680d26c4d07fbae06ee07bb/419_0_5911_4729/master/5911.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=cf6dd044c81581ae916080086dd9838f"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"Nobu review – story of obsession and loss that lies behind the luxury sushi empire","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/may/12/nobu-review-nobuyuki-matsuhisa-matt-tyrnauer-robert-de-niro","description":"This affectionate portrait of chef Nobuyuki Matsuhisa finds surprising emotional depth beneath the glossy surface of the Nobu brand – with a cameo from Robert De Niro
In Japan, the sushi bar where the chef chops fish for the clientele is a kind of stage. In which case all the world’s a sushi bar for Nobuyuki Matsuhisa, whose deluxe Nobu chain has taken root in dozens of cities across the globe. Matt Tyrnauer’s chirpy documentary charts the rise of this affable but restless pioneer, motivated since the start of his career to break out of insular Japan and shake up its cuisine. Signature dishes like his iconic black cod with miso – made with Alaskan sablefish – or Peruvian-influenced yellowtail sashimi with jalapeno veer well off the sushi-restaurant template. But don’t call it fusion, Tyrnauer’s film says early on; it’s still Japanese food, just open to foreign ingredients and techniques.
After a rocky start in life, in which a young Matsuhisa was placed on probation after reckless driving, he got “lost in sushi”. After stints in Peru and Alaska, it was setting up Matsuhisa restaurant on Los Angeles’ La Cienega Boulevard that made his name, introducing a sense of the unexpected and the lavish to the burgeoning western yen for sushi. Robert De Niro was one convert, making an offer to set up a New York branch that Matsuhisa refused; it was something he felt he wasn’t ready for. Several years on, they finally partnered to set up the first of the eponymous eateries. One of De Niro’s acquaintances questioned how Matsuhisa could be a master if he just had to chop raw fish. “Nobu wouldn’t like to hear you say that,” was the actor’s testy reply.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/may/12/nobu-review-nobuyuki-matsuhisa-matt-tyrnauer-robert-de-niro","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 10:00:54 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 10:40:05 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 10:40:05 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/03f7cf49564dbf5b3b8d324e9e8324f80961a627/777_0_2700_2160/master/2700.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=da2e226e05caf3d499386c18b9ca4e9c"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"Youth mobility scheme disagreement hampering reset of UK-EU relations","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/12/youth-mobility-scheme-disagreement-hampering-reset-uk-eu-relations","description":"Deal was expected by end of month but talks hit buffers over cap on number of people entering UK and tuition fees
Significant gaps remain in negotiations on the reset in relations between the UK and the EU despite Keir Starmer’s latest pledge to put Britain “at the heart of Europe” after last week’s election drubbing.
The UK wants to limit the number of young people from the EU who come into the country as part of a post-Brexit youth mobility scheme to below 50,000, it has emerged.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/12/youth-mobility-scheme-disagreement-hampering-reset-uk-eu-relations","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 10:28:20 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 10:43:21 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 10:43:21 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/035acf2d3640b147abf1a14b17880bd63ee6faf6/811_663_4750_3800/master/4750.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=b5a2e65200b7b441cc61ff4b9b065665"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"UK news | The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news","feedDescription":"Latest news, breaking news and current affairs coverage from across the UK from theguardian.com","feedUrl":"http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/rss"} {"title":"Youth mobility scheme disagreement hampering reset of UK-EU relations","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/12/youth-mobility-scheme-disagreement-hampering-reset-uk-eu-relations","description":"Deal was expected by end of month but talks hit buffers over cap on number of people entering UK and tuition fees
Significant gaps remain in negotiations on the reset in relations between the UK and the EU despite Keir Starmer’s latest pledge to put Britain “at the heart of Europe” after last week’s election drubbing.
The UK wants to limit the number of young people from the EU who come into the country as part of a post-Brexit youth mobility scheme to below 50,000, it has emerged.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/12/youth-mobility-scheme-disagreement-hampering-reset-uk-eu-relations","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 10:28:20 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 11:08:56 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 11:08:56 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/035acf2d3640b147abf1a14b17880bd63ee6faf6/811_663_4750_3800/master/4750.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=b5a2e65200b7b441cc61ff4b9b065665"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"More than 110 Nobel laureates call on Iran to release gravely ill activist Narges Mohammadi","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2026/may/12/nobel-laureates-call-iran-release-gravely-ill-activist-human-rights-activist-narges-mohammadi","description":"As human rights advocate is treated in Tehran hospital after transfer from Zanjan prison, prize winners demand her freedom
More than 110 Nobel laureates have called for the immediate and unconditional release of Narges Mohammadi, the imprisoned Iranian human rights activist and Nobel peace prize laureate, after she was transferred to hospital amid concerns over her rapidly deteriorating health.
In a statement released on Tuesday, 112 Nobel laureates urged the Iranian authorities and the international community to act “without delay” to secure Mohammadi’s release and ensure her continued access to medical treatment.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2026/may/12/nobel-laureates-call-iran-release-gravely-ill-activist-human-rights-activist-narges-mohammadi","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 10:37:49 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 11:08:57 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 11:08:57 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/c1c2b1da55ab3976d26be02a83f437af9c3f841e/199_0_1326_1061/master/1326.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=da05a78d7f6c0927cd60d20cd296f8c1"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"The car park that changed British art: Bold Tendencies at 20","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2026/may/12/bold-tendencies-car-park-that-changed-british-art","description":"Two decades after it opened in a multi-storey in Peckham in London, the space has redrawn the map for how to present art – with rooftop cocktails and the pink staircase that launched a thousand selfies
It’s hard to imagine now, but there was a time when rooftop bars weren’t really a thing. A time before pop-ups and contemporary outdoor sculpture parks. A time even, if you can bear to think of it, before immersive art. Way back in 2007, there was none of that – the UK was an experiential art wasteland. And then Bold Tendencies showed up, chucked a whole load of sculptures in a multi-storey Peckham car park, painted a staircase bright pink, built a cocktail bar on the roof, and changed everything.
Now going into its 20th summer season, Bold Tendencies is celebrating two decades of sometimes sun-drenched, often windswept and drizzly arts programming. In that time, it has welcomed more than 3 million visitors into its concrete edifice behind Peckhamplex cinema, commissioned dozens of new artworks, hosted countless recitals and performances, built an auditorium and a concert hall, and drawn the roadmap for countless art experiences that have come in its wake.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2026/may/12/bold-tendencies-car-park-that-changed-british-art","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 10:36:33 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 11:08:57 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 11:08:57 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/9b4a0ec08606659dd7b8484569c90dcd44f293c1/221_0_6880_5504/master/6880.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=7cdb6b92582e835bb71c352ea703e13b"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"Lotus boss calls for UK government support as it commits to Norfolk plant","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/may/12/lotus-uk-government-norfolk-plant-car-firm-emira-us","description":"Sports carmaker extends lifespan of petrol-engined Emira, made in Norfolk, to continue to cater for US market
The boss of the luxury sports carmaker Lotus has called for government support for its UK factory as the Chinese-owned company insisted it will not abandon its British roots.
Lotus said it had extended the lifespan of the £80,000 Emira petrol-engined sports car, made by 900 employees in its factory in Norfolk, in order for the brand to continue to serve the US market.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/may/12/lotus-uk-government-norfolk-plant-car-firm-emira-us","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 10:56:44 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 11:12:03 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 11:12:03 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/13fa9555efeb24241620db8bc2d692da178d0b7a/498_0_4269_3415/master/4269.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=9cba7a7a94f4553e32b77fa2d9c70d8b"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"UK news | The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news","feedDescription":"Latest news, breaking news and current affairs coverage from across the UK from theguardian.com","feedUrl":"http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/rss"} {"title":"Farage faces questions over failure to declare use of donor’s helicopter","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/12/farage-faces-questions-over-failure-to-declare-use-of-donors-helicopter","description":"Reform UK leader has used the helicopter to attend rallies across the country, most recently on Friday
Nigel Farage is facing questions about why he did not declare his use of a donor’s helicopter to travel around Britain for rallies.
The helicopter, which was used by Farage as recently as Friday after local elections across Britain, is the property of a company owned by Lorenzo Zaccheo, a businessman who gave Reform £25,000 last year.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/12/farage-faces-questions-over-failure-to-declare-use-of-donors-helicopter","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 11:00:44 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 11:37:40 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 11:37:40 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/ceb81f82ea4d6ca6028bb242d97054bfd9ccba43/677_0_3387_2709/master/3387.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=47c1481efbc035fb67c8901c36eeaf9e"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"WHO head warns countries to prepare for more hantavirus cases","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/12/who-head-warns-countries-prepare-more-hantavirus-cases","description":"Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus praises Spain’s ‘compassion and solidarity’ in evacuating virus-hit cruise ship
The head of the World Health Organization has warned countries to prepare for more hantavirus cases after the outbreak onboard the MV Hondius, and thanked Spain for the “compassion and solidarity” it had shown by taking in the stricken cruise ship and evacuating its passengers and crew.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus urged countries to follow the WHO’s advice and recommendations, which include a 42-day quarantine and constant monitoring of high-risk contacts.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/12/who-head-warns-countries-prepare-more-hantavirus-cases","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 10:56:05 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 11:37:40 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 11:37:40 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/90010f22902f97c3c36a1f1f68c7a1e96e32a39a/695_44_3055_2444/master/3055.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=082f13ed2de57ae74497d23b24defa99"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"Sicily police investigate illegal race with horse-drawn carts and Kalashnikovs","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/12/sicily-illegal-horse-race-carts-kalashnikovs-video","description":"Horses seized and several people questioned after animal rights activist shares video of race along country roads
A video showing an illegal horse race in Sicily, with spectators firing pistols into the air and brandishing Kalashnikov rifles, has prompted a police investigation that has led to the seizure of the animals.
The clip, reportedly filmed last Friday, shows two jockeys driving horse-drawn carts at breakneck speed along country roads in the town of Palagonia, near Catania, in eastern Sicily. Behind them, dozens of people follow on scooters, firing shots into the air. The footage was posted on social media by an animal rights activist named Enrico Rizzi.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/12/sicily-illegal-horse-race-carts-kalashnikovs-video","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 10:34:52 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 11:37:40 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 11:37:40 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/63b3ddc9c89d37ab1e5a64f30f957c5f4046aa93/416_153_1097_878/master/1097.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=26d9534bed37eaa67faf8a9c92b85d84"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"History makers Brighton are shaking up old order and not hiding ambition","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/may/12/brighton-womens-fa-cup-final-ambition","description":"Seagulls are in their first Women’s FA Cup final but their coach, Dario Vidosic, is determined to keep aiming higher
As Brighton’s old song goes, “Hark to the merry bugles”, because there is something in the air in Sussex by the sea. A purpose-built women’s team stadium is in the offing, a second consecutive top-half Women’s Super League finish is on the cards and the women’s side are heading to Wembley for the first time. The fans have never had it this good.
It took something special for Brighton to overturn a two-goal deficit in Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final victory at Liverpool and they left it late – very late – as Nadine Noordam settled a classic, five-goal thriller with her 95th-minute winner, but reaching this final is something the club have been building towards. In 2022, Brighton set out a bold vision to become a “top-four WSL club” and last summer the head coach, Dario Vidosic, was unafraid to discuss even higher targets, speaking in a determined, bullish and unwaveringly ambitious tone during an interview with the Guardian.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/may/12/brighton-womens-fa-cup-final-ambition","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 10:20:53 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 11:37:41 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 11:37:41 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/564af2d6cb47890f1ae58b74345b91b8a35398d6/0_406_3379_2703/master/3379.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=24d43cab4333b30eb816bd4f8ce1d288"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"European ministers to discuss sending rejected asylum seekers to third-country hubs","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/law/2026/may/12/european-ministers-moldova-asylum-seekers-third-country-hubs","description":"Exclusive: Council of Europe to meet in Moldova on Friday, with human rights body expected to recognise countries’ right to control borders
European ministers will this week discuss plans to send thousands of rejected asylum seekers to third-country hubs, the head of the continent’s human rights body has told the Guardian.
Alain Berset, the secretary general of the Council of Europe, said discussions about the removal of people who arrived in Europe by irregular routes would take place “at a multilateral level” at a meeting in Moldova on Friday.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/law/2026/may/12/european-ministers-moldova-asylum-seekers-third-country-hubs","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 11:00:05 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 11:37:41 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 11:37:41 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8add30ca456147ee25a27901ceb5800408371fe9/624_0_6127_4902/master/6127.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=ca0ec8a6e0460c671f538d8adcec0812"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"In the 1979 hostage crisis, why did Iran free 10 Black Americans before the others?","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/12/black-american-iran-solidarity-war","description":"Sgt James Hughes was one of the hostages released early. With US-Iran relations once again in the spotlight, he talks about being ‘handcuffed, under armed guard’
Since the United States launched a joint military campaign with Israel on Iran in February, many commentators and historians have revisted a chapter of modern history: the 1979 Iran hostage crisis.
On 4 November, a student demonstration outside the US embassy in Tehran erupted into an all-out assault on the compound, and 66 Americans were taken hostage. It was the culmination of decades of tension, beginning with the US and Britain’s role in installing the Shah of Iran to safeguard energy interests, and ending with a popular uprising that toppled his oppressive regime and drove him into exile.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/12/black-american-iran-solidarity-war","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 11:00:46 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 11:37:41 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 11:37:41 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/b6878aea0b2b2c562baed2d3eb0b9ca0e79e8648/462_0_4597_3677/master/4597.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=9c0e1387f8997fd92ef886f7de1c83b8"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"Lotus boss calls for UK government support as it commits to Norfolk plant","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/may/12/lotus-uk-government-norfolk-plant-car-firm-emira-us","description":"Sports carmaker extends lifespan of petrol-engined Emira, made in Norfolk, to continue to cater for US market
The boss of the luxury sports carmaker Lotus has called for government support for its UK factory as the Chinese-owned company insisted it will not abandon its British roots.
Lotus said it had extended the lifespan of the £80,000 Emira petrol-engined sports car, made by 900 employees in its factory in Norfolk, in order for the brand to continue to serve the US market.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/may/12/lotus-uk-government-norfolk-plant-car-firm-emira-us","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 10:56:44 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 11:37:41 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 11:37:41 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/13fa9555efeb24241620db8bc2d692da178d0b7a/498_0_4269_3415/master/4269.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=9cba7a7a94f4553e32b77fa2d9c70d8b"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"Palestine Action trial lawyer wins appeal against contempt of court charge","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/law/2026/may/12/palestine-action-trial-lawyer-wins-appeal-contempt-court-charge","description":"Rajiv Menon KC was accused of breaching judge’s directions with his closing speech at trial of six activists
A leading human rights barrister has won an appeal against his referral for contempt of court over his closing speech during a trial of Palestine Action activists.
Rajiv Menon KC was accused of breaching the judge’s directions in the trial of six people for a 2024 direct action protest at an arms factory of the Israeli subsidiary Elbit Systems UK in Filton, near Bristol.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/law/2026/may/12/palestine-action-trial-lawyer-wins-appeal-contempt-court-charge","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 11:24:59 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 11:40:27 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 11:40:27 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/6c3fe2b422002e81586155c32ffec772e1eeded5/383_469_4388_3512/master/4388.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=d9efc9c6932637a5e467c783606bfaf4"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"UK news | The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news","feedDescription":"Latest news, breaking news and current affairs coverage from across the UK from theguardian.com","feedUrl":"http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/rss"} {"title":"Farage faces questions over failure to declare use of donor’s helicopter","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/12/farage-faces-questions-over-failure-to-declare-use-of-donors-helicopter","description":"Reform UK leader has used the helicopter to attend rallies across the country, most recently on Friday
Nigel Farage is facing questions about why he did not declare his use of a donor’s helicopter to travel around Britain for rallies.
The helicopter, which was used by Farage as recently as Friday after local elections across Britain, is the property of a company owned by Lorenzo Zaccheo, a businessman who gave Reform £25,000 last year.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/12/farage-faces-questions-over-failure-to-declare-use-of-donors-helicopter","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 11:00:44 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 11:40:27 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 11:40:27 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/ceb81f82ea4d6ca6028bb242d97054bfd9ccba43/677_0_3387_2709/master/3387.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=47c1481efbc035fb67c8901c36eeaf9e"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"UK news | The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news","feedDescription":"Latest news, breaking news and current affairs coverage from across the UK from theguardian.com","feedUrl":"http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/rss"} {"title":"Boiler Alert Podcast – NBA Draft Combine Updates – How Tall is Braden Smith?","link":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/boiler-alert-podcast-nba-draft-113629358.html","description":"Purdue Boilermakers guard Braden Smith (3) passes the ball before it goes out of bounds during a NCAA Tournament game against the Arizona Wildcats on Saturday, March 28, 2026 at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif. Purdue fell to Arizona 79-64. | Christine Tannous/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images\tThe NBA Draft lottery just happened which means we are one step closer to the actual NBA Draft. There are events going on all around the NBA to prepare the next crop of stars. Guys like Braden Smith are getting weighed and measured, how tall is he anyway? TKR is playing in the G-League Combine and doing a great job, enough to even move up a level in the combine hierarchy. Fletcher Loyer even showed up some of his skills at that same event. So what does this mean for the three Purdue seniors? We chat about that on this episode of the Boiler Alert podcast.
Then, we look at Daniel Jacobsen and I ask Ryan about Jacobsen’s impact for next season and if he’s the biggest question mark of all the returning players. DJ did some great things this season but I think many of us came away disappointed with his play, but was that on our expectations or his play? We discuss on the latest episode.
View Link","guid":"98f644e5-210b-35ff-aceb-31c20d0f47d3","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 11:36:29 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 11:58:15 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 11:58:15 GMT","metadata":{},"feedLink":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/","feedDescription":"Comprehensive National Basketball Association news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors...","feedUrl":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rss/"} {"title":"LeBron James relishes leading Lakers. Would he accept lesser role again?","link":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/lebron-james-relishes-leading-lakers-112841881.html","description":"LeBron James talked about steps he’ll take before deciding whether to play again next season, but is there one missing from the list?
Spending time with his family. Talking to his 12-year-old daughter; his 19-year-old son; and his wife. Reflecting on this past season and deciding what’s in his best interest. And ...
What he didn’t cite explicitly is how his role changed this past season, during which he averaged 20.9 points, the fewest since he averaged the same in his rookie season.
Opinion: If this is it for LeBron James, appreciate how unprecedented he was
\"I'm not looking at my year as a disappointment, that's for damn sure,\" James, 41, told reporters after the Lakers lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder, 115-110, Monday, May 11 and got swept in the Western Conference semifinal playoff series. \"Especially, I was put into some positions that I've never played in my career before, actually in my life.
\"I've never been a third option in my life.\"
This season, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves emerged as the NBA’s highest-scoring backcourt, and in March, Lakers coach JJ Redick officially asked James to accept the role of the team’s third scoring option.
He agreed.
With James in that role, the Lakers thrived.
That is, until Doncic suffered a hamstring injury in February and Reaves strained his oblique muscle April 2, during 139-96 loss to the Thunder.
Suddenly James was the Lakers’ No. 1 option again, and he led them past the Houston Rockets in their first-round playoff series.
\"So to be able to thrive in that role (as the team’s third option) for that period of time and then have to step back into the role that I've been accustomed with over my career, over my life ... that was pretty cool for me at this stage of my career,\" he said.
More: Has LeBron James' tenure with the Lakers been a failure? Fans weigh in.
But would it be cool to go back to being the third option next season, which would be his 24th in the NBA?
It could be a complex assessment.
When asked about the love for the game, James said, \"I don't think it ever goes away.\"
More imporantly, James said, is maintaining his love for \"the process.\" That entails arriving for games 5 1/2 hours early to start getting ready. And arriving three hours before practice.
\"...giving everything I got, diving for loose balls and doing everything that you know that it takes to go out and play,\" he said.
James played a co-leading role Monday night, finishing with 24 points and 12 rebounds while Reaves had a team-high 27 points along with seven rebounds and six assists.
James took 18 shots. Reaves took 16 shots. Luka remained sidelined.
The highlight of James' eight-year tenure with the Lakers, he said, was leading the Lakers to the NBA title in 2020. He mentioned competing for championships again Monday.
“I think that's a motivating factor, it's always been since I've – probably the first time I touched the postseason in ‘06 – was like, how can I compete for a championship?\" he said.
Does accepting the role of third option give James and the Lakers third best chance to win an NBA title?
Is it something he thinks is in his best interest?
Would he still love showing up 5 1/2 hours before games and three hours before practices?
The process of figuring it out all out has officially begun.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Is LeBron James willing to be Lakers’ third option again?
","guid":"7691ddd6-afa3-3224-8789-a68f9a05e629","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 11:28:41 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 11:58:15 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 11:58:15 GMT","metadata":{},"feedLink":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/","feedDescription":"Comprehensive National Basketball Association news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors...","feedUrl":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rss/"} {"title":"Luka Doncic opts out of FIBA World Cup to spend time with daughters","link":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/luka-doncic-opts-fiba-world-112520232.html","description":"After the Los Angeles Lakers were swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2026 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals on Monday night, Luka Doncic took to Instagram to announce he will not be joining the Slovenian national team this summer. Instead, he shared that he plans to devote his time to his daughters.
The message, initially written in Slovenian and later translated into English, emphasized that being a father to his two daughters is his top priority. Doncic explained that over the past eight months, it has been challenging to spend time with them as he works toward a joint custody agreement with his ex-fiancée, Anamaria Goltes. The couple shares a three-year-old daughter, Gabriela, and a five-month-old daughter, Olivia.
“I love my daughters more than anything, and they will always come first in my life. As I continue working toward joint custody of my daughters, I have been forced to make a difficult decision between traveling and playing for the Slovenian national team and being with my daughters this summer,” Doncic wrote in the post. “Unfortunately, it has been made extremely difficult for me to see them over the past eight months.”
","guid":"66e7bb6e-b30c-37d9-adb4-ed8ab88476a6","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 11:25:20 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 11:58:15 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 11:58:15 GMT","metadata":{},"feedLink":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/","feedDescription":"Comprehensive National Basketball Association news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors...","feedUrl":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rss/"} {"title":"NBA Draft Lottery a mixed blessing for Rockets","link":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/nba-draft-lottery-mixed-blessing-094535798.html","description":"Luka Dončić shares on his Instagram story that he will not play for the Slovenian national team this summer: pic.twitter.com/nLyNnzpY6J
— Khobi Price (@khobi_price) May 12, 2026
For the first time in five years, the Houston Rockets had no direct stakes in the NBA Draft Lottery.
Sure, indirectly, they’re affected by the Brooklyn Nets’ pick slipping to sixth. Rockets fans will be rooting against the Nets throughout 2026-27. Even if the league flattens the draft odds, a bleaker future for the Nets means a brighter one for the Rockets.
The Nets will likely take whoever the fifth-overall Clippers pass on between Keaton Wagler and Darius Acuff Jr. They’re both fine prospects, but they’re not on the level of an AJ Dybansta, who FanDuel has as the favorite to be taken by the Wizards (number one) at -550. Even being positioned to take Dybansta (or Cameron Boozer, or Darryn Peterson, or Caleb Wilson) would have made the Nets a more attractive destination for win-now veterans looking for a new home.
So, the Rockets did benefit from the draft. Still, it was a foreign feeling for the lottery to shake out without the Rockets’ name being called. For context, here’s the full lottery order:
If you’re a pessimist, there’s a negative to be found here. The Grizzlies are likely to walk away with Boozer, and if not, they’ll land Peterson. That means there will be another team in the Rockets’ division with a young player who’d arguably be the Rockets’ crown jewel.
Moreover, the Jazz are suddenly positioned at least as well as Houston. The Clippers got exceedingly lucky here. The Western Conference is an arms race, and the Rockets had better hope they get some weapons via the Nets next summer.
In the meantime, they can still add some intriguing young players.
Rockets set to draft in second roundThe Rockets have a pair of second-rounders, with the 39th and 53rd overall picks.
Does that amount to much? History says no. Still, if Rafael Stone is crafty, he can make some hay here. If there’s a guy he especially likes, he could try to package these picks to move up in the second round.
Let’s be honest: This is a side quest. The Rockets are exceedingly unlikely to bring in a franchise-altering talent in this class. Walking away with a solid role player would be a tremendous win.
It feels weird, doesn’t it?
","guid":"18faeaf4-ca96-3fd0-ac35-4bd1370c05c4","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 09:45:35 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 11:58:15 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 11:58:15 GMT","metadata":{},"feedLink":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/","feedDescription":"Comprehensive National Basketball Association news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors...","feedUrl":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rss/"} {"title":"Palestine Action trial lawyer wins appeal against contempt of court charge","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/law/2026/may/12/palestine-action-trial-lawyer-wins-appeal-contempt-court-charge","description":"Rajiv Menon KC was accused of breaching judge’s directions with his closing speech at trial of six activists
A leading human rights barrister has won an appeal against his referral for contempt of court over his closing speech during a trial of Palestine Action activists.
Rajiv Menon KC was accused of breaching the judge’s directions in the trial of six people for a 2024 direct action protest at an arms factory of the Israeli subsidiary Elbit Systems UK in Filton, near Bristol.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/law/2026/may/12/palestine-action-trial-lawyer-wins-appeal-contempt-court-charge","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 11:24:59 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 12:07:04 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 12:07:04 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/6c3fe2b422002e81586155c32ffec772e1eeded5/383_469_4388_3512/master/4388.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=d9efc9c6932637a5e467c783606bfaf4"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"Israeli MPs back special tribunal with death penalty powers for alleged 7 October attackers","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/12/israel-special-tribunal-death-penalty-7-october-attack","description":"Knesset approves plan for livestreamed trials in military court, drawing comparisons to 1962 Adolf Eichmann trial
Israeli lawmakers have approved setting up a livestreamed special tribunal with the power to sentence to death Palestinians convicted of taking part in the Hamas attack on 7 October 2023 that triggered the war in Gaza.
The measure was passed by 93 votes to none in the 120-seat Knesset, Israel’s parliament, reflecting widespread support among Israel’s Jewish majority for punishing those found responsible for the deadliest single attack in Israel’s history. The remaining 27 lawmakers were absent or abstained from voting.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/12/israel-special-tribunal-death-penalty-7-october-attack","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 11:23:39 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 12:07:04 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 12:07:04 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d4478665df576dd167b70ac0c6d065c92b8402c5/885_0_6827_5464/master/6827.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=dc61d1e85865b385756c8b019ddf4d42"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"Andy Burnham can save Labour and defeat Reform. He should be the next prime minister | Neal Lawson","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/may/12/andy-burnham-labour-reform-prime-minister-greater-manchester-mayor-westminster","description":"Put plainly, the Greater Manchester mayor is electoral gold dust. The Labour party machine must not stand in his way to becoming an MP
Neal Lawson is director of the cross-party campaign organisation Compass
The madness has to end. The progressive side of politics in the UK faces two crises. The first is the possible decimation of the Labour party after the next election. The second is a prospective Reform-led government – and a Trumpian future for the country.
The best-placed figure in Britain to lead Labour away from these twin disasters is the mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham. The Labour party must now do what it takes to ensure that Burnham is available to be the next leader of the party and the country. This must start with an urgent statement from its ruling national executive committee (NEC) saying that if Burnham wanted to fight any direct vacancy then he would be allowed through for local members to decide whether they wanted him as their candidate, alongside a timetable that allows him to enter the contest.
Neal Lawson is director of the cross-party campaign organisation Compass
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/may/12/andy-burnham-labour-reform-prime-minister-greater-manchester-mayor-westminster","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 11:31:52 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 12:07:04 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 12:07:04 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a8fa0ba8115d3b0d63b8444ec133c7afd83678d3/0_0_4583_3667/master/4583.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=7db53dab2b06fb60d1ff1f53af29ef4a"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"Frank and Postecoglou going head to head as BBC and ITV pundits for World Cup","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/may/12/world-cup-2026-pundits-bbc-itv-thomas-frank-ange-postecoglou","description":"BBC to add Giroud to regular panel, including Frank
Postecoglou will join ITV, who show England opener
Former Tottenham managers Ange Postecoglou and Thomas Frank will go head to head in the TV studio this summer as rival World Cup pundits. The Guardian has learned that Frank has signed a deal with BBC Sport as one of their main analysts, with Postecoglou having agreed to work for ITV.
The BBC is also understood to have added former Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud to their regular punditry panel that includes Wayne Rooney, Joe Hart and Alan Shearer, with ITV recruiting Andros Townsend to join Gary Neville, Ian Wright and Roy Keane.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/may/12/world-cup-2026-pundits-bbc-itv-thomas-frank-ange-postecoglou","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 11:45:49 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 12:07:04 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 12:07:04 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/1050a5ed6b2e40b90b32916db6eded7e06610fea/0_67_2454_1963/master/2454.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=d22e6d29e971fd1f86dcf8eba95a2564"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"LeBron James unsure on what’s next after Lakers swept in playoffs: ‘My future? I don’t know’","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/may/12/lebron-james-lakers-playoffs-nba-thunder","description":"Thunder beat Lakers 4-0 in Western Conference semis
41-year-old just finished his 23rd NBA season
LeBron James isn’t ready to make a decision about his NBA future in the wake of the Los Angeles Lakers’ season-ending loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday.
The visiting Thunder prevailed 115-110 to sweep the teams’ Western Conference semi-final series despite James registering 24 points and a game-high 12 rebounds.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/may/12/lebron-james-lakers-playoffs-nba-thunder","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 11:40:42 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 12:07:04 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 12:07:04 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8b0533d081f0b468b56487e3e11e64379e179f19/214_0_3595_2876/master/3595.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=d6a681415e29a397ce334880d596ffa5"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"Trump to head to China for high-stakes talks with Xi – US politics live","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2026/may/12/donald-trump-china-iran-redistricting-jeffrey-epstein-latest-news-updates","description":"Meeting comes amid tentative trade truce but Iran, Taiwan and tensions over global supply chains will be complicating factors
On the Iran war, Donald Trump said the ongoing fragile ceasefire was “on life support” after dismissing Tehran’s peace proposal as “totally unacceptable”.
“I would call it the weakest, right now, after reading that piece of garbage they sent us – I didn’t even finish reading it,” he told reporters in the Oval Office yesterday.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2026/may/12/donald-trump-china-iran-redistricting-jeffrey-epstein-latest-news-updates","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 11:31:47 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 12:07:04 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 12:07:04 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/fe6ebccf25d5863b84326776eb30f2a28693dab4/407_0_3323_2659/master/3323.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=a414fa84d224e46953bd3ef6439892dc"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"Tony Worthington obituary","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/12/tony-worthington-obituary","description":"Labour MP who served as a Northern Ireland minister in the run-up to the Good Friday agreement and was active on behalf of asbestos victims
The Labour MP Tony Worthington, who has died aged 84, served as a minister in the Northern Ireland Office at a crucial time – in the run-up to the Good Friday agreement – and won widespread respect for his campaigning on behalf of victims suffering from asbestos-related diseases.
Having been an opposition spokesperson under Mo Mowlam, he was appointed to her ministerial team when Labour came to power in 1997, with community relations as part of his portfolio. With a personality that exuded calm reasonableness, Worthington was well qualified to earn trust in that role.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/12/tony-worthington-obituary","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 11:45:38 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 12:07:04 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 12:07:04 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/316d41006a6b3880f47ba5c4e953d4b1b221363e/497_0_4968_3974/master/4968.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=3e176217ba994a55480d80584c5251b1"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"Tuesday’s Brotherhood Playoff Notes & Links","link":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/tuesday-brotherhood-playoff-notes-links-120800192.html","description":"LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 11: Luke Kennard #10 of the Los Angeles Lakers dribbles against Jared McCain #3 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second quarter in Game Four of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on May 11, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images) | Getty Images\tIn Monday night’s Brotherhood Playoff Action, Cleveland took out Detroit, 112-103, behind a dstunning 22-0 run. Tyrese Proctor got in at the end, but did not score. The series is now tied 2-2.
In the nightcap, Oklahoma City eliminated Los Angeles, 115-110. Jared McCain scored 13 points and had 2 assists for OKC, while Luke Kennard finished his season with 5 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists.
At 8-0, the Thunder look increasingly inevitable, and may push the 1983 Philadelphia 76ers. When someone asked Moses Malone how his team would do, he famously said, “Fo’, fo’, and fo,” meaning the Sixers would not lose in the playoffs.
Close: Philadelphia finished 11-1 in the postseason.
On Tuesday, The T-Wolves and the Spurs tangle in Game 5. Mason Plumlee is on the Spurs’ roster, but he’s essentially depth at this point, and we don’t expect to see him going forward.
Go to the DBR Boards to find Blue Healer Auctions || Drop us a line
","guid":"78128ad5-a06f-3087-917b-fdba9f5eeb63","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 12:08:00 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 12:26:58 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 12:26:58 GMT","metadata":{},"feedLink":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/","feedDescription":"Comprehensive National Basketball Association news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors...","feedUrl":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rss/"} {"title":"6 Giannis Antetokounmpo trade packages after Bucks’ ultimatum to superstar","link":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/6-giannis-antetokounmpo-trade-packages-120000632.html","description":"MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - APRIL 05: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks works out before the game against the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum on April 05, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) | Getty Images\tGiannis Antetokounmpo has an ultimatum from Milwaukee Bucks ownership: either sign a contract extension this summer, or get traded. The long-rumored divorce between the two sides might finally come to fruition as the NBA prepares to enter the offseason, and the Bucks are making it known they’re ready to hear offers.
The Bucks are “open for business ”on Antetokounmpo trade offers, and the team is reportedly seeking “young blue-chip talent and/or a surplus of draft picks,” according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. Charania’s report comes on the brink of the 2026 NBA Draft Combine, historically a place where early trade conversations happen as the entire league is gathered in Chicago. Antetokounmpo essentially asked out of Milwaukee ahead of the trade deadline, but a deal never materialized, and the trade landscape feels different this time.
The San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets, and Oklahoma City Thunder were reportedly not interested in a Giannis trade at the deadline. Does that change for Houston after a first-round exit? Will San Antonio or OKC also change their mind on a potential trade if they fall short of a championship? The Boston Celtics are another team to watch in the Antetokounmpo sweepstakes now after a first-round exit in the 2026 NBA Playoffs when they were supposed to be the favorites in the East.
Here are six potential Antetokounmpo trade packages that make sense, plus two darkhorse surprise teams at the end.
Miami Heat’s best Giannis trade offerBucks receive: Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Kasparas Jakucionis, No. 13 overall pick in 2026 NBA Draft, 2030 first-rounder, 2032 first-rounder
Heat receive: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Taurean Prince
It will be tricky to make the salaries match, but there’s a framework in place for the potential Giannis trade to the Heat this summer. Miami has three first-round picks available to trade, including No. 13 overall this year, where we have Karim Lopez projected in our mock draft. Kel’el Ware had a solid second season even if he falls short of the “blue chip” prospect Milwaukee covets. If Mikal Bridges and Rudy Gobert were traded for five first-round picks, why is Giannis only fetching three? Well, it’s a different trade landscape these days, and Antetokounmpo’s constant late season injury issues feel like a real problem at age-31. The Heat are also chasing stars, and at this point it feels like they’ve maximized their current group. An all-in trade for Giannis makes sense for Miami, and it might be the best package Milwaukee can get.
Cavs’ best Giannis trade offerBucks receive: Evan Mobley, Sam Merrill, 2030 and 2032 first-round picks
Heat receive: Giannis Antetokounmpo
This trade is not currently legal because the Cavs are in the second apron, and thus cannot aggregate salaries to match Giannis’ massive deal. It’s possible Cleveland can get under the apron for this deal during the summer, and subbing in Jaylon Tyson for Merrill would make it even more appealing if they can square the salaries. Mobley is potentially the best young player on the market for Milwaukee. The big man turns 25 years old next month, and feels like he stagnated a bit offensively this season. He remains an incredible defender as a mobile 7-footer, and Milwaukee could probably flip him for a ton of assets if they wanted a longer view of their upcoming rebuild. Those Cleveland picks could be pretty valuable too with an older core in place should the Cavs do this deal.
Celtics’ best Giannis trade offer with Hawks to form 3-team dealBucks receive: No. 8 pick in 2026 NBA Draft, Celtics’ first-round picks in 2027 and 2032, Zaccharie Risacher, Hugo Gonzalez, Corey Kispert
Celtics receive: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Hawks receive: Jaylen Brown
This is admittedly a rough draft what a three-team trade would look like between the Celtics, Hawks, and Bucks. The general framework would have Jaylen Brown landing in his hometown of Atlanta, Giannis going to the Celtics, and the Bucks getting Atlanta’s No. 8 overall pick and more future first-rounders. The salaries do work out in this deal according to the trade machine, so something like this could make sense. Risacher was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, but he already lost his spot in the Hawks’ playoff rotation, so this doesn’t feel like too much to give up for Atlanta to get Brown. The Celtics upgrade from Brown to Antetokounmpo and push for a championship next year. The Bucks land a second top-10 pick in this trade, and Gonzalez would be a nice get after a surprisingly strong rookie year.
Wolves’ best Giannis trade offerBucks receive: Jaden McDaniels, Rudy Gobert, Donte DiVincenzo, 2032 first-round pick
Wolves receive: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bobby Portis
The Wolves were reportedly interested in Giannis at the trade deadline, and they could have interest again this summer should they fall short in the playoffs. This package features neither a blue chip young player or a bundle of picks, but it would give the Bucks a lot of flippable assets. McDaniels will be 26 years old next season and is one of the best wing defenders in the league. Gobert is still a defensive stud, and he’s on a more affordable deal now. DiVincenzo is out for the year sadly with an Achilles tear. Milwaukee could flip McDaniels and Gobert for 1-2 more future first-round picks each if they take this deal, and that Minnesota 2032 first-round could be spicy down the line.
Blazers’ best Giannis offerBucks receive: Jerami Grant, Scoot Henderson, Yang Hansen, 2028 and 2030 Bucks swaps returned, 2032 Blazers first-round pick
TrailBlazers receive: Giannis Antetokounmpo
New Blazers owner Tom Dundan said the team has a big trade offer available at the trade deadline that the team chose to not pull the trigger on, but that things might be different under his watch. Was he talking about Giannis? The Blazers have always felt like a natural trade partner for Giannis because they own two future Milwaukee pick swaps. This deal has Portland unloading bad money in Jerami Grant, and cashing in Scoot Henderson and Yang Hansen, while returning the swap rights to Milwaukee for Antetokounmpo. Henderson is starting to come on lately even if he hasn’t yet lived up to his draft hype, and he’s exactly the type of player who could intrigue Milwaukee. This is probably too much to give up for Portland, but it could potentially win a bidding war.
Knicks’ best Giannis trade offerBucks receive: Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, Miles McBride, Tyler Kolek, 2032 first-round pick
Knicks receive: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Myles Turner, Kyle Kuzma
The Knicks seem very likely to go to the Finals, but I won’t put a trade like this past them if they get smoked by the Thunder or Spurs once they get there. I do think it’s too much to give up for New York given Giannis’ injury history. Milwaukee wouldn’t get a pick surplus or any good young players from this haul, but it could immediately turn around and trade Anunoby and KAT for value.
Two surprise teams who could trade for Giannis AntetokounmpoSo not much happened in official Celtics news last week. Brad Stevens gave a press conference which, while not quite promising the Wyc Grousbeckian “fireworks” of 2014 that never quite materialized, suggested that the team would be looking to address shortcomings that revealed themselves in the playoff series against Philadelphia.
On the CelticsBlog Slack, there were a host of Jaylen Brown trade scenarios pitched, along with trade scenarios for Derrick White and Sam Hauser. Jayson Tatum even made a surprise appearance.
And I had to ask myself, “Is this what other fanbases do?”
Because I didn’t particularly enjoy it.
Barring injury, the Celtics have been consistent Eastern Conference contenders for almost ten straight years now. They’ve been to the Finals twice, have won once, and have been the most consistently good team in the NBA since Danny Ainge made the widely panned moves to draft Brown and Tatum in back-to-back years.
In short, we have been spoiled. We have been very, very spoiled.
LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 24: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics and Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics warmup before the game against the LA Clippers on January 24, 2018 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty ImagesA long summer stretches out before us, with very little to engage our attention as fans. Shoot. We couldn’t even get excited about the lottery, and with the fourth best record in the league, draft chatter is going to be hard to get into, at least for me, because the farther down the draft you go, the harder it is to rank players.
There may be a consensus #1, but there is never a consensus 27th pick, and basically the predictions at this section of the draft are white noise. This is the part of the draft where I tend to think that ‘character counts,’ and that comes down to interviews and one-on-one sessions that draft predicters aren’t part of.
For example, the Celtics apparently saw something in Baylor Scheierman that suggested he would be a far better defender than writers who focused primarily on clips of his role and style of play at Creighton for their evaluations. That ‘something’ didn’t show up on film from a program where Scheierman was asked to do very little on the defensive end of the court.
So I can’t really get into draft predictions.
Boston, MA – March 12: Boston Celtics PG Derrick White contests a shot by Oklahoma City Thunder SG Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the second half. (Photo by Erin Clark/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty ImagesThe rest of the playoffs are a rather flavorless affair for me as well. Perhaps that’s a knock against me as a basketball fan. To be sure, if my Dad were still around, he’d still be watching, and my younger brothers are both still watching, but even the most amazing plays sort of stop at the back of my eyeballs when I’m watching other teams. I can appreciate good offense and good defense up to a point, but it just doesn’t move me the way watching the Celtics does.
Plus, I really don’t like the Thunder. They’ve taken the place of the Warriors as a team to dislike because of their combination of dirty play and favorable whistles. The difference is that they’ve basically ratcheted the whole thing up to eleven. Lu Dort is…well, let’s just say that he makes Draymond Green look like St. Francis of Assisi, and SGA’s whistle is not to be believed at this point in time.
As Celtics fans, we’re on the outside looking in at both sources of entertainment at this point in the season.
It’s an odd place to be.
As I said earlier, we’ve been spoiled.
Boston’s management has been rock solid—they’ve made moves when moves are necessary, they’ve drafted exceptionally well, and they’ve given us plenty to get excited about.
I’m confident that they know what they’re doing, that they—along with Mazzulla—have a pretty good idea what went wrong against Philadelphia, and they’ll find the right combination of patience and action to move the team forward for next season.
But in the meantime, we as fans have to choose between building castles in the air and twiddling our thumbs. We can either cook up crazy trade scenarios that never really pan out, or we can dive deep into the middle of this year’s draft class to see if we can suss out which player the Celtics are likely to land on with their pick, or we can basically mark time until the draft, free agency, and the summer league give us something concrete to talk about.
The C’s might make a couple trades around the draft, but the reality is that the league year ends on June 30, and the team is so dang close to the tax line that any moves they make will have to be very tightly constrained in terms of salary, and in any case, the draft is still six weeks away.
One of the weirder aspects of the abrupt end to this season is that when it comes to improving the team, we’re now talking about trading guys that we spent the past eight months cheering on.
It was a bit understandable last season when the salary cap situation meant that the C’s were going to have to part ways with a lot of money.
It’s another thing when you’re looking at a guy who deserved legit MVP consideration for what he did for the team and saying, “Yeah, but can we get Giannis if we trade him?”
This is where I have to wonder what it’s like for fans of other NBA teams that get caught in this limbo.
Do they really spend months speculating on roster moves that don’t happen and draft picks that don’t get made?
It all seems rather strange to me. Like, how do you go from rooting for Jaylen Brown to shopping him for Giannis and then, when that doesn’t pan out, back to rooting for him next season?
Perhaps I’m too wedded to the concrete, and I need to spend more time using my imagination—perhaps that’s the key to being a fan of a team that isn’t regularly a contender. Perhaps you have to have the ability to imagine your team being a contender because, in reality, they don’t have much of a shot.
That might be my problem.
I haven’t had to imagine the Celtics being contenders. They’ve just been contenders, period.
","guid":"e4495531-7ea6-3b0c-aab5-a5bccbffb9d3","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 10:04:00 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 12:26:59 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 12:26:59 GMT","metadata":{},"feedLink":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/","feedDescription":"Comprehensive National Basketball Association news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors...","feedUrl":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rss/"} {"title":"LeBron James is unsure about returning for a 24th NBA season after Lakers' exit","link":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/lebron-james-unsure-returning-24th-053607838.html","description":"LeBron James is unsure about returning for a 24th NBA season after Lakers' exit originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
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.”
","guid":"771c9f0a-d78a-396c-a078-b18fa66b2651","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 05:36:07 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 12:26:59 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 12:26:59 GMT","metadata":{},"feedLink":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/","feedDescription":"Comprehensive National Basketball Association news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors...","feedUrl":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rss/"} {"title":"Chasing Utopia review – renegade Google exec Mo Gawdat searches for ethical AI in alarming insider warning","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/may/12/chasing-utopia-review-renegade-google-exec-mo-gawdat-searches-for-ethical-ai-in-alarming-insider-warning","description":"Delivering much information about the scale of what’s coming, documentary also follows Gawdat’s campaign to get the programs with empathy
Another day, another warning about AI; vis-a-vis the reality we all know, this has roughly the same reassuring effect as a plane fuselage ripping off mid-flight. Starting off with familiar criticisms, such as putting the world out of work and handing over power to tech barons, Alex Holmes and Lina Zilinskaite’s film blasts an concentrated stream of AI concerns in its 83-minute runtime. By the time it is talking about current efforts to create computers out of human brain cells, potentially integrable into our own craniums, and implying this might be a good thing, it is (ironically) hard to know how to process all of this.
The Cassandra at the film’s centre is Mo Gawdat, former chief business officer at Google X, now a touring cautionary voice trying to get the world to listen about the perils of AI. Once overseeing advanced projects for the tech giants, his biggest moonshot lies ahead: to introduce a moral dimension into a tech race that looks increasingly like the frenzied season finale of late capitalism. He talks about feeling parental pride in watching Google’s AI-driven robotic arms learn to grasp objects, as children do. And he feels that humanity’s capacity for benevolence is exactly the training resource needed by neural networks in order to prevent the technology ushering in catastrophe.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/may/12/chasing-utopia-review-renegade-google-exec-mo-gawdat-searches-for-ethical-ai-in-alarming-insider-warning","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 12:00:46 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 12:35:47 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 12:35:47 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/4284fd5fac827603df311c144aa3e87294253173/623_38_2583_2066/master/2583.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=ac7154fbbf32e7f9bf22baab046006a9"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"‘We must keep her name alive’: Cesária Évora, the captivating Cape Verdean who went from restaurant singer to global star","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/music/2026/may/12/cesaria-evora-cape-verdean-singer-miss-perfumado","description":"After a lifetime of poverty, Évora found huge success aged 51 with 1992 album Miss Perfumado. As Cape Verdean singers celebrate her morna ballads on stage, those who knew her recall her power, pride and constant smoking
Cape Verde, an archipelago nearly 400 miles off the coast of Senegal, is home to around 800,000 people: about the same population as Leicester, and for decades the country’s music was very little known beyond its borders. Then, in 1992, Cape Verdean singer Cesária Évora released her album Miss Perfumado.
The album became a crossover hit across Europe, selling 500,000 copies in France alone, while in the US, Évora became the biggest selling African artist of the 20th century. Miss Perfumado showcased Évora’s sublime voice – smoky, weary, bruised yet seductive – singing Cape Verdean mornas: mournful ballads sung in the Kriolu language which blends old Portuguese with west African languages, with backings that have the same cross-cultural mix. A concert at London’s Barbican next month will celebrate Évora’s legacy with morna performed by rising Cape Verdean singers (Ceuzany, Elida Almeida, Lucibela, Teófilo Chantre) and Mayra Andrade, a celebrated vocalist who was mentored by her. “These concerts honouring her are important,” Andrade says. “She put Cape Verde on the map and we Cape Verdeans are determined to keep her name and music alive.”
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/music/2026/may/12/cesaria-evora-cape-verdean-singer-miss-perfumado","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 12:15:46 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 12:35:47 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 12:35:47 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/76aeec6e0d84813ac616fcfe6527a7e34bbbfda5/185_109_1098_879/master/1098.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=6f47ef919b255844eb4261b8fa45343c"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"Rugby sevens star Kevin Wekesa: ‘I am not blaming Europeans but I must highlight climate injustices’","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/may/12/rugby-sevens-star-kevin-wekesa-i-am-not-blaming-europeans-but-i-must-highlight-climate-injustices","description":"The Kenyan player has been recognised for his advocacy and grassroots work to tackle sport’s carbon footprint
“Most well-known people who talk about climate change are in North America and Europe,” says Kenyan rugby sevens star Kevin Wekesa, “but for us this is a very relevant conversation. It is not only about future tournaments or big international pledges. In Kenya, we see the effects in rising heat, cracked pitches and changing weather in communities where young athletes are growing up.”
A year before competing in his first Olympic Games at Paris 2024, Wekesa responded to Kenya’s relegation from the top tier of international sevens by offering free rugby coaching in schools across Kenya. After travelling to a school in Kirinyaga on the slopes of Mount Kenya, a wet and verdant region, Wekesa found an unplayable dry field and was forced to cancel the session. One of the students told Wekesa that conditions had been similar for two months, while another suggested the unfamiliar weather was because of climate change.
This is an extract from our newsletter, The Hotspot. To subscribe just visit this page and follow the instructions.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/may/12/rugby-sevens-star-kevin-wekesa-i-am-not-blaming-europeans-but-i-must-highlight-climate-injustices","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 12:11:34 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 12:35:47 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 12:35:47 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/b6ab9df4601b592ba8c1cf398bffbbe1c80403fb/397_0_2662_2129/master/2662.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=0b82f8e38f7463d91dfc673fa557bb23"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"I’m vegetarian. How can I get enough iron? | Kitchen aide","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/food/2026/may/12/vegetarian-how-get-enough-iron-kitchen-aide","description":"The answer is probably more about absorption than quantity, say our panel of experts
I’ve been advised to increase the iron in my diet but, as a vegetarian preoccupied with getting sufficient protein, I’m at a loss.
June, by email
Last year, a study by Randox Health found that almost one in three women who attended its UK clinics have an iron deficiency, which is to say that June isn’t alone. Yes, there are good sources that vegetarians can tap into, but we first need to address a few key points: “The heme iron you get from animal sources – red meat and darker poultry, say – is in a form that’s slightly better absorbed than non-heme iron, which is found in the likes of beans, tofu and leafy greens,” says Dominique Ludwig, nutritionist and author of No-Nonsense Nutrition. This is where vitamin C is your friend: “When we eat non-heme iron and vitamin C together, it increases absorption, so it might be a case for having peppers or tomatoes with your tofu.” But there’s another potential hitch: “On a vegetarian diet, some of that iron can be blocked from absorption because of things such as phytates [a plant compound found in whole grains, legumes, etc], or tannins in tea and dairy,” Ludwig adds, so it’s not simply about how much iron you’re getting, but how good your absorption is.
“Women aged 19-49 should aim for 14.8mg iron a day, but after menopause that drops to about 8.7mg, which falls in line with men’s requirements,” Ludwig says. “If you’re vegetarian, then, you can’t just be having pesto pasta, you need to be eating beans, lentils, nuts, seeds, soy products, and leafy greens, too.” Tofu can have 3-5mg iron per 100g, cooked lentils 3-4mg, chickpeas 2½-3mg, cashews 6-7mg and sesame seeds 14-15mg. So, much like getting dressed, layering is important.
\r\n Oats in the morning are a no-brainer: “A 40g serving will give you 2mg iron, so have them with milled flaxseed and berries for the vitamin C,” Ludwig advises. The same principle applies to the likes of a tofu scramble: “Throw in some kale and tomatoes [again, for the vitamin C] and serve it with wholemeal bread, and you’re looking at about 7mg iron,” Ludwig adds. In other words, your day is getting off to a good start.
Got a culinary dilemma? Email feast@theguardian.com
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/food/2026/may/12/vegetarian-how-get-enough-iron-kitchen-aide","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 12:00:46 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 12:35:48 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 12:35:48 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/308cdb8064c85a527a07f966e81571c860439d14/783_126_5606_4486/master/5606.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=495d49168fb2e5afd303b215f8a0c3a7"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"Greg Sankey backs March Madness expansion — with a caveat","link":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/greg-sankey-backs-march-madness-121945177.html","description":"SEC commissioner Greg Sankey revealed where he stands on NCAA Tournament expansion.
At the APSE Southeast Region meeting in the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame, Sankey answered whether he thought expanding the men's and women's basketball field from 68 teams to 76 was necessary.
“Addition seems appropriate...” Sankey said.
Opinion: NCAA Tournament expansion won't kill March Madness but will make it worse
'Why and who cares?' Rick Pitino questions expanded March Madness pushback
The new opening round will grow from eight teams to 24, be played Tuesday/Wednesday prior to the first round for men and Wednesday/Thursday for women and feature at-large teams and automatic qualifiers.
Sankey’s said the NCAA Tournament should feature ”the top 50 analytically, committee-determined teams.”
“You know, there’s a combination eligible to participate. What we do is give away spots for automatic bids, because that’s the ethos of the term. It seems a reasonable balance,” Sankey said. “And I think all the criticism and negativity, that’s the way social media rolls.”
The move has been anticipated since conversations began in 2025 as NCAA president Charlie Baker has strongly vouched for expansion. Multiple college athletic directors and coaches confirmed to USA TODAY Sports on April 28 there’s an “expectation” for it to grow.
“The apple cart hasn’t been upset, burned, thrown down the hill and discarded,” Sankey said.
“It’s a bit of a change.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: SEC commissioner Greg Sankey backs NCAA Tournament expansion to 76 teams
","guid":"3377441a-c97f-38ff-acd9-3519947d4015","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 12:19:45 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 12:55:29 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 12:55:29 GMT","metadata":{},"feedLink":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/","feedDescription":"Comprehensive National Basketball Association news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors...","feedUrl":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rss/"} {"title":"LeBron James is unsure about returning for a 24th NBA season after Lakers' exit","link":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/lebron-james-unsure-returning-24th-053607736.html","description":"LeBron James is unsure about returning for a 24th NBA season after Lakers' exit originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
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.”
","guid":"190c450e-2f01-3c86-94b9-b630bbd8ff49","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 05:36:07 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 12:55:30 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 12:55:30 GMT","metadata":{},"feedLink":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/","feedDescription":"Comprehensive National Basketball Association news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors...","feedUrl":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rss/"} {"link":"http://scripting.com/2026/05/12.html#a130030","description":"Good morning sports fans!","guid":"http://scripting.com/2026/05/12.html#a130030","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 13:00:30 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 13:01:06 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 13:01:06 GMT","metadata":{},"feedTitle":"Scripting News","feedLink":"http://scripting.com/","feedDescription":"Dave Winer, OG blogger, podcaster, developed first apps in many categories. Old enough to know better. It's even worse than it appears.","feedUrl":"http://scripting.com/rss.xml"} {"title":"A Frida Kahlo opera and a robot croupier: photos of the day – Tuesday","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/news/gallery/2026/may/12/a-frida-kahlo-opera-and-a-robot-croupier-photos-of-the-day-tuesday","description":"The Guardian’s picture editors select photographs from around the world
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/news/gallery/2026/may/12/a-frida-kahlo-opera-and-a-robot-croupier-photos-of-the-day-tuesday","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 12:32:28 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 13:04:27 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 13:04:27 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7361f99b4308882094534593c547adc28c7e4388/0_0_3250_2600/master/3250.png?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=852bf92629d8624c434801b321e50f25"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"link":"http://scripting.com/2026/05/12.html#a130150","description":"Yesterday I learned about JSONL, and was of course intrigued. It's a really simple thing, even simpler than RSS and does basically the same thing. And even better, it's the way the AI industry hooks things together. So If we can get RSS to serve as a source of JSONL feeds, it's possible that the AI industry will find it useful. My goal is to get every standard of the web hooked up to AI, quickly, before the silos realize they're leaving out something important. Once they figure it out, they'll have no choice but to add real RSS support. So I put together a quick demo app that hooks into FeedLand and posts to a JSONL feed new items from one of a small set of feeds I chose basically at random. And here is the JSONL feed. If you're a developer in AI-land could you try reading this into your JSONL-ingesting app, and let me know if I got it right. Here's a place to comment. BTW, that URL is temporary just for this quick demo.","guid":"http://scripting.com/2026/05/12.html#a130150","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 13:01:50 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 13:06:40 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 13:06:40 GMT","metadata":{},"feedTitle":"Scripting News","feedLink":"http://scripting.com/","feedDescription":"Dave Winer, OG blogger, podcaster, developed first apps in many categories. Old enough to know better. It's even worse than it appears.","feedUrl":"http://scripting.com/rss.xml"} {"title":"Should we be worried about Matt Able at the NBA Combine?","link":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/worried-matt-able-nba-combine-130000313.html","description":"Mar 12, 2026; Charlotte, NC, USA; NC State Wolfpack guard Matt Able (3) shoots in the first half at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images | Bob Donnan-Imagn Images\tWhen Juke Harris met with UNC head coach Michael Malone and staff at a restaurant in Salisbury a month ago, Harris seemed determined to test the NBA waters in the combine. UNC decided to shift its attention to a different option, Matt Able, a rising sophomore who put together a promising freshmen season at NC State.
The good news: Able looks to be a promising, NBA-bound talent. The bad news: that NBA destination may be calling sooner rather than later.
ESPN released its latest mock draft, and their prognosticators speculate Able might land with the Houston Rockets at pick 39. That’s the upper third of the 2nd round, which last year earned those picks guaranteed two-year contracts similar to first round picks. Bonus: Able accepted an invitation to work out at the NBA Draft Combine, which runs this week.
View LinkYou will note that Juke Harris does not appear in that mock draft. Juke opted to forego the NBA Combine and sign with Tennessee, for a number rumored to be as much as $5 million. So, we passed on Juke because we couldn’t wait for the Combine. Instead, we signed a talent who’s going to test the combine, with at least one major media outlet placing him in the portion of the draft where players get two guaranteed years.
Other major mocks don’t mention Able at all, although it’s unclear if they don’t deem him a draft pick or they expect him to return to UNC. Both would be good news for Tar Heel fans. Rookie Scale, which averages results from reputable mocks, lists Able at pick 56. The Athletic (free article) excludes Able completely, perhaps due to an emphasis on not projecting picks who might return to college. The ESPN mock draft for the time being remains a significant outlier.
In all probability, Able gets a combine under his belt to gain experience for next year and plays for UNC next season. A couple of outstanding workouts and scrimmages, however, could muddy the waters considerably. So, should we be worried about Able being at UNC next season?
As a lifelong Tar Heel fan, I rarely miss an opportunity to worry, so, for me: yes.
How about you?
","guid":"7c5fe736-86e2-3da2-9dfb-edf8bdd9445b","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 13:00:00 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 13:24:39 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 13:24:39 GMT","metadata":{},"feedLink":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/","feedDescription":"Comprehensive National Basketball Association news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors...","feedUrl":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rss/"} {"title":"With the Mavericks at the ninth pick in the NBA Draft, we turn our eyes toward Mike Schmitz’ record","link":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/mavericks-ninth-pick-nba-draft-110300198.html","description":"BRISTOL, CT - NOVEMBER 18: NBA Draft Analyst, Mike Schmitz looks at his phone during the 2020 NBA Draft on November 18, 2020 in Bristol, Connecticut at ESPN Headquarters. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2020 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images\tWhen Mike Schmitz was hired as the Dallas Mavericks’ new general manager under the newly minted head man Masai Ujiri, he was hailed as a master talent evaluator.
Now, with the Mavericks landing the No. 9 overall pick in the upcoming NBA Draft after Sunday’s Draft Lottery, we turn our eyes toward some of the moves he had a hand in as assistant GM for the Portland Trail Blazers and some of his hotter takes on incoming NBA talent during his time analyzing the draft for DraftExpress and ESPN.
This year’s draft is full of electrifying, potentially franchise-shifting talent at the top, but there are tiers. It’s levels to this shit, as a wise man once said. The Mavs will not be operating on the tippy top level if they keep the ninth pick and select from the leftovers after the top two tiers are all but gutted. It is, on its face, a disappointing result given the season Mavericks fans just endured.
As Ujiri himself said in a recent sit-down interview with Mavericks Chief Comms Officer Gina Miller, “[The NBA Draft Lottery is] a moment where we’re all human beings. You feel it. You know what the odds are, but you still feel like you are the one [to move up].”
And when it doesn’t happen, like for the Raptors in 2025 or for the Mavs this year, you may find yourself kicking rocks with your head hung low on a lonesome stretch of highway as a tumbleweed drifts by.
But at the very least, there are smart people in charge now. They are formulating a plan. These are people who have an actual vision; they’re not manufacturing one for spin after dropping a nuke on the thing you love.
So here are some of Schmitz’ Greatest Hits. Play these on repeat as you wonder how the Mavericks deal with the 2026 offseason.
The 2018 NBA DraftSchmitz was all-in on Luka Dončić in the run-up to the 2018 NBA Draft, as he worked as an analyst for ESPN. The headline clipped and shared across social media in the days since his hiring in Dallas reads, “There has never been an NBA draft prospect like Slovenia’s Luka Dončić.”
The first-round draft results from that year are pure comedy with the benefit of eight years’ hindsight. The great debate for many was Ayton or Dončić at No. 1, which has proven over the last eight years to be a complete laugher.
Schmitz called Dončić a “unicorn.” He called the Mavericks the “clear winner” of the draft after all the cards were turned in. He referred to Dončić as a “historic” prospect with unparalleled skill, basketball IQ, and winning experience for his age. He heard the criticism of Dončić’s athleticism and tried to convince the masses that it didn’t matter.
He was 100% right. The deceleration move that Dončić befuddled better athlete after better athlete with has been mimicked and copy-catted to death in the years since.
The 2020 NBA DraftMorning after draft hot takes:
— Mike Schmitz (@Mike_Schmitz) November 19, 2020
-LaMelo will be the best player to come out of this draft
-Okongwu will be the best big
-Avdija will be the best INTL
-Tyrese Haliburton went way too low
-Maxey will go top-10 in a re-draft
-Bolmaro will be the 2nd best INTL from 2020 pic.twitter.com/E2G1M3fhdr
Schmitz’s soothsaying after the 2020 NBA Draft should be a case study for talent evaluation. He nailed it all in the above post on what was then Twitter (ah, simpler times), save for underselling Anthony Edwards and Franz Wagner a little bit.
LaMelo Ball has proven out. Deni Avdija has proven out, and Schmitz’s hand in bringing Avdija to the Trail Blazers will be covered later. Okongwu has proven out, fresh off a season where he averaged 15.2 points and nearly eight rebounds a game. The Tyrese Haliburton nod was downright psychic. The specificity with which he described Tyrese Maxey’s potential may be the most impressive item on his list, and these last two citations should encourage Mavs fans the most. Picking from a less-than-optimal spot, Schmitz can spot the dog among more highly touted also-rans.
This unique talent could also serve Dallas well at the 30th pick.
Early Wembanyama adopterSchmitz is such an international talent geek, it’s delicious. Mavs fans in particular, what with the team’s penchant for going and getting great players from overseas, should be salivating at the thought of his finger anywhere near the trigger.
He was among the earliest adopters of one Victor Wembanyama, releasing the following assessment in 2020, three years before The Alien was drafted by the San Antonio Spurs: “The prototypical NBA center is shrinking as the league gets smaller. But Wembanyama is different. Not only does he put a lid on the rim like Rudy Gobert, he also shows the floor-spacing potential of a young Kristaps Porzingis, with a far better handle and passing feel.”
Wembanyama was just 16 at the time Schmitz wrote that. It’s a bit harder to miss Wembanyama, what with his singular frame and skillset, but Schmitz still gets points for being one of the first to recognize the paradigm shifting nature of his potential arrival on the scene.
Spot-on assessment of Jalen WilliamsReally enjoyed breaking down film with Jalen Williams. Impressive feel for the game with a really unique trajectory. Undersized PG in high school. Was only 6-3 when he arrived at Santa Clara. Now one of the biggest sleepers in the draft at 6-6 with length and a refined skill set. pic.twitter.com/79UT3K0DjA
— Mike Schmitz (@Mike_Schmitz) May 11, 2022
Schmitz called Jalen Williams the steal of the 2022 draft a month before the picks were in.
“Easy to see him generating substantial 1st round buzz during the pre-draft process,” Schmitz said of the 6-foot-6 prospect with a 7-foot-2 wingspan. He did exactly that and has since proven to, indeed, be the steal of that draft class.
He just seems to have a track record for being in on guys who go on to over-achieve. Schmitz is a seeker. He’ll find you a dude.
Bringing Avdija and Camara to PortlandAs then-assistant GM, Schmitz theoretically had at least some input into the trade that netted the Blazers Avdija’s services in exchange for Malcolm Brogdon, the 14th pick in the 2024 draft (which ended up being Bub Carrington), a 2029 first-round pick and two second-rounders. This was highway robbery.
Avdija’s jump in production during the 2025-26 season is something many predicted after a couple of seasons playing in Washington. Many Mavericks fans and analysts wished the team could have put together a package for Avdija rather than Daniel Gafford on deadline day in 2024. But Schmitz not only predicted Avdija’s ascension years earlier, he was also part of the team that put together a package to fleece the poor Wizards of the prospect he knew was about to arrive. Chess moves.
A year earlier, following Damian Lillard’s request for a trade after 11 seasons in Portland, Schmitz & Co. were still able to command a substantial haul when the Trail Blazers obliged him. They did not, in retrospect, get held over a barrel in the process. They got Deandre Ayton, Jrue Holliday and Toumani Camara, who was considered at the time something of a throw-in piece but has since developed into one of the best defensive stoppers in the league. He was a second-team All-Defensive Team selection a year ago after being drafted 52nd overall in 2023.
The Yang Hansen of it allSchmitz’s detractors will point to his role in trading for Yang Hansen, whom the Memphis Grizzlies selected with the 16th pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, as evidence that he takes too many risks on international prospects that he likes over surer shots on the draft board. Schmitz was suspended for two weeks without pay by the NBA in April after the team self-reported that Schmitz and his fellow co-general manager, Sergio Oliva, made illegal contact with Yang in 2023, two years before the youngster from China was eventually drafted by the team. The NBA also fined the Blazers $100,000 for that self-reported violation.
That deal may well go down as a mistake, but the Blazers also secured a first-round pick and two second-rounders in the deal. The jury is still out on Yang, who is just 20, by the way. The concern here is that the Mavericks don’t have a bunch of draft capital to experiment with in the next few years. They don’t fully own their first-rounders in either the 2027 or 2028 drafts.
Now that we know where the Mavs stand in the draft order, visions of trade scenarios like Yang-for-Coward will no doubt begin to dance in our collective heads? What could the Mavericks get for, say, P.J. Washington and No. 9? How far could the Mavs move up if they found someone interested in Dereck Lively II and the ninth pick?
The onus is on Ujiri and Schmitz to get it right this year. Good thing they’ve both shown a talent for wheeling, dealing and making the pieces fit.
","guid":"7357e9b9-a06d-3b95-b1b7-a37e8da8e078","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 11:03:00 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 13:24:39 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 13:24:39 GMT","metadata":{},"feedLink":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/","feedDescription":"Comprehensive National Basketball Association news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors...","feedUrl":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rss/"} {"link":"https://scripting4.wordpress.com/2026/05/12/593/","description":"I am enjoying continuing these test posts.
","guid":"http://scripting4.wordpress.com/2026/05/12/593/","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 13:40:26 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 13:40:31 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 13:40:31 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://1.gravatar.com/avatar/d1f026c099fa51d2957b1612f11412cd08dd69c2bb160968068ed0f337b8918b?s=96&d=identicon&r=G","type":"image"},"metadata":{"wpSiteId":223088957,"wpPostId":593},"feedTitle":"An experimental blog","feedLink":"https://scripting4.wordpress.com/","feedDescription":"A place for interesting experiments.","feedUrl":"https://scripting4.wordpress.com/feed/"} {"title":"WATCH LIVE: Hegseth, Caine testify on Capitol Hill as Trump says Iran ceasefire is weak","link":"https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/watch-live-hegseth-caine-testify-on-capitol-hill-as-trump-says-iran-ceasefire-is-weak","description":"Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is facing a new round of questioning from lawmakers over the Iran war Tuesday, including some Republicans who have expressed concerns over the length of the conflict and its lack of congressional approval.","guid":"https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/watch-live-hegseth-caine-testify-on-capitol-hill-as-trump-says-iran-ceasefire-is-weak","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 13:38:37 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 13:50:36 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 13:50:36 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://d3i6fh83elv35t.cloudfront.net/static/2026/05/2026-05-12T132046Z_803863387_RC2P7LAWUWLD_RTRMADP_3_IRAN-CRISIS-HEGSETH-CAINE-1024x683.jpg","type":"image"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"PBS NewsHour - Politics","feedLink":"https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics","feedDescription":"Recent political news, analysis and reporting.","feedUrl":"https://www.pbs.org/newshour/feeds/rss/politics"} {"title":"Irish TV to air Father Ted instead of Eurovision final in protest against Israel’s inclusion","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2026/may/12/irish-tv-rte-father-ted-eurovision-final-israel","description":"National broadcaster RTÉ accused of antisemitism for decision to screen satirical 1996 Eurovision episode in boycott of contest
It is considered one of the funniest episodes of a beloved sitcom, but the Father Ted storyline about Eurovision has been dragged into the row over Israel’s participation in this week’s song contest.
Ireland’s national broadcaster, RTÉ, which is boycotting the competition in protest against Israel’s inclusion, will instead broadcast the 1996 episode A Song for Europe, in which the characters Father Ted and Father Dougal perform their song My Lovely Horse and earn nul points.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2026/may/12/irish-tv-rte-father-ted-eurovision-final-israel","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 13:31:22 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 14:02:24 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 14:02:24 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/6ea6bf54c61e3fec9e546be69b6f965e569d2f8e/238_0_1125_900/master/1125.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=2670077e94a6a36b38eb74681c761f0f"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"‘He’s inspired generations’: Stormzy to produce biopic about football great Ian Wright","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/may/12/stormzy-producing-ian-wright-biopic","description":"The Crystal Palace, Arsenal and England striker says his life story – now in development with the rapper’s Merky Films – has ‘hard-hitting moments, but in the end I want it to give people hope and joy’
Stormzy has announced he is to produce a biopic of former Arsenal, Crystal Palace and England striker Ian Wright.
Wright, who successfully transitioned to TV punditry after a distinguished playing career that included becoming Arsenal’s highest ever goalscorer, before he was overtaken by Thierry Henry, said he wanted the film to “give people hope and joy”.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/may/12/stormzy-producing-ian-wright-biopic","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 13:47:41 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 14:02:24 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 14:02:24 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/46c564de5fc4b2740388d1764ffae026ba474620/0_0_5000_4000/master/5000.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=592d264f17c37d350589a781e50400aa"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"Matching Gary Oldman’s Krapp with a teenager’s take on Godot is a masterstoke","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2026/may/12/gary-oldman-krapps-last-tape-royal-court-theatre-london-leo-simpe-asante","description":"The Royal Court is presenting the Slow Horses star’s version of one Beckett masterpiece alongside 19-year-old Leo Simpe-Asante’s riff on another. They combine beautifully
Where does the time go? It’s a year since Gary Oldman performed Krapp’s Last Tape in York, returning him to the Theatre Royal where at the age of 21 he played a sleepy panto cat. Now, Samuel Beckett’s play has a homecoming of its own. Oldman has brought the production – directed and designed by himself – to London’s Royal Court, where Krapp had its premiere in 1958, starring Patrick Magee. The Court is also where Oldman cut is teeth in the 80s. “I find it difficult to fully grasp, but four decades have passed,” he writes in the programme.
The sentiment is fitting: Krapp’s Last Tape is indeed an old man’s play. Beckett was 52 when it was first staged and Krapp is 69. He “heaves great sighs” as he shuffles around his den, reeling in the years through diary recordings made 30 years earlier, in which he reflects on his late 20s. But for this Royal Court run, Krapp is accompanied by a teenage voice. The evening begins with a short new work by 19-year-old Leo Simpe-Asante, a winner of the theatre’s inaugural Young Playwrights award. It’s an audacious and generous bit of programming that signals huge confidence in the newcomer, should serve to inspire other first-time playwrights and retains the theatre’s mission to produce new writing while reviving a classic. It’s also a reminder that Krapp itself was originally a curtain-raiser – the main event in 1958 was Beckett’s Endgame.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2026/may/12/gary-oldman-krapps-last-tape-royal-court-theatre-london-leo-simpe-asante","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 13:52:52 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 14:02:24 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 14:02:24 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/e824563cb44659d0f0faa976ce5cb93271b0d68c/93_177_2387_1910/master/2387.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=6939328ab3e173c6e71b3046e6d4ba06"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"Tell us: what are your top three novels of all time?","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/books/2026/may/12/tell-us-what-are-your-top-three-novels-of-all-time","description":"Find out how we compiled our list of the 100 best novels published in English – and nominate your favourites
See 100-81 on the list here
This week, we reveal our list of the 100 greatest novels published in English, as voted for by authors and critics around the world. We polled 172 authors, critics and academics for their top 10 novels of all time, published in English, and asked them to rank their choices in order of preference. We scored the titles according to how often they were voted for, and then added a weighting based on individual rankings to produce the overall list of 100 greatest books.
What would be at the top of your list? Which authors do you think should be there? What are your favourite novels of all time?
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/books/2026/may/12/tell-us-what-are-your-top-three-novels-of-all-time","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 13:00:47 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 14:02:25 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 14:02:25 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/95481fd21e42771a60306c1a7256c18bfb51c7d7/0_0_2400_1920/master/2400.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=af740419540345ec3c55a401f33c1c3b"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"‘Paranormal Activity’ to Haunt Broadway This Summer","link":"https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/12/theater/paranormal-activity-broadway.html","description":"Inspired by the popular film series, the play has already run in Britain and in four U.S. cities. It arrives in New York in August after a Boston stop.","guid":"https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/12/theater/paranormal-activity-broadway.html","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 14:00:05 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 14:07:26 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 14:07:26 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://static01.nyt.com/images/2026/05/12/multimedia/12cul-theater-paranormal-1-qkhj/12cul-theater-paranormal-1-qkhj-mediumSquareAt3X.jpg","type":"image"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"NYT > New York","feedLink":"https://www.nytimes.com/section/nyregion","feedUrl":"https://rss.nytimes.com/services/xml/rss/nyt/NYRegion.xml"} {"title":"King me: Believe it or not, LeBron James is a Hall of Famer as a Laker alone","link":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/article/king-me-believe-it-or-not-lebron-james-is-a-hall-of-famer-as-a-laker-alone-135858870.html","description":"If this is it for LeBron James as a Laker, he can walk away with pride.
After signing in 2018, he played eight wildly successful seasons and became the all-time leading scorer, passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 2023. The 41-year-old won an NBA championship in six playoff runs and reached the conference finals twice, all without missing a single playoff game. Individually, he took home a number of accolades, including eight All-Star nods, seven All-NBA appearances and even a 2019-20 assist title by averaging a career-high 10.2 assists per game.
For most NBA players, an eight-year heater like that would be the stuff of dreams. But after the Game 4 loss against Oklahoma City on Monday night, James’ future is uncertain. He is set to be an unrestricted free agent and his days in LakerLand could be in the rearview mirror. LeBron told reporters following the loss: “I don’t know what the future holds for me.”
Even in his age-41 season, James rated as one of the best players in the league, averaging a team-high 23.2 points, 7.3 assists and 6.7 rebounds this postseason for the short-handed Lakers. With Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves (also a free agent) struggling to stay healthy, the need for James’ versatility, leadership and production remains high. He could re-sign with the Lakers or pick up elsewhere with the Golden State Warriors, Cleveland Cavaliers or other title-aspiring teams needing a veteran impact.
But here’s the crazy thing that really puts LeBron’s Lakers tenure in perspective:
If you isolate James’ stint with the Lakers and look at just his age-34 to age-41 seasons, he would almost certainly be a Hall of Famer based on those eight seasons alone.
And we can prove it.
LeBron's career in purple and gold has been more impressive than you might realize. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)ASSOCIATED PRESSThe Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame ProbabilityThink about the hardware that James earned as a Laker. In those eight seasons in purple and gold, he earned more All-NBA appearances than the entire Hall of Fame careers of Jason Kidd, Carmelo Anthony and Clyde Drexler. He won more playoff games than Hall of Famers Mitch Richmond, Bernard King and Yao Ming if you look at just James’ Lakers tenure.
This isn’t just an exercise in cherry-picking stats. We can look at the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame voting history for something more comprehensive. The proprietors of the indispensable Basketball Reference studied the numbers and found that when it comes to Hall-worthy player careers, there are a series of key statistics and accolades that are statistically significant. That is, they are predictive barometers of Springfield immortality based on those who are in the Hall and those who are not.
When it comes to NBA careers, Basketball Reference determined there are five significant factors (in no order):
All-Star Game selections
NBA top 10 NBA leaderboard appearances in the following categories: Points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, minutes played
NBA championships
NBA peak win shares
Height (believe it or not, research shows, the shorteryou are, the better chances you have)
Win shares, by the way, is an advanced metric that estimates the number of wins that a player contributes to his team based on their box score statistics. The other stuff is pretty self-explanatory. In the end, it answers the question: If this player retired today, what is the probability he would be elected to the Hall of Fame?
Another thing to keep in mind, this only considers whether a player is Hall of Fame worthy based purely on a player’s NBA résumé. European stalwarts like Dino Radja and Šarūnas Marčiulionis would not have been deemed Hall-caliber based on their abbreviated NBA careers. But LeBron in L.A.? We can pull that up.
Leaderboard appearances? With the Lakers, he was top-10 in points in 2019-20 (8th), and assists in 2019-20 (1st), 2023-24 (6th) and 2024-25 (7th). Title? Check. All-Star appearances? He’s had eight of them. The highest win shares total of his Lakers tenure came in the championship season in which he registered an impressive 9.8 figure.
When we type in James’ résumé and apply the model, we can calculate the Hall of Fame probability based on his production in those eight seasons. So, what was his Hall of Fame probability as a Laker according to Basketball Reference’s handy HOF probability calculator? Would he be a HOF in purple and gold only?
Without further ado …
Yup, Hall of Famer. It’s 86.5%.
A near lock.
We can say with pretty good certainty that James would be a Hall of Famer if we just looked at his Lakers run. That’s a crazy notion on the surface. Then we peel back the layers and realize that, since he turned 33, he has as many All-NBA appearances as Tracy McGrady, Patrick Ewing and Allen Iverson did in their entire careers. And they never won a title.
Another way to illustrate James’ dominance is to compare his Lakers résumé on paper to other full Hall of Fame careers. Take Mitch Richmond, for instance. The Hall of Fame scorer enjoyed a fine 14-year career in the league, achieving six All-Star appearances and regularly appearing among the scoring leaders. James earned more All-Star (and All-NBA) appearances in just his Lakers stint and had a much bigger hand in the Lakers’ championship than Richmond’s 2002 ring with the team. James’ Lakers career also looks favorably compared to Joe Dumars, Jo Jo White and Earl Monroe.
And that’s just a handful of notable comps. This is where it gets even crazier.
LeBron’s not one, not two, not three, but four Hall of Fame careersIf we can establish that James had a Hall of Fame worthy career as a Laker, it means something even bigger. It means he has stacked four separate Hall of Fame careers on top of each other, demarcated by the three offseasons in which he switched teams.
During the 2023-24 season, when I first looked at this possibility, James’ tenure with the Lakers didn’t quite clear the bar. At the time, he had reached “only” five All-Star teams and hadn’t yet finished among the league leaders in assists in 2023-24 and 2024-25. But with the three extra All-Star notches on his belt and those extra leaderboard appearances, Laker LeBron would reach Springfield based on his résumé.
And believe it or not, both his first Cavs stint (with no titles, but just about every other accomplishment) and his second Cavs stint (with a title) were HOF-worthy, as well as his Miami stint in which he raised the Larry O’Brien trophy twice and dialed up his advanced metrics to historic levels. So that leaves us with — count ‘em — four Hall of Fame careers.
When James signed a four-year deal with the team in 2018, no one would have blamed him for hanging it up after that deal. (Well, maybe some people; it’s LeBron, after all.) He had already played 15 seasons in the league, which was as many as Michael Jordan played and more than Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West and Larry Bird.
And then he played eight seasons after that. Complete with enough glory to earn a Hall of Fame spot alone. His fourth such golden run of his career.
We can’t ask for much more.
Well, there’s one thing: How about a fifth Hall of Fame career?
","guid":"f1533e66-ef13-45e5-be98-29e10aebb710","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 13:58:58 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 14:22:10 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 14:22:10 GMT","metadata":{},"feedLink":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/","feedDescription":"Comprehensive National Basketball Association news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors...","feedUrl":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rss/"} {"title":"Season in Review: Royce O’Neale was the hero Phoenix needed and the victim of its flaws","link":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/season-review-royce-o-neale-120000076.html","description":"OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - APRIL 22: Royce O'Neale #00 of the Phoenix Suns celebrates a made basket during the first half against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game Two of the Western Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center on April 22, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Joshua Gateley/Getty Images) | Getty Images\tWelcome to our Phoenix Suns Season in Review series, where we revisit every player who suited up during the 2025–26 campaign through the lens of expectation, reality, and what it ultimately meant.
*SunsRank is based on Bright Side writers’ ranking.
Royce O’Neale somehow represented everything the Suns did well this season, but also everything they were missing.
Coming into this season, we expected O’Neale to be one of the Suns’ best 3-point shooters and a positive contributor defensively, as a marginal rotation player.
O’Neale was an integral part of the Suns’ rotation this season because of his shooting and connectivity on bot ends of the floor, but his time as a plus defender has faded with age, and his lack of athleticism was exploited because he was asked to play a role he is no longer suited for.
Moving forward, the Suns need to find more athleticism than they have from Dillon Brooks and Royce O’Neale on the front line. O’Neale was asked to be a power forward this season despite being another 6’5” player on the roster. If the Suns expect to ascend as a team, filling his role with someone who has more athleticism and defensive capability might be the most important thing to accomplish on the Suns’ checklist this offseason.
Whether that player comes in a trade for an Aaron Gordon or Cam Johnson type player, in the draft, or Rasheer Fleming taking a sophomore leap. O’Neale is another flawed but valuable player the Suns have on the roster and will be on the trading block all summer because of his contract, 3-point shooting, veteran poise, and high IQ.
O’Neale’s most memorable moment is easy.
ROYCE O'NEALE GAME-WINNER 🎯🎯🎯 pic.twitter.com/QuSN37cUg1
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) February 27, 2026
Now this grade might be way, way, way too high and a shock to the system for many of you reading this. I know what the numbers and the advanced analytics say about Royce O’Neale. What the Suns asked him to be this year, compared to his ability, may have been the widest gap on the roster this season. In my grading for O’Neale, I am not going to penalize him for being asked to bite off more than he can chew. For what the Suns are paying O’Neale and at his age, he outperformed expectations this season despite being an obviously flawed player on an obviously flawed team.
O’Neale had a career year in scoring, shot over 40% from the three-point line, and started 67 games for the Phoenix Suns this season. Heading into the season, every Suns fan or team member would have signed up for what O’Neale produced this year, even if we disagreed about him getting minutes over Ryan Dunn and Fleming.
He has his flaws, which were glaring this season when it came to rebounding and defending on the ball. His weaknesses were only exacerbated by a poorly constructed roster that forced him into a role he simply cannot fill anymore. For the Suns to continue to ascend, he will need to have a diminished role next season, but this season, O’Neale was integral to the Suns’ success. There was a reason Jordan Ott continually chose the grizzled 10-year veteran despite his limitations.
The Suns won 10 more games this season than last year and started O’Neale in place of Kevin Durant. That alone locks in a high grade from me.
","guid":"808e4613-c4cc-3c53-8073-dbdd1eedc0d7","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 12:00:00 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 14:22:11 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 14:22:11 GMT","metadata":{},"feedLink":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/","feedDescription":"Comprehensive National Basketball Association news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors...","feedUrl":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rss/"} {"title":"Daniel Gafford was a key piece in the Finals run. Is he still a piece in the future?","link":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/daniel-gafford-key-piece-finals-120000927.html","description":"SAN ANTONIO, TX - FEBRUARY 7: Daniel Gafford #21 of the Dallas Mavericks handles the ball during the game against the San Antonio Spurs on February 7, 2026 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images\tWhen Daniel Gafford boarded the plane from Washington to Dallas in February 2024, it was believed he was one of the missing pieces to being a true title contender. The Mavericks witnessed in real time what Luka Doncic could do with a lob threat center in rookie Dereck Lively II, and adding a second threat would solidify the Dallas backcourt. That wet dream came true.
In his first game as a Maverick against the first-place Oklahoma City Thunder, Gafford recorded 19 points and 9 rebounds. Dallas took Oklahoma City to the woodshed in Gafford’s debut, beating them in front of a raucous AAC crowd 146-111. In his first season with Dallas, the big man averaged 11.2 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game, in 21.5 minutes.
During the 2024 title run, Gafford’s size and athletic ability proved to be an advantage for the Mavs, as he was a matchup nightmare for the Clippers, Thunder, and Timberwolves, especially off the bench. However, his inability to defend in space proved problematic against the champion Celtics, and he became all but unplayable.
That high-and-low seesaw has been the soundtrack of the past two seasons for Gafford. His moments of dominance are typically followed by stretches of poor play with frequent injuries sprinkled throughout.
The Nico Harrison visionWhen Nico Harrison traded for Anthony Davis, the vision was that the Mavericks would bolster an ultra-big lineup that would be impossible to score on (at least in the paint). Anthony Davis was slated to play the power forward next to either Daniel Gafford or Dereck Lively II. The vision blew up seven games into the season after Lively suffered a season-ending foot injury. Injuries to Dallas big men have unfortunately become the norm, and Gafford was no exception.
Gafford was coming off his 2024-2025 season of playing only 57 games, his lowest since the COVID bubble 2020-2021 season. Fresh off a 3-year/$54 million extension in the summer, Gafford came in with something to prove. Minus Lively, and with the runway of the full season, it was his time to shoulder the load. He had shown in flashes what he could do with an expanded role. Shortly after Doncic went out (forever) on Christmas Day 2024, Gafford showed signs of excellence. In January 2025, he averaged 14.9 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game. He was beginning to show signs that he could be a solid and consistent starting center.
But then everything fell apart. Gafford missed the next two months due to a knee injury, only returning for the last few games of the season, as the Mavericks tried to make a play-in run. He wasn’t the same and hasn’t really been the same since.
Season in reviewGafford had a plethora of other nagging injuries this season, the most severe being multiple ankle sprains that have not allowed him to stay on the court consistently. He played 55 games this season. His averages were still near normal for him, at 9.5 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game. But the eye test said he wasn’t right.
Whether it was the fit alongside Davis, lack of a true point guard, or being bothered by injuries, Gafford had another season to forget. It was probably all three of those factors. He’s an effort and energy guy that the fans love, and players feed off of. But his biggest strength in showcasing his athleticism was largely suppressed this season. Maybe it was the ankle, or the knee, or just mental exhaustion from all the drama (I get it), he just didn’t look the same.
He had stretches once again of good play, with his best game coming on a March 12 win against the Memphis Grizzlies. Gafford posted 22 points, 14 rebounds, and a block. It was the only win for the Mavericks in a span of over a month. March was his best month, putting together averages of 15.1 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game in 12 games. December was his worst month at 6.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game in nine games.
After another season riddled with injuries, it’s probably safe to say Gafford is at best a good backup center. He’s a touch undersized for a starting-caliber center, but if he’s healthy, he provides great minutes off the bench. As he proved, he can be a rotation piece on a contending team.
Contract statusIf he can stay on the floor, Gafford is a value piece. His 3-year contract extension kicks in this upcoming summer, as he’ll be making $17.2 million in 2026-2027, $18.1 million in 2027-2028, and $18.9 million in 2028-2029. With swirling questions around Dereck Lively II, what the Mavericks do next with Gafford will be interesting. He was a player teams called about at the trade deadline, and if he bumps up his value next season with health, the offers might become too good to say “no” to.
Looking aheadNot to beat a dead horse (okay, bad pun), but the big question next year for Gafford and Dallas will be his health. He’ll turn 28 in October and is not getting any younger. If he can be on the court back to old Daniel Gafford, he’s probably a piece worth keeping around. If the injuries continue to pile up, Dallas may once again take phone calls. In the era of Cooper Flagg, health and youth are of the utmost importance.
Grade: C+Gafford played fairly well when he was at his healthiest, but that didn’t happen often enough. The Mavericks need much more from Gafford if he’s on the roster going forward.
","guid":"9964a3fc-b434-3b11-85ef-e092b7d3c94e","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 12:00:00 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 14:22:11 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 14:22:11 GMT","metadata":{},"feedLink":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/","feedDescription":"Comprehensive National Basketball Association news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors...","feedUrl":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rss/"} {"title":"Palestine Action activists in Elbit protest could be sentenced as terrorists","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/may/12/palestine-action-activists-elbit-protest-terrorist-connection-ruling","description":"Judge’s ruling was not disclosed to jurors in two trials and can only now be revealed after reporting restrictions lifted
Four Palestine Action activists convicted after a retrial over a violent protest at an Israeli arms manufacturer’s UK site face being sentenced as terrorists despite the jury not being told this.
In an unprecedented move in a criminal damage case, the judge, Mr Justice Johnson, ruled before the first trial that there appeared to be a “terrorist connection” to the offences – even though the protest took place before Palestine Action was proscribed – but this could not be told to the jury. The finding and the restriction on telling the jury continued for the retrial.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/may/12/palestine-action-activists-elbit-protest-terrorist-connection-ruling","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 14:00:35 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 14:27:58 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 14:27:58 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/bf8e8acfeba1fdc6094a67043b0dca95758d3692/570_0_4848_3878/master/4848.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=cd012a1f07354c3237b88f2319ff6bee"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"UK news | The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news","feedDescription":"Latest news, breaking news and current affairs coverage from across the UK from theguardian.com","feedUrl":"http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/rss"} {"title":"Palestine Action activists in Elbit protest could be sentenced as terrorists","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/may/12/palestine-action-activists-elbit-protest-terrorist-connection-ruling","description":"Judge’s ruling was not disclosed to jurors in two trials and can only now be revealed after reporting restrictions lifted
Four Palestine Action activists convicted after a retrial over a violent protest at an Israeli arms manufacturer’s UK site face being sentenced as terrorists despite the jury not being told this.
In an unprecedented move in a criminal damage case, the judge, Mr Justice Johnson, ruled before the first trial that there appeared to be a “terrorist connection” to the offences – even though the protest took place before Palestine Action was proscribed – but this could not be told to the jury. The finding and the restriction on telling the jury continued for the retrial.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/may/12/palestine-action-activists-elbit-protest-terrorist-connection-ruling","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 14:00:35 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 14:32:18 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 14:32:18 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8b6e537e5e219946195043f9db93cc6d0d5b3f30/1_0_4949_3961/master/4949.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=403fb5d4d489c68a81302a8ddac28de5"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"Plaid Cymru’s Rhun ap Iorwerth voted first minister of Wales","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/12/rhun-ap-iorwerth-plaid-cymru-sworn-in-as-first-minister-of-wales","description":"Appointment confirmed by plenary vote in Senedd after party ended 100 years of Labour rule in last week’s election
Rhun ap Iorwerth has been voted first minister of Wales after Plaid Cymru’s Senedd electoral victory ended 100 years of Labour hegemony and held off Reform UK.
Ap Iorwerth was confirmed after a plenary vote on Tuesday with the support of the 43 Senedd members of his party and two Greens.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/12/rhun-ap-iorwerth-plaid-cymru-sworn-in-as-first-minister-of-wales","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 14:19:22 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 14:32:18 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 14:32:18 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7e025225553ab72bb8c7c0bdb687187b5fd4c81a/465_0_4648_3719/master/4648.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=862982980476b6cd44dee46a1c3b7527"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"How Hezbollah’s $300 drones are challenging Israeli military","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/12/how-hezbollah-3d-printed-drones-challenging-israeli-military","description":"Non-state group learns from Ukrainian warfare to develop cabled drones that evade hi-tech defences of state army
The three Israeli soldiers clustered by a tank heard the noise before they saw its source. By the time they spotted the drone, it was too late. The video feed goes black as the small fibre-optic first-person-view (FPV) drone explodes next to them, killing one soldier and injuring six more.
Footage of the drones hitting Israeli tanks, soldiers and bulldozers in south Lebanon has become increasingly common as Hezbollah puts the weapon at the centre of its guerrilla war against Israel’s occupation of south Lebanon.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/12/how-hezbollah-3d-printed-drones-challenging-israeli-military","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 12:42:24 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 14:32:18 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 14:32:18 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/bbab436941c96d8332cff46ddc928e15367c430d/650_0_2418_1934/master/2418.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=29e96e21588a1921ab64e2b5928af465"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"The end of typing? Why workers are suddenly ditching their keyboards","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/may/12/end-of-typing-workers-ditching-keyboards-voicepilling-ai-dictation","description":"Employees are now whispering to AI voice dictation tools rather than clacking the keys. Will ‘voicepilling’ make everyone more productive – or just more annoying?
Name: Voicepilled.
Age: Reid Hoffman first declared himself “voicepilled” in the autumn of last year.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/may/12/end-of-typing-workers-ditching-keyboards-voicepilling-ai-dictation","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 14:00:12 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 14:32:18 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 14:32:18 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/10ef7f7f3bde9efe10b004b660a4682e3f5c1bdd/0_0_6830_5464/master/6830.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=398af71e4926b48bdca8013f11821be4"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"He hunted for his daughter’s killer for 40 years. Then he got a phone call","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2026/may/12/laura-miller-texas-killing-fields","description":"Tim Miller’s teen daughter disappeared in 1984, tied to a series of deaths in the Texas ‘killing fields’. After decades, he received a tip that unlocked everything
Tim Miller is good at finding missing people – or rather, their bodies. Four years ago, a stranger called him and left a rambling message claiming that he had important information about an unsolved murder case.
Miller, who lives in Texas and runs a non-profit search-and-recovery organization called EquuSearch, did not treat the message as a high priority. The caller sounded as if he might have been drunk or on drugs. Although tips are vital to EquuSearch’s work, the tip line brings a certain number of hoaxes, cranks and innuendo. Some of the people who leave messages, Miller told me, “probably ought to get their medication checked”.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2026/may/12/laura-miller-texas-killing-fields","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 14:00:48 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 14:32:18 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 14:32:18 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/2f90b12e167ea06dc02fc4e6e0ad114543f9936f/0_324_3609_2887/master/3609.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=201831e5742da6b5f4a320876199f1f3"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"Jeffrey Epstein survivors to return to Palm Beach, Florida, for House hearing","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/may/12/jeffrey-epstein-survivor-palm-beach-hearing","description":"Survivors to return to ‘scene of the crime’ for shadow congressional hearing into abuses committed by Epstein
Survivors of r Jeffrey Epstein will return to the “scene of the crime” in Palm Beach, Florida, on Tuesday for a shadow congressional hearing into abuses committed by the late sex offender.
Several members of the Democratic House oversight caucus are scheduled to join the victims and several expert witnesses at the hearing close to Epstein’s former waterfront mansion where he procured girls as young as 14 to perform sexual services for wealthy guests.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/may/12/jeffrey-epstein-survivor-palm-beach-hearing","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 14:01:29 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 14:32:18 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 14:32:18 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/300ce4090d5d2ef8b4f77ba720fdda519d374222/0_0_5251_4199/master/5251.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=71fcb7b1889fbdd1d4ac9f9393927d3f"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"Snookering you again: Big Break to return with Stephen Hendry on trick-shot duties","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/may/12/snookering-you-again-big-break-to-return-with-stephen-hendry-on-trick-shot-duties","description":"BBC to bring back classic gameshow after 24 years away
Former world champion to host with Paddy McGuinness
The BBC is re-racking the balls and chalking the cues again after announcing that classic TV gameshow Big Break will return after 24 years away.
Seven-time snooker world champion Stephen Hendry is to co-host the series alongside presenter and comic Paddy McGuinness in a reboot of a show that originally ran for 10 series from 1991 to 2002.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/may/12/snookering-you-again-big-break-to-return-with-stephen-hendry-on-trick-shot-duties","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 14:27:43 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 14:44:07 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 14:44:07 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/cc03f5fd27672559e7b2f8d02de736e5cee41cf3/172_0_1360_1088/master/1360.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=6481a855f8330cf90fe9024f71971339"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"Trump has a proposal to expand fertility benefits. Here's how that would work","link":"https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/trump-has-a-proposal-to-expand-fertility-benefits-heres-how-that-would-work","description":"President Donald Trump announced a new proposed rule Monday that would allow employers to provide standalone health insurance coverage for fertility benefits.","guid":"https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/trump-has-a-proposal-to-expand-fertility-benefits-heres-how-that-would-work","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 14:36:13 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 14:47:54 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 14:47:54 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://d3i6fh83elv35t.cloudfront.net/static/2026/05/2026-05-11T162357Z_1841616220_RC247LA8EMLQ_RTRMADP_3_USA-TRUMP-1024x683.jpg","type":"image"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"PBS NewsHour - Politics","feedLink":"https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics","feedDescription":"Recent political news, analysis and reporting.","feedUrl":"https://www.pbs.org/newshour/feeds/rss/politics"} {"link":"http://scripting.com/2026/05/12.html#a145339","description":"Masto: I'd like to come up with a list of formats, protocols and products that have become defaults for AI work.","guid":"http://scripting.com/2026/05/12.html#a145339","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 14:53:39 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 14:55:05 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 14:55:05 GMT","metadata":{},"feedTitle":"Scripting News","feedLink":"http://scripting.com/","feedDescription":"Dave Winer, OG blogger, podcaster, developed first apps in many categories. Old enough to know better. It's even worse than it appears.","feedUrl":"http://scripting.com/rss.xml"} {"title":"Plaid Cymru’s Rhun ap Iorwerth voted first minister of Wales","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/12/rhun-ap-iorwerth-plaid-cymru-sworn-in-as-first-minister-of-wales","description":"Appointment confirmed by plenary vote in Senedd after party ended 100 years of Labour rule in last week’s election
Rhun ap Iorwerth has been voted first minister of Wales after Plaid Cymru’s Senedd electoral victory ended 100 years of Labour hegemony and held off Reform UK.
Ap Iorwerth was confirmed after a plenary vote on Tuesday with the support of the 43 Senedd members of his party and two Greens.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/12/rhun-ap-iorwerth-plaid-cymru-sworn-in-as-first-minister-of-wales","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 14:19:22 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 14:56:22 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 14:56:22 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7e025225553ab72bb8c7c0bdb687187b5fd4c81a/465_0_4648_3719/master/4648.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=862982980476b6cd44dee46a1c3b7527"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"UK news | The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news","feedDescription":"Latest news, breaking news and current affairs coverage from across the UK from theguardian.com","feedUrl":"http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/rss"} {"title":"Next for LeBron James? The shorter-than-you-think list of potential destinations","link":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/article/next-for-lebron-james-the-shorter-than-you-think-list-of-potential-destinations-144617027.html","description":"LeBron James may be on the move, and how often have we been able to say that?
In 2010, when he made The Decision to take his talents to South Beach. In 2014, when we had an inkling he would leave the Miami Heat for a return to the Cleveland Cavaliers. And in 2018, when all signs pointed to him joining the Los Angeles Lakers.
That’s right: LeBron’s future has not been this uncertain since 2010, so you could have your driver’s license right now and not remember when he joined the Heatles.
It’s been a minute.
An obligatory reminder: James will turn 42 years old in December. He is no longer the game’s best player, though he is still somehow one of its (let’s say …) 25 best, and this season he accepted a role, which made him the NBA’s best third option for a stretch.
He was not that in the playoffs, when the absences of Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves demanded he reassume the throne as a primary playmaker on offense, and that was too much for James to handle, at least in a Western Conference semifinal.
On the dais for his media exit interview, after his team was swept by the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder, James did not sound ready for retirement, though he did say he was uncertain about his future. That uncertainty probably has more to do with whether he will be a Laker next season and not whether he will be playing.
This begs a question: Will LeBron James accept a salary commensurate with the complementary role he would need to play for a team to be a serious title contender? We may not know the answer to that until he decides for which team he will play.
Still, we can imagine the shorter-than-you-think list of options available to him. Let's run them down.
Los Angeles LakersIf he re-signs in L.A., it will surely be for more money than the Lakers should be willing to pay for his services. What is James worth? When it comes to selling tickets, there is no cap on what he could command, and the Lakers will take that into consideration.
When it comes to team-building, though, think of Derrick White, a clear-cut third option behind Boston Celtics superstars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. He will make $30 million next season, and even that will make roster construction difficult when the two highest-paid players on the team each command $60 million annually.
James made $52.6 million this season. Is he going to want to take a $20-something million pay cut to rejoin a team that proved to have a sub-championship ceiling with him as a third option? (No one really thought the Lakers could contend with OKC, even with Dončić, did they?) On the other hand, there isn’t a lot of salary cap space available this summer — at least with good teams — to leverage against the Lakers.
Maybe he convinces himself, if he gives up salary, the Lakers could reallocate those funds to bring in better pieces around him, Dončić and Reaves. More likely, though, the Lakers will end up committing something close to the projected salary cap ($165 million) to Dončić, James and Reaves, who can also be a free agent at season’s end.
Meanwhile, Los Angeles’ front office will be left scrambling to put the proper pieces around them, and it still may not be enough to contend with OKC or the San Antonio Spurs, considering the defensive issues inherent to fielding those three players, and an over-reliance on the health of a highly paid trio, one of whom will be 42 years old.
Cleveland CavaliersSo, maybe LeBron decides: F*** it, if I’m going to give up $20 million in salary to be on a try-hard contender, why not give up even more to be on a more serious contender?
After all, the man is worth a billion dollars, and if he were to accept, say, a midlevel exception in the range of $6-15 million, he could open his possibilities to every team in the NBA. One of those organizations, of course, could be his hometown Cavaliers, with whom he began his 23-year career, and delivered the team’s only championship.
If we know anything from watching James over the past quarter-century, it is that he would welcome a retirement tour and all the adulation that comes along with it, and what a story that would be in Cleveland. This decision will have its own narrative to it.
Not only do the Cavs have a need on the wing, where James could be paired with Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen on an immediate contender, but they could go even bigger-game hunting, flipping Mobley for Giannis Antetokounmpo. Wouldn’t that be something? Mitchell, Harden, LeBron and Giannis.
It’s possible. We can dream.
Golden State WarriorsThen again, anything is possible, including the union of James and Stephen Curry. Anyone who watched them take on the world for Team USA in the 2024 Olympics could see the appreciation they have for each other’s games, which merge so well.
Make the Bay Area a destination for every player aging gracefully. They already boast Curry, Draymond Green, Jimmy Butler, Al Horford and Kristaps Porziņģis, a collection of players whose ages and injury histories have left them all in need of each other.
Steph Curry and LeBron James joining forces? Who else is down? (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)Adam PantozziMaybe by joining forces they can compete with the next generation. Open the doors to all past-their-prime stars; see if they can restore each other. Kawhi Leonard? Kevin Durant? Mike Conley? DeMar DeRozan? Put a call out for one last job. Who’s down?
It’s hard to imagine James venturing too far from home, whether it is Cleveland or Los Angeles, where his business and family are established (including his oldest son, Bronny, who is under guaranteed $2.3 million contract with the Lakers next season).
But maybe San Francisco isn’t so far from L.A., at least in the NBA sense. Curry is there. Draymond is there. Steve Kerr is there. These are all people LeBron respects, and that is a big part of this. LeBron will not join an unknown commodity at this age.
New York KnicksThen again, James has always been enamored with Madison Square Garden, where the lights are brightest. He once told Dwyane Wade his career would end either in L.A. or New York, and the Knicks might need reinforcements if they fall short of a title.
With OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns already in place, the Knicks do not have much room at a swing position for James, but sometimes you make way for one of the greatest players in the history of the game. He would find his way to fit on the basketball court, so long as all of the egos in New York could mesh off of it.
And that’s another thing (there’s always another thing when it comes to LeBron): James doesn’t just join a locker room. He commands it. The amount of attention he draws, for better or worse, is incredible. Not every city can handle it. New York can.
Detroit Pistons? Denver Nuggets?Would James dream of choosing a plug-and-play situation in which he could be the missing piece to a contender, because I’m just imagining him in Tobias Harris’ spot.
Now, I doubt he would take his talents to Detroit, but in a basketball sense it follows. Same goes for the Nuggets. Just picture LeBron in place of Cam Johnson, and what magic might he and Nikola Jokić make on a basketball court. Let’s get really crazy.
Oklahoma City ThunderHow funny would that be? Just sign for the minimum, play a few minutes a night, and collect a couple more rings on the other side of a light workload. Anything’s possible.
Most likely, though, James returns to the Lakers, at least according to oddsmakers.
","guid":"935f834d-bbbe-414b-b12c-ddc0fa2fa497","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 14:46:17 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 14:57:08 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 14:57:08 GMT","metadata":{},"feedLink":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/","feedDescription":"Comprehensive National Basketball Association news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors...","feedUrl":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rss/"} {"title":"Timberwolves vs. Spurs – NBA Playoffs – Game 5 predictions: Odds, stats, trends and best bets for May 12","link":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/timberwolves-vs-spurs-nba-playoffs-143431502.html","description":"The Western Conference series between the Spurs and the Timberwolves is back in San Antonio tonight for Game 5 tonight with the series tied at two games apiece. For those who have yet to hear, Victor Wembanyama has not been suspended by the league for his elbow to the throat of Naz Reid in Game 4. That obviously is a major relief and advantage for the Spurs. They did not wilt but also could not hold off the Timberwolves over the weekend once their leader was sent to the showers. Minnesota wore down San Antonio outscoring them 34-25 in the fourth quarter enroute to a 114-109 win.
Dylan Harper has been a revelation this series. The rookie out of Rutgers has matured steadily throughout the season but his scoring has taken a big step in the postseason. Harper led the Spurs with 24 points in Game 4. Consider taking a look at his point totals for tonight’s game. Rudy Gobert has been a steady presence around the rim for the Timberwolves averaging 10 rebounds and nearly 1.5 blocks per game in the series. He is also averaging 2.5 assists.
It is fair to say the winner tonight will win this series. It may still take seven games, but the winner tonight will take a significant step towards a Western Conference Finals date with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder, who, oh by the way, have yet to lose a game this postseason. Because tonight is so pivotal, the pressure will be amped up that much more. Which side’s stars can take their team to a new level? Which side’s supporting cast can exceed expectations?
Lets take a closer look at tonight’s matchup and take into consideration lineups, injuries, and other factors affecting the line and total.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds courtesy of DraftKings recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
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Game Odds: Timberwolves vs. SpursThe latest odds as of Tuesday courtesy of DraftKings:
This game opened Spurs -9.5 with the Game Total set at 218.5.
Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & player props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule!
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Despite leading late in the fourth quarter of Game 4 of their playoff series with the Oklahoma City Thunder, LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers were unable to fend off the sweep at the hands of the defending NBA champions. Without Luka Doncic, and for much of the previous series, Austin Reaves, James once again carried the load of his team on his broad shoulders.
It wasn’t enough, and now attention turns to the future for “The King,” who, at 41 years old, could have just played his final NBA game.
Following the contest, James was his usual measured self in his media session, noting that he would take time to think and make any decision about his future:
\"No sé qué me depara el futuro. Me juntaré con mí familia, recalibraré y hablaré con ellos. Una vez que tenga una decisión, la sabrán\".
— Isolation (@IsolationNBA) May 12, 2026
LeBron James en conferencia de prensa tras la eliminación de los Lakers. pic.twitter.com/qe18gcXqXl
This offseason could see a lot of changes around the NBA, including with James, which could leave the NBA’s all-time leading scorer with a variety of options. With Giannis Antetokounmpo likely on the move, LeBron may not even get the majority of the headlines this offseason.
No one knows what James will decide to do. Many believe his most realistic options are to return to Lakers, go back home with the Cleveland Cavaliers for one last run, join his friend Steph Curry, along with Steve Kerr, with the Golden State Warriors, or retire. Let’s predict what’s next for LeBron.
LeBron gets the ultimate retirement tour in ClevelandJames should have one of the greatest farewell tours we’ve ever seen in professional sports. It just doesn’t make sense that it would happen on the Lakers, not when Luka Doncic is trying to write his own legacy with the franchise. The most sensible place for LeBron’s farewell tour is of course in Cleveland. I’ve predicted this since the start of this season, and then there was an ESPN report in January that the Cavs are potentially open to it. Beyond being a great story, James could actually help Cleveland on the court with a veteran team that has needed a big wing. I remember reading about Kareem Abdul-Jabbar getting a rocking chair on his farewell tour. LeBron should get similarly fun and extravagant gifts along the way. Cleveland actually feels like a better basketball situation than the Warriors or Lakers to me, and we already know what LeBron does when he’s in the East. I predict LeBron has one more season left before retirement, and the most sensible place for it to happen is in Cleveland. — ROD
LeBron enjoys the “bleacher years”I spend more time than I should scrolling Instagram mindlessly.
Such is life in 2026.
Thanks to an odd intersection of interests, my algorithm is approximately 25% Interstellar clips, 25% Project Hail Mary clips, 25% dance competition videos (thanks to the ones my daughter shares in our family chat) and 25% high school baseball clips (thanks to our son).
It is that last 25% that is on my mind right now.
We’ve reached May on the calendar, which brings wit it the end of many high school baseball careers. Here in Maryland, the state baseball tournament is underway, with teams already being eliminated. That means for some seniors, their last baseball game is now behind them, and their baseball journey is over.
And for their parents, the end of the “bleacher years.” Those years spent traveling to games, supporting their children, cheering them on, and holding them tight when they’re hurting.
And how you never get those bleacher years back.
LeBron, you’ve accomplished everything there is on the court. Your legacy is secure.
It’s time to enjoy the bleacher years.
You’ve earned them. — MS
LeBron deserves a retirement tour unlike anything we’ve seen beforeThere will be plenty of time to argue about legacies, who is the GOAT, and pore over the metrics to determine the pecking order on NBA’s Mt. Rushmore, but from my estimation LeBron is both the second greatest player of all time, and the second greatest player I will have seen in my lifetime after Michael Jordan.
I see the vision of LeBron returning to Cleveland, helping them win one more title, and riding off into the sunset as the conquering hero of the NBA — but in reality, I’m not sure it will play out like that. If he joins a championship-caliber Cavaliers team and they falter, the failure will be blamed on the distraction of James’ retirement tour. There’s also the reality here that while LeBron is from Akron, and best identified as a Cavaliers legend — his legacy belongs to multiple NBA teams.
So here’s what we do:
It’s weird, it’s unusual, and it’s the perfect ending to King James’ reign. — James Dator
LeBron James + the Mecca of BasketballLet me say up front, as a lifelong Cleveland sports fan (cheap plug for my Cleveland Browns site, Dawgs By Nature), LeBron coming home seems most likely, most fitting, and the best storyline. While I want and expect LeBron to come home, and have heard there are some details already in motion for if/when that happens, that would be the homer and obvious pick for me.
Dator’s idea ended up blowing mine out of the water for creativity. I thought I was going to be the curveball.
James has talked about Madison Square Garden with such reverence over the years that a farewell tour centered in New York City makes all the sense in the world. In this scenario, the New York Knicks get taken out in the Eastern Conference Finals this year (maybe by the Cavs) and are desperate for that one piece to take them over the top. LeBron can not only spend a ton of time in another huge market, but also end up being a hero type for four different teams if the Knicks can win the NBA Championship in 2027 while hosting “The King’s” farewell tour.
","guid":"ace44d7c-64cc-3e9d-b8a6-04e8e9a32269","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 14:28:43 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 14:57:08 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 14:57:08 GMT","metadata":{},"feedLink":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/","feedDescription":"Comprehensive National Basketball Association news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors...","feedUrl":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rss/"} {"title":"Would you trade Jaylen Brown for Giannis Antetokounmpo? (Staff Roundtable)","link":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/trade-jaylen-brown-giannis-antetokounmpo-123357699.html","description":"MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - MARCH 02: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks dribbles the ball against Hugo González #28 of the Boston Celtics during the second quarter at Fiserv Forum on March 02, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images\tIf there’s one question that has captured the attention of Celtics fans and the greater NBA this month, it has been this one (see title). So I thought I’d pose it to the writers of your favorite Celtics site. Here’s what the staff came up with.
Ian Inangelo
I don’t think I would trade Jaylen Brown for Giannis Antetokounmpo and I don’t think it happens. Brown is at the peak of his value right now after having a First-Team All-NBA level season and it could be smart for the Celtics to sell high on him right now. Giannis is one of the few players in the NBA that I would be willing to trade Jaylen Brown for just because of how talented he is and I think a lineup of Tatum at the 4 and Giannis at the 5 would be an incredibly overpowered duo.
However, for as much as I love the idea of Tatum and Giannis on the floor together, the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. Brown and Tatum have built in chemistry with years of playing together that could take time to develop with Giannis. Giannis is also on a 1-year deal so Boston would have to give him an extension and the Celtics could be in the same place they are now cap wise with two max contracts and not a lot of depth.
In my mind though, I just don’t think this move happens unless Brown comes out and requests a trade on his own accord. I feel like he’s so intertwined with the city of Boston and the culture of the Celtics that Brad Stevens would only move him if it was a mutual decision. But maybe I’m wrong, Stevens has shown in the past he doesn’t make deals off of emotion (i.e. Marcus Smart) so if its the right decision to improve this Celtics team I think they would trade Brown.
Mark Aboyoun
No. I think we’re being a little too emotional after the elimination. Jaylen hasn’t helped his standing with some poorly timed streams, but trading Brown isn’t the answer, even if it’s for Giannis Antetokounmpo.
When Brown and Tatum are both healthy, they’ve proven they’re good enough to win a lot of games together, including a championship. The grass isn’t always greener on the other side, and I don’t think this situation is dead enough to justify moving on from him.
Grant Burfeind
Why does this feel like I’m being asked whether I’d trade my childhood home for a mansion? You’ve made fun of the mansion for years. Scoffed at it as you walked by. A saltwater pool and a hot tub? Tacky much? But then a real estate agent comes knocking and says, with your childhood home and a few other assets, the mansion could be yours. You’d be ridiculous not to consider it, but the childhood home has brought you memories and joy to last a lifetime. You don’t just shrug that off because the other place has a nicer kitchen.
Okay, I’ve taken this analogy as far as it can go. Back to basketball. I love Jaylen, and there are maybe nine or ten players in the world I’d even consider moving him for. Giannis is one of them. My general trade philosophy is a popular one: in a superstar deal, I want to walk away with the best player. At his best, Giannis is the best player in any realistic version of this conversation.
It would hurt. Brown was the Finals MVP of Banner 18, just had an MVP-caliber season and has become part of the fabric of this era of Celtics basketball. But if Brad Stevens is serious about finding more rim pressure like he said in his end-of-season presser, Giannis is the final boss version of that idea. I tried to rearrange the letters in “we need a gosh darn rim attacker” into Giannis Antetokounmpo and got nowhere, but spiritually, it checks out. Pairing Giannis’ rim-pulverizing, transition-wrecking force with Tatum’s smoother, jazz-like offensive skillset would give Boston a different ceiling than the Tatum-Brown pairing, as painful as that is to admit.
So yes, I’d do it if the framework is Brown plus a couple first rounders (I’m not trying to lose any other pieces this summer if JB is leaving in this hypothetical), especially if the alternative is watching Giannis land with another East contender. The injury concerns are fair, but fear of what might go wrong can’t outweigh the chance to add one of the 75 greatest players ever while Tatum is still in his prime. I wouldn’t trade Jaylen just because the playoffs ended badly. I wouldn’t trade him for a collection of solid role players. But I’d trade him for Giannis.
And for those wondering what you can spell with all the letters of the Greek Freak’s name: “To tie a sunk moon: no gain.” Let that sink in.
Rich Jensen
We’re herd animals, and once there’s a sufficient level of buzz around, say, buying a pet rock, people stop talking about how stupid the idea is, and start talking about what they’ve named their pet rock.
But that doesn’t change the fact that buying a pet rock is stupid.
So it goes with the sudden flood of Jaylen-Giannis trade speculation. Talk of various trade packages has saturated the air so much so that people have seemingly stopped looking closely at where Giannis is at this point in his career, and are exclusively focused on what trade packages for him should look like. The unspoken assumption is ‘well of course, you’d trade for Giannis.’
There are real concerns with Giannis. He missed 46 games last season with a variety of injuries, he seems to have developed a bit of an attitude problem, and I have questions about how well he’d fit on the Celtics.
That’s what I’m focused on, and for that reason, I don’t think dealing for Giannis is the right move for Boston.
Mike Dynon
No, I wouldn’t make that trade. There are the obvious reasons: Giannis’ age (31, vs. Jaylen, 29); his many injuries in recent years; and the fact that even with Giannis on the roster, the Bucks haven’t won a single playoff series in the past four seasons.
So let’s focus on a different reason: How the Celtics are perceived across the league. It wasn’t too long ago that Isaiah Thomas had that heroic season in which he was top-five in MVP voting, persevered through the death of his sister just as the playoffs began, and led the Celtics to the Eastern Conference Finals. At that point, a hip injury ended his season – and then he was traded to Cleveland during the summer.
The Celtics franchise was widely criticized as being untrustworthy, doing wrong to a player who had given his all for Boston. Soon after, the father of superstar Anthony Davis used that episode as the reason his son – who then was trying to force a trade out of New Orleans – would not consider Boston as a potential destination. It was a bad look for a franchise that honestly has never been a magnet for available talent.
Now, after the All-NBA season of leadership that Jaylen just delivered, trading him could harm the “Different Here” Celtics’ culture. Critics (logical or not, there are always critics) could again question the loyalty of the franchise. Some might say that’s superficial, but the Davis episode demonstrated the real consequences. Plus, the actual splitting up of the Jays would let all the hot-takers win, and I’m too stubborn to accept that. Jaylen says he wants to play in Boston for another 10 years, and I believe him. Let’s make that happen.
Jack Anderson
I would trade Jaylen for Giannis. I think what the Sixers series and then Knicks sweep of the Sixers showed us is that the Celtics aren’t good enough as it. Brad Stevens even said so in his press conference.
This is Giannis Antetokounmpo, man. He makes you better than Jaylen Brown makes you. I love JB, he is an awesome player and he and Tatum have had awesome results.
However, the Celtics have to get better, the window is open as long as Jayson Tatum is Jayson Tatum. You have to strike when given the chance.
Trading Jaylen would be sad and I wouldn’t deal him if Antetokounmpo isn’t an option. Yet, if Giannis is an option, I think Boston needs to strike.
Nirav Barman
If I had it my way, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown would be Celtics for the entirety of their careers. At this point, I don’t see any realistic trades that would make me change my mind on that, including trading JB for Giannis. Giannis is the better player – you won’t find any argument from me on that. That being said, big swings like this don’t always yield the expected results.
Giannis, as exceptional as he is, hasn’t had a fully healthy playoff run since 2022. In fact, he’s only played 8 total playoff games since then, 3 in ’23 and 5 in ’25. Playing as physical of a game as Giannis does, and that too as a freak athlete of a near 7-footer, is bound to have some harsh wear and tear over the course of a season, and over the course of a career. He will be 32 next year, He will also be expecting a contract extension while making $58.5M in 26-27 and holding a $62.8M player option in 27-28. The extension would probably be in the range of $65M-70M per year going into his year 36 season. That’s a hell of a gamble to take.
More than Giannis, I think Jaylen’s value on the Celtics is severely understated. We’re talking about trading the longest-tenured player on the team. The guy who has made enormous efforts to take his team to new heights, while also making his mark on the city of Boston off the court. He studied his teammates’ birth signs to learn how to better communicate with them. He takes accountability after each loss, and takes every opportunity to uplift his teammates, whether that be praise or direct coaching. He has made his commitment to the team and its success very clear.
We already know Jaylen fits into the Celtics, including right next to Tatum, who Boston is most definitely focused on building around. Why break up a good thing when you don’t need to? The Celtics over-achieved this season, and fell due to some inefficiency and a lack of experienced depth, or at least a lack of willingness to use it. They can get back to serious contention by tinkering around the edges instead of making drastic changes.
I say no JB for Giannis trade.
Robby Fletcher
As tempting as the prospect of a Giannis-Tatum pairing is, I still don’t see a reason for Boston to break up the Jays. Maybe there’s a time to consider a trade as seismic as that, but I definitely don’t think we’re there yet.
The play of Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum this postseason was not my primary concern after the 3-1 collapse to the 76ers, and I don’t think it’s Brad Stevens’ either. We’ve seen a range of extreme highs and stunning lows with Brown and Tatum leading the way, but we know the right supporting cast automatically makes them a contender together in the East.
True, the needs of this current roster align with what Giannis presents: a stronger two-way presence inside the paint. But I don’t anticipate Boston taking that big of a swing to address it. With some wiggle room to evade the repeater tax, along with draft assets and tradeable contracts to work with, the Celtics can still be active this offseason to improve what’s already a pretty promising roster.
I’m mostly expecting a similar core outside of a few new additions in the middle of the rotation. Pair that with a healthy Tatum ready for opening night, and Boston still looks like a legitimate contender entering next season.
A trade notification involving Jaylen Brown and Giannis Antetokounmpo would immediately enter the conversation as one of the most franchise-shifting deals in Celtics history. Do I expect this offseason to produce that reality? Probably not. But it’s intriguing to think about. We’ve seen plenty of summer trade rumors surrounding JB over the years. I’m ready to add this one to the file.
Ryan Paice
As much as it would hurt, I would trade JB for Giannis — if there is some kind of guarantee that he signs an extension to stay in Boston long term. The Greek Freak’s current contract is only guaranteed through the 2026-27 season, as he has a player option for 2027-28 that he will likely decline to seek what could be his last max contract. If the Lakers or Heat play it right, they could have max slots open to sign him when that happens and — no matter how much I think Giannis would like playing in Boston — the pull of LA and Miami on free agents is too strong to ignore when considering moves like this. So, if the Celtics are going to part with their 2024 Finals MVP to get Giannis, Brad better make sure that he’s staying in Boston when his current contract expires.
Cost-wise, I think the C’s can and should do whatever it takes to facilitate a JB for Giannis swap as long as the deal does not exhaust the team’s flexibility moving forward. JB, Max Shulga and a pair of first round picks would work for me. Boston would be able to maintain its shooting depth (as opposed to the White/Hauser/Pritchard idea) and keep a FRP to potentially add onto the newly souped-up core. Despite the fact that Giannis would definitely see time as a 5 under Joe Mazzulla, the Celtics may still need another center — hopefully one who can wrestle with trees like Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic — so maintaining assets for such a deal is important.
Overall, the potential in trading for Giannis is just too high to pass up on, even if that means trading one of my favorite players of the last decade. He’d add a much needed interior scoring dynamic, bolster Boston’s defense and make the team an instant title favorite. What more could you ask for?
Jeff Clark
Admittedly, I go back and forth on this topic daily. I would like to say that my final stance is that I would not do it because I want Jaylen to retire a Celtic (but if it happened I would talk myself into it in about .034 seconds). But I don’t think it is that simple.
Sure, we’ve seen Jayson and Jaylen win a title together, so we know that formula can and does work. We’ve also seen them get bounced pretty early in 3 of the last 4 playoffs. So maybe the formula is a little more unstable than we’d like to believe. I very much trust Joe Mazzulla and his system, but also recognize that he’s not flawless and has some work to do on his own game. I think Brad Stevens has a good feel for what this team needs and he thinks we need to put more pressure on the rim. Perhaps that can be accomplished with a focus on play style and a few interchanged pieces. However, it is hard to deny that adding Giannis to a roster with Tatum (who can play with anyone) would unlock a lot of what Brad is trying to accomplish.
The freak sized caveat is “if he’s healthy.” The leg injuries should scare anyone considering this investment. Are we just signing up for the death rattle of his career? Or are the next few years of his prime worth the risk? Can we count on a KG type of impact? Or is it more of a Kemba Walker situation?
Ultimately if I had to choose, I would say I do want to trade for Giannis (but if it doesn’t happen, I’ll be perfectly happy keeping Jaylen). It is a gamble, but fortune favors the bold. Unless it doesn’t. You can see now why I’m a blogger, flip flopping my opinion even in the course of writing one down, and not the GM of our favorite team.
So now the question goes to you fine folks. Would you trade Jaylen for Giannis?
","guid":"35cc19f7-daec-3363-8465-fefb624e7985","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 12:33:57 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 14:57:08 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 14:57:08 GMT","metadata":{},"feedLink":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/","feedDescription":"Comprehensive National Basketball Association news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors...","feedUrl":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rss/"} {"title":"Fire up the Furby synth! Meet UK Eurovision entry Look Mum No Computer at his mind-boggling music museum","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2026/may/12/sam-battle-look-mum-no-computer-uk-eurovision-music-museum","description":"Sam Battle is a retro audio tech obsessive. Our writer gets a tour of his museum just as he unleashes his prized exhibit: a 1,000-oscillators-strong Megadrone!
‘I didn’t really plan to do Eurovision at all,” muses Sam Battle as he takes me round his museum, pushing a shock of ever-so-slightly mad scientist hair from his youthful face and coaxing drones out of abstract metal boxes as we go. “I was chatting to Johnny, my friend who works here, and we were saying wouldn’t it be funny to do it. So, we sent an email to the BBC asking, ‘Is there any way we can get on it?’ and they said, ‘Well this guy might be interesting …’”
Known to his fans as Look Mum No Computer, Battle has built a cult following with his wild fusions of music and esoteric technology. The persona started life as a side project when he was lead singer with the indie could-have-beens Zibra in the mid 00s. When the band split up in 2016, Battle threw himself into the world of Look Mum No Computer, filling his YouTube with videos of him rejigging everyday technology into weird and wonderful new shapes, whether that be by turning Sega Megadrives into working synths, or Henry vacuum cleaners into flame-throwers. In this world, nothing was thrown away, and any amount of lead could be transmuted into the gold of a song.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2026/may/12/sam-battle-look-mum-no-computer-uk-eurovision-music-museum","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 14:42:14 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 15:13:21 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 15:13:21 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/4fc82deb94df3a45f7c4830759c99f1a656f4000/312_0_9375_7500/master/9375.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=0e91f385ef5b4d3926ce9640b04af395"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk","feedDescription":"Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice","feedUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/rss"} {"title":"Live Results: Nebraska midterm state and congressional primaries","link":"https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/live-results-nebraska-midterm-state-and-congressional-primaries","description":"One of the more notable matchups in Nebraska's state primary on Tuesday features two Democratic contenders for U.S. Senate who accuse each other of being \"fake\" candidates with no intention of competing to win the general election.","guid":"https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/live-results-nebraska-midterm-state-and-congressional-primaries","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 14:47:47 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 15:16:53 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 15:16:53 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://d3i6fh83elv35t.cloudfront.net/static/2026/05/2024-11-05T184830Z_635256685_RC24ZAAW5ERO_RTRMADP_3_USA-ELECTION-1024x666.jpg","type":"image"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"PBS NewsHour - Politics","feedLink":"https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics","feedDescription":"Recent political news, analysis and reporting.","feedUrl":"https://www.pbs.org/newshour/feeds/rss/politics"} {"title":"BBC staff fear meagre pay rise after bosses forgo own increase","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/media/2026/may/12/bbc-staff-fear-meagre-pay-rise-after-bosses-forgo-own-increase","description":"Workers told to be realistic about outcome of union talks as corporation aims to make savings with job cuts
BBC staff have been told their bosses will forgo a pay rise this year but fear the freeze will lead to a meagre increase for the rank and file, who have been urged to be realistic about the outcome of union negotiations.
Employees have been told that the corporation’s executive committee – its 12 highest-paid bosses including the director general, who were paid almost £5m in total last year – will have their pay frozen this year amid a £600m cost-cutting drive.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/media/2026/may/12/bbc-staff-fear-meagre-pay-rise-after-bosses-forgo-own-increase","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 15:13:15 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 15:25:04 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 15:25:04 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/1c301ef16e8124515fa6f47a2ff98016f56436cd/338_0_4637_3712/master/4637.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=f80ed027cb96061384d2cc25936ee37c"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"UK news | The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news","feedDescription":"Latest news, breaking news and current affairs coverage from across the UK from theguardian.com","feedUrl":"http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/rss"} {"title":"Broadcasters must react to threat from ‘creator journalism’, says ex-head of BBC News","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/media/2026/may/12/broadcasters-must-react-threat-creator-journalism-says-ex-head-bbc-news","description":"Deborah Turness, who resigned last year, says traditional news in danger of being replaced by personality-led content
Broadcasters must urgently adapt to an existential threat from “creator journalism” that is causing audiences to shun traditional television news, the former boss of BBC News has said.
Deborah Turness, who resigned from the BBC alongside the then director general, Tim Davie, last year, said consumption was “collapsing” for traditional television news, which was facing “a profound moment of disruption”.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/media/2026/may/12/broadcasters-must-react-threat-creator-journalism-says-ex-head-bbc-news","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 15:06:15 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 15:25:04 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 15:25:04 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d7c7c7ff728dfdf3a7a2b2b91c865c7307c34659/626_0_3278_2622/master/3278.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=2173ba619526263cc2b05d2c2df1e038"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"UK news | The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news","feedDescription":"Latest news, breaking news and current affairs coverage from across the UK from theguardian.com","feedUrl":"http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/rss"} {"title":"More than 100 Labour MPs sign statement against Starmer leadership challenge","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/12/labour-mps-sign-statement-against-starmer-leadership-challenge","description":"Supporters of PM say it shows he has majority backing after more than 80 MPs call on him to quit
More than 100 Labour MPs have signed a statement saying this is “no time for a leadership contest” – as Keir Starmer told his cabinet he would not stand down while a formal leadership contest had not been triggered.
The letter, coordinated by backbenchers, has been signed by 103 MPs, including parliamentary private secretaries. Organisers say it did not come from No 10, though MPs said it had been circulated by government whips.
Continue reading...","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/12/labour-mps-sign-statement-against-starmer-leadership-challenge","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 15:00:22 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 15:25:04 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 15:25:04 GMT","enclosure":{"url":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d538cdcbce126b9407e0f080351f05f64c3c2830/1701_613_3799_3039/master/3799.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=73d455cc450a3a10ca85d725f2e008f0"},"metadata":{},"feedTitle":"UK news | The Guardian","feedLink":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news","feedDescription":"Latest news, breaking news and current affairs coverage from across the UK from theguardian.com","feedUrl":"http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/rss"} {"title":"2026 NBA Mock Draft: Fantasy basketball implications of potential landing spots for loaded rookie class","link":"https://sports.yahoo.com/fantasy/article/2026-nba-mock-draft-fantasy-basketball-implications-of-potential-landing-spots-for-loaded-rookie-class-151709877.html","description":"With the NBA Draft order now set following Sunday's lottery — the Washington Wizards landed the top pick in one of the most anticipated drafts in recent memory — Kevin O'Connor dropped his Mock Draft 5.0 on Yahoo Sports, mapping out how every pick could play out now that the board is locked in.
We used KOC's projections as the framework to break down the fantasy implications of each landing spot, because where a player goes matters just as much as who the player is. Here's a look at the first 14 picks and what they mean for your dynasty and redraft boards.
An ideal landing spot for Dybansta, as his size, skillset and scoring ability fit right alongside Trae Young, Kyshawn George, Alex Sarr and Anthony Davis (for now). Selecting Dybansta hurts Bilal Coulibaly and, to some degree, Tre Johnson’s fantasy values, but Dybansta in Washington should be the top pick in dynasty —with considerable redraft potential heading into next season.
Peterson steps into a loaded Jazz roster that needs a starting shooting guard. Peterson is that guy, a two-way talent who’ll thrive off-ball with Keyonte George running point. There will be a lot of mouths to feed in fantasy production; however, in dynasty, Peterson should be a top-5 pick despite the injury concerns. For a redraft, I would temper expectations beyond that of an efficient scorer drafted outside the top-90.
There’s room for Boozer to contribute right away in Memphis. Between club options for GG Jackson, Oliver Maxence-Prosper and a few others on expiring deals, the reigning Naismith College Player of the Year would enter his rookie season with a strong fantasy profile. He’s proven he can score efficiently at three levels, rebound and generate steals. He’s also a decent passer. He’s a high-floor dynasty to pick who should go in the top-5, and also carries some appeal in redraft formats.
Chitown would be a smash spot for Wilson. The center and power forward spots are among the league's weakest, giving Wilson an immediate chance to cook. His jumper is his biggest question mark, but I’d love to see how he flows with Josh Giddey and Matas Buzelis. I see the fantasy potential on both sides of the ball and he’d be a draftable guy across leagues.
Let’s see what the Clippers decide to do with Kawhi Leonard (expiring deal) and Bennedict Mathurin (UFA), but the 6-foot-6 guard, pairing with Darius Garland, offers playmaking upside that was lacking after James Harden’s departure. Wagler won’t have to create offense right away, which suits his ongoing development at 19. As one of the best freshmen in the country, he was effective in the following categories: points, 3s, rebounds and assists, but it’s uncertain how that will translate to the NBA. He’s a safer top-10 dynasty pick and a wait-and-see in redraft.
I don’t want the Nets to draft another guard, but if they do, I’d rather it be Darius Acuff than Flemings. The Nets also selected four-ish guards in the first round last year, so even though Flemings is the best of the crop, I could see the Nets continuing to use a deep rotation where everyone settles in around 20-25 minutes per night. Flemings is a good point guard, but let's hope there’s another destination in his future.
I’m concerned about any player going to Sacramento because there are far too many veterans to feed in the pecking order. That said, Acuff’s fantasy value with the Kings is promising, as he plays the one position that appears vacant: point guard. Hopefully, Russell Westbrook doesn’t re-sign in free agency.
The most interesting destination in this exercise, KOC has Mara ranked higher than consensus draft analysts. If the Hawks go with Mara, it would make sense given their quest for a big man to pair with Onyeka Okongwu. He could crack the rotation and be an effective fantasy asset for blocks, boards and assists for a center in 20 minutes a night.
I’m down with Brown joining the Mavericks. It’s a wise succession plan with Kyrie Irving and he can play right away. The Mavs lack a scoring threat at shooting guard and Brown can take on some playmaking responsibilities as well. He should be a top-10 pick in dynasty, especially playing with Cooper Flagg and Irving.
Check out the 2026 NBA Draft Guide.With a Giannis Antetokounmpo trade looming, Milwaukee’s roster is set for major changes. Whenever a deal happens, Ament would enter a favorable spot on a team lacking quality wings.
The second pick that had me go, “Hmm.” López played meaningful minutes in the NBL Australian Basketball League, which is hard to do at his age (19). The Warriors certainly need help on the wing with Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody recovering from knee injuries. The Mexican forward has a versatile skill set that could mesh well with the Warriors' system, predicated on frequent actions and ball movement.
The only thing that can hold the Thunder back at this point is injuries and the aprons. Injuries are random, but OKC’s front office always stays ahead of the curve. They’ve drafted and traded their way into stockpiling buy-low players and value picks. If they land Lendeborg, they’d get a forward who can contribute to their championship window. I think the Thunder will ultimately go in a different direction, but if Lendeborg goes this high, I’d limit drafting him to dynasty leagues.
Swain would be a cool pick for the Heat. He can put pressure on the rim, unlike most on their current roster and he’s a physical defender who ranked 83rd percentile in steals in the NCAA. The lack of 3-point shooting is a concern, so he’ll need to show improvement there if he doesn’t want to get schemed off the court. Realistically, it's hard to predict anything with Miami because they will surely be in on the Giannis sweepstakes.
I don’t like this spot for Burries, with Coby White likely inking a new deal as Charlotte’s sixth man. There isn’t enough room for meaningful minutes in this scenario. I’d rather the Hornets select a power forward to replace Miles Bridges, since he will be on an expiring deal after next season. Burries is nice, I just don’t see the immediate path to playing time if he ends up in Charlotte.
","guid":"b41a0e20-91db-4a1e-baa2-4eee82ad25bd","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 15:17:09 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 15:25:54 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 15:25:54 GMT","metadata":{},"feedLink":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/","feedDescription":"Comprehensive National Basketball Association news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors...","feedUrl":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rss/"} {"title":"The Oklahoma City Thunder say they aren't perfect. The champs' 8-0 playoff record is spotless anyway","link":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/oklahoma-city-thunder-arent-perfect-151228930.html","description":"LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Oklahoma City Thunder insist they haven't been perfect during their NBA title defense.
Their record at the playoffs' halfway point disagrees.
The Thunder completed their second straight series sweep of the spring Monday night when they held off the resilient Lakers 115-110 in Game 4 of the second round. Oklahoma City went 8-0 against LeBron James and the Lakers this season — and the defending champs are also 8-0 in these playoffs after back-to-back routs of Phoenix and Los Angeles.
Sure, coach Mark Daigneault can see areas for improvement and problems to be solved. MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander warns that the job is far from finished.
Yet the Thunder are unquestionably the class of the sport with this playoff streak following their dominant regular season as they seek the NBA's first back-to-back championships since Golden State did it 2017 and 2018.
General manager Sam Presti's merciless machine is looking fairly unbeatable as it heads to the Western Conference finals for the second straight year and the sixth time in the past 16 seasons.
“We’ve done our job so far, that’s all it really means,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “We’ve gone out there, we’ve executed, we played at a high level and we’ve been able to win eight tough games against really good opponents. That’s all it really means. And nothing is guaranteed. In the playoffs, no two games are the same, especially when you change opponents. So the challenges are all coming up, I guess you can say.”
The next challenge is a date with either the San Antonio Spurs or the Minnesota Timberwolves in the conference finals — after several more days of rest than those teams, which are tied heading to Game 5 on Tuesday night.
But whoever emerges from that rock fight of a series will face the NBA's biggest challenge in the smooth, relentless Thunder, who appear to be operating on an even higher level than they reached last season while winning the title.
“We’ve been very, very good,” Daigneault said. “I thought we had more lapses tonight than we had had in previous games, so we have to learn from that. Obviously we have to play better in more of the 48 minutes, but I also think the wind is going to be in your face in a playoff game for different reasons at different times, and you’ve got to be able to recenter. I thought we did that exceptionally well.”
The Thunder had never swept back-to-back playoff series, and neither did the Seattle SuperSonics before them.
The Lakers got blown out by Oklahoma City three times before managing one close game. The Thunder trailed in a fourth quarter for the first time in these playoffs, and their five-point win was the smallest of the spring.
But the Thunder rallied, as they almost always do.
Gilgeous-Alexander scored nine of his 35 points in the fourth quarter. Ajay Mitchell, the backup guard who has become a star in Jalen Williams' injury absence, poured in 10 of his career playoff-high 28 in the same period. Chet Holmgren had arguably the biggest baskets of all, including a go-ahead dunk with 32.8 seconds left.
The Thunder celebrated a closeout quarter that seemed to feature a big play from everybody who touched the court. A few minutes later, they were back to business.
“Everything that we’ve done so far is behind us,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “We still have a huge target on. We have two more series to win to reach our ultimate goal, and that’s what we’re focused on.”
Los Angeles coach JJ Redick and his staff appeared to have a surprising, effective game plan to harass the Thunder’s scorers — and yet it didn’t make much of an impact on the scoreboard at all.
Daigneault found teachable moments during his team's demolition of the Lakers, who sent double-teams at Gilgeous-Alexander and other ball-handlers at a rate they hadn't seen since the Thunder's playoff series with Denver a year ago.
In perhaps the most dismaying aspect of this series for the Thunder's future opponents, they've learned and improved from the Lakers' meager successes.
“It really had us having to sharpen our attacks, but I thought we did a great job of that,” Daigneault said. \"Down the stretch, we had some big-time plays (with) high-lows, traps, and we had a dunk for Chet. That was a great attack, and I just thought we showed great execution of that. So I think we’re a lot better in that area than we were coming into the series.”
___
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA
","guid":"82216d9c-d6e9-3c3a-a197-61663d2ed27f","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 15:12:28 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 15:25:54 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 15:25:54 GMT","metadata":{},"feedLink":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/","feedDescription":"Comprehensive National Basketball Association news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors...","feedUrl":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rss/"} {"title":"LeBron James unsure of what future holds for him after a 23rd season unlike any other","link":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/lebron-james-unsure-future-holds-150903215.html","description":"LOS ANGELES — LeBron James has said it consistently all season long: He doesn't know what's next for him.
He doesn't know if he will play another season, and if so, whether it will be with the Lakers or another team. He — and the people around him — have consistently said he had not come close to making that decision.
Minutes after his 23rd season ended, that hadn't changed.
\"I don't know what the future holds for me, honestly, as it stands right now tonight,\" LeBron said after his Lakers were swept out of the playoffs by the Thunder. \"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 when the time comes, obviously, you guys will know what I decide to do.\"
LeBron is now a free agent and faces two major questions: Whether to return to the NBA, and if the answer to that is yes (as many around the league expect), will it be with the Lakers or another team?
The question is not can he still help a team — he answered that emphatically this season. LeBron, at age 41 and in his unprecedented 23rd NBA season, showed he is still one of the top players in the game and an All-Star. For the season, he averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 7.2 assists a night, shooting 51.5% from the floor.
\"It's amazing what he's doing out there at this age,\" Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said. \"It's very impressive. It's hard to put into 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.\"
This season was unlike any other for LeBron: He battled more injuries, missing the first 14 games with sciatica and only playing in 60 total (ending his record streak of making 21 All-NBA teams), and for much of that season playing as the Lakers' third option behind Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. LeBron also got to share the court again with his son Bronny, including playing in the playoffs together.
With Doncic (hamstring) out for the playoffs and Reaves (oblique strain) missing most of it, LeBron stepped back into the role of primary shot creator and led the Lakers in an upset of the Houston Rockets and into the second round. In the playoffs, he averaged 23.2 points a game with 6.7 rebounds and 7.3 assists per game.
\"I was put into some positions that I never played in my career before. Actually, in my life,\" LeBron said of this season. \"I've never been a third option in my life. So to be able to thrive in that role, for that period of time, and then have to step back into the role that I've been accustomed with over my career or my life playing the sport, and be able to thrive under that, and just my teammates allowing me to lead them under extreme circumstances, that was pretty cool for me at this stage of my career.\"
On the podium after the emotional loss, LeBron sounded like many great, aging athletes before him, including Lakers' legend Kobe Bryant: His love of the game is still there, but his decision whether to retire or continue is more about his whether he remains willing to put in the incredible and increasing amount of work it takes to get his aging body ready to play at this level for another season.
\"I think for me, it's about the process,\" LeBron said. \"If I can commit to still being in love with the process of showing up to the arena five-and-a-half hours before a game and start preparing for a game. Give everything I got, diving for loose balls, doing everything that you know that it takes to go out and play. Showing up to 11 o'clock practice, I'm here at eight o'clock, preparing my body, preparing my mind, preparing to practice, to put the work in.
\"So I think for me, I've always been in love with the process and not the aftermath. Okay, we won that game, or won a championship, like I've always enjoyed the process more than the outcome. So that will be a big factor.
\"And also, have a conversation with my 12-year-old daughter, that's a big factor; my 19-year-old son entering his second year at Arizona and my wife as well. So they're a huge factor in any decision I've made, so they'll be a big part of it as well.\"
LeBron isn't going to be rushed into a decision, but it's also one he essentially needs to make in the next couple of months, while teams are still shaping and forming their rosters for next season. By the middle of July, that process is largely finished for teams.
He just doesn't know what that decision is yet.
Having checked in with the Western Conference, it’s time for the Bucks to look in their own backyard. Comebacks, upsets, and tougher-than-expected series defined the first round. But what does this all mean for Milwaukee? Let’s dive in.
Detroit Pistons vs. Orlando MagicFor two weeks, the NBA time-travelled back to the early 2000s: total scores struggling to surpass 90, field goal percentages in the 30s, and offensive ratings in-line with tanking teams. To put it blankly, these teams struggled to put the ball in the hoop. Orlando stole Game 1 on the road, then won both at home to take a commanding 3-1 lead over Detroit and looked primed to become just the seventh eight-seed to beat a one-seed. But after the Pistons prevailed in a Game 5 showdown where Cade Cunningham and Paolo Banchero put up 45 points apiece, the Magic seized up. And when they turned a 22-point half time lead in Game 6 into a 14-point loss, the series was all but over.
Shot creation is what matters. The Pistons nearly lost to an eight-seed that shot less than 40% for the series thanks to its roster construction, one that relies almost entirely on Cunningham to create looks. It took its toll too, with Cunningham totalling a staggering 41 turnovers (to just 50 assists). The Bucks will have Ryan Rollins back next season, and Ousmane Dieng can do some secondary playmaking, but with a huge question mark surrounding Giannis’ future with the team—and a smaller one with Kevin Porter Jr.’s—the Bucks have a lot of work to do to ensure they have enough legitimate creators. Heck, even with Giannis and KPJ there’s work to do, as this season proved.
Boston Celtics vs. Philadelphia 76ersJoe Mazzulla said it best: “What changed in this series was Joel Embiid came back and they’re a completely different team.” Yes, Joel Embiid, notorious for playoff letdowns, flipped this series on its head. After getting routed in his Game 4 return, when they clearly struggled to reintegrate him into their play, the 76ers won three in a row to snatch the series and end the Celtics’ Cinderella season. Embiid had 34 points, 12 rebounds, and six assists in the clincher, while running mate Tyrese Maxey put up 30 points, 11 rebounds, and 7 assists. It was just the third time the 76ers have beaten the Celtics in their nine Game 7 matchups—and the first time Embiid has won a Game 7 matchup (previously 0-3).
This series speaks three truths. One, it reaffirms that redemption isn’t just solely for the movies. For Milwaukee, think Myles Turner. After an underwhelming season that was arguably his worst as a pro, with a new coach and system—one that might actually play to his strengths—Turner has a legitimate shot at reminding the world how much of a real difference-maker he can be. It’s not all on coaching and system, though, Turner needs to be better. Flat out.
Two, regular season depth—and trust—isn’t the same as playoff depth (and trust). Especially when it comes to Game 7s. Baylor Scheierman, Luka Garza, Hugo Gonzalez, Ron Harper Jr., and Jordan Walsh—regulars all season long (save, perhaps, Harper)—combined for just 53 minutes of action and 0/12 from the field. Nikola Vucevic, who the Celtics acquired in exchange for Anfernee Simons, was a DNP-CD. The Bucks then, must be particularly mindful how they assess their own regular season minute-eaters and not overvalue their play, especially in a losing season. This goes for Cormac Ryan, Pete Nance, Jericho Sims, and even Ousmane Dieng.
Three, over-rely on the long ball at your own peril. The Celtics ranked fourth in the league during the regular season, taking 46.7% of their shots from three. In the playoffs, they upped this to a league-leading 52.5%. However, their accuracy regressed, dropping from 36.7% to 33.7%, and in Game 7 a whopping 49 of their 93 shots came from long range, yet they hit just 13 of them (26.5%) as they lost by nine. So, once again, shot creation matters. The Bucks need shooters, yes, but they don’t need one-dimensional ones (if we didn’t already know).
New York Knicks vs. Atlanta HawksAfter Atlanta went up 2-1—with each win coming by just one point—New York’s depth of talent finally shone through, smacking Atlanta about over the next three games (including a winning margin of 51 in Game 6). The Hawks were relying on the 34-year-old CJ McCollum as their main source of offence, which was only ever going to work for so long, while Jalen Johnson was a huge disappointment on both ends. Crucially, the Knicks also switched KAT’s matchup after Game 3, putting him back on Okongwu instead of getting cute with it and trying to hide him on non-shooting wings like Dyson Daniels or Jonathan Kuminga, which freed up guys like Josh Hart to have more of an impact as on-ball defenders.
I think this one is simple: you can win with smoke and mirrors in the regular season, but you need bona fide stars to win in the playoffs. Atlanta’s post-deadline resurgence was a nice story, but it should be mentioned that they had a long run of cupcake games down the home stretch. And don’t get me wrong, the Hawks played a solid brand of basketball on both ends, but once they ran into a team with legit, proven contributors in the postseason, it was over. They still have a ways to go.
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Toronto RaptorsAfter lookung uncompeteteive in Games 1 and 2, the Raptors found their identity (and it was classic Raptors): a big, athletic, imposing team that will suffocate you. The home team won every game in the series, which not many people predicted. Although Toronto’s offence sputtered in certain games, the defence never waivered (well, until the second half of Game 7, when they lost hold of the rope).
From a Cavs POV, I think it says a lot about team-building. I really like Cleveland’s team—they have skilled, unselfish role players and are deep in almost every position—but their stars, Mitchell and Harden, needed to lead the dance, which, by and large, they did not. Both players looked completely flummoxed by the Raptors’ defence, which pressured them relentlessly in the halfcourt and fullcourt, leading to a high turnover rate. I think what matters here is that finding an identity is the first step to becoming good; the Raptors know what they hang their hat on, and crucially, what they don’t. Although a few bad contracts may limit Toronto’s flexibility somewhat, they seem ripe for improvement if they can get better offensively. Under Taylor Jenkins, the Bucks’ first step will be finding that identity—with or without Giannis.
Do you agree with our assessments, or is there something we missed? Add your two cents in the comments.
","guid":"f5ae4247-270d-32f7-ade4-03cfa36b0483","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 13:00:00 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 15:25:55 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 15:25:55 GMT","metadata":{},"feedLink":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/","feedDescription":"Comprehensive National Basketball Association news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors...","feedUrl":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rss/"} {"title":"Game 5 Preview: Timberwolves at Spurs","link":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/game-5-preview-timberwolves-spurs-130000891.html","description":"MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - MAY 10: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves drives to the basket against Stephon Castle #5 of the San Antonio Spurs during the second quarter in Game Four of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Target Center on May 10, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images\tMinnesota Timberwolves at San Antonio Spurs
Date: May 12th, 2026
Time: 7:00 PM CDT
Location: Frost Bank Center
Television Coverage: NBC, Peacock
After four games of chaos, blood pressure spikes, blown opportunities, sudden reversals, superstar theater, and at least one officiating decision that will be discussed in San Antonio like it was the Zapruder film, the Minnesota Timberwolves and San Antonio Spurs are tied 2-2, staring down a Game 5 that feels like the hinge point of the entire Western Conference Semifinals.
This series has already been a full-blown emotional obstacle course. Game 1 gave us Anthony Edwards’ miraculous return and a Wolves team that had found just enough offense and defense to steal home court. Game 2 gave us the complete Minnesota meltdown, the kind of performance you bury in a field. Game 3 gave us Victor Wembanyama’s masterpiece. And then Game 4 gave us something even stranger: Wembanyama’s ejection, Anthony Edwards’ Michael Jordan-esque fourth quarter, and a Wolves win that was both exhilarating and wildly uncomfortable, which is the most Timberwolves way possible to tie a playoff series.
Game 4 was the kind of game that takes years off your life but somehow makes you feel more alive. For the first quarter and a half, up until Wembanyama’s exit, it was shaping up to be a classic. The Wolves had clearly responded to their Game 3 disappointment with more energy, more defensive discipline, and the kind of edge they needed with their season hovering dangerously close to the ledge. This looked like it was going to be a long, tense, physical fight with Wemby on the floor.
Then Wembanyama’s elbow flew through space, caught Naz Reid in the head and neck area, and changed everything.
Spurs fans are going to be salty about that Flagrant 2 for the next decade, and honestly, if the roles were reversed and Anthony Edwards had been tossed from that kind of game, Wolves Nation likely would have reacted similarly. It was a tricky situation. By the letter of the law, the ejection made sense. It was high contact, reckless, and dangerous. At the same time, Wembanyama is not exactly known as some dirty enforcer out there trying to collect heads like he’s in an old NHL rivalry series. He was being hounded aggressively by Naz and Jaden McDaniels, the stakes were enormous, emotions were high, and one bad swing of the arm suddenly became the defining moment of the night.
But once the call was made, Wemby was gone, and every Wolves fan had the same two thoughts hit at the exact same time.
The first: “We’re going to win this game.”
The second: “We’re absolutely going to screw this up.”
Because if you know this team, you know nothing is ever that simple. If this were some Tuesday night in February and the opponent’s best player got sent to the locker room, you could practically set your watch to the Wolves mentally relaxing, letting the intensity drop, and turning a golden opportunity into a maddeningly preventable loss. The fear wasn’t irrational. It was historical conditioning. Minnesota has trained its fans to treat good fortune like it might be a trap door.
What followed was a little bit of both. The Wolves did not fully coast, but they were not crisp either. They got sloppy. Turnovers squandered opportunities. Missed bunnies around the rim kept San Antonio alive. Defensive rotations arrived a half-beat late, and those half-beats became good looks for the Spurs. Rudy Gobert got outworked by Luke Kornet on a few possessions. Julius Randle had too many moments where he tried to bully his way through traffic and got his pocket picked. Pretty much everyone not named Anthony Edwards had stretches where they could have been cleaner, sharper, and more ruthless.
The monkey’s paw had curled. Minnesota got its wish and Wembanyama vanished from the game. But in his place came an unconscious De’Aaron Fox, who suddenly looked like he was playing mid-range basketball with a cheat code activated. He penetrated at will, pulled up in rhythm, and kept splashing shot after shot as the Wolves defense tried to find its footing. With eight minutes left in the fourth quarter, San Antonio held an eight-point lead, and the game had become less about matchups and more about will. Who was going to blink first? Who was going to seize the moment? Who was going to decide that this game mattered too much to let it slip away?
That answer, finally and emphatically, was the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Terrence Shannon Jr. hit back-to-back clutch corner threes that changed the shape of the game. Those shots mattered not just because they put points on the board, but because they punished San Antonio for loading up on Edwards. For most of the night, the Spurs were determined to meet Ant with resistance the moment he crossed half court, throwing bodies at him, shrinking the floor, and daring someone else to beat them. Shannon made them pay. Suddenly, the Spurs could not treat every Edwards touch like a five-alarm fire without leaving themselves vulnerable elsewhere.
Jaden McDaniels kept hounding Fox until those clean mid-range looks started clanging off the rim. The Wolves bigs finally grabbed the boards that had to be grabbed. And Anthony Edwards, with Wembanyama sidelined and the season threatening to slip into a 3-1 hole, left absolutely no doubt about who the best player on the floor was.
That fourth quarter was signature Ant. It was the kind of forceful, assassin-like stretch that makes you understand why this franchise lives and dies with him. He put the team on his back. He attacked. He created. He bent the game around his presence. He did not have the advantage of being 7-foot-6 with a wingspan that looks like it requires FAA clearance, but he had something else: the competitive stubbornness to stare down the moment and refuse to let the Wolves lose.
Minnesota flipped an eight-point deficit into a seven-point lead, which should have been enough to let everyone breathe. Naturally, it wasn’t. Because this is Wolves basketball, they still had to turn the final seconds into a stress test. The late inbounds turnover gave San Antonio life. Jaden McDaniels then had to uncork a Culpepper—to-Moss full-court pass, leaving Ayo Dosunmu and Fox fighting for possession like a wide receiver and cornerback on the final play of an NFC playoff game. The somehow ball nicked Ayo’s heel to stay inbounds, the clock bled down, and eventually the Wolves escaped with the win by the skin of their teeth.
If you left those 48 minutes feeling physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausted, congratulations. You watched the same game the rest of us did. It was a heart attack and an aneurysm disguised as a basketball game.
And now comes Game 5 in San Antonio, where one team will seize control of this series and force the other to win two straight to survive. It is not technically a must-win for Minnesota, but let’s not deny the stakes. The winner of Game 5 will have a massive advantage. If the Wolves steal this one on the road, they come home to Target Center with a chance to end the series and crush a young Spurs team under the weight of its first true playoff crisis. If they lose, they are suddenly one defeat from elimination, needing to win Game 6 at home and then return to San Antonio for a Game 7 against Wembanyama, Fox, and a Spurs team that would be growing more confident by the hour.
So yes, this is a big one.
And with that, here are the keys to Game 5.
The Wolves finally ratcheted up their physicality on Wembanyama in Game 4 after getting a bit too timid in Games 2 and 3, and it paid dividends in ways nobody could have predicted. No one was expecting McDaniels and Reid swarming him like gnats to eventually lead to a swinging elbow and an ejection, but the larger point remains: Minnesota made him uncomfortable. They put bodies on him. They crowded his space. They made him feel the game instead of letting him float through it.
The Wolves cannot allow Wembanyama to cruise into another stat-stuffing night like he did in Game 3. He is too good, too long, too disruptive, and too capable of reshaping the entire game on both ends if he gets comfortable. Minnesota needs to body him up, push him off his spots, fight him on the glass, and make every possession feel like work. This is not about being reckless or dirty. It is about making the series physically expensive.
Randle, Gobert, Naz, McDaniels all need to contribute to that effort. Every catch should come with pressure. Every rebound should come with contact. Every drive should come with bodies. The Spurs want Wembanyama to be the calm center of their universe. The Wolves need to make him play in traffic, make him absorb hits, and make him feel that this is a playoff war against a team that has been through too many battles to be intimidated by height alone.
Wembanyama is going to respond. Great players do. But the Wolves cannot let him dictate the terms. They need to impose their physical will and leave an unmistakable mark on Game 5.
San Antonio’s game plan is clear: Anthony Edwards must see bodies at all times. The Spurs are picking him up near half court, shading extra defenders toward him, and forcing him to operate in crowds. They understand that Edwards is the one player on Minnesota’s roster who can consistently flip a playoff game through sheer force of will, so they are doing everything they can to make his life miserable.
The Wolves need to punish that strategy with quick decisions and trust.
Game 4 gave them the template. When Shannon hit those back-to-back corner threes in the fourth quarter, it was a release valve. It forced San Antonio to pay a tax for overcommitting to Edwards. Suddenly, loading up on Ant was not cost-free. Suddenly, the Spurs had to think twice before collapsing three defenders into his driving lane. That is how Minnesota creates room for its superstar without asking him to play one-on-four.
Edwards has shown a Wolverine-like ability to heal and an almost supernatural capacity to make impossible athletic plays, but even he cannot simply bulldoze through a defense that is selling out to stop him. The smarter move is to use his gravity. Make the early pass. Trust the corner shooter. Reward the cutter. Keep the ball moving until San Antonio’s defense has to rotate, recover, and eventually break. Edwards has to play as the hub of the offense, not the entire offense. If the Spurs want to overload on him, his teammates need to make them regret it.
In a series this tight, the math matters. Rebounds are possessions. Possessions are chances. Chances are survival.
Minnesota has generally done a solid job contesting shots and securing boards, even with Wembanyama’s absurd height advantage lurking over everything. The Wolves do not have one player who can match Wemby’s size, but they do have more big bodies they can throw into the fight. This has to be a full-team rebounding effort.
The Wolves need to use that collective size and strength to clean the glass, deny San Antonio second-chance opportunities, and create high-percentage putbacks of their own. They cannot allow the Spurs to miss, recover, reset, and take another swing. San Antonio is already hard enough to guard the first time through. Giving them second and third looks is asking to get buried.
The defensive glass is especially critical because it also fuels Minnesota’s transition opportunities. When the Wolves rebound cleanly, they can run before Wembanyama gets set. They can get Edwards downhill. They can let Shannon use his first step. They can put pressure on San Antonio before the Spurs defense becomes a full Wemby-centered fortress.
Rebound, run, and make the Spurs defend before they are comfortable. That is how Minnesota tilts the possession battle in its favor.
When Minnesota gets its defense set, it can pressure San Antonio. The Wolves can rotate, wall off lanes, send help, and make the Spurs grind through possessions. But when San Antonio gets out and runs, the Wolves suddenly look much more vulnerable.
That has been one of the clearest swing factors in the series.
The Spurs want to turn misses and turnovers into speed. Fox is lethal when he can attack before the defense is organized. San Antonio’s young legs become a real weapon when Minnesota is retreating, cross-matched, and scrambling. Wembanyama running into unsettled possessions is a completely different problem than Wembanyama working against a set defense. Sprint back. Communicate. Match up. Do not admire missed shots. Do not complain to the refs while the Spurs are racing the other way.
A huge part of it is ball security. Careless turnovers are gasoline for San Antonio’s transition game, and Julius Randle, in particular, has to be better. He cannot keep getting his pocket picked while trying to post up and bully his way toward the rim. That happened too many times in Game 4, and if not for Edwards’ fourth-quarter heroics, it may have cost Minnesota the game.
Sloppiness has no place in Game 5. Not with the series hanging in the balance. Take care of the ball, get back on defense, and force San Antonio to beat you in the half court.
It is a lot to ask of a player dealing with runner’s knee on one side and a hyperextension and bone bruise on the other, but the Wolves need apex Edwards as this series moves into Game 5.
This postseason has featured different Wolves stepping up at different moments. Jaden McDaniels dominated defensively and attacked the rim against Denver. Ayo Dosunmu delivered his 43-point masterpiece. Mike Conley entered the time machine and gave Minnesota critical stretches. Terrence Shannon Jr. has used his first step to create easy offense. Rudy Gobert has shouldered the massive burden of guarding Nikola Jokic and then Victor Wembanyama. Those performances have kept the Wolves alive while Edwards has battled through injury.
But Game 4’s fourth quarter reminded everyone where this team’s ceiling truly lives.
With Ant.
When things are going sideways, Edwards is the one player on the roster who can consistently grab control of the game and bend it back toward Minnesota. His shot has to ring true. His burst toward the rim has to be aggressive. He needs to draw contact, facilitate, and make the game revolve around him without devolving into stagnant isolation ball. The Wolves need surgical Ant who reads the defense, punishes the double, attacks the mismatch, trusts the open teammate, and then turns into a closer when the game demands it.
This series was billed as Wembanyama’s coming-out party. He was the Defensive Player of the Year and future MVP ushering the Spurs into a new era. But looming in the shadow of that giant is an Ant, smaller in stature but enormous in competitive force. He may not have Wemby’s physical dimensions, but he has the heart, the aggression, the determination, and the will to win that showed up when Minnesota needed it most in Game 4.
If the Wolves are going to win two of the next three and move on to another Western Conference Finals, Edwards has to keep elevating.
The Hinge GameIt is hard to overstate the importance of Game 5.
No, it is not technically a must-win, but in practical terms, it is the game that will decide the shape of the rest of the series. Whoever wins will hold a tremendous advantage. If San Antonio wins, Minnesota comes home facing elimination, needing to win two straight to save its season and keep alive the dream of a third consecutive Western Conference Finals. If the Wolves win, the pressure flips violently onto the Spurs, who would have to walk into Target Center and survive a Game 6 with their season on the line.
That is the difference between control and desperation.
San Antonio will be angry. They will be motivated. Wembanyama will almost certainly come out with something to prove after the ejection. Fox will believe he has found something after his heater. The Spurs will be at home, energized, and fully aware that this is their chance to reclaim the series. Minnesota has to match that intensity from the opening tip.
This has been a long, difficult hunt. Both teams have taken their swipes. Both have drawn blood. Both have shown they can hurt the other. Now one of them gets the chance to step on the other’s neck and set up a kill shot in Game 6.
The Wolves need to make sure that shot belongs to them.
That means physicality on Wembanyama. Trust and ball movement. Dominance on the glass. Discipline in transition. And, when the moment gets tight, Ant-Man rising again to remind everyone that this team’s title dreams still run through him.
Game 5 is where the series swings.
The Wolves survived Game 4.
Now they need to seize control.
","guid":"43449c9b-fdfd-3121-8950-f0dd54130f8f","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 13:00:00 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 15:25:55 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 15:25:55 GMT","metadata":{},"feedLink":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/","feedDescription":"Comprehensive National Basketball Association news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors...","feedUrl":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rss/"} {"title":"The Mavericks 2025-26 season review: March/April","link":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/mavericks-2025-26-season-review-130000076.html","description":"DALLAS, TX - APRIL 29: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks poses for a portrait during the 2026-26 Rookie of the Year Presentation on April 29, 2026 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images\tAfter going 13-15 across December and January, the Mavs completely spun out in February, all but spelling the end of their season. Losing felt like it would bring longer term value than winning and there was little to get excited about night-to-night. Then, as he had done many times throughout his rookie campaign, Cooper Flagg came to the rescue with a Rookie of the Year effort that kept things interesting through the final day of the Mavs’ season.
March/April Record: 5-18 (26-56 overall)March began with a single home game, followed by one of the longest road trips in recent memory. Once again, the Mavs came into the month on a losing streak and tacked on six more losses to bring the overall skid to eight. Not quite as bad as the 10-game slide bridging January to February, but a combined 18 losses across those two streaks was devastating. For perspective, the Oklahoma City Thunder lost 18 games across the entire season. Dallas lost four-of-six contests in April, but walked away with a win in game 82 against the Chicago Bulls. This outcome pulled them into a tie with the New Orleans Pelicans, to whom they subsequently lost a coin flip for worse draft standing.
Six game road tripBeginning March 3, the Mavs embarked on a six-game trek. Dallas was not a good road team (10-30 record) so six road games in 10 nights was not what they needed. Dallas finished the trip going 1-5, with the sole victory coming in the final game against the Memphis Grizzlies. The final two months of the season saw Dallas play 23 road games to only nine at home. The early home cooking had to give way at some point, and this was the time.
Cooper Flagg pours in 51Flagg sat out eight-straight games from February 12 to March 3, and when he returned, his previously tight grip on the Rookie of the Year award had loosened in the eyes of many media pundits. Kon Knueppel, Flagg’s former college teammate, had made a push while the spotlight was solely focused on him, so Flagg needed to lock in to finish strong. He turned it on at just the right time. In Dallas’ first game of April, he dropped 51 points on the Orlando Magic. This outstanding performance came on 19-for-30 shooting overall, including 6-for-9 from downtown and 7-for-7 from the free throw line. Flagg also had six boards, three assists, three steals, and a block. As an encore, he scored 45 points in the very next game.
Rookie of the YearBy April 27, the Mavericks’ season was already over. 82 games were in the books and Dallas would be watching the Playoffs instead of participating in them. Still, there was one outcome yet to be determined – Rookie of the Year. Flagg added a silver lining for Mavs’ fans by netting 56 first place votes to Knueppel’s 44, winning the award with 412 points which was good for a 26 point margin of victory. Flagg put together an amazing rookie year and left the 2025-2026 season with a reminder that he is only going to get better as the face of the franchise going forward.
I invite you to follow me @_80MPH on X, and check back often at Mavs Moneyball for all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks.
","guid":"132efbdb-cf8e-39f5-b165-a2b74f29ea1f","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 13:00:00 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 15:25:55 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 15:25:55 GMT","metadata":{},"feedLink":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/","feedDescription":"Comprehensive National Basketball Association news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors...","feedUrl":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rss/"} {"title":"What do the Sixers need? A 2026 Draft preview","link":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/sixers-2026-draft-preview-124950089.html","description":"INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - APRIL 06: Morez Johnson Jr. #21 of the Michigan Wolverines attempts a shot during the first half against the UConn Huskies in the National Championship of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 06, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) | NCAA Photos via Getty Images\tThe Philadelphia 76ers are coming off a season of genuine highs and lows. On one hand, the franchise made the postseason just a year after winning only 24 games and pulled off an upset of the rival Boston Celtics. The highs didn’t last long, though. They flamed out in four games to the New York Knicks, and yet again, several key players missed long stretches of the season.
Now, fresh off another early exit, the franchise will likely look to this summer to reshuffle the deck. Their financial flexibility hinges on what they do with several key free agents, but they also enter the draft armed with the 22nd pick. The Sixers have miscalculated on several fronts over the years, but the draft has been the most consistent bright spot of the Daryl Morey era.
This draft offers real opportunities to land a player who can not only develop long-term, but contribute immediately. So what exactly do the Sixers need after such an aggressive flameout?
First and foremost, this team simply needs players. Guys who can be on the floor when it matters and hang on both ends. Every prospect is different, and while draft discourse often centers on some version of Fit vs. Talent, especially in the back half of the first round, fit isn’t the priority here. Whoever the Sixers select at 22, whether they trade up, down or stay put, will likely come down to best available. Their lack of depth showed up in the worst ways during their biggest moments, and there’s no shortage of talent they need to add.
The Sixers struggled most in two areas: shooting and rebounding. In the regular season, Philadelphia ranked a measly 23rd in three-point percentage at 34.9 percent. Only two playoff teams shot worse, with Orlando at 27th and Portland at 28th, both at 34.3 percent. Volume wasn’t much better, as the Sixers ranked 22nd in three-point makes. Their rebounding sat firmly middle of the pack at 17th in the league, a problem that compounded in the postseason when they faced the Celtics and Knicks, who ranked third and seventh in rebounding, respectively.
Fortunately, several names in this draft fit the bill on both fronts and can fill either or possibly both needs at once.
If the Sixers were to trade up into the late lottery, players such as Yaxel Lendeborg, Hannes Steinbach and Aday Mara would likely be available and present intriguing options to varying degrees. All three boast a legitimate frame over 6-foot-9 and are capable rebounders with complementary skills.
Lendeborg, despite being considerably older than most prospects, brings a real level of NBA readiness and might be this draft’s best connector, a Swiss army knife who can slot in between talent. Steinbach might be this draft’s best rebounder, and pairs serious post skills and efficient interior work with a high-IQ feel for the game. Mara, meanwhile, has serious skill for a big, with a soft touch, an advanced passing game, and the kind of post-centric offensive game teams can never seem to get enough of. He’s also 7-foot-3, and you simply cannot teach size.
Aday Mara playmaking #Michigan
— Tyler Rucker (@tyler_rucker) April 2, 2026
Hit the Music. pic.twitter.com/h0vUUadfcw
All three bigs should be available anywhere from the 10th pick into the teens. This draft has real depth, however, and there are plenty of other names, and specifically positions, that the Sixers should weigh at 22 and the picks leading up to it.
Karim Lopez, a Mexican forward from the New Zealand Breakers in the NBL, is a high-upside name with a legitimate frame at 6-foot-8 with a 7-1 wingspan to go along with it. Lopez fits the bill as a high-motor, versatile player capable of not only feasting on the glass but pushing the ball up the floor in grab-and-go situations. There is no shortage of refined forwards leading into the 20s either, with names such as Allen Graves, Isaiah Evans, Morez Johnson Jr. and Dailyn Swain all presenting intriguing options with varying skillsets.
Graves in particular gives off shades of Naz Reid or former Sixer Nic Batum. He is a skilled forward who has proven he can stretch the floor, pass effectively, and rebound well as a connective piece. Evans has shown an ability as a microwave scorer, with a quick release and the capability to knock down shots from range. If the Sixers are looking for offensive upside at the forward position, he is a name that could grow in popularity for a team with a longer-view type of selection in mind.
Johnson is a physically imposing forward who can even run some small-ball five, boasting a high motor, elite rebounding ability, and defensive switchability. If the Sixers are looking for a plug-and-play forward to put next to Embiid and shore up their rebounding problem, it is hard to find a better Day 1 name than Johnson, especially if you believe in his ability to grow his offense. Swain presents athleticism and wing versatility, making his mark as an elite slasher with potentially untapped playmaking ability that could slot in well next to Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe.
Morez Johnson Jr. could be one of the biggest risers in the NBA, and for good reason.
— Dynatyze Basketball (@Dynatyze) May 10, 2026
– Elite, versatile defender (98th % DDPM)
– Insane shooting efficiency
– Playmaking upside
– Power + footwork
– Freak athlete
– Champion
VERY Few Weaknesses… pic.twitter.com/g1AtEH0uZK
Every draft cycle brings the same chorus of calls for teams to prioritize shooting from day one, and this one will be no different. Despite being a personal skeptic, nobody can doubt Chris Cenac Jr.’s ability to knock down shots from range, especially considering his legitimate big man frame at 6-foot-11.
Stepping away from forwards and bigs, a handful of guards are projected to go in the late lottery and into the teens. One name widely expected to be available heading into the late teens is Baylor’s Cameron Carr, who brings legitimate athleticism alongside his 6-foot-5 frame and 7-2 wingspan. He has shown scoring and shooting growth, presenting a solid foundation as a coveted 3-and-D wing with legitimate rim protection skills at the guard spot. Carr and Edgecombe could form an excellent Baylor Bear duo, giving the Sixers two guards who are above-average rim protectors, a genuine rarity in the NBA.
It’s hard to predict what will happen or who will be available more than a month out, but there is no shortage of names who would help the Sixers and bolster their growing youth movement. Whether they trade up, trade down or stay put at 22, the Sixers will have options.
","guid":"92d856e3-54ec-3bbd-832c-01c2a005e364","pubDate":"Tue, 12 May 2026 12:49:50 GMT","whenReceived":"Tue, 12 May 2026 15:25:55 GMT","whenUpdated":"Tue, 12 May 2026 15:25:55 GMT","metadata":{},"feedLink":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/","feedDescription":"Comprehensive National Basketball Association news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors...","feedUrl":"https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rss/"}