NBA playoffs: LeBron James hits 19 points as Lakers beat Rockets LeBronLuke Kennard scored 27 points, and LeBron James added 19 points with 13 assists as the short-handed Los Angeles Lakers earned a 107-98 victory over the visiting Houston Rockets on Saturday in Game 1 of a Western Conference first-round playoff series.Deandre Ayton scored 19 points with ‌11 rebounds and Marcus Smart added 15 points with eight assists as the fourth-seeded Lakers won, with leading scorers Luka Doncic (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (oblique) watching from ⁠the bench.In just his seventh start since joining the Lakers from the Atlanta Hawks at the trade deadline, Kennard went nine of 13 from the floor and five of five from three-point range while ‌delivering a season high in points to fill the scoring void at guard.Alperen Sengun scored 19 points while Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard each added 17 for ‌the fifth-seeded Rockets, who were playing without leading scorer Kevin Durant (knee).Jabari Smith Jr. scored 16 ‌points ⁠with 12 rebounds and Tari Eason also had 16 points for Houston, which ⁠has lost three consecutive road games to Los Angeles since the middle of March.Nuggets 116, Timberwolves 105Nikola Jokic had 25 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists, Jamal Murray scored a game-high 30 points and host Denver Nuggets beat Minnesota Timberwolves to take a 1-0 lead in its first-round Western Conference playoff series.Murray was perfect from the line, hitting a career-high 16 free throws. Aaron Gordon finished with 17 points, nearly half of which came during the Nuggets’ 14-0 third-quarter run which broke a deadlock and put them in control of ‌the game after a slow start.Anthony Edwards, who was questionable after missing 11 of the Timberwolves’ final 14 regular-season games with right knee issues, led Minnesota with 22 points. Rudy Gobert produced 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who ⁠led by as many as 12 points in the first quarter.Knicks 113, Hawks 102Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby hit 3-pointers on consecutive possessions to start the decisive third-quarter run for host ‌New York Knicks, which pulled away for a win over the Hawks in Game 1 of an Eastern Conference quarterfinal series.Jalen Brunson scored 19 of his game-high 28 points in the first quarter for the third-seeded Knicks, who reached the Eastern Conference finals last year for the first time since 2000. Towns finished with 25 points and was 10 of 10 from the free throw line, while Anunoby collected 18 points.CJ McCollum scored 26 points for the Hawks, who ‌earned the sixth seed in their first trip to the playoffs since 2023. Jalen Johnson had 23 points while Onyeka Okongwu (19) and Nickeil Alexander-Walker (17) each scored in double figures.Cavaliers 126, Raptors 113Donovan Mitchell scored 32 points, and James Harden added 22 points and 10 assists, powering the Cavaliers to a victory over visiting Raptors in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference first-round series.Max ⁠Strus had 24 points off the bench, and Evan Mobley scored 17 for the fourth-seeded Cavaliers, who have won 11 straight playoff games over the Raptors. Game 2 ‌is Monday in Cleveland, where the Raptors are 0-8 all-time in the postseason.RJ Barrett scored 24 points, and Scottie Barnes contributed 21 points and seven assists for the fifth-seeded Raptors. Brandon Ingram added 17 points, and Jamal Shead had 17 points in his playoff debut, starting for injured guard Immanuel Quickley (right hamstring strain).Published on Apr 19, 2026 #NBA #playoffs #LeBron #James #hits #points #Lakers #beat #Rockets

I can’t stop thinking about the halftime show of the World Cup final. It was one of those things you just had to see to believe. It was so weird, so improbable, so nonsensical that part of me is in awe of what took place, and part wonders how many people it took to greenlight this and assume it was a good idea.

Truthfully, here’s how I presented the halftime show to my non-soccer watching friends in our group chat.

Let’s expand beyond the group chat to examine the key elements of all this. It begins with Madonna emerging from a disco ball amidst roller skaters before jumping in a dune buggy being driven by Ronaldo (R9) and Ronaldinho. Poor R9 seemed frozen while driving the dune buggy. He was smiling as if he was trapped in a hostage video and didn’t seem relaxed for one second until he was off camera altogether.

Madonna represented the USA element of this halftime show. This is important, because we’re going to come back to this.

Then we got the Muppets playing “Seven Nation Army,” with Gustavo Dudamel leading the New York Philharmonic, which was a delight. I don’t know why exactly they were playing “Seven Nation Army, but I didn’t care because it was cool.

BTS were great because they’re BTS. Look, I am a 41-year-old man, and yes, my view of K-Pop might be extremely skewed due to my nine-year-old daughter’s love of K-Pop — but it was rad. BTS put on a great show, and are still my pick (along with Blackpink and others) to be the Super Bowl halftime show this year.

Next up was a Ted Lasso interlude, because of course there was. It made me wonder how much Ted Lasso resonates outside the USA at all. I know the show has fans in England, but is this something that has really gone global? If not this would be wildly confusing, but nonetheless it led to the Canadian element of the halftime show: Justin Bieber.

Never really cared for Biebs. It was fine. I’m not gonna lie though, the “BELIEBE” sign made me giggle.

Okay then, we’re well past the halfway point and we’ve had USA’s artist and Canada’s artist representing two of the host nations — now we just need a performer from Mexico to bring it home. Introducing … SHAKIRA?!

Look, I know Shakira is intimately involved in all things FIFA, but she is very well known and established to be Colombian. You can’t just replace Mexico’s place in all this by grabbing another Latin artist and calling it a day. Sure, the theme of all this was supposed to be global, but it was extremely weird to have two host nation countries represented and not a third.

Shakira did what Shakira has done for 20 years.

It was time to close out the show by remembering the children are our future. Dozens of kids were on the field, and incredible props to some of these youngsters for performing solos in front of an entire stadium, with hundreds-of-millions of people watching around the globe. I could have never.

The Muppets were back, this time in their Sesame St. variant forms, because children and Sesame St. Chris Martin and Coldplay were in the background offering support. It was technically their number, but nobody puts Miss Piggy in the corner.

The prevailing theme of the whole show was love across the world, which I could be really jaded about — and normally I would be, but damn did it feel needed right now. This was joyous anarchy, and while the world might not be accustomed to the halftime show, it was a really nice breather. The big misstep was not having a performer representing Mexico, however.

#FIFA #World #Cup #halftime #show #unhinged">

The FIFA World Cup halftime show was so unhinged you need to see it to believe it I can’t stop thinking about the halftime show of the World Cup final. It was one of those things you just had to see to believe. It was so weird, so improbable, so nonsensical that part of me is in awe of what took place, and part wonders how many people it took to greenlight this and assume it was a good idea.Truthfully, here’s how I presented the halftime show to my non-soccer watching friends in our group chat.Let’s expand beyond the group chat to examine the key elements of all this. It begins with Madonna emerging from a disco ball amidst roller skaters before jumping in a dune buggy being driven by Ronaldo (R9) and Ronaldinho. Poor R9 seemed frozen while driving the dune buggy. He was smiling as if he was trapped in a hostage video and didn’t seem relaxed for one second until he was off camera altogether.Madonna represented the USA element of this halftime show. This is important, because we’re going to come back to this.Then we got the Muppets playing “Seven Nation Army,” with Gustavo Dudamel leading the New York Philharmonic, which was a delight. I don’t know why exactly they were playing “Seven Nation Army, but I didn’t care because it was cool.BTS were great because they’re BTS. Look, I am a 41-year-old man, and yes, my view of K-Pop might be extremely skewed due to my nine-year-old daughter’s love of K-Pop — but it was rad. BTS put on a great show, and are still my pick (along with Blackpink and others) to be the Super Bowl halftime show this year.Next up was a Ted Lasso interlude, because of course there was. It made me wonder how much Ted Lasso resonates outside the USA at all. I know the show has fans in England, but is this something that has really gone global? If not this would be wildly confusing, but nonetheless it led to the Canadian element of the halftime show: Justin Bieber.Never really cared for Biebs. It was fine. I’m not gonna lie though, the “BELIEBE” sign made me giggle.Okay then, we’re well past the halfway point and we’ve had USA’s artist and Canada’s artist representing two of the host nations — now we just need a performer from Mexico to bring it home. Introducing … SHAKIRA?!Look, I know Shakira is intimately involved in all things FIFA, but she is very well known and established to be Colombian. You can’t just replace Mexico’s place in all this by grabbing another Latin artist and calling it a day. Sure, the theme of all this was supposed to be global, but it was extremely weird to have two host nation countries represented and not a third.Shakira did what Shakira has done for 20 years.It was time to close out the show by remembering the children are our future. Dozens of kids were on the field, and incredible props to some of these youngsters for performing solos in front of an entire stadium, with hundreds-of-millions of people watching around the globe. I could have never.The Muppets were back, this time in their Sesame St. variant forms, because children and Sesame St. Chris Martin and Coldplay were in the background offering support. It was technically their number, but nobody puts Miss Piggy in the corner.The prevailing theme of the whole show was love across the world, which I could be really jaded about — and normally I would be, but damn did it feel needed right now. This was joyous anarchy, and while the world might not be accustomed to the halftime show, it was a really nice breather. The big misstep was not having a performer representing Mexico, however. #FIFA #World #Cup #halftime #show #unhinged

mwasimuddin125 0

I can’t stop thinking about the halftime show of the World Cup final. It was one of those things you just had to see to believe. It was so weird, so improbable, so nonsensical that part of me is in awe of what took place, and part wonders how many people it took to greenlight this and assume it was a good idea.
Truthfully, here’s how I presented the halftime show to my non-soccer watching friends in our group chat.
Let’s expand beyond the group chat to examine the key elements of all this. It begins with Madonna emerging from a disco ball amidst roller skaters before jumping in a dune buggy being driven by Ronaldo (R9) and Ronaldinho. Poor R9 seemed frozen while driving the dune buggy. He was smiling as if he was trapped in a hostage video and didn’t seem relaxed for one second until he was off camera altogether.
Madonna represented the USA element of this halftime show. This is important, because we’re going to come back to this.
Then we got the Muppets playing “Seven Nation Army,” with Gustavo Dudamel leading the New York Philharmonic, which was a delight. I don’t know why exactly they were playing “Seven Nation Army, but I didn’t care because it was cool.
BTS were great because they’re BTS. Look, I am a 41-year-old man, and yes, my view of K-Pop might be extremely skewed due to my nine-year-old daughter’s love of K-Pop — but it was rad. BTS put on a great show, and are still my pick (along with Blackpink and others) to be the Super Bowl halftime show this year.
Next up was a Ted Lasso interlude, because of course there was. It made me wonder how much Ted Lasso resonates outside the USA at all. I know the show has fans in England, but is this something that has really gone global? If not this would be wildly confusing, but nonetheless it led to the Canadian element of the halftime show: Justin Bieber.
Never really cared for Biebs. It was fine. I’m not gonna lie though, the “BELIEBE” sign made me giggle.
Okay then, we’re well past the halfway point and we’ve had USA’s artist and Canada’s artist representing two of the host nations — now we just need a performer from Mexico to bring it home. Introducing … SHAKIRA?!
Look, I know Shakira is intimately involved in all things FIFA, but she is very well known and established to be Colombian. You can’t just replace Mexico’s place in all this by grabbing another Latin artist and calling it a day. Sure, the theme of all this was supposed to be global, but it was extremely weird to have two host nation countries represented and not a third.
Shakira did what Shakira has done for 20 years.
It was time to close out the show by remembering the children are our future. Dozens of kids were on the field, and incredible props to some of these youngsters for performing solos in front of an entire stadium, with hundreds-of-millions of people watching around the globe. I could have never.
The Muppets were back, this time in their Sesame St. variant forms, because children and Sesame St. Chris Martin and Coldplay were in the background offering support. It was technically their number, but nobody puts Miss Piggy in the corner.
The prevailing theme of the whole show was love across the world, which I could be really jaded about — and normally I would be, but damn did it feel needed right now. This was joyous anarchy, and while the world might not be accustomed to the halftime show, it was a really nice breather. The big misstep was not having a performer representing Mexico, however.

#FIFA #World #Cup #halftime #show #unhinged">The FIFA World Cup halftime show was so unhinged you need to see it to believe it

Truthfully, here’s how I presented the halftime show to my non-soccer watching friends in our group chat.

Madonna represented the USA element of this halftime show. This is important, because we’re going to come back to this.

Never really cared for Biebs. It was fine. I’m not gonna lie though, the “BELIEBE” sign made me giggle.

Shakira did what Shakira has done for 20 years.

#FIFA #World #Cup #halftime #show #unhinged

Nuggets 116, Timberwolves 105

Knicks 113, Hawks 102

Cavaliers 126, Raptors 113

Nuggets 116, Timberwolves 105

Knicks 113, Hawks 102

Cavaliers 126, Raptors 113

FIFA Men’s Rankings after World Cup: (Top 10)

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Nuggets 116, Timberwolves 105

Knicks 113, Hawks 102

Cavaliers 126, Raptors 113

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FIFA Men’s Rankings after World Cup: (Top 10)

FIFA Men’s Rankings after World Cup: (Top 10)

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