Month: May 2021

We get it, the spring months are made for tequila, gin, rum, and vodka-based cocktails. When it comes to seasonal mixed drinks, light, floral, and refreshing are the keywords. Sadly, this means that our beloved whiskey (specifically, bourbon) sometimes gets left out in the (not so) cold from May until August.

We understand why you might shy away from the woody, rich, caramel-meets-vanilla flavors of bourbon on a sunny day. But we can’t abide ignoring the spirit for four months. We’ve already given the mint julep love this spring and more shine for the whiskey sour is on the way. But there’s another cocktail — a crazy easy one! — that ticks all the spring (and summer) boxes.

The whiskey highball. This thirst-quenching, simple cocktail begins with an ice-filled highball glass. Add your favorite whiskey (Japanese whisky and Scotch are great, but we’re using bourbon today). Top it with ginger ale or soda water and add a citrus wedge garnish to complete the drink.

“The whiskey highball is a very simple cocktail,” says Robert Kidd, head bartender at Le Cavalier in Wilmington, Delaware. “But that doesn’t mean finding the right ingredients is easy. This time of year, I prefer a nice wheated bourbon for my highballs. The sweet, soft flavors you get from a wheated bourbon are great for a refreshing highball in the spring and summer.”

While wheated bourbons are well-suited for highballs, there are other bourbons with differing mash bills that work well, too. To find a few seasonal gems, we turned to the experts behind the bar, asking our favorite bartenders to tell us the best bourbons to mix into a May highball. Check their answers below!

Angel’s Envy

Juyoung Kang, lead bartender at The Dorsey inside The Venetian Resort in Las Vegas

ABV: 43.3%
Average Price: $50

Why This Bottle?

I would have to go with Angel’s Envy and Frey Ranch. Angel’s Envy because it has a balanced hint of sweetness and banana finish that will not get lost in the soda water nor dull the taste. Frey Ranch is a local Nevada bourbon with great depth in flavor and spice. It shines through in the highball even when you add other flavors to heighten the highball experience.

Four Roses Single Barrel

Piero Procida, food and beverage director at The London West Hollywood in Los Angeles

ABV: 50%
Average Price: $45

Why This Bottle?

I prefer to stay with something that’s flavors are not going to be drowned out by the soda water. I typically look for a full-bodied, aged (seven to nine years) and higher proofed bourbon — like Four Roses Single Barrel select. It’s decently priced and is a high-quality 100 proof Bourbon. It has hints of spice, chocolate, vanilla, and a unique maple character on the nose with an amazing plum and cherries on the palate.

The soda opens up these flavor profiles even more, and it’s incredibly smooth yet remains a beautiful full-bodied bourbon that qualities remain ever-present despite dilution.

Wild Turkey 101

Young Kim, director of spirits education and bar manager at Fine & Rare in New York City

ABV: 50.5%
Average Price: $25

Why This Bottle?

I would use a higher-proof bourbon with less rye content in a mash bill like Wild Turkey 101. When mixing with soda, pronounced vanilla, caramel, and wood tones don’t disappear with 50.5 % alcohol. If you want to level up, add a premium brand of club soda and orange peel.

Woodford Reserve

Andy Shannon, bartender and co-founder of Candra Drinks in London

ABV: 45.2%
Average Price: $35

Why This Bottle?

Woodford Reserve has strong dry fruits on the nose with spice, toffee, and cinnamon on the palate. My garnish preference for a Woodford highball is a couple of sprigs of mint, but it also carries well simply garnished with a lemon wheel for extra citrus and freshness.

Old Grand-Dad Bonded

Jeff Rogers, bar director of Jester Concepts in Minneapolis

ABV: 50%
Average Price: $25

Why This Bottle?

Old Grand-Dad Bonded is great for highballs. Spicy and full-flavored, it holds up to that amount of dilution. The flavors are enhanced, and the underlying flavors of baking spices and vanilla come out. For a bold and delicate cocktail.

Russell’s Reserve 10

Mark Phelan, beverage director of 16” on Center in Chicago

ABV: 45%
Average Price: $30

Why This Bottle?

Russell’s Reserve 10-Year-Old Bourbon. This is one of my favorites from the Wild Turkey lineup for its versatility, depth of flavor, and availability in stores. The barrel notes really shine through here: rich vanilla, caramelized oak, whispers of stone fruit. Sipping it neat or in a stirred cocktail is great, but it really shines in a highball with an orange peel expression.

The carbonation lengthens and balances those deeper flavors for a perfectly balanced drink that pairs well with any meal.

Maker’s Mark 101

Aaron Lambert, bartender at Whiskey Kitchen in Durham, North Carolina

ABV: 50.5%
Average Price: $40

Why This Bottle?

Depending on the drinker, I have a lot of go-to’s. The wheat heavy bourbons tend to dilute easily and — whether disappearing into a cocktail or relaxing into some rocks and water — sort of just become delightful, refreshing, and mellow, even though they technically broke down in total flavor. In the summer heat, that might be what someone is looking for. Not everyone wants their drink to be an argument with all of their senses.

The Maker’s line is perfect for this type of drinker. They have over-proofed labels now, like the Makers 101 and the Makers Cask strength that still remind you you’re drinking bourbon but have all the wheated softness.

Wild Turkey Rare Breed

Ethan Skaggs, bar manager at Gris-Gris in New Orleans

ABV: 58.4%
Average Price: $50

Why This Bottle?

My favorite bourbon to mix into a highball is Wild Turkey Rare Breed. At 112.8 proof, adding soda water and lemon extends the bolder spice and oak notes that you get when tasting the product neat. Adding Japanese shiso (or a small amount of mint) adds to the subtle complexity of the bourbon, pairing nicely with the sweeter caramel and vanilla wood notes that you receive on the finish.

Koval Single Barrel

Brenna Gay, bartender at Bradford House in Oklahoma City

ABV: 47%
Average Price: $40

Why This Bottle?

The best bourbon to mix for a highball cocktail is the Koval Single Barrel, out of Chicago. If you’re only using two ingredients in a drink or a dish, they have to be quality items. Koval has a moderate price point, but is high-quality, which makes it perfect for a home or professional bartender. It is smooth, lightly sweet, with notes of caramel, honey, vanilla, and summer grass.

Buffalo Trace

Myles Holdsworth, director of food and beverage at The Ritz-Carlton in New Orleans

ABV: 45%
Average Price: $40

Why This Bottle?

There are so many great bourbons to mix into highballs, but Buffalo Trace always stands out as a fantastic addition to cocktails. It is a deep rich whiskey with molasses and vanilla notes but is not harsh and is very approachable.

Wilderness Trail Single Barrel

Robert Kidd, head bartender at Le Cavalier in Wilmington, Delaware

ABV: 50%
Average Price: $50

Why This Bottle?

I prefer to use Wilderness Trail Bourbon. The mash bill is 64% corn, 24% wheat, and 12% Malted barley. The sweet flavors of caramel come through in the highball, and the carbonation really lifts the subtle allspice to the nose while you sip. Generally, if you are drinking a highball, you want something refreshing, so I tend to shy away from anything that’s going to be too spiced.

Henry McKenna 10

Hadi Ktiri, beverage manager at Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences in New Orleans

ABV: 50%
Average Price: $100

Why This Bottle?

Bonded Bourbons tend to work best in a highball because the added proof lessens the effect of the extra water. I like Henry McKenna 10 Year, a good quality sparkling mineral water, and a twist of lemon for my highballs.

---

As a Drizly affiliate, Uproxx may receive a commission pursuant to certain items on this list.

We get it, the spring months are made for tequila, gin, rum, and vodka-based cocktails. When it comes to seasonal mixed drinks, light, floral, and refreshing are the keywords. Sadly, this means that our beloved whiskey (specifically, bourbon) sometimes gets left out in the (not so) cold from May until August.

We understand why you might shy away from the woody, rich, caramel-meets-vanilla flavors of bourbon on a sunny day. But we can’t abide ignoring the spirit for four months. We’ve already given the mint julep love this spring and more shine for the whiskey sour is on the way. But there’s another cocktail — a crazy easy one! — that ticks all the spring (and summer) boxes.

The whiskey highball. This thirst-quenching, simple cocktail begins with an ice-filled highball glass. Add your favorite whiskey (Japanese whisky and Scotch are great, but we’re using bourbon today). Top it with ginger ale or soda water and add a citrus wedge garnish to complete the drink.

“The whiskey highball is a very simple cocktail,” says Robert Kidd, head bartender at Le Cavalier in Wilmington, Delaware. “But that doesn’t mean finding the right ingredients is easy. This time of year, I prefer a nice wheated bourbon for my highballs. The sweet, soft flavors you get from a wheated bourbon are great for a refreshing highball in the spring and summer.”

While wheated bourbons are well-suited for highballs, there are other bourbons with differing mash bills that work well, too. To find a few seasonal gems, we turned to the experts behind the bar, asking our favorite bartenders to tell us the best bourbons to mix into a May highball. Check their answers below!

Angel’s Envy

Juyoung Kang, lead bartender at The Dorsey inside The Venetian Resort in Las Vegas

ABV: 43.3%
Average Price: $50

Why This Bottle?

I would have to go with Angel’s Envy and Frey Ranch. Angel’s Envy because it has a balanced hint of sweetness and banana finish that will not get lost in the soda water nor dull the taste. Frey Ranch is a local Nevada bourbon with great depth in flavor and spice. It shines through in the highball even when you add other flavors to heighten the highball experience.

Four Roses Single Barrel

Piero Procida, food and beverage director at The London West Hollywood in Los Angeles

ABV: 50%
Average Price: $45

Why This Bottle?

I prefer to stay with something that’s flavors are not going to be drowned out by the soda water. I typically look for a full-bodied, aged (seven to nine years) and higher proofed bourbon — like Four Roses Single Barrel select. It’s decently priced and is a high-quality 100 proof Bourbon. It has hints of spice, chocolate, vanilla, and a unique maple character on the nose with an amazing plum and cherries on the palate.

The soda opens up these flavor profiles even more, and it’s incredibly smooth yet remains a beautiful full-bodied bourbon that qualities remain ever-present despite dilution.

Wild Turkey 101

Young Kim, director of spirits education and bar manager at Fine & Rare in New York City

ABV: 50.5%
Average Price: $25

Why This Bottle?

I would use a higher-proof bourbon with less rye content in a mash bill like Wild Turkey 101. When mixing with soda, pronounced vanilla, caramel, and wood tones don’t disappear with 50.5 % alcohol. If you want to level up, add a premium brand of club soda and orange peel.

Woodford Reserve

Andy Shannon, bartender and co-founder of Candra Drinks in London

ABV: 45.2%
Average Price: $35

Why This Bottle?

Woodford Reserve has strong dry fruits on the nose with spice, toffee, and cinnamon on the palate. My garnish preference for a Woodford highball is a couple of sprigs of mint, but it also carries well simply garnished with a lemon wheel for extra citrus and freshness.

Old Grand-Dad Bonded

Jeff Rogers, bar director of Jester Concepts in Minneapolis

ABV: 50%
Average Price: $25

Why This Bottle?

Old Grand-Dad Bonded is great for highballs. Spicy and full-flavored, it holds up to that amount of dilution. The flavors are enhanced, and the underlying flavors of baking spices and vanilla come out. For a bold and delicate cocktail.

Russell’s Reserve 10

Mark Phelan, beverage director of 16” on Center in Chicago

ABV: 45%
Average Price: $30

Why This Bottle?

Russell’s Reserve 10-Year-Old Bourbon. This is one of my favorites from the Wild Turkey lineup for its versatility, depth of flavor, and availability in stores. The barrel notes really shine through here: rich vanilla, caramelized oak, whispers of stone fruit. Sipping it neat or in a stirred cocktail is great, but it really shines in a highball with an orange peel expression.

The carbonation lengthens and balances those deeper flavors for a perfectly balanced drink that pairs well with any meal.

Maker’s Mark 101

Aaron Lambert, bartender at Whiskey Kitchen in Durham, North Carolina

ABV: 50.5%
Average Price: $40

Why This Bottle?

Depending on the drinker, I have a lot of go-to’s. The wheat heavy bourbons tend to dilute easily and — whether disappearing into a cocktail or relaxing into some rocks and water — sort of just become delightful, refreshing, and mellow, even though they technically broke down in total flavor. In the summer heat, that might be what someone is looking for. Not everyone wants their drink to be an argument with all of their senses.

The Maker’s line is perfect for this type of drinker. They have over-proofed labels now, like the Makers 101 and the Makers Cask strength that still remind you you’re drinking bourbon but have all the wheated softness.

Wild Turkey Rare Breed

Ethan Skaggs, bar manager at Gris-Gris in New Orleans

ABV: 58.4%
Average Price: $50

Why This Bottle?

My favorite bourbon to mix into a highball is Wild Turkey Rare Breed. At 112.8 proof, adding soda water and lemon extends the bolder spice and oak notes that you get when tasting the product neat. Adding Japanese shiso (or a small amount of mint) adds to the subtle complexity of the bourbon, pairing nicely with the sweeter caramel and vanilla wood notes that you receive on the finish.

Koval Single Barrel

Brenna Gay, bartender at Bradford House in Oklahoma City

ABV: 47%
Average Price: $40

Why This Bottle?

The best bourbon to mix for a highball cocktail is the Koval Single Barrel, out of Chicago. If you’re only using two ingredients in a drink or a dish, they have to be quality items. Koval has a moderate price point, but is high-quality, which makes it perfect for a home or professional bartender. It is smooth, lightly sweet, with notes of caramel, honey, vanilla, and summer grass.

Buffalo Trace

Myles Holdsworth, director of food and beverage at The Ritz-Carlton in New Orleans

ABV: 45%
Average Price: $40

Why This Bottle?

There are so many great bourbons to mix into highballs, but Buffalo Trace always stands out as a fantastic addition to cocktails. It is a deep rich whiskey with molasses and vanilla notes but is not harsh and is very approachable.

Wilderness Trail Single Barrel

Robert Kidd, head bartender at Le Cavalier in Wilmington, Delaware

ABV: 50%
Average Price: $50

Why This Bottle?

I prefer to use Wilderness Trail Bourbon. The mash bill is 64% corn, 24% wheat, and 12% Malted barley. The sweet flavors of caramel come through in the highball, and the carbonation really lifts the subtle allspice to the nose while you sip. Generally, if you are drinking a highball, you want something refreshing, so I tend to shy away from anything that’s going to be too spiced.

Henry McKenna 10

Hadi Ktiri, beverage manager at Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences in New Orleans

ABV: 50%
Average Price: $100

Why This Bottle?

Bonded Bourbons tend to work best in a highball because the added proof lessens the effect of the extra water. I like Henry McKenna 10 Year, a good quality sparkling mineral water, and a twist of lemon for my highballs.

---

As a Drizly affiliate, Uproxx may receive a commission pursuant to certain items on this list.

The Boston Celtics lost an important game on Sunday to the Blazers, slipping to 7th in the East and into play-in territory as the Heat jumped them with a win over Charlotte.

The ending in Boston was unfortunate for a few reasons for the Celtics, as they saw Marcus Smart get tossed for a low blow on Jusuf Nurkić down three with two minutes to go that all but ended their comeback bid. Making matters even worse was a collision between Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum in the final minute, as they went for a trap on Norman Powell but kicked each other, with Brown taking the worst of the collision suffering a lower right leg injury and hopping to the tunnel before being helped to the locker room.

You can see Brown’s right leg kick Tatum’s hard and both immediately go to the ground grabbing at their lower leg. Tatum likewise limped back to the locker room, but Brown seemed to get the worst of the contact. Hopefully it is just a bruise and not something more severe for either of them, but given where the injury is there will be concern until X-ray results come back. Any serious injury to either Brown or Tatum would be disastrous to any hopes of another deep playoff run for Boston.

We’ll provide updates when they become available, but for now everyone is hoping for the best for both stars as the Celtics enter the closing stretch of the season.

The Blazers and Celtics met on Sunday in one of the more important games of the final two weeks of the season, as both teams came in desperate to avoid the 7-seed and the play-in tournament. Boston entered the game tied with the Heat (and currently holding the tiebreaker with Miami) and just a half-game back of the Hawks for fifth in the East, while Portland is a game behind the Lakers and Mavs who are tied in fifth and sixth in the West.

It was a predictably competitive and close game, as each team looked the part of a team with something to play for, but much of the conversation late was about an officiating decision involving Jusuf Nurkić and Marcus Smart. Nurkić was initially called for an offensive foul for a moving screen on Smart that sent both men crashing to the court, with Nurkić holding his groin area, which triggered a review to look into whether Smart had committed an illegal act.

After a lengthy look at the play, the referees determined it was a moving screen, as Nurkić made contact first but that Smart’s low blow on Nurkić was deliberate and the Celtics star was ejected from the game for a technical foul.

It was a difficult play to adjudicate, as Smart’s arm certainly extends out and hits Nurkić in a very sensitive area, but he also is getting fouled on the play and is turning around so it had to be quite the reaction from Smart to purposefully make that move. The referees determined it deliberate and as such Damian Lillard got a technical free throw to extend the Portland lead to four before Boston got the ball for the offensive foul. The Celtics fell apart from there, only mustering two points in the final two minutes as Portland opened up what became a 10-point margin.

Making matters even worse for Boston was seeing Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum collide late, with Brown being helped to the locker room for a lower right leg injury, adding even more concern following a tough loss in their playoff chase.

On Sunday afternoon, the Bucks and Nets treated us to one of the best games of this season, as Milwaukee held on late for a 117-114 win. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kevin Durant were the shining stars of the day, with the reigning two-time MVP going off for 49 points in one of the most complete offensive showings of his career to out-duel a massive 42-point performance from Durant.

It was a sensational display of two of the game’s most unique players, as both players did what they do best and showed why they are unstoppable when at their peaks. Durant was 7-of-13 from three-point range and lit up the Bucks despite quality defensive efforts from deep and in the midrange. Antetokounmpo attacked downhill, but showed some tremendous touch from the short midrange, as well as a rare 4-of-8 outing from three that made him absolutely impossible to deal with.

However, after the game, Giannis explained that he wasn’t trying to go back-and-forth with KD because you can’t do that with one of the best scorers in NBA history, and that he was simply trying to make the right plays for his team at the right time, because if you try to out-iso score Durant you are going to lose most every time. He also spoke about his appreciation for Durant, calling him an inspiration to him growing up and also saying he’s a “once in a generation” player who should be appreciated by all.

“What he does is unbelievable,” Giannis said. “Being 6’11, being able to shoot over everybody, and the way he can handle the ball and get to his spot to rise up is unbelievable. One of the best I’ve ever seen in my life. I looked up to him my whole life. … But different games. I like playmaking. I enjoy finding my teammates, putting them in positions to be successful. I love shot-blocking. Like, it’s different games. But you have to appreciate players like that, you know, because you don’t see them often. It’s one of a generation talent, and for sure, personally, I try to steal as much as I can from his game and as much as I’m capable of doing. Cause there’s some stuff that only he can do. But he’s a great player to watch and growing up I always looked up to him.”

Giannis isn’t as outwardly friendly with a lot of guys in the league, but you can tell his appreciation for greatness and respect for the best players like KD. I also appreciate him saying that he tries to steal from KD, but that there’s some stuff that no one else can do but Durant because of his unique skillset, size, and abilities. That is something that gets lost in a lot of the comparisons of guys to great players, and it’s an important note from Giannis that you can try to emulate KD all you want but he is truly a one-of-one and no one else can do everything he’s capable of.

It’s the same with Giannis, who can do other things at his size that are unique to him, particularly with his ability to stop and change direction at high speed with his long strides. Oftentimes people assume using your size isn’t a skill, but there have been a ton of 7-footers to come through the NBA and few if any have been able to do what Giannis and KD are capable of respectively.

Republicans love to make a big show of their patriotism, but every now and then it seems like their love of country may not be that sincere. For instance, on Sunday a video clip surfaced in which Michael Flynn — national security adviser under Trump for all of 22 days, convicted felon, banned Twitter user, and QAnon fanboy — appeared to forget the words to the Pledge of Allegiance while speaking a crowd of Trump loyalists.

As per Newsweek, Flynn appeared at a rally thrown by Lin Wood, the Trump lawyer who, shortly before the failed MAGA coup of January 6, called on former vice president Mike Pence to be “executed.” In a packed room in Ladson, South Carolina, Flynn tried to whip the crowd into a patriotic frenzy.

“Listen, I’m going to say a Pledge of Allegiance. You’re going to say it along with me,” he roared, before launching into a big preamble: “I want you to hear, not just listen, every single word of the Pledge of Allegiance. That is our pledge to each other, that is our pledge to this country. It’s a Pledge of Allegiance to the United States of America. So put your hand over your heart, take your hats off here. Place your hand over your heart.”

And yet after that epic lead-up he couldn’t even get past the first sentence. “I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America,” he said. He then skipped right to the end, blurting out the word “indivisible.” The rest of the crowd, of course, knew the Pledge of Allegiance, and Flynn eventually caught back up with them.

The video led to widespread social media mockery, though many had the same thought: It’s not a surprise that a guy who believes in wacko conspiracy theories, appearing at a rally for a guy who claims that Trump is still president, doesn’t know the words to the nation’s pledge — even though it’s pretty short.

There were jokes, too.

On a related note, just a little reminder that Flynn’s former boss, beloved by the nation’s evangelicals, very clearly doesn’t know anything about the Bible.

(Via Newsweek)

This weekend DJ Khaled released his 12th album, Khaled Khaled. It boasted appearances from some of the music world’s biggest names. Two of them are Jay-Z and Nas, who joined forces for the track “Sorry Not Sorry.” Khaled recently shared a behind-the-scenes look at the song’s recording process, and it shows Nas considering changing his verse after hearing Jay-Z’s own.

“Alright, I’m just here tweaking lines and sh*t,” Nas says to Jay-Z over a FaceTime call. “I’m in here, curating, rewriting four bars here and there … oh no no no. I gotta come back [laughs].” He adds, “Yo bro, this is one. The queen at the end, the harmonies, that gave me chills … this is definitely one for the books.” Jay-Z, who was happy with Nas’ thoughts, replied, “Now that feels good. It feels great.”

Despite Nas’ comment, DJ Khaled made sure to clarify that neither verse on the song was altered. And he expressed his happiness with the song. “JAY and NAS on one record has been a lifelong dream! And I’m so glad it happened the way it did!TRUE brotherhood! Amazing energy! And love! God was in the booth, on set, and all over this ALBUM!” he wrote. “By the way no lines were changed it was PERFECT and BEAUTIFUL. I hope this inspires everyone to come together, celebrate each other and to be the LIGHT!”

Khaled Khaled is out now via Epic Records. Get it here.

Saturday brought some heartbreaking news: Olympia Dukakis, Oscar-winning actress, had passed away. She was 89. Tributes poured out across the entertainment industry, praising her for, among other things, her award-gobbling performance for the 1987 romantic-comedy Moonstruck. Among them was Cher, her Moonstruck co-star, who won her own Academy Award for playing her romantically confused daughter.

The musician and actress took to Twitter to pay tribute to her onetime on-screen mom. But she didn’t only do one tweet. She wrote multiple tributes, over two separate days — a sign that Dukakis’ passing really hit her hard.

“Olympia Dukakis Was an Amazing,Academy Award Winning Actress,” Cher wrote. “Even Though Her Part was That Of a Suffering Wife, We [laugh emoji] ALL The Time.”

She said that she had spoken to Dukakis only three weeks prior, after hearing that she was in poor health. Dukakis’ daughter told Cher that she might have trouble speaking to her or hearing her. But she got through to her. “She was weak but happy,” Cher added.

On Sunday, the day after news of Dukakis’ passing broke, Cher was back with more. “Olympia Was A Great Artist & Brought Immense Joy To Anyone who was lucky enough To see her Work her MAGIC,” she wrote. “Ppl Around The [world emoji] Will Miss her.”

There were many other tributes to Dukakis, who also won an Obie Award, a Golden Globe, and earned multiple Emmy nominations across her storied career.

The Bucks and Nets met on Sunday in the first of two consecutive games between the East titans this week in Milwaukee, and with the billing of a potential conference finals or semifinals preview, the two teams put on a show worthy of the hype.

While James Harden remains out with a hamstring injury, which is an obviously massive absence, it was otherwise a showdown of two teams with their full complement of stars, and Kevin Durant and Giannis Antetokounmpo had a sensational duel. Durant finished the game with 42 points and 10 rebounds, hitting seven threes and shooting just under 50 percent from the field, as he tried to lead the Nets to a needed win on the road to keep hold on the 1-seed in the East.

Early on, the Nets led by as many as 14, but Milwaukee went on a massive run in the second quarter to take a lead at halftime. From there, the two teams went back-and-forth trading runs, but it was the Bucks who were able to put just enough distance between them and the Nets late to hold off one last Brooklyn rally. Durant’s last three-point attempt went begging at the buzzer, as he created space from PJ Tucker to get a good look at the top of the key to tie the game on Brooklyn’s final possession but couldn’t put home the turnaround shot.

The reason Brooklyn needed that shot to fall was the unbelievable play of Giannis Antetokounmpo, as the reigning two-time MVP went off for 49 points, along with eight rebounds, four assists, and three blocks. Antetokounmpo had it all working, giving DeAndre Jordan and the Nets absolute fits in the post, as well as shooting the lights out from the midrange and from deep, going 4-for-8 from three.

Down the stretch, Brooklyn went small and Giannis briefly had some hiccups, falling in love with the pull-up jumper and picking up a charge backing down Blake Griffin, but he learned from that and showed patience for what proved to be a critical late bucket that was the difference for Milwaukee with a slick up and under in the lane.

Helping Giannis was Khris Middleton, who had 26 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists to supplement Giannis’ massive night and Jrue Holiday who chipped in 18 points. For the Nets, Kyrie Irving had 20 points and Landry Shamet had 17 off the bench as he continues to be excellent, but Brooklyn just could not find enough answers for Giannis and the Bucks offense to allow them to completely close the gap late. Getting Harden back — and Nic Claxton — for a possible playoff series would be obviously huge for the Nets, and if Sunday was any indication of what a series between these two would look like, we all should be rooting for them to meet at some point.

CNN’s Jim Acosta hasn’t been holding back lately, criticizing Fox News and singling out Tucker Carlson for his white supremacist rhetoric. The journalist continued to call out the network this weekend, and now it seems that one nickname he gave them is starting to catch on.

Saturday brought another segment from Acosta about Fox News, in which he called them a “bullsh*t factory” during a monologue about the damage done by right-wing rhetoric when it comes to political discourse in America. In this case it was manufactured right-wing outrage over false claims that Joe Biden wanted to strictly limit the amount of red meat Americans ate. The segment showed plenty of nonsense on Fox News, which is why Acosta was more than willing to call the network out.

Acosta’s argument was that, even though the claim was false, “the damage was done, pumped out by the bullsh*t factory that is Fox News.”

The moment struck a cord with viewers, many of which shared video of it online. And it apparently struck others on CNN as a good nickname for Fox News. On Sunday, Ana Navarro-Cárdenas also joined Acosta on air and quoted his “bulls*it factory” line.

These sorts of attacks will do little to stop Fox News from overreacting to the news cycle, both imagined and otherwise. But it’s another instance of CNN and Acosta making the Fox News worldview something worth mocking. If Acosta keeps this up, though, he just might find himself in the crosshairs of the comedy geniuses doing late-night at Fox News. Careful, Jim.