Month: April 2022

The Dallas Mavericks went more than a decade without a playoff series win after winning the NBA title in 2011. On Thursday evening, that drought came to an end, with Luka Doncic and company winning a back-and-forth Game 6 battle against the Utah Jazz to secure a 4-2 series victory to advance and face the Phoenix Suns in round two.

At the outset, neither team had much going on the offensive end. Utah led 21-15 after 12 minutes, with both teams shooting less than 40 percent and Dallas scoring only one point in almost four minutes to close the first quarter. The lone bright spot on offense was the play of Donovan Mitchell, who scored nine points on solid efficiency in the early going.

Most of the second quarter was similar in nature, but Utah put together a run late in the half. The Jazz closed the second quarter on an 18-5 run, making their final five shots. Mitchell was in the middle of the push, with Utah producing improved ball and player movement.

Dallas shot 3-of-18 from three-point range and only 39 percent overall in the first half. At the same time, the Jazz knocked down 65 percent of shots, with only a single turnover, in the second period. After halftime, though, things would shift, as Dallas used an 8-0 run to maintain contact. The Mavericks did damage on both ends of the floor, with Luka Doncic flowing in positive fashion.

All told, the Mavericks made 8-of-12 from three-point range in the third, and Dallas pushed its lead to eight early in the fourth quarter. However, Utah kept coming and tied the game with less than five minutes remaining after an 8-0 run.

That set up potential fireworks down the stretch, with Doncic connecting on a huge triple to give Dallas a four-point lead. Moments later, the game was knotted again after a kick-out three-pointer by Bojan Bogdanovic.

However, the tie lasted for only one possession before Jalen Brunson connected on a three-pointer to give Dallas the advantage. Utah cut the margin back to 97-96 with less than 40 seconds remaining on a bucket from Rudy Gobert but, despite a miss from Doncic on the other end, the Jazz were unable to close the gap when Mike Conley committed a traveling violation with five seconds remaining.

Brunson split a pair of free throws on the other end, keeping the door open for the Jazz. In fact, Utah created an exceptionally open look for the win at the buzzer, but Bogdanovic’s attempt went begging.

In what was a low-scoring affair, it was Utah’s offense that wasn’t quite enough. The Jazz scored fewer than 1.1 points per possession in the loss, shooting only 9-of-35 from beyond the three-point arc. The loss, and another early playoff exit, will certainly produce questions for the future of Utah’s core, and the Jazz squandered an opportunity against a Mavericks team that operated without Doncic early in the series.

For Dallas, this was not only a landmark series win but also a potential sign that the Mavericks are dangerous against the Suns in the second round. The Mavericks executed well under Jason Kidd, and the perimeter duo of Doncic (when he returned from injury) and Brunson was lights-out. Doncic finished with 24 points, nine rebounds, and assists, with Brunson adding 24 points, and Dorian Finney-Smith producing a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds.

The Western Conference Semifinal matchup between the Mavericks and Suns will not begin until Monday in Phoenix. That allows both teams to get healthy and rested in advance of Game 1, with all eyes on whether Doncic and company can upset the league’s best team under the brightest lights.

Khalid is always expanding his sound, and with a voice like his, why not? Over any melody or any style of production, Khalid’s voice is so effortless and timeless, it literally always sounds good. So no, fans won’t be disappointed at all by his new single, “Skyline,” which is admittedly a bit more funky and pop than some of his past, soulful R&B work. “Skyline” is definitely a departure from the other early 2022 song he’s shared, “Last Call,” which came along with the American Teen retrospective, American Teen: The Yearbook, and fit in with the sound of his debut album.

But it seemed clear Khalid was ready for a shift when he released his late 2021 tape, Scenic Drive, which featured a whole host of collaborators like Lucky Daye, 6lack, Kiana Lede, JID, Smino, and Majid Jordan. And if he’s going to go father into the pop world, it wouldn’t be surprising if Billie Eilish showed up somewhere in the mix — after all, the pair already collaborated before on “Lovely,” and Khalid even showed up to perform it with Billie during her Coachella set. Since we know his new album, Everything Is Changing, is on the way, “Skyline” will likely be a part of that. Check out the colorful video up top.

After DMV rapper IDK dropped his stellar debut album Is He Real? at the end of 2019, fans had to wait a little over a year to receive his next body of work, that being U See 4 Yourself. The project delivered 17 songs with features from Young Thug, Offset, Lucky Daye, Sir, T-Pain, Rico Nasty, MF DOOM, Westside Gunn, Jay Electronica, and more. Less than a year after he released U See 4 Yourself, IDK is already gearing up to share his third body of work. He previously announced that it would be titled Simple, and ahead of its release, he shares its third single.

IDK calls on Denzel Curry for their new collaboration, “Dog Food.” It’s an effort that captures the duo with their heads on a swivel as danger lurks around the corner in their neighborhood. The new song marks IDK and Denzel’s fifth track together following “No Wave,” “Once Upon A Time (Freestyle),” “Bulletproof,” and “Uh Huh.” The track also follows IDK’s previous single, “Taco,” which he released earlier this month. Both “Taco” and “Dog Food” are produced by Kaytranada, who IDK previously said would handle the production on Simple. Additionally, IDK also revealed that Simple would arrive on May 6.

You can listen to “Dog Food” in the video above.

Simple is out 5/6 via Clue and Warner Records.

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Justin Bieber’s fans are always ready for him to release new music, and lately, the pop star has been switching between two main lanes — straight ahead pop that’s more reminiscent of his earlier days, and hip-hop leaning collaborations that reflect where the mainstream sound has gone now. His last album, Justice, might not have pleased everyone, but the hit single “Peaches” was an example of the latter sound, featuring both Daniel Caesar and Giveon and on the track.

For his latest single, Bieber is collaborating with Travis Scott’s protege, Don Toliver, for “Honest,” a song that sticks to the same subject matter that permeates most of his songs these days — how happy he is being married to his new wife, Hailey Bieber (nee Baldwin). In the video, the pair are out in snowy climes, rapping and singing in beautiful ski chalets, riding snowmobiles out into the wilderness, and even smoking a blunt together around a fire. Doesn’t that sound like a nice vacation? Bieber recently praised his collaborator in an interview with Apple Music.

“He just has this like little bop about him and he’s very unique, he’s very Houston,” Bieber said in an interview with Ebro Darden on Apple Music 1. “Shout out to Houston. I just love his melodies these are honestly insane. He has a really amazing cadence to his songs and his music. And I’m just a genuine fan. And he just is himself. And that’s what I love about any artist that can just has a lane and does what they do and does it well.” Bieber is in the middle of a massive tour, so this is likely just a one-off, but you never know. Check out the clip up top.

Since his release from prison at the beginning of 2021, Bobby Shmurda’s music career hasn’t panned out as well as he or his fans would have liked. Bobby has only released four songs –“No Time For Sleep (Freestyle),” “Cartier Lens,” “Splash,” and “Shmoney” — since his departure from prison, but none of the records have made the impact he hoped it would. Soon enough, Bobby took aim at his former record label Epic Records and criticized them for a number of things including not allowing him to have control of his work. Now, Bobby is an independent act and he wasted no time dropping a track as a lone ranger.

After weeks of promotion, Bobby looks to strike up some well-deserved attention for his music with “They Don’t Know.” The new track is a chaotic effort that showcases Bobby’s high spirits, which have been on full display since his release from prison. “Looked at my watch and see you freezin’, b*tch,” he raps on the new effort. “You know I’m stinkin’ rich / I keep a job for every season, b*tch.” Bobby also graces the new track with a visual and perfectly matches the song’s erratic and energetic nature.

Aside from his musical efforts, Bobby has managed to be active in other areas. He previously donated 2,000 backpacks of school supplies to students in New York, and prior to that, he gave away free haircuts and meals for Father’s Day.

You can listen to “They Don’t Know” in the video above.

The Phoenix Suns became the second team from the Western Conference to punch their ticket to the second round with a hard fought Game 6 win in New Orleans to knock out the scrappy Pelicans.

While Devin Booker made his welcome return to the lineup after suffering a hamstring injury in Game 2, it was Chris Paul that carried the load in the Game 6 win, scoring 33 points on a perfect shooting night, hitting all 14 of his field goal attempts and all four of his free throws. It was a truly sensational offensive performance from Paul, one that is fitting for a player that has long been a model of efficiency.

Booker was unaware of Paul’s perfect night until he arrived at the podium with the future Hall of Famer for their postgame press conference, and his reaction to Paul going 14-of-14 was incredibly on brand.

“I was not aware at all,” Booker said. “I believe in the heat check though. 14-15 looks a lot better than 14-14 to me. I’ll never have one of these games, these perfect ones.”

It’s a perfect Devin Booker quote, as he’s never met a shot he didn’t like (and usually for good reason), and it shows the difference in he and Paul’s approach to the game and why they’re great foils for one another in the backcourt. Paul’s patient approach balances with Booker’s aggressiveness in a way that’s made the Suns one of the best teams in the league since they joined forces, becoming particularly dangerous in the fourth quarter because of the way they can play off of each other.

Giveon arrived as one of the most promising new acts in R&B in 2020 thanks to the release of two EPs over the years: Take Time and When It Was All Said And Done. The projects produced fan favorites like “The Beach,” “Like I Want You,” “Still Your Best,” and more, and his success as a solo artist earned him highlight features with the likes of Drake, Snoh Aalegra, and Justin Bieber (where he earned his first No. 1 single). Nowadays, Giveon is taking steps toward his next project as he released “For Tonight,” at the end of last year. After letting that record run its course, he returns with a brand new track.

“Lie Again” is the latest single from Giveon and it’s an effort that finds him in a very reflective state as he refuses to accept the truth about a failing relationship. Giveon begs his lover to lie to him in order to continue the relationship as he knows the truth will hurt, and in the end, it’s a pain he’d rather not deal with. The new song also arrives with a heartful music video that watches Giveon pour his feelings out as he walks through a busy city street. He also teases an unreleased song at the end of the visual.

Giveon’s new single comes after he performed “Peaches” with Justin Bieber and Daniel Caesar at the 2022 Grammys. Before that, he performed “Heartbreak Anniversary” at the 2021 AMAs and “For Tonight” on The Tonight Show.

You can listen to “Lie Again” in the video above.

There is always one selection in the first round of the NFL Draft that leaves people scratching their head. The Seahawks taking Bruce Irvin and the Raiders taking Clelin Ferrell are some of the most memorable examples, and Thursday night brought another shocker, this time courtesy of the New England Patriots.

After trading back, as they so often do, the Pats found themselves sitting at No. 29 and decided to forego the big names still on the board to take Cole Strange, an offensive linemen out of Chattanooga that most expected to be a third or fourth round pick. Neither of the TV broadcasts on ESPN or NFL Network were prepared for the pick with any video clips of Strange, which almost never happens for a first rounder, and it wasn’t just fans or the media that were stunned.

While that was going on, the Rams were holding a press conference with head coach Sean McVay and GM Les Snead, as the defending champs weren’t picking as they have famously dealt away most of their first round picks for years to come. When Strange went off the board, the two had an incredible reaction, laughing and joking that they wasted their time watching his film when they were prepping for the 104th overall pick.

It’s not often you get this kind of live reaction from another team about a pick, but it was that big of a shocker to see Strange go off the board. For it to be a guy the Rams had studied tells you everything you need to know about where the rest of the league expected him to be available, as they won’t pick until the end of the third round.

One of the big talking points surrounding the 2022 NFL Draft was the relatively weak quarterback class. There wasn’t a clear-cut No. 1 signal caller, nor was there a guy who was pegged to go anywhere near the top pick. In fact, it took 20 picks for Roger Goodell to step to his podium and Las Vegas and read off the name of a QB.

With the team heading into the post-Ben Roethlisberger era, the Pittsburgh Steelers opted to pick the local kid and select Pitt signal caller and Heisman Trophy finalist Kenny Pickett as the future face of their franchise.

A New Jersey native, Pickett was a three-star prospect who opted to play his college ball in western Pennsylvania. His career is a story of perseverance and continued development, as no one had Pickett going in the first round prior to the 2021 college football season.

Then, Pickett exploded with a redshirt senior year to remember. He navigated the Panthers to 11 wins and an ACC championship while going 334-for-497 (67.2 percent) for 4,319 yards with 42 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He racked up accolades as a senior, getting named a first-team All-American, the ACC Player of the Year, and winning the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award.

Pickett will presumably compete with Mason Rudolph and Mitchell Trubisky for the team’s starting quarterback job. At the very least, he can give his fellow members of Pittsburgh’s draft class some dynamite restaurant recommendations.

With Devin Booker returning after a three-game absence due to a hamstring issue, the Phoenix Suns appeared to be in a favorable position in advance of Game 6 against the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday. Though there were rumblings Booker could return and his presence was an undeniable positive, it was Chris Paul that stole the show at Smoothie King Center, putting together an all-encompassing performance that included perfect shooting and 33 points. The Suns needed every bit of the effort from the future Hall of Fame point guard, but Phoenix survived and eliminated New Orleans with a 115-109 victory.

The Suns started well, taking an early lead, using the first bucket (on the first shot) from Booker to take an early 11-4 lead.

New Orleans was not going to fade, though, and it became clear in a hurry. The Pelicans responded to tie the game at 28-28 at the end of the first quarter, winning on the margins by not committing a single turnover and punishing Phoenix on the glass.

New Orleans would then dominate the second quarter, leading by 10 at the halftime break and putting some real pressure on the Suns going into the locker room. Phoenix did take control midway through the third quarter, riding a 10-0 run to the lead. As was the case throughout the evening, Paul was the centerpiece, scoring seven straight points of his own.

The Pelicans did recover, and New Orleans took repeated punches. In fact, the Pelicans led by three points at the end of the third quarter, and the New Orleans crowd was in a frenzy.

Both teams scuffled a bit on offense for much of the quarter, leading to a slugfest that was also hotly contested. However, a Brandon Ingram bucket gave the Pelicans the lead with two minutes remaining.

In a fashion that was fitting for the league’s best team this season, Phoenix seized the opportunity to put the series away from there, scoring the next seven points. When that spurt ended, the Suns held a six-point lead that looked to be relatively comfortable.

One more time, the Pelicans climbed back into the mix, cutting the margin to three with less than a minute to go. Then, the dagger arrived from Paul, who made his 14th consecutive shot to ice the game.

As a team, the Suns scored more than 1.2 points per possession in the game, shooting 60 percent from the floor and 40 percent from three-point range. It was a meticulous and impressive performance from Phoenix, with five players in double figures. Still, the individual star was Paul, who made a bit of NBA history by finishing 14-of-14 from the field for 33 points to go along with eight assists and five rebounds.

For New Orleans, this is the end of the line for the 2021-22 season, but the Pelicans put forth an incredible effort in the series. Phoenix was clearly respectful of what New Orleans was able to do after the series, including an emotional sendoff from Pelicans head coach Willie Green, who was a Suns assistant just one year ago.

Booker’s return certainly comes at a strong time for Phoenix, and the Suns can now take a step back to enjoy the series win and prepare for the second round. The Suns will take on the winner of the first round matchup between the Dallas Mavericks and the Utah Jazz and, if Phoenix can capture this performance from Paul with Booker getting healthy and a balanced team approach, they will be difficult to unseat at the top of the West.