Month: April 2024

The Clippers and Mavs are extremely familiar with each other, as this year marked the third time they’ve met in the first round of the playoffs in the last five years. That said, there are a number of new faces on both teams since they met last, but it hasn’t taken them long to ingrain themselves into the rivalry.

In Game 3, Russell Westbrook and PJ Washington got ejected after Westbrook lost his cool with a foul on Luka Doncic and then got in a little shoving match with Washington. The former Hornet has embraced the role of being some of the Mavs muscle to defend Doncic and Kyrie Irving, and struck a pose, folding his arms and staring down the Clippers bench to the delight of the Dallas crowd.

That image hasn’t been lost on the Clippers, who came out red-hot in Game 4, lighting up the Mavs in the first half even with Kawhi Leonard out. Leading the way was Paul George, who finally had a takeover moment in the series when he hit five threes in the first half, with the Clippers taking a 31-point lead at one point.

After that fifth three, which came with Washington flying by on a late closeout, George decided to troll the Mavs forward and return the favor with his arms crossed, staring him down.

This is just good stuff and what the playoffs is all about. Washington basked in his moment in Game 3 and George turned around and gave it right back to him in Game 4. Despite the 31-point advantage early, the Mavs quickly cut the lead down to 10 in the third quarter, and we might be in for more fireworks (and some light taunting) down the stretch in Game 4.

Taylor Swift has a long list of haters (including Courtney Love and Neil Tennant). However, the list of supporters is much longer. On April 25, the “Fortnight” singer became the first musician to have an album with one billion streams on Spotify. But now that record seems to be a mere drop in the bucket for Swift.

Today (April 28), the Billboard 200 rankings were revealed and at no surprise, Swift’s latest project topped the list. However, most were shocked to learn just how many records The Tortured Poets Department secured by doing so. According to the outlet, Swift as the artist with the most #1 albums on the Billboard 200 this century.

After learning the news, Swift took her official X (formerly Twitter) page to pen a response.

“What do you MEAN,” she wrote.

“My mind is blown,” she penned. “I’m completely floored by the love you’ve shown this album.
2.6 million ARE YOU ACTUALLY SERIOUS?? Thank you for listening, streaming, and welcoming Tortured Poets into your life. Feeling completely overwhelmed.”

Reviews of The Tortured Poets Department has been divided by fans and critics alike. However, in Uproxx‘s senior pop culture editor Josh Kurp‘s review, he encourages skeptics to dig beyond their “breakup album” assumptions.

“[The Tortured Poets Department] is an introspective mix of both of her styles: the confessional, ripped-from-the-diary lyrics of her older albums meets the character studies of folklore and evermore,” he wrote.

The Tortured Poets Department is out now via Republic. You can order it here.

(WARNING: Spoilers for the most recent All American episode will be found below.)

We’re nearing the halfway mark in season six of All American and tensions are still a bit high between Jordan and Spencer on the football team. In this week’s upcoming episode, Jordan has an honest moment with Spencer and says his selfishness is at an all-time high, an unusual characteristic for Spencer. Additionally, things aren’t exactly peachy between Spencer and Olivia, as a preview clip for episode five reveals. Here’s when you can watch the new episode:

When Will All American Season 6, Episode 5 Come Out?

The fifth episode of All American season three, titled “Trust Issues,” will arrive on April 29. The Kelli Williams-directed and Micah Cyrus-written episode will be available on Monday, 4/29 on the CW TV channel at 8pm EST/PST. The episode will later be available to stream on the CW app and website at 3 am ET/12 am PT. A synopsis for “Trust Issues” can be found below:

After having some issues with a new game strategy on the field, Spencer diverts his attention to helping a South Crenshaw High player, who has been struggling with his own issues; Layla helps Jordan find a new roommate at the beach house.

You can also watch the trailer for All American season six, episode five below:

New episodes of ‘All American’ are available on CW TV on Mondays at 8 pm ET/PT and on the CW app and website at 3 am ET/12 am PT.

The Houston Texans are looking to take another step forward after making one of the most remarkable one season turnarounds in recent memory in 2023. After going 3-13-1, Houston made a coaching change, bringing in DeMeco Ryans, adding CJ Stroud at quarterback and Will Anderson at defensive end in the Draft, and made a number of other roster additions that helped them win the AFC South and a Wild Card Playoff game.

After an active offseason bolstering that roster, most notably acquiring Stefon Diggs in a trade from the Bills and signing Danielle Hunter to play opposite Anderson on the defensive line, the Texans look like one of the AFC’s top threats to the Kansas City Chiefs dynasty. While not an offseason addition, they are also excited to be getting Tank Dell back in the lineup after he developed an incredible connection with Stroud as a rookie before suffering a broken leg that ended his season.

However, some scary news emerged on Sunday regarding Dell, who was the victim of a shooting in Sanford, Florida on Saturday night. Thankfully, Dell only suffered a minor wound and was released from the hospital on Sunday.

As the Texans statement notes, they’ll provide more updates when available, but it certainly seems like a generally good sign that Dell was released quickly from the hospital. That hopefully means he will make a speedy and full recovery and be able to resume his promising young career on the field.

With the lingering effects of his “Like That” verse aimed at longtime frenemy Drake and J. Cole, still causing havoc in rap, fans are wondering where is Kendrick Lamar. While J. Cole has apologized for his response diss (“7 Minute Drill“) and ultimately removed it from streaming services, Drake hasn’t waived the white flag just yet.

Lamar’s subsequent silence has supporters intrigued. But all this time, the Grammy Award-winner musician might’ve been in the recording booth creating a new body of work, according to a viral rumor online.

So, Did Kendrick Lamar Just Release A New Album Through pgLang?

If you were waiting for Lamar’s follow-up to 2022’s Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers, you aren’t in luck. Today (April 28), an anonymous report began to circulate across X (formerly Twitter) that Lamar used his creative company, pgLang, to drop his new project.

Users online claimed to have found a leaked file of Lamar’s new album. Quickly after the post went live, others began to repost the link to the unauthorized project.

However, with a few hours, supporters of Lamar debunked the viral claim. One user even traced back the source of the rumor to one Reddit user.

“I compiled my favorite Kendrick leaks to try and create a conceptual and cohesive playlist,” they wrote.

AI may have a hard time copying Lamar, but fans don’t seem to have any difficulty locating his unreleased music.

The Knicks and Sixers met in Philadelphia on Sunday afternoon for Game 4 of their first round series, with the Sixers hoping to even up the series before it goes back to New York. The Sixers were rolling to start the game, as they jumped out to an early double-digit advantage as Tyrese Maxey continued his strong series and Joel Embiid picked up where he left off after a 50-point performance in Game 3.

The Knicks would start to claw their way back into the game, first taking advantage of Embiid going to the bench (where Philly has struggled all series) and then maintaining some positive momentum even when he came back as Jalen Brunson was in a rhythm and got the Knicks all the way back to take a lead in the second quarter.

The two teams would go back-and-forth from there, with Philly taking a two-point lead into the break. The second half followed a similar script to the first, with the Sixers again darting out to a lead thanks to Maxey and Embiid.

But once again the Knicks had an answer as Brunson continued his spectacular play, getting support from OG Anunoby on offense and Josh Hart leading the way on the boards and defensive end as New York claimed a one-point edge going to the fourth.

At that point, every Knicks fan held their breath after Brunson went to the locker room after banging knees on the final play of the third quarter. The Sixers would take advantage of his absence to start the quarter as they briefly reclaimed the lead on a Cam Payne pull-up three.

Despite leaving Joel Embiid in the game and not giving him his usual rest, the Sixers could not go on a run with Brunson out, as Hart and Anunoby led a tremendous effort on the defensive end.

When Brunson emerged from the locker room to allow the Knicks faithful to breathe a sigh of relief, he quickly got back to work and re-established a New York advantage.

While Brunson did just about everything offensively, scoring nearly half of the Knicks points, it was a full team effort on defense. The Sixers could just not get anything going in the fourth quarter, as Embiid looked gassed and refused to go inside despite being guarded by OG Anunoby throughout the fourth quarter, and the Knicks perimeter defenders denied Maxey lanes to the rim.

The Knicks certainly didn’t go run away and hide, as they had their own offensive struggles, but when they absolutely needed a bucket they were able to turn to Brunson, who the Sixers just had no answers for all game.

Brunson finished the game with 47 points (18-of-34 shooting) and 10 assists, putting forth one of the best playoff performances in Knicks franchise history — his 47 points is the most by a Knick in a playoff game ever. OG Anunoby was the best player in support of Brunson, posting 16 points and 14 rebounds, while also handling the responsibility of defending Embiid throughout the fourth quarter due to foul trouble for Hartenstein. Deuce McBride chipped in 13 off the bench, which was vital with the rest of the Knicks struggling from the field, and while Josh Hart had a rough shooting night, he still was a positive impact thanks to 15 rebounds, five assists, and three blocks.

For the Sixers, they just didn’t have enough on the offensive end down the stretch, as their stars weren’t very effective late and no one else was capable of picking up the slack. Embiid looked gassed in the fourth, playing all 24 minutes in the second half, and scored just one point in the final frame as he finished with 27 points (7-of-17 shooting), 10 rebounds, and six assists. Maxey finished with 23 points on 8-of-21 shooting, and Kelly Oubre Jr. (19 points) was the only other player to really present an actual offensive threat.

As the series shifts back to New York, the same issues present themselves for Philly. It certainly seems as though they are reliant on massive efforts from their two stars, and Embiid is clearly physically compromised right now. The Knicks have won games with and without Brunson having big games, and they get to go back home where their role players will be more comfortable. The Sixers certainly could force things back to Philadelphia for Game 6, but they will either need another 50-point type outing from Embiid or Maxey or to get something from the supporting cast that just hasn’t been there all series.

Country music fans don’t quite have a reputation for being the most welcoming. However, this year’s Stagecoach (the genre’s largest festival) debunked that myth featuring an abundance of genre newbies and outside sounds.

Since the lineup for Stagecoach 2024 was announced, ticketholders were interested to see what Post Malone would bring to the main stage. Many hoped that he’d bring out his “Levii’s Jeans” collaborator, Beyoncé, for a surprise performance. Although that didn’t happen, yesterday (April 27), Post’s set still managed to win viewers over.

Joined by Dwight Yoakam, Brad Paisley, and Sara Evans, users at home are gung ho about Post moving full steam ahead with his venture into country. Across X (formerly Twitter), viewers flooded the platform to praise Post’s performance.

“If Post Malone takes these country covers on the road, take all of my money. That was badass,” wrote one user.

“I could have watched Post Malone play for hours,” penned another.

“Just saw Post Malone’s Stagecoach set was all 90s/2000s country. I will never recover from this ,” wrote another.

Paisley also took to his official page to share a kind note to his creative companion. “You belong here Posty ,” he wrote.

Read more response to Post Malone’s Stagecoach 2024 set below.

The Los Angeles Clippers have only won one game in their first round series with the Dallas Mavericks, and it was the opener when they still didn’t have Kawhi Leonard in the lineup. Leonard returned in Game 2, but his knee didn’t respond as hoped from playing in that game. He struggled mightily in Game 3, scoring nine points in 25 minutes, and he simply has not looked like the dominant player he’s capable of when healthy since returning to the Clippers lineup.

With a critical Game 4 in Dallas on Sunday afternoon, the Mavs announced Leonard would be out due to inflammation in his surgically repaired knee, and that there was no timetable for his return. Clippers president Lawrence Frank addressed the media and said it was a “tricky” situation, but that it was clear Leonard just wasn’t himself.

While there is no doubt the Clippers are a better team with Leonard at full strength, you could make the argument that they are better without Kawhi playing than the 60-percent version being out there struggling. For that to be the case, James Harden and Paul George will have to pick up the slack in the starting five from a shot creation standpoint. Harden has been up to the task in the series, but George has been oddly passive. If L.A. is going to even things up on Sunday, that will have to change.

One of the greatest basketball players of all-time is calling it a career, as Candace Parker announced on Sunday that she was retiring, making the announcement prior to the start of training camp for the Las Vegas Aces, posting a full message to fans on her Instagram page.

As Parker notes, she needed time to come around on retirement mentally, but her heart and body knew it was time for a little while now.

I’m retiring.

I promised I’d never cheat the game & that I’d leave it in a better place than I came into it. The competitor in me always wants 1 more, but it’s time. My HEART & body knew, but I needed to give my mind time to accept it.

I always wanted to walk off the court with no parade or tour, just privately with the ones I love. What now was to be my last game, I walked off the court with my daughter. I ended the journey just as I started it, with her.

This offseason hasn’t been fun on a foot that isn’t cooperating. It’s no fun playing in pain (10 surgeries in my career) it’s no fun knowing what you could do, if only…it’s no fun hearing “she isn’t the same” when I know why, it’s no fun accepting the fact you need surgery AGAIN.

Parker will be a first-ballot Hall of Famer as a 3-time WNBA champion, 2-time WNBA MVP, and 7-time WNBA All-Star, while also being a 2-time NCAA champion, 2-time NCAA Tournament MOP, and 2-time Olympic gold medalist. She finishes her career in the WNBA’s top-10 all-time in points, rebounds, assists, and blocks, as she was one of the most well-rounded players the league’s ever seen.

Parker will continue with her broadcasting career and notes that she wants to be part of an ownership group for both an NBA and WNBA team in the future.

There’s something about the Indio, California desert environment that pulls out another side of music’s notable names.

For the past two weekends, the Empire Polo Club was home to Coachella 2024. While there were multiple raved about performances, the public’s confusion over Grimes’ technical issues was all users online could talk about. This weekend, Stagecoach 2024 has taken up residence on the grounds. From the two days held so far, folks won’t seem to shut up about Eric Church‘s headlining performance. While Church didn’t experience any device breakdowns, attendees aren’t happy with his set, claiming he committed a cardinal sin of festival commandments—daring to be different.

https://www.instagram.com/reels/C6QflTuuwRY/

Instead of sticking to festivalgoers expectations, Church ventured outside the bounds of country music with a set of mostly gospel and a sprinkle of rap. Users online who streamed the performance via Prime took to their pages to slam Church’s pivot.

According to USA Today, the pushback prompted the singer to address the critiques with a statement issued through his record label.

“This was the most difficult set I have ever attempted,” he said. “I’ve always found that taking it back to where it started, back to chasing who Bob Seger loves, who Springsteen loves, who Willie Nelson loves, you chase it back to the origin. The origin of all that is still the purest form of it. And we don’t do that as much anymore. It felt good at this moment to go back, take a choir and do that.”

Seemingly prepared for the dived, Church doubled down on his decision, saying that he was “happy with his choice to do what he wanted anyway.”

Read a few responses to Eric Church’s Stagecoach 2024 set below.