Year: 2024

The Boston Celtics are two wins away from winning their 18th NBA championship, as they improved to 2-0 in the 2024 NBA Finals thanks to yet another defensive masterpiece in a 105-98 win over the Dallas Mavericks.

As expected after laying an egg early in Game 1, the Mavs came out as the aggressors, jumping out to a 13-6 lead in the opening minutes with Luka Doncic leading the way and getting some assistance from Kyrie Irving.

However, the Celtics would get right back into the game thanks to their defense, as they again walled off the rim from the Mavs and made it difficult for the “others” — which in turn allowed Boston to turn defense into offense, as they had their own issues in the halfcourt.

Much like in Game 1, the only real offensive threat for the Mavs was Doncic, who had 23 points in the first half to keep Dallas attached, even as his teammates struggled from the field around him.

For Boston, it was Jrue Holiday who stepped up in a major way with 17 first half points, as they were similarly ice cold from three but still managed to take a 3-point edge into the locker room.

The two teams would go back-and-forth until the midway point in the third quarter when Boston began to open things up. They held Dallas scoreless for more than three and a half minutes, and in that time they opened up the biggest lead of the game at 12 points. Jayson Tatum was the catalyst for the run on the offensive end, as he struggled with his shooting but was spectacular as a facilitator — and found his way to get some timely buckets when needed.

Boston’s defense was giving the Mavs fits in the third, particularly from their supporting cast, as Holiday and Derrick White hounded the Mavs on the perimeter, while Kristaps Porzingis continued to be a menace in the paint.

The Mavs would continue to hang around, though, as Boston just could never find their stroke from three-point range to put Dallas away. Boston shot 10-of-39 from three, with one of them being a prayer by Payton Pritchard to end the third quarter that pushed their lead out to nine.

Their lead would stay in the 7-13 range for most of the fourth quarter, as Dallas shot equally bad from distance, knocking down just 6-of-26 from beyond the arc. But, to their credit, they hung in there, largely thanks to Doncic, who had 32 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists on the night.

However, Boston would finally see a couple threes fall late, and went up 14 with three minutes to go on a Derrick White triple (his fourth of the night) and it looked as though they’d cruise to a win.

But things got a bit dicey late thanks to some free throws made by PJ Washington and Derrick Jones Jr., and a Doncic and-one that cut the deficit to five with 80 seconds to play.

From there, a Derrick Jones Jr. block sparked a fastbreak that could’ve cut the deficit to three, but White made another incredible defensive play to block Washington from behind (with a push in the back from Brown that could’ve been called a foul) to effectively ice the game.

From that point, the wind went out of Dallas’ sails and a Brown layup put an end to the drama, as Boston would run out the clock on a seven-point win.

Tatum continued his nightmarish shooting postseason with a 6-of-22 night, scoring just 18 points, but it was arguably the best passing game of his career, as he piled up 12 assists. He didn’t try to force it too often as his jumper wasn’t falling, and made some spectacular reads and finds against doubles to get his teammates great looks. Holiday was a frequent beneficiary, as he had one of the best offensive performances of his playoff career, leading Boston with 26 points and 11 rebounds on 11-of-14 shooting. Holiday was a menace on the offensive glass (four OREBs) and caught Dallas ball-watching to crash the boards and make timely cuts to the basket.

His backcourt running mate was also terrific, as White had 18 points on 6-of-15 shooting (4-of-10 from three), with three steals and two blocks on the defensive end, as he and Holiday absolutely terrorized Irving for the second straight game. Brown, aka the Celtics “best player” per Jason Kidd, had 21 points and seven assists, as he, like Tatum, did well not to force things offensively and made the right reads to get the others involved.

Doncic’s triple-double was one of the few bright spots for Dallas, as they continued to have a hellacious time trying to deal with the Boston defensive. Irving had flashes of production, but mostly found himself stymied by Holiday and White, who continue to do an incredible job of keeping Kyrie in front of them and cutting off his driving lanes off the bounce. The result was a 7-of-18 night for Irving, finishing with 16 points and six assists. That just won’t cut it, especially with the role players struggling with their shot on the road. The non-Luka Mavs went 2-of-17 from three-point range, and while it was a better night offensively than Game 1, they still were stuck in the mud in the halfcourt and heavily reliant on difficult shot-making from Doncic.

Going forward, the Mavs will hope being at home can wake up their shooters (and Irving), but for Dallas to lose a game where the Celtics shot 26 percent from three doesn’t bode well for their chances in this series. The Celtics, meanwhile, will feel like they got away with one in Game 2, as they missed a ton of good looks but managed to keep themselves going by getting downhill and to the free throw line just enough.

With a string of projects already out, Joshua Bassett is finally ready to drop his debut studio album. Shortly after The Golden Years is uploaded to streaming platforms, the “Smoke Slow” singer will launch the supporting tour.

On July 30, Bassett’s The Golden Years Tour is set to takeover Phoenix, Arizona’s Arizona Financial Theatre. Across the US and UK stops, the High School Musical: The Musical: The Series alumnus is slated to perform a total of 40 shows with support from special guest Thomas Day.

Joshua Bassett’s artist presale will kick off on Tuesday, June 11 at 10 a.m. local time. While the general sale will follow on Friday, June 14 at 10 a.m. local time. Find more information here.

Continue below for the full tour schedule and official poster.

Joshua Bassett’s 2024 Tour Dates: The Golden Years Tour

07/30 — Phoenix, AZ @ Arizona Financial Theatre
08/01 — Irving, TX @ The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
08/02 — Houston, TX @ 713 Music Hall
08/03 — Austin, TX @ Austin City Limits Live at The Moody Theater
08/05 — New Orleans, LA @ Fillmore New Orleans
08/06 — Jacksonville, FL @ Daily’s Place
08/08 — Atlanta, GA @ Coca-Cola Roxy
08/09 — Birmingham, AL @ Avondale Brewing Co.
08/10 — Nashville, TN @ Ryman Auditorium
08/12 — Raleigh, NC @ Red Hat Amphitheater
08/13 — Charlotte, NC @ Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre
08/14 — Baltimore, MD @ Pier Six Pavilion
08/16 — Philadelphia, PA @ The Met Presented by Highmark
08/17 — Boston, MA @ MGM Music Hall at Fenway
08/20 — New York, NY @ Radio City Music Hall
08/21 — Toronto, ON @ Massey Hall
08/23 — Rochester Hills, MI @ Meadow Brook Amphitheatre
08/24 — Chicago, IL @ Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom
08/25 — Minneapolis, MN @ Armory
08/27 — Denver, CO @ Fillmore Auditorium
08/28 — Sandy, UT @ Sandy Amphitheater
08/30 — San Francisco, CA @ Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
09/01 — San Diego, CA @ Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre at SDSU
09/03 — Los Angeles, CA @ YouTube Theater
09/16 — Dublin, IE @ 3Olympia Theatre
09/17 — Belfast, UK @ Ulster Hall
09/19 — Glasgow, UK @ O2 Academy
09/20 — Birmingham, UK @ O2 Academy
09/22 — Manchester, UK @ O2 Apollo
09/23 — London, UK @ Eventim Apollo
09/25 — Brussels, BE @ La Madeleine
09/27 — Amsterdam, NL @ Melkweg
09/29 — Paris, FR @ Salle Pleyel
10/01 — Barcelona, ES @ Razzmatazz
10/03 — Milan, IT @ Fabrique
10/05 — Munich, DE @ Muffathalle
10/06 — Cologne, DE @ Carlswerk Victoria
10/07 — Berlin, DE @ Huxleys Neue Welt
10/09 — Copenhagen, DK @ Vega

Joshua Bassett’s The Golden Years Tour poster

Initially, Thomas Day was only slated to join Bassett during the North American date as the poster states. However, Bassett took to Instagram to confirmed that Day will stay on for the entire tour.

The Golden Years is out 7/26 via Warner Records. Find more information here.

Jason Kidd busted out the mind games before Game 2 of the 2024 NBA Finals. Kidd, whose Dallas Mavericks find themselves in an 0-1 hole in the series, went into why he believes Jaylen Brown and not Jayson Tatum is the best player on the Boston Celtics. It’s a bit of a strange issue in Boston, because while there’s never seemed to be any disagreement that Tatum is the best player on the team, there have been plenty of people for years who have tried to drive a wedge between the pair, going as far as to say they need to be broken up if the team wants to win a ring.

This came up during NBA Countdown on Sunday night before the game, which led to former Golden State Warriors executive and current ESPN analyst Bob Myers talking about how “we tear teams apart more than we ever have.” This included Myers awkwardly taking a bit of a swipe at Stephen A. Smith, as he essentially accused him of doing this.

“Not me,” Smith said in the very serious voice he tends to use when he’s upset about something. “Not me. Not me. That’s social media, that’s not me.”

It’s always interesting to see what does and does not get under Smith’s skin with this stuff, and it sure does seem that Myers touched a nerve with this one.

Shaquille O’Neal knows a little something about being part of a star duo that splits apart due to friction. After Jason Kidd tossed another log on the fire in Boston this week, calling Jaylen Brown the best player on the Celtics, there was no one better equipped to talk about how Brown and Jayson Tatum need to handle that than O’Neal.

As Shaq explained on NBATV’s pregame coverage, the two stars cannot “worry about useless titles” like who is the best player, noting if they start doing that it’ll impact not just Game 2 but could cost them the series. It’s sage advice, but Shaq begins it with a bit of revisionist history, as he said he “knew” he wasn’t the best player on those Lakers teams with Kobe Bryant that three-peated in the early 2000s.

Shaq and Kobe rather famously had differing opinions about who was the best player, and Shaq covers himself a bit here by splitting hairs between “best” and “most dominant.” But I’ve got to say, I’m not sure the guy who once freestyled a diss song asking Kobe “how’s my ass taste” while reminding Bryant he can’t win without him truly thought Kobe was the better player at the time.

While this feels like the product of hindsight (and, some would say, a false statement even in hindsight given how Shaq dominated those Finals), the advice is correct. To win a title, you have to be willing to set aside some of that personal desire to make sure you’re doing everything your team needs you to. For Tatum, that means continuing to make the right reads and passes when the Mavs send doubles, and not try to force yourself into having a big scoring impact on the series. For Brown, it’s continuing to be a two-way force and attack when opportunity presents itself, but be willing to do the same if Dallas adjusts their defense to send more help his way.

During their three-peat, Shaq and Kobe were always able to rise to the occasion and set aside any differences to do what was needed to win championships, even if they ultimately drove them apart. Brown and Tatum have been saying the right things all postseason, and we’ll get firm confirmation on Sunday night as to whether they’ve taken that to heart and will continue keeping their focus on the ultimate prize.

The Los Angeles Lakers will find out if they have their next coach lined up on Monday, as Dan Hurley will make his decision between returning to UConn, where he’s led the Huskies to back-to-back men’s national championships, or take a reportedly large offer from the Lakers.

Per Woj, Hurley and the Lakers met this weekend and the team made a “compelling case” to the UConn head coach, who told Woj he was “extremely impressed” by the presentation in L.A. on Friday after meeting with Rob Pelinka and Jeanie Buss. It’s rather fascinating that this is all happening very publicly, with Hurley confirming reports and the entire pursuit by the Lakers being reported out step-by-step.

Typically, coaching searches feature a handful of top names — and even a frontrunner — but because there’s always a chance someone says no (or another candidate blows the team away in interviews), they don’t often make it so abundantly clear they’ve made their choice and are simply hoping for a yes. That won’t matter much if Hurley says yes on Monday, as the Lakers will have gotten their man. However, if Hurley says no this becomes a disaster for L.A., to have so publicly chased a coach and now obviously be offering the job to their Plan B — possibly (probably?) JJ Redick. That adds even more pressure to the job than already would’ve existed, while also making for a rather embarrassing swing and a miss for the Lakers to make such an all-out pursuit and be turned down.

Summer is here. The season of backyard barbecues, long evenings by the bonfire, and a nagging worry that every parent can relate to — the dangers that come with a swimming pool.

The chances a child will die from drowning are relatively low, according to the CDC. But still — it’s great to be prepared to step in and help with CPR, should it ever be necessary.

Actor Ryan Reynolds definitely thinks so.

Reynolds recently went to a CPR training class focused on toddlers and infants.

Reynolds and his wife, fellow A-lister Blake Lively (who also attended the class), are parents to two young daughters: 2-year-old James and 9-month old Ines.

u201cWe’re #ThankfulFor Ryan Reynolds’ Twitter. We’re also thankful his daughters don’t have Twitter. (ud83dudcf7: Getty Images)u201d

— E! News (@E! News)
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The actor posted a photo from his CPR class to Instagram on June 27, noting how being certified once helped him save a family member’s life.

“Years ago, I took a CPR course thru the Red Cross,” Reynolds wrote. “And holy shit, I ended up saving my nephew’s life because I knew what to do! True story!”

See on Instagram

“Yesterday I took a refresher course — focusing on infant and toddler CPR,” the actor continued. “It takes only a few hours and it’s also kinda, sorta fun.”

Lively also encouraged her followers to get trained if they haven’t already.

“Google ‘infant CPR class near me’ and you’ll see lots of listings,” she wrote.

See on Instagram

The Livelys are right: Learning CPR is quick, easy, and certainly worth the trouble.

Nothing can give you the same in-depth instruction as a course taught by a professional (you can easily find an American Red Cross CPR training in your area). But there are still plenty of helpful guides online with free resources you can access to help you get started.

As Lively noted, just knowing you have the know-how to help in a critical moment will let you enjoy those backyard poolside barbecues this summer, feeling a little more carefree.

“For those of you who haven’t done it, you will love it,” she wrote on Instagram. “It’s so helpful by giving you knowledge, tools, and some peace of mind.”

Here’s an overview on CPR instructions so you can better understand what a training course entails:

This article originally appeared on 06.27.17

For Fred Again.. dreams really do come true. The “Leavemealone” musician has tirelessly been performing at gigs across the world. From a bicoastal residency run to festival appearances at Coachella and III Points. He even squeezed in a NPR Tiny Desk Concert. But it was all with one major goal in mind — eventually playing in a stadium.

Today (June 9), Fred Again.. revealed that his jet-setting has all paid off. With a suspense video shared to X (formerly Twitter), Fred Again.. announced his first ever stadium show will take place on June 14 at the LA Memorial Coliseum.

“LA Memorial Coliseum,” he wrote. “Our first stadium! We been working on this for monthsssss, and it’s definitely the maddest live show we’ve ever tried to do so far.”

Fred Again.. has played plenty of gigs in Los Angeles and the surrounding areas. But none at this scale, centered solely around him.

Details surrounding the show such as confirmed special guests, cost, and more haven’t been revealed. However, the producer was sure to share the on sale information for the concert set to take over LA Memorial Coliseum.

In order to secure tickets, fans are encouraged to sign up for the pre-sale with either a phone number or email address. Fred Again..’s official pre-sale is scheduled for tomorrow, Monday, June 10 at 10 a.m. Pacific. Based on availability, a general sale will follow at 1 p.m. Pacific. Find more information here.

Eminem’s latest single “Houdini” might’ve pissed off a few people, including Megan Thee Stallion, Paul Rosenberg, and even his own children. But the comedic, action-packed video just earned praise from a very interesting party.

Today (June 9), Adam West’s family came out to show their support for the rapper’s official visual. In a statement provided to TMZ, Nina Tooley (the late actor’s daughter) gushed about how her dad would’ve loved the silly tribute to his famed Batman role.

“My dad would have loved the video,” she said. “I could hear my dad’s distinct chuckle when the rapper was trying to scale a building with the ‘Bat Rope’ just like he and [Burt Ward] did in the series.”

In the video, Eminem drew inspiration from one of the duo’s many ‘Bat Rope’ scenes. But instead of suiting as the mysterious vigilante, the rapper reprised his role as faithful sidekick Robin. This isn’t the first Eminem interjected his interest in comic into his work. In fact, Eminem first sported spandex back in 2002, for the official video for the chart-topping single “Without Me” with his longtime mentor and friend Dr. Dre by his side of Batman.

Dr. Dre made his superhero return in “Houdini.” The video also featured notable appearances by Snoop Dogg, 50 Cent, The Alchemist, Pete Davidson, and Shane Gillis. With his forthcoming album, The Death Of Slim Shady, set to be his final LP, Eminem clearly wanted to go out with a cartoonish boom, snap, and pow.

FX and Hulu debuted their new series, Clipped, on the Los Angeles Clippers during the Donald Sterling scandal recently, and basketball fans have had a very difficult time taking it seriously due to the casting of the Clippers (and the rest of the NBA).

Casting a show about famous people is always difficult, because everyone knows what they look like, but it’s even harder to cast a show about professional basketball because there just aren’t a lot of people that have the height, size, and look of an NBA player. That’s what made HBO’s Winning Time so incredible, as they did about as well as you can in casting an NBA team with guys of the proper height and build — with the hair and makeup department doing their best to get the details dialed on their facial look.

Clipped did not fare nearly as well and no matter how good the writing or performances are, people are having a really hard time getting past the looks of the players (and Laurence Fishburne as Doc Rivers).

If there is anyone built to critique the casting, it’s Austin Rivers, who played for the Clippers not too long after this series is set and is, of course, Doc’s son. Rivers went through the casting on his podcast and had a number of laugh out loud moments when he was shown the cast — particularly those playing the stars of the Golden State Warriors.

Rivers starts by pointing out that Fishburne’s build isn’t doing his dad a lot of favors, but it’s when he hits the players that the fun really starts. “Stephen Santiago” is incredible, noting he looks more like a third baseman than the best shooter in NBA history, and by the time he hits Blake Griffin he’s just in complete disgust. Again, it’s very hard to cast a show about the NBA, but some of the choices in Clipped are hysterical and I’m glad its not just fans that can’t get over it and players like Austin also find it hysterical.

Are Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck looking for new (and separate) blocks to call home? After pulling the plug on her This Is Me… Live summer tour to “focus on family,” fans assumed Bennifer would use the time off to enjoy marital bliss. However, it appears the couple’s days might be filled with house hunting.

According to TMZ, for weeks, the couple has quietly been working to sell their Beverly Hills mansion. Upon first glance, this report wouldn’t raise any suspensions. But the outlet revealed that Lopez and Affleck only purchased the $60+ million property just over a year ago. Now, users online have begun to speculate that the pair is headed for divorce.

“It’s so sad,” wrote one user. “For the last year or so it was all about love this, love that and finally finding & reconnecting with Ben. Creating a whole album, putting herself out there, and being vulnerable… to this.”

Neither Lopez nor Affleck have made any public mention of a split. Also, both have been spotted out wearing their wedding rings. But supporters believe Lopez’s short response with a reporter when asked about her marriage last month should have set off a few alarms.

The public seems to be rooting for the couple. This comes after their confessions about still battling PTSD from their 2003 breakup.