Category: News

Game 1 of the Nets-Celtics first round series was an instant classic, with Jayson Tatum stealing one for the home team on a spinning layup at the buzzer, leaving fans fired up for what Game 2 would bring. It delivered in a different way, with some more late drama, but less two teams going blow for blow and more them trading big runs, with Boston getting the best of the battle to take a 2-0 series lead.

After coming so close in the opener, the expectation was for the Nets to come out with an early punch, and they did just that quickly running up a 9-0 lead thanks to the unlikeliest of sources in Bruce Brown.

Brooklyn would maintain an advantage in that range throughout most of the first half thanks to some stellar play from their “others,” while the Celtics defense continued to pester and frustrate Kevin Durant and made a more concerted effort to do the same with Kyrie Irving. Brown, Seth Curry, and Goran Dragic all gave the Nets big lifts in the first half, as they led by as many as 17 and took a 65-55 advantage into the break, with Dragic scoring 16 in the opening half to lead all scorers.

However, in the third quarter the Celtics started to chip away as they continued to send waves of bodies at Durant, who really struggled on the night with ball security, turning it over six times leading to some transition buckets for Boston to close the gap and eventually tie the game.

Brooklyn would briefly stem the tide, with Bruce Brown again providing some big buckets, and pushed their advantage back to as many as seven, before Jaylen Brown pulled Boston to within five going to the final period.

In that fourth quarter, the Celtics simply dominated, as Brown woke up in a big way and Ime Udoka made a key adjustment to get some additional shooting into the game by rolling with Payton Pritchard for some key minutes and he rewarded him by scoring 10 points off the bench in the second half, including hitting the shot that gave Boston its first lead of the night.

At that point, Brown and Tatum took over, as the Celtics could smell the blood in the water and went on an extended 18-8 run to give themselves a 110-100 lead with just over a minute to play.

It was an unbelievable performance from Boston in a game where the leading stars on both sides struggled for much of the game, but while Durant and Irving weren’t able to turn it on from a scoring perspective, Brown and Tatum found their stride at just the right time down the stretch. Brown led the Celtics in scoring with 22 points, but all five starters reached double figures, as did Grant Williams (17 points) and Pritchard (10 points) off the bench to pick up Tatum on a night he shot just 5-of-16 from the floor — but did dish out 10 assists.

On the other side, Durant had 27 points to lead all scorers, but most of his damage came from the free throw line as he shot just 4-of-17 from the field, along with those six costly turnovers. Irving, after a virtuoso performance in Game 1, was nowhere to be seen in Game 2, scoring 10 points on 4-of-13 shooting with eight assists. What may prove most costly is the Nets wasted an incredible offensive night from Brown, who finished with 23 points on 8-of-12 shooting, as well as 34 combined from Dragic and Curry.

For a team with depth concerns, faltering on a night where the others step up is a real concern for the Nets, as the series shifts to Brooklyn and they face a must-win Game 3 to avoid falling in a 3-0 deficit.

On Wednesday, the music world was surprised by the news that ASAP Rocky was arrested at LAX as he arrived on a flight from Barbados with his girlfriend Rihanna, who he is expecting his first child with. According to NBC News, Rocky was taken into custody in connection to a shooting on November 6, 2021 in which the victim claims that Rocky shot at him three or four times with one of the bullets grazing his hand. Now, thanks to a report from TMZ, we now know that the rapper was released from jail after he posted bail.

According to XXL, Rocky’s bail was set at $550,000, and after he posted it, cameras captured him leaving police headquarters on Wednesday afternoon and heading into an SUV that waited for him in a rear parking lot. He was originally taken into custody by Los Angeles Police Department’s robbery/homicide division at 8:20 a.m. PST on Wednesday and he was booked into jail at 12:42 p.m. According to a press release that was shared on the Los Angeles Police Department’s Twitter, the alleged incident between Rocky and the victim, who was described as an “acquaintance” of Rocky, started with an argument in Los Angeles near Vista Del Mar and Selma Avenue.

“The argument escalated and resulted in the suspect firing a handgun at the victim,” the statement reads. “The victim sustained a minor injury from the incident and later sought his medical treatment. Following the shooting, the suspect and two additional males fled the area on foot. Detectives worked diligently to investigate and corroborate the reporting information, which helped identify the suspect(s) involved.”

Despite Rocky’s arrest on Wednesday morning, video captured police officers executing a search warrant on Rocky’s home in Los Angeles hours after the rapper’s detainment. Officers were seen in full gear with a battering ram to gain entrance onto the property.

You can view the statement from the LAPD above.

The Trump obsessives at Newsmax, like One America News Network, helped push Fox News even more rightward than they were. But the news station is still a rinky-dink affair. Among their weirder offenders is Greg Kelly, the son of former NYC police commissioner Raymond Kelly. A local news reporter who reinvented himself as a far right stooge, he’s had his share of strange controversies. But none are perhaps weirder than what happened on Wednesday.

Kelly, who last year came under fire for a racially charged tweet, devoted a fiery segment railing against claims of systemic racism in America. His argument was that a lot of the people railing against racial inequality in America now graduated high school and have jobs. Pretty air tight logic.

He soon moved onto how, as he put it, Black conservatives are considered by the left to be “traitors.” “They’re out there, but they’re shunned because, boy oh boy, what they have to say,” Kelly said.

He then aired a graphic showing four Black conservatives allegedly demonized by liberals. One of them was Milwaukee sheriff and noted Trumpist David Clarke. Another was Trump staff member Ben Carson. The other two were a bit strange. One was Herman Cain, who died in 2020 from COVID, not long after attending a Trump rally, photographed maskless. The other was…Ben Shapiro.

The Daily Wire honcho and frequent social media punching bag is, needless to say, not Black. It’s not clear how he wound up in a modest graphic meant to illustrate alleged liberal animosity to Black conservatives. But Kelly tried to power ahead through the error.

“And the late Herman Cain and, of course, Ben Shapiro, not Black but one of the heroes of the movement,” Kelly said, nervously fumbling. “This really disrupts the narrative and that’s why they are marginalized. They shouldn’t be. They should be celebrated and listened to, right?”

It’s the rare case where Shapiro isn’t to blame for his own humiliation. Speaking of which…

(Via The Daily Beast)

Things aren’t so hot for Alex Jones right now. Over the weekend, three of the Infowars honcho’s businesses filed for bankruptcy. Why? In an attempt to stave off a potential looming financial apocalypse brought on by six families of victims in the Sandy Hook school massacre. But the solution to some, if not all, of his problems is ratting out one of his favorite presidents.

As per The New York Times, arguably the nation’s loudest conspiracy theorist is in talks to sit down with the Jan. 6 committee. Jones was a key player in the “Stop the Steal” movement, and late last year he swore he would plead the Fifth after being subpoenaed by the House select committee investigating the lead-up and events of that fateful day.

But now, amidst legal and financial headaches, Jones has issued a formal letter expressing “his desire to speak to federal prosecutors about Jan. 6.” Though he’s sworn that he didn’t engage in any “criminal wrongdoing,” despite helping lead an army of violent Trump supporters to the nation’s Capitol building, he is reportedly requesting as part of his testimony immunity from prosecution. That might be difficult to acquire, especially since the committee, with its new, more aggressive prosecutor, Thomas Windom, appears to be gaining more momentum.

NYT speculates that, even if he does wind up speaking with the Jan. 6 committee, Jones may not provide much useful information, and could continue to lean on the Fifth Amendment. Then again, given his personal woes — and his occasional animosity towards Trump — he could sing like a canary. He has close ties to a number of Trump cronies. Moreover, the committee recently obtained texts he had exchanged with one of the leading figures of the pro-Trump rallies after he lost re-election in late 2020.

If this pans out, Piers Morgan wouldn’t be the only sometime ally Trump has recently lost.

(Via NYT)

Whether you just got a new dog, or you’re looking to reward your loyal friend, adding some new cute and fun dog toys can be a great way to play with your pup. Lucky for us dog owners, Safe & Chic has some adorable new toys that make doggy playtime fun and are great conversation starters for houseguests. It’s time to give that tired old tennis ball a rest with some of these fun dog toys.

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1. Watermelon Dog Toy

Image via Safeandchic.com

Keep your pup cool this summer with this delicious watermelon slice chew toy. This toy is perfect for a day in the shade or a fun trip to the doggy beach. Best of all, it doesn’t have any real seeds.

2. Taco Dog Toy

Image via Safeandchic.com

Everyday is Taco Tuesday with this taco chew toy. Now, instead of asking who’s a good boy you’ll be wondering, “Quien es un beuno chico?” and “Yo quiero taco toy?”

3. Frenchie Fries Dog Toy

Image via Safeandchic.com

These plush french fries are the perfect fast food for any fast dog. It’ll be hard to ketchup to any pup with this in its mouth.

4. Barking Bubbly Dog Toy

Image via Safeandchic.com

Now your dog can enjoy a taste of the good life with this Muttscato chew toy. Luckily, this plush toy doesn’t come with any hangovers. It also won’t save you from bad puns.

5. Poppin Pupcorn Dog Toy

Image via Safeandchic.com

Every doggy cinefile will enjoy this hilarious pupcorn plush toy. The perfect toy for nights on the sofa, watching doggy inspired flicks. It doesn’t come with any melted butter, but it will melt your doggy-loving heart.

6. Puppy-Roni Pizza Dog Toy

Image via Safeandchic.com

This Puppy-Roni Pizza is a fresh slice of adorable cuteness. Whether you prefer a thin slice, pan sheet or deep dish, this is the only slice your pup will love. Best of all, this slice of ‘za is machine washable and dryer friendly.

7. Soft Serve Dog Toy

Image via Safeandchic.com

The perfect soft serve swirl does exist with this adorable soft serve ice cream dog toy. Now, your pup can cool down with you and enjoy its own refreshing dessert. Doggy playtime just got a whole lot cooler.

8. Lollipup Dog Toy

Image via Safeandchic.com

How many licks does it take to get to the center of a lollipop? Help your pup find out with this adorable lollipup dog toy. Dog slobber sold separately.

9. Fried Chicken Dog Toy

Image via Safeandchic.com

10. Magic Unicorn Toy

Image via Safeandchic.com

We knew they were real! This knitted unicorn plush toy is a hysterical addition to any pup’s toy collection. Best of all, this toy is good for your dog’s health– its natural flossing property removes build-ups of tartar on your dog’s teeth. Wow, unicorns really are magic.

If you come from a family that loves cooking together, then you know that sharing is a big part of preparing every meal. Some families share recipes, techniques, and even cookware passed down from generation to generation. But how do you prevent a family heirloom from turning into a family burden? After all, nobody wants Grandma’s crusty, brown, one-handled, creepy clowns mixing bowl that she bought at the state fair in 1965 for a dollar.

We’ve found that in order to avoid sharing dated and damaged pieces, it’s important to select timeless and durable kitchenware from trusted brands that have been around for decades like Staub.

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Used by some of the best chefs in the world, Staub cookware has become a mainstay in the world’s biggest kitchens. Chefs love the durability and consistency that comes from cooking in Staub’s cast iron and stoneware dutch ovens and cocottes. With Staub, heavy-weight, tight fitting lids ensure a nice seal, which maintains consistent cooking temperatures. Not to mention, the classic designs are always in style– making them something everyone in the family will be fighting over.

A few items we love are on sale right now:

Heart Shaped Cocotte

Image via Zwilling.com

Perfect for cooking a meal for someone you love, this dainty heart shaped cocotte is a beast in the kitchen. Made from hardy cast iron with an outer enamel coating, this cocotte can be used on the stove top and in the oven– up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. The rough cast iron finish is perfect for even braising and browning. While the polished nickel handle makes it a tablescaping showstopper. This is the perfect pot to cook for– and eventually hand down to– the loved ones in your life.

Tomato Petite Cocotte

Image via Zwilling.com

Designed after the classic heirloom Brandywine tomato, these petite cocottes will make the perfect family heirloom for generations to come. Not just for looks, this classic stoneware dish also delivers incredible results in the oven as well. It’s the perfect vessel for cooking baked dishes and casseroles. Plus, it’s microwave safe, so you can use it to reheat leftovers or give your meal a refresh right before serving. This elegant piece of stoneware is sure to be a conversation starter at any dinner table.

Pumpkin Cocotte

Image via Zwilling.com

This pumpkin cocotte is a classic cooking and serving dish that looks great on any table. Perfect for casseroles, soups and baked dishes, the pumpkin cocotte is oven, broiler, freezer and microwave safe– making it a workhorse in the kitchen. It’s been fired twice in the kiln, so it is ultra durable and can handle sharp changes in temperature. It’s also the perfect vessel to serve autumnal dishes and desserts. We can already smell Grandma’s pumpkin crumble.

Artichoke Cocotte

Image via Zwilling.com

This artichoke cocotte is a practical head turner. The cast-iron is incredibly durable and crafted with the highest Staub standards. It also works on induction stoves, can be placed directly on a gas or electric stovetop and works in the oven. The cast iron is perfect for frying with oil, braising, cooking, and stewing. Plus, this beautiful cocotte looks great on any table, which makes it the perfect vessel to cook and then serve in.

Now you too can start a family tradition by handing down these beautiful, high-quality pieces from Staub. With great cookware, you can make great memories and pass down the traditions that matter.

Editor’s Note: Upworthy may receive a percentage of payment for sales of items listed in this article

Pooh Shiesty, born Lontrell Donell Williams Jr., learned how long he’ll be behind bars today. Nearly a year after he was arrested on firearms charges, Shiesty was sentenced to 63 months — a little over five years — in prison according to Variety. It comes after he was indicted on four firearms charges in relation to a shooting incident that occurred in October 2020 at the Landon Hotel in Bay Harbor Islands, Florida. Williams later pled guilty to the charges after accepting a plea deal from prosecutors that reduced a possible life sentence to just 97 months in prison — a little over eight years in prison.

Shortly after Williams was arrested for the October 2020 incident, he was taken into custody once again, this time for a shooting incident that occurred at a Miami strip club during Memorial Day weekend. Variety reports that the outcome in that specific case is unknown at the moment. Williams’ plea deal in the October 2020 incident reduced his four firearms charges to just a single charge for conspiracy to possess a firearm in furtherance of violent and drug-trafficking crimes.

It’s unknown why Williams’ expected sentence of over eight years in prison was reduced to five years. Last month, it was reported that his lawyer was fighting the recommended eight-year sentence because “ballistics and forensic evidence” proved that Williams did not shoot the victim in the incident.

Pooh Shiesty is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Disclaimer: While all of the products recommended here were chosen independently by our editorial staff, Uproxx may receive payment to direct readers to certain retail vendors who are offering these products for purchase.

Welcome to SNX DLX, your weekly roundup of the best sneakers to hit the internet. We’re not going to lie to you, this isn’t the best week for sneakers. After months of fire drop after fire drop, we’re getting the cold water thrown on us. Things are so dire that one of the biggest releases of the week is Adidas’ Peanut M&M-themed Forum 84. Let that sink in for a second, an M&M-themed sneaker is one of the big releases of the week.

Spoiler: It looks pretty much exactly like you’d imagine it to look.

You’re not going to find that sneaker on this list because it’s a f*cking M&M-themed Forum 84, don’t trust anyone who tells you that that is cool. The six sneakers we have rounded up represent this week’s best drops, which include a new Kawhi 2 from New Balance, trail-ready Nike ACG Mountain Flys, and a couple of Yeezy drops that should satisfy Ye-heads of all stripes. Let’s dive in.

New Balance KAWHI 2 Goosebumps

Dip into some heavy ‘90s nostalgia with Kawhi Leonard’s Goosebumps inspired KAWHI 2 from New Balance. Featuring a FuelCell midsole for increased energy return, a full-length performance plate, and a lightweight Kinetic Stitch upper, this braided performance sneaker features the functionality and added comfort of a real court sneaker, with the design flair of something that would make sneakerheads geek out.

The design borrows liberally from the artwork of R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps book series, with Kawhi Leonard’s name written in the iconic font. It’s a best of both worlds design.

The New Balance KAWHI 2 Goosebumps is out now for a retail price of $159.99. Pick up a pair via the New Balance webstore.

Nike ACG Mountain Fly Low GORE-TEX Hazel Rush/Dark Smoke Grey

Now that it’s spring it’s time to hit the trails and explore the great outdoors, which means you’re going to need some functional kicks that can put up with the demands of more rugged terrain. Enter the ACG Mountain Fly, which features a GORE-TEX-equipped waterproof upper with a React midsole, reflective over lace, and a thick tread.

This sneaker is kitted out to withstand the demands of rocky trails without sacrificing fashion for function. The sneaker drops in a Hazel Rush and Dark Smoke Grey colorway, and we’ve got to give it to the latter, which features a moody monochromatic design.

The ACG Mountain Fly Low GORE-TEX Hazel Rush/Dark Smoke Grey is set to drop on April 22nd for a retail price of $180. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app.

Air Force 1 Billie Mushroom

Billie Eilish’s signature Nikes haven’t exactly captured the sneaker world’s imagination so far. While interesting, the sneakers she’s dropped have just seemed a little too plain, like early Yeezys without the next-level design elements.

But this week’s Mushroom Air Force 1 is different. Featuring a design inspired by the Alpha Force Low and Air Trainer 3, this AF-1 has been remixed with mid-foot straps, a chunky design, and a synthetic nubuck upper made from post-consumer recycled content. It’s hands down Billie’s best signature sneaker to date.

The Air Force 1 Billie Mushroom is set to drop on April 25th for a retail price of $170. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app or aftermarket sites like Flight Club.

Yeezy 700 MNVN Geode

Fans of the Yeezy 700 will be pleased to know that a new colorway of the MNVN iteration of the silhouette is dropping this week. The Geode displays as a mix between grey and really soft lavender (is baby lavender a thing?), complete with silver 700 graphics across the upper and a chunky black midsole.

The Yeezy 700 MNVN Geode is out now for a retail price of $220. Pick up a pair via the Adidas Confirmed app, Yeezy Supply or aftermarket sites like GOAT and Flight Club.

Yeezy Foam Runner Sulfur/Stone Sage

Announced on 4/20, this week we’re getting two brand new Foam Runner colorways, just in time for spring lounging. The Sulfur and Stone Sage take design cues from the earlier Yeezy sneaker colorways, featuring muted earth tones that kind of sort of look like baby bile. Yup, we said it.

As ridiculous as the Foam Runners look, they’ve earned their place amongst sneakerheads. They offer an alternative for people who just can’t get behind Crocs, which is funny because these aren’t a far cry away.

The Yeezy Foam Runner Sulfur and Stone Sage are set to drop on April 22nd for a retail price of $90. Pick up a pair via the Adidas Confirmed app or Yeezy Supply.

Adidas Superstar Vegan Shoes

Dropping as a women’s size exclusive, the legendary Superstar silhouette is receiving a vegan-friendly design. Keeping classic details like the rubber shell toe, and serrated three-stripes design, this Superstar has been updated with an upper made from synthetic and recycled materials.

It’s a Superstar for the modern age, and it looks super clean so no complaints here! We never thought we’d say this but, maybe Superstars don’t need to be made from leather.

The Vegan Adidas Superstars are set to drop on April 21st for a retail price of $100. Pick up a pair via the Adidas Confirmed app.

Around 6:30 p.m. ET, there was considerable alarm in Washington, D.C., as Capitol Police announced they were evacuating the U.S. Capitol complex due to “an aircraft that poses a probable threat.”

As everyone at the Capitol building evacuated in a hurry and the rest of the country waited with baited breath to find out if there was an attack of some kind or what was happening, the Capitol Police quickly announced there was no threat to the Capitol and that the evacuation order, which was out of “an abundance of caution,” was no longer in place.

That led to plenty of questions as to what happened, and it turns out the culprit was the plane full of U.S. Army parachuters circling downtown Washington ahead of a jump into Nationals Park ahead of Washington’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Meanwhile, folks at the Nats game all knew what was going on and were happily watching the parachuters glide into the stadium while chaos ensued down the road at the Capitol.

It is an all-time misunderstanding and, luckily, it didn’t lead to anything disastrous. As some reporters noted, the fact that jets weren’t scrambled immediately shows that on the military side, they seemed aware of what was happening — which makes sense being they were Army parachuters — but clearly somewhere along the way the Nationals forgot to inform all the authorities they needed to and the Capitol Police were understandably concerned about a plane circling overhead.

At the end of last month, Bobby Shmurda shared a big announcement with his fans. He took to Instagram to reveal that he is officially an independent artist after parting ways with Epic Records where he’d been signed since 2014. “I just sign my release papers,” he wrote in the post. “Also jus made ah milly today I can’t wait to drop.” His exit came after he claimed in a prior Instagram post that he was not in control of his music. “I ain’t been in charge of my music since I was 19 years old and I just turned 27 and honestly idk when sh*t dropping,” he wrote. “So don’t ask me sh*t go ask them mf’s since they wanna control everything!!!!!!!”

It appears that Bobby hoped to secure a better deal with a major label with his newfound independence, but that has not been the case so far. Under a recent Instagram post, which he shared to promote his upcoming project They Don’t Know, Bobby took a moment to respond to a fan who thought he should delay the project from its April 29 release date. “Push it back and marker harder bro (js my opinion),” the fan wrote. In response, Bobby said, “@_frank_mathews_ and all my fans [cry and laughing emojis] nah F*** that I got major Lables jumping me Blackballing me and sh*ttttt and I’m from the hood young and rich black as sh*ttt and don’t give a [laughing emoji] about both and they Scare of me and I love that ishhh.”

He continued, “I’m only 27 one year fresh Outta six years they got 400 employees tell them boys stop playing me Homieee and I do no marketing that all my sh*t natural ahhhhh #FThemPeople I’m gone.”

You can view the post from Bobby and his interaction with the fan above.