Category: News

After 130-plus episodes, Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. came to an end last night. The ABC series was never more popular than it was in the early seasons, when Marvel Cinematic Universe stars Samuel L. Jackson (Nick Fury) and Jaimie Alexander (Sif) dropped by and there was a tie-in to a dramatic reveal in Captain America: The Winter Soldier. But after a mid-series dip in quality, S.H.I.E.L.D. quietly had a creative rebound in its final season, which largely dealt with the ramifications of time travel.

As with all things time travel, it’s confusing to explain exactly what happened out of context (and even in context…), but basically, Leopold Fitz returned after a season-long absence. Turns out, he was in a different timeline from the rest of the characters. “You went back in time and then you branched off. But we can travel through something called the Quantum Realm. So we can go in between timelines,” he explained. The Quantum Realm is the show’s most direct connection to Avengers: Endgame, as well as Ant-Man and the Wasp, as it was used by the Avengers to undo Thanos’ universe-upsetting Snap.

Here’s more:

In all his explanations about saving their timeline, Fitz used words like “our world” and “multiple dimensions” to describe their current situation. As such, he distinguished the main MCU timeline as their world, which indicates it is their universe and their timeline. Although the season played with the idea of multiple dimensions… this is the first real confirmation of the fact this timeline is new and different from the MCU.

“When we first started talking about it, it was before Endgame had been released,” co-showrunner Jed Whedon told The Wrap about keeping Fitz off-screen (actor Iain De Caestecker had scheduling conflicts). “We knew that there were certain things we could not do… It’s one universe and we tried to be true to it.” He added, “We didn’t want to play the same game that they were going to play.” Still, tying into the greater Marvel Cinematic Universe was a fitting way for Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (probably the last non-Disney+ Marvel show, with the exception of Hulu’s standalone Helstrom) to go out on.

(Via the Wrap)

We’re now inside a month away from the launch of NBA 2K21, which for the first time in its history will be launching in the midst of an NBA playoff run rather than in the lead up to a new season. Last week, 2K offered a first look at a gameplay trailer for 2K21 and on Thursday we got our first detailed explanation of gameplay changes that gamers can look forward to in the current-gen game — details on the next-gen version for the PS5 and Xbox Series X figure to come out closer to the launch of those systems. .

The biggest change and upgrade for this year’s edition is the evolution and expansion of the Pro Stick (right joystick) to give you more full control of both dribble moves and shooting. The goal was to make for more dynamic usage of the stick and also making it so that, rather than pointing the stick in any direction to shoot, you have to hold it down to allow for more advanced dribble moves and stick usage. 2K announced the control changes for the Pro Stick, which are as follows.

Hold RS down = jump shot
Hold RS left or right = escape dribble moves
Hold RS up = signature size-ups
Tap the RS = quick 1-to-1 dribble moves
Tap the RS with Sprint held = quick momentum dribble moves

They’ve added more signature moves after working with Nate Robinson on motion capture as well as bringing more moves from NBA stars into the game. The shot stick also is going to be more dynamic for shooting, with them bringing back something akin to 2K17’s shot stick aiming — which they admit didn’t work as intended — but upgraded and tweaked to be more intuitive and give players more control. NBA 2K gameplay director Mike Wang outlined exactly how the Pro Stick shooting will function, both on full shots and on layups at the rim.

For NBA 2K21, when you shoot with the Pro Stick, the shot meter changes from a timing bar to a targeting system. So instead of trying to stop the shot meter when you reach the perfect release window, you adjust the Pro Stick in real time to hit the ideal center aim point. The target window resizes dynamically based on player ability, shooting range, and how well the shot is contested and can also shift to the left or right based on the shot’s degree of difficulty. If you miss the target too far to the left or right, your shot will miss in that direction. And as I mentioned above with the new slider sets, even the slightest degree might be the difference between a make and an airball on Hall of Fame, while it’s quite a bit more forgiving on the easier difficulties. You also won’t be penalized for using the entire shooting motion to find the sweet spot. In other words, you don’t have to time your release when you’re shooting with the Pro Stick. But if you want to take it to the next level and know your release, you can lock in your timing and aim by either centering the Pro Stick or by tapping one of the triggers when you reach the apex of the shot. The lock in will be indicated by a brief flash on the shot meter. If you can time AND aim well, you will give yourself the best chances at making the shot.

The aiming concept also applies to finishing layups, replicating the idea of having “good touch” around the rim. As you’re driving you can still hold the Pro Stick in any direction to start a layup, but this year, you’ll want to quickly swing the stick to move the aiming tick to the center of the target. Aiming layups well can help overcome shot contests and help you finish through contact. Personally, it has been hard for me to go back to the Shot Button after getting used to Pro Stick shooting. And because shooting with the stick offers a bit more complexity than just holding and releasing a button, it also carries a greater risk/reward. If you can master shooting with the Pro Stick, you’ll have a higher ceiling for getting greens and making tough shots, so I’m pretty sure it’s going to be the shot method of choice for many competitive 2K players. But since I know some will ask… yes, there is an option to disable Shot Aiming if you really want to go back to last year’s controls.

Both the expanded dribble moves and shooting are supposed to provide more control and opportunity for advanced players should they choose to use it, and 2K promises it will be intuitive once you play a few games with it.

The other major update is that point guards in MyPlayer are now allowed to be as tall as 6’8 at the request of cover athlete Damian Lillard, who offered some other feedback they say helped inform gameplay decisions and updates. So, even if you don’t want to do that, you can fully expect to see an awful lot of extra tall point guards in The Park this year.

Cardi B and Megan The Stallion’s video for their new collaboration “WAP” has been perhaps the biggest pop culture happening of the past week, so naturally, it’s about time for the parodies to start rolling in. Indeed they have, and Cardi is a big fan of at least one of them.

Monday’s episode of The Late Late Show featured a faux behind-the-scenes look at the video and Cardi thought it was hilarious. She shared a clip of the segment tweeted by the Late Late Show Twitter account and wrote, “LmmmmffaaOOOOOOOO Yooo you is funny.”

The segment starts with clips from the video before getting to Corden, who sits at a desk in one of the rooms in the colorful and busy house. He is trying to get some work done but is bothered by the noise level of Cardi and Megan’s song. The scene where the rappers and backing dancers splash around in a shallow pool apparently also caused water to leak through the ceiling, which Corden was not happy with.

In another episode of the show from this week, Corden tasked his parents — who often make entertaining appearances on the program — with watching the “WAP” video and sharing their reactions. They got a real kick out of the statues with water coming out of certain body parts, and one of the more explicit parts of the video elicited an “Oh dear me.” At the end, Corden’s dad offered his take on the clip: “I mean, it’s boobs and ass, isn’t it, basically?” He also added, “I think that song might have been about sexual intercourse.”

Watch the clips from The Late Late Show above.

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

Drake has been nonstop this year, whether he’s dropping Dark Lane Demo Tapes or jumping on other people’s songs. After he released Dark Lane, though, Drake said that a new album was soon to follow. Now it appears he is set to mark the official start of a new album cycle, based on a teaser video he shared last night.

On social media, Drake posted an 11-second video of himself riding a jet ski and wrote simply, “TMRW MIDNIGHT.”

Signs suggest that the new Drake material will be a single. In the comments of the post, Hit-Boy tagged producer G-RY and wrote, “Song hard asl @g.ryomo,” followed by a wave emoji. Additionally, an Instagram user tagged Cardo (who produced “God’s Plan”) in a comment calling the song a “lead single,” and Cardo responded by tagging Yung Exclusive, a Cardo collaborator who also co-produced “God’s Plan.”

It’s not a big surprise to see that something new is on the way. At the end of July, Drake’s friend and engineer, OVO Noel, he shared a photo from in the studio and suggested that Drake’s next album was 90 percent completed. Regardless of what drops on Friday, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Drake break more chart records.

Tom Holland is best known for playing your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man, but he cuts an imposing figure in The Devil All the Time. Based on Donald Ray Pollock’s book of the same name, the Netflix psychological thriller stars Holland as a good ol’ boy turned “sinner” after he’s gifted his father’s gun on his birthday. The plot, which stretches from World War II to the Vietnam War, is far more complicated than that, however, so you might as well watch the trailer above, if only to see Robert Pattinson as a righteously furious (and sweaty) preacher. And what he’s preaching might not sit well with God. When Bill Skarsgård says there’s a lot of “no-good sons of bitches out there,” believe him.

Here’s the official plot synopsis.

In Knockemstiff, Ohio and its neighboring backwoods, sinister characters — an unholy preacher (Robert Pattinson), twisted couple (Jason Clarke and Riley Keough), and crooked sheriff (Sebastian Stan) — converge around young Arvin Russell (Tom Holland) as he fights the evil forces that threaten him and his family. Spanning the time between World War II and the Vietnam war, director Antonio Campos’ The Devil All the Time renders a seductive and horrific landscape that pits the just against the corrupted. Co-starring Bill Skarsgård, Mia Wasikowska, Harry Melling, Haley Bennett, and Pokey LaFarge, this suspenseful tale is adapted from Donald Ray Pollock’s award-winning novel.

The Devil All the Time premieres on Netflix on September 16.

Summer is waning yet temperatures remain high. That calls for refreshing cocktails. And we’d argue that there are no more refreshing cocktails than rum cocktails. There’s just something about rum drinks — full of sharp spices, tropical fruits, lime, mint, and even cola — that hit the exact right note on hot days.

Today, we’re calling out eight rum cocktails that you can make while you’re social distancing at home. These drinks cover a massive range of genres. They run from tropical, juice-forward tikis to the more herbaceous and spicy tropical drinks to rum versions of the classics. Then there’s the illustrious and very advanced Clarified Milk Punch, which we’re not going to get into on this list but will stan for until the wheels fall off. (You can find our full recipe here!)

The eight recipes below are all easy-to-moderate in difficulty. The last couple of drinks listed will require a few special ingredients. Otherwise, we tried to keep this as simple as possible for easy mixing, thirst-quenching, and socially distanced drinking.

Dark ‘n’ Stormy

Bottle To Use: Goslings Black Seal Rum

We’re starting things off easy.

This is a classic highball — just a matter of pouring stuff in a glass and getting your drink on. The drink needs Goslings since it’s the official cocktail of that rum. Plus, the deep molasses of the dark rum is the perfect counterpoint to a really sharp and spicy ginger beer, making for a true summer refresher.

Recipe:

• 2 oz. Goslings Black Seal
• 4 oz. ginger beer
• Lime wedge
• Ice

Method:

• Fill a Highball glass with ice.
• Add rum.
• Top with ginger beer.
• Stir once.
• Garnish with a lime wedge, serve.

Cuba Libre

Bottle To Use: BACARDÍ Anejo Cuatro

If you can make a Dark ‘n’ Stormy, you can make a Cuba Libre. And no, this is not a Rum ‘n Coke. You need to add freshly squeezed lime juice to this. We’d also recommend grabbing a really good craft cola or Mexican cola.

I really dig this Jarritos Mexican Cola and Key Limes. The spice and sweetness of the cola are wonderfully accentuated by the high tartness of the smaller limes. Plus, Bacardi Anejo Cuatro is a great base for any rum-based drink.

Recipe:

• 2 oz. Bacardi Anejo Cuatro
• 4 oz. cola
• Limes
• Ice

Method:

• Add ice to a highball glass.
• Add the rum and cola.
• Squeeze in two or three lime wedges and drop them in.
• Stir once or twice, serve.

Rum Rickey

Bottle To Use: Mount Gay Rum Eclipse

Sticking with the highballs, this take on a Gin Rickey is a no-brainer.

It’s rum, lime, and soda and it’s also one of the most thirst-quenching drinks on the list — with no added sugars. That’s another big win if you’re planning on drinking more than one and don’t want the dreaded sugar crash hangover the next morning.

Recipe:

• 2 oz. Mount Gay Rum
• 0.5 oz. fresh lime juice
• 4 oz. soda water
• Limes
• Ice

Method:

• Fill a highball glass with ice.
• Add the rum, lime juice, and soda water.
• Stir once.
• Add in three or four lime wheels, serve.

Hemingway Daiquiri

Bottle To Use: Havana Club Anejo Blanco

Okay, it’s time to break out the ol’ cocktail shaker. I’ve broken the versions of a Daiquiri down before. In this case, we’re going with a slightly more refined version than Papa’s favorite Havanese drink. Still, this is a very entry-level cocktail that’ll be a late-summer favorite the moment you take your first sip.

Recipe:

• 2 oz. Havana Club
• 0.5 oz. fresh lime juice
• 0.5 oz. fresh grapefruit juice
• 0.5 oz. Maraschino liqueur
• Lime
• Ice

Method:

• Add the rum, liqueur, and juices to a cocktail shaker.
• Add enough ice to fill the shaker about 1/2.
• Top and shake until the shaker is ice cold to touch.
• Strain into a pre-chilled coupe.
• Spritz with lime oils and drop in the rind, serve.

Rum Old Fashioned

Bottle To Use: Diplomatico Rum Reserva Exclusiva

Most old fashioned recipes call for “bar syrup” in the base. I call bullshit on that. Use raw sugar and take the time to dissolve it in the cocktail. It’ll make all the difference in the world. This is especially true with rum-based old fashioneds. Yes, it’s a little more time consuming but the depth this step adds to the cocktail will be evident once you take a sip.

Recipe:

• 3 oz. Diplomatico Rum
• 2 dashes Angostura Bitters
• 2 dashes Orange Bitters
• 1 barspoon raw sugar
• 1 barspoon soda water
• Luxardo Maraschino Cherry
• Orange Peel
• Ice

Method:

• Add the sugar, soda water, and bitters into an old fashioned glass.
• Stir the ingredients until they blend into a base.
• Add rum and stir until the sugar fully dissolves.
• Fill the glass with ice and stir until the glass is ice cold to touch.
• Re-top with ice.
• Spritz orange oils over the cocktail and rub the rind around the glass, drop it in the drink.
• Garnish with a cherry, serve.

Mojito

Bottle To Use: Koloa White Rum

This is one cocktail everyone should have in their arsenal. It’s a crowd-pleaser and generally pretty easy to make. In a perfect world, you’d make this with Havana Club 3 Años. But since Cuban rums are nearly unsourceable stateside, I recommend using a solid craft rum to add an extra layer of texture and refinement to your mojito.

Recipe:

• 2 oz. Koloa White Rum
• 1 barspoon fine white sugar
• 1 oz. fresh lime juice
• 3 oz. soda water
• Fresh mint
• Limes
• Ice

Method:

• Add sugar and lime juice into a highball glass.
• Gently muddle the sugar into the lime juice until it just emulsifies.
• Add three or four leaves of fresh mint and gently muddle into the sugar/lime juice.
• Top the glass with ice.
• Add the rum and vigorously stir to combine everything.
• Top the glass with fresh ice and a squirt of lime juice.
• Garnish with a sprig of mint and two or three lime wheels, serve.

Painkiller

Bottle To Use: Pusser’s British Navy Rum

Okay, now we’re getting into a little more advanced territory. This is a take on a piña colada that doesn’t require a blender to make. Pusser’s official cocktail is a classic tropical sipper that’s best served in a big old tin mug like you’re on the decks of a British Navy ship. If you don’t have a mug, a Hurricane glass will do just fine. And don’t forget the freshly grated nutmeg. That’s what ties this whole drink together.

Recipe:

• 2 oz. Pusser’s Rum
• 4 oz. pineapple juice
• 1 oz. orange juice
• 1 oz. coconut cream
• Nutmeg
• Pineapple
• Ice Cubes
• Crushed Ice

Method:

• Add the rum, juices, and coconut cream to a cocktail shaker.
• Add ice and hard shake until the shaker is ice cold to touch.
• Fill a tin mug with crushed ice.
• Strain the cocktail into the mug.
• Dust with three or four grates of nutmeg on a planer.
• Garnish with a pineapple wedge, serve.

Zombie

Bottle To Use: Appleton Estate Signature Blend, BACARDÍ Gold Rum, El Dorado 151

If you can make a zombie at home, you’re good to go for really getting your drink during these dog days of summer. Still, there’s a reason tiki bars limit guests to only two of these. Drink responsibly, please.

Okay, this is an ingredient heavy drink but worth it once you lock it in. The biggest thing to master here is the “pulsing” of the drink. Where I make these, we use an old-school milkshake machine to pulse it. You want to add air while mixing, chilling, and sort of knocking the ice around without breaking it up. Remember, this is a cocktail, not a slushie.

Recipe:

• 1.5 oz. Appleton Rum
• 1.5 oz. Bacardi Gold
• 1 oz. El Dorado 151
• 0.75 oz. fresh lime juice
• 0.5 oz. Falernum
• 0.5 oz. Donn’s Mix (see recipe below)
• 1 barspoon Grenadine
• 1/2 barspoon Pernod
• 1 dash Angostura Bitters
• Fresh Mint
• Ice

Method:

• Add everything but the mint to a blender jug.
• Top with ice until it’s just over the top of the liquid.
• Pulse the blender very quickly two, maybe three times. DO NOT blend.
• Pour about 2/3 of the drink with ice into a tall Zombie glass or Chimney glass.
• Pour the last 1/3 of the drink with a strainer over the jug to stop the ice from filling the glass.
• Top with fresh ice.
• Garnish with a fresh mint sprig, serve.

Donn’s Mix — 2:1 ratio of fresh grapefruit juice to cinnamon syrup mixed until emulsified.

Long before the fame and critically acclaimed albums, Mac Miller was an unknown rapper from Pittsburgh set on breaking out to the hip-hop scene. This moment would arrive in 2010 with the release of his K.I.D.S. mixtape shortly after he signed a deal with Rostrum Records. Thanks to a growing social media following and persistent touring, Miller’s spotlight would grow following his XXL Freshman Class inclusion in 2011. While the rapper is unfortunately no longer with us, his estate looks to celebrate him and the project that brought him success with a new deluxe version a decade after its release.

Uploaded to streaming services back in April, the availability of Miller’s K.I.D.S. mixtape on streaming services has allowed fans to reminisce and enjoy some of Miller’s early cuts which include “Nikes On My Feet” and “Kool Aid & Frozen Pizza.” Returning with the deluxe version of the mixtape, Miller’s old label has graced fans with two new songs: “Ayye” and “Back In The Day.”

The updated take of K.I.D.S. arrives almost seven months after his estate debuted his first posthuhmous album, Circles, with help from producer Jon Brion who Miller was working with on the album prior to his death. Similar to K.I.D.S., Circles would also receive a deluxe re-issue nearly two months after its initial release.

The addition of “Ayye” and “Back In The Day” to K.I.D.S. arrives shortly after Miller’s estate asked fans to help contribute to a new project aimed at celebrating the late rapper’s life. A toll-free number was set up to collect fans’ stories, thoughts, and well wishes for the upcoming project.

Press play on the new songs in the videos above.

Mac Miller is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

The strangest summer of our lives is winding down. You almost certainly didn’t take a big vacation this year. Maybe you snuck in a road trip. A day spent at a swimming hole, hiking local trails, or on a quick overnight camping trip is even more likely. Whatever the case, Summer 2020 was jarringly different.

Still, even in these dark and strange times, we have refreshing beers to see us through. Seasonal sippers that are perfect for hot August nights. While we always encourage you to support your local breweries during COVID, we know you want to give nearby bottle shops some love, too. That’s why we asked some of our favorite bartenders to tell us the refreshing beers they’ll be drinking to close out summer 2020.

Creature Comforts Bibo

Bill Myers, bartender at Kimpton Brice Hotel in Savannah, Georgia

Creature Comforts out of Athens, Georgia makes some great lagers like the Classic City Lager and Bibo. I was first drawn towards this brand because of their Tropicalia IPA, but soon realized that their lighter styles are just as good as their nationally acclaimed IPA.

Bad Dad I’ll Turn This Car Around

Payden Jones, bartender at Grains & Grill in Fairmount, Indiana

One of our favorite hazy, summer beers is Bad Dad Brewing Co.’s New England IPA, I’ll Turn This Car Around. It’s smooth, with no bitterness. Unlike the family road trip.

Monopolio Lager Clara

Sondre Kasin, principal bartender at Cote in New York City

Monopolio Lager Clara is an excellent lager for the summer. This Mexican beer is light, fresh, crisp, and still has a lot of flavor.

Perfect for barbecue, Mexican food, and while sitting outside in the sun.

Kona Longboard Island Lager

Eva Al-Gharaballi, bartender at Datz Restaurant Group in Tampa, Florida

Summer is perfect for light lagers. Kona Longboard Island Lager is my favorite lager from one of my all-time favorite breweries. Hydrating with a smooth aged flavor.

Schofferhofer

Melissa Reigle, beverage manager and head bartender at Byblos in Miami

Summer is citrus. Schofferhofer has a fantastic grapefruit hefeweizen that’s perfect for summer drinking or try your local brewery. If you’re looking for something else, Miami’s MIA Brewery offers Miami Weiss, a lightly yeasted, flavorful summer Weiss. Or just add a little sprite to your Lowenbrau and enjoy a radler.

Brooklyn Summer Ale

Hayden Miller, head bartender at Bodega Taqueria y Tequila in Miami

Brooklyn Summer Ale. Round, slightly malty, and extremely drinkable. This beer is refreshing and light enough for those hot sunny days — aptly deemed a ‘sunny pale ale’.

Three Weavers Cloud City

Steve Livigni, food and beverage partner at Hotel June in Los Angeles

I’m really loving Cloud City Hazy IPA from Three Weavers. It’s just light, easy, and delicious with tons of great citrus notes. It’s great with food, too.

Sixpoint Jammer

Nazar Hrab, beverage director at The Pineapple Club in w York City

There are so many different opinions and so many craft beers, it’s hard to pick just one. As long as you know which style you’re in the mood for and as long as it’s crisp and cold, you really can’t go wrong. For this, I’ll go with Sixpoint Jammer. It’s refreshing, tangy, and highly crushable.

Writer’s Picks:

Rogue Newport Daze

Potentially the best beer to drink near a body of water on a hot day, Rogue Newport Daze is a refreshing hazy pale ale with hints of juicy tropical fruits that’s well suited for sitting in a gravity chair and not worrying about what time it is.

Springdale Pearly White Ale

Summer was made for hazy wheat beers like Springdale Pearly Wit. This 4.5 percent ABV country-style wheat is full of flavors like coriander and orange zest. It’s refreshing, subtly tart, and pairs well with tank tops and flip flops.

The Clippers went into their Wednesday night showdown with the Nuggets with a chance to secure the No. 2 seed in the West, and they did just that with a 124-111 victory, setting them on a collision course with the Dallas Mavericks in the opening round of the playoffs starting next week.

They did it behind big games from their two main stars, with Kawhi Leonard and Paul George finishing with 26 points and 27 points respectively, leading all scorers on the night despite some spotty shooing stretches from each of them.

Nikola Jokic was his usual MVP-level self in the loss, finishing with 17 points, 13 assists, and seven rebounds on the night, but it was Jerami Grant who led the way for Denver with a 25-point outburst on 9-of-14 shooting, including 4-of-7 from three-point territory.

As if we needed reminding, Jokic showed again in the first half why he’s one of the best passing big men in the game today with this full-court bomb to Michael Porter Jr. for the layup. It was one of six assists for Joker in the first half, to go along with 15 points, as he led Denver to a 58-50 lead at the break.

Presenting the best assist of the night: pic.twitter.com/GGVt5mXonD

— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) August 13, 2020

Bol Bol continued his solid play in the first half, putting up seven points on 3-of-4 shooting and throwing down a highlight-reel dunk on the break.

Bol Bol goes coast-to-coast with the steal and the dunk pic.twitter.com/08OveDbLSL

— ESPN (@espn) August 13, 2020

Kawhi had 14 points in the first half and came out firing in the third quarter, and the Clippers were able to close the gap and take a 70-63 lead, thanks to a 13-0 run midway through the period.

Soaring and finishing with the southpaw.@FoxSportsWest | @kawhileonard pic.twitter.com/OUZAbkBdWL

— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) August 13, 2020

George had a rough shooting start, going 3-of-13, and 1-of-5 from behind the arc in the first half, but he hit back-to-back threes in the third quarter to help build the Clippers’ lead.

But Grant came up big for the Nuggets during that stretch, scoring 13 points in the quarter, and he capped it off by throwing down a huge jam with the clock winding down to give Denver a 92-90 advantage heading into the final frame.

What a pass from Jokic here. Flips and fires this in right to Grant. pic.twitter.com/u9mc7uH6AT

— Steve Jones Jr. (@stevejones20) August 13, 2020

Just an unacceptable way for the Clippers to close the quarter defensively, allowing Jerami Grant to go coast to coast for the dunk. There was no resistance whatsoever from LA. pic.twitter.com/OKqCZWtorr

— Positive Residual (@presidual) August 13, 2020

Lou Williams was his usual self, dropping 22 points in just over 24 minutes of action off the bench Wednesday as he continues to work his way back into a rhythm.

To his left and to the bottom of the net.

@FoxSportWest | @TeamLou23 pic.twitter.com/pwe50T1Zp2

— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) August 13, 2020

The Clippers took their largest lead of the game midway through the fourth quarter, 108-99, thanks in part to George, who came alive after a slow start, scoring 19 points in the second half, including several big shots down the stretch to keep the game out of reach.

Down the lane and down the hatch.@FoxSportsWest | @Yg_Trece pic.twitter.com/j4LhrV4DO7

— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) August 13, 2020

Six straight games with 20+ points.@Yg_Trece posts the longest streak of his career. pic.twitter.com/LV5qGJqbCu

— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) August 13, 2020

For Denver, the loss locks them into a first round matchup with 6-seeded Utah (after OKC locked down the 5-seed with a win over Miami) that figures to be very interesting, as neither team is currently at full strength and will have to continue adapting to new rotations in the playoffs. The full Western Conference playoff bracket is now set aside from the wild chase for the play-in series and a date with the Lakers.

1. Los Angeles Lakers v. 8. Blazers/Grizzlies/Suns/Spurs
4. Houston Rockets v. 5. Oklahoma City Thunder

2. Los Angeles Clippers v. 7. Dallas Mavericks
3. Denver Nuggets v. 6. Utah Jazz

The Heat and Thunder met on Wednesday night in a battle between mid-seeds in the East and West, with Oklahoma City able to sew up the 5-seed out West with a win and secure a matchup with the Houston Rockets in the first round.

Miami, which is locked into a matchup already with Indiana after the Pacers win earlier in the day, came out as aggressive as ever, and the game lived up its billing as a showdown between two of the league’s most pleasant surprises this season — and edgiest squads. That edge for both comes from their star players and leaders in Chris Paul and Jimmy Butler, and unsurprisingly, those two had a bit of a spat late in the second quarter.

Paul stripped Duncan Robinson in the corner and then had plenty to say to the young sharpshooter, and then after stealing the inbounds pass from Butler to Robinson, pelted Robinson in the back with the ball to avoid being trapped in the corner and give OKC possession.

It is an incredibly Chris Paul sequence, and on the next trip down the floor, Butler made sure to send Paul a message on behalf of his teammate, dipping his shoulder into Paul’s chest and knocking him to the floor.

After the game, Butler was asked about the brief back-and-forth and made it clear that he won’t tolerate anyone, even a friend like CP3, going after his young teammates.

We likely won’t to see any further payoff of a Butler-CP3 pester-off in the bubble, but it’s clear that both stars are looking to set a tone for their teams going into the playoffs. Paul, in a game that was meaningful but not absolutely critical for OKC, was continuing to give it all on the defensive end and do anything he could to win his team extra possessions, while Butler sticks up for his guys and only continues to assert himself as a leader on the Heat who will do what’s necessary for his teammates.