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It was a disastrous start for the Miami Heat in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, and the prognosis didn’t look much better heading into Game 2. Even before they were hobbled by injuries to several key players in their opener, the Lakers had dominated them on both ends of the court, leading by as many as 32 at one point en route to an easy win and a 1-0 series lead.

Goran Dragic and Bam Adebayo were both sidelined for Game 2, compounding an already difficult situation for the Heat, who had no answer for the dominant play of LeBron James and Anthony Davis, the latter of whom had one of the best Finals debuts in NBA history.

Despite a valiant effort from Jimmy Butler and company, it was more of the same in Game 2, as the Lakers held on for a 124-114 win behind another monster outing from their superstar duo, giving LeBron his first-ever 2-0 lead in an NBA Finals series. Here’s what we learned from Friday night’s action.

The Lakers’ Jekyll And Hyde Offense Continues

The Lakers were able to race out to such big lead in Game 1 in no small part thanks to their lights-out shooting from deep. That high-volume output was mostly a product of the Heat’s zone defense, which clearly wasn’t banking on the Lakers being able to knock down 11 first-half three-pointers, building a lead from which the Heat were never able to recover.

Rather than making too a drastic an adjustment in Game 2, Erik Spoelstra decided to make the Lakers prove they could replicate that success, and the result was a Finals record 47 three-point attempts for Los Angeles. Though they came back down to Earth a bit, starting 0-of-5 from downtown, the Lakers managed to make them in bunches, withstanding a third-quarter drought that nearly allowed the Heat back in it.

Yet despite opting to shoot over the zone at such a high clip, the Lakers were also able to exploit holes in the Heat defense by maneuvering their way into the paint and creating opportunities from there, as L.A. went for 30 points in the paint in the first half. That was mostly courtesy of LeBron and Rajon Rondo, who combined for 19 assists in the game. LeBron just missed a triple-double as he put up 33 points and nine rebounds, to go along with nine dimes.

Mid-air dish from the King.
Big slam from the Brow.

(: ABC) pic.twitter.com/P4KTtG4xrv

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) October 3, 2020

Man on a mission

(: ABC) pic.twitter.com/xIyCLFiFfn

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) October 3, 2020

Rondo stays a few steps ahead

(: ABC) pic.twitter.com/y3JhsLpVfa

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) October 3, 2020

The Lakers offense, however, stalled out at points in the second half, missing several consecutive shots from downtown in third period, allowing the Heat to hang around until they finally rediscovered their stroke again down the stretch and put Miami away for good. Ultimately, they were able prop up their offense and counter that streaky high-volume shooting by mixing it up with a healthy dose of inside-out action to pick apart the Heat zone.

Anthony Davis Is On A Mission

The Heat simply have no answer for Anthony Davis. Not that there is an answer to begin with. Davis started the game 10-of-11 from the field and scored nine straight points to start the second half as the Lakers built a 17-point lead. He showed the full arsenal — against multiple defenders no less — putting the ball on the floor and finishing at the rim and simply shooting over smaller defenders on the perimeter. He also hit the boards for six (!) offensive rebounds that turned into easy second-chance points, six of which came on consecutive possessions during one sequence in the third quarter.

FINALS AD

(: ABC) pic.twitter.com/JBDL9NVDZf

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) October 3, 2020

The Lakers had a total of 21 second-chance points on Friday, thanks to 16 offensive rebounds on the night.

The Overshadowed Heat Offense Kept Them Alive

Despite starting the game 3-of-12 from three-point territory, scoring didn’t end up being the central problem for Miami on Friday night in Game 2. By the final buzzer, they’d shot better than 50 percent from the field and over 40 percent from downtown, with five players scoring in double figures.

The Heat needed Jimmy Butler to come up big with both Dragic and Adebayo out, and he did just that, leading the way with 25 points, 13 assists, and eight rebounds, but no amount of offense was going to be able to offset their woes on defense in Game 2 as the Lakers ran roughshod over them all night.

Heat are working on an Offensive Rating of 125.4. Very few issues on that end of the floor, where they have 21 assists on 25 buckets. They just happen to be giving up an Offensive Rating of 146.0.

— Couper Moorhead (@CoupNBA) October 3, 2020

Kelly Olynyk was a breath of fresh air off the bench for Miami, particularly in third period, scoring 16 points on 6-of-9, including 3-of-6 from downtown. He finished with 24 points and nine rebounds.

KELLZ IS COOKING pic.twitter.com/aLVzTiPzGy

— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) October 3, 2020

Battling pic.twitter.com/pMIKNjgQms

— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) October 3, 2020

As a team, they shot 12-of-14 from the field and 4-of-5 from downtown in the third quarter and made all 11 free throws. Combined with a Lakers dry spell, they trailed by just 10 going into the fourth quarter.

Miami got to the free throw line 34 times in this one, converting 29 in a row at one point. They were also able to goad the Lakers into foul trouble in the fourth, with Los Angeles picking up their fifth team foul by the midway mark of the final period and finding themselves in the penalty.

But their inability to withstand the Lakers’ offensive onslaught will continue to be their biggest problem as the series moves forward, even if they are able to get Dragic and Adebayo back in time for Game 3 on Sunday, where they will try to avoid a historically-insurmountable 3-0 series deficit. Tip-off is at 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC.

Shortly after Rilo Kiley announced a reissue of their seminal 1999 debut album, several indie artists who attribute their career to the group decided to pay homage to the iconic band. Musicians like Sad13‘s Sadie Dupuis, Adult Mom, Mannequin Pussy, and more announced a benefit compilation project covering Rilo Kiley’s The Execution Of All Things album.

Announcing No Bad Words For The Coast Today: The Execution Of All Things Covers Comp on Friday, Dupuis shared the album’s lead single, which is her fuzzy reimagining of Rilo Kiley’s track “Paint’s Peeling.” In a statement alongside the single, Dupuis discussed how Rilo Kiley has influenced her own music:

“I bought the Execution of All Things over Saddle Creek’s mail order, and remember listening over and over again to ‘Paint’s Peeling’ on my tiny bedroom CD player, blown away by the song’s final explosion into all-consuming distortion. Years later, when Speedy Ortiz was mixing Twerp Verse with Mike Mogis in Omaha, I was very amused to see a trophy the band had made for him in the studio, awarding him ‘For Outstanding Achievements as a True Devastator of the Recording Arts.’ I wanted to pay homage to that ‘devastato’ heaviness by slowing the song down and, for the most part, putting it in a waltz time–almost like Sleep covering Rilo Kiley. But I couldn’t help myself from incorporating some of the poppier Mogis production trademarks, like Casio-ish beats and cavernous backing vocals. As a teen, RK was one of my biggest songwriting influences, and Jenny Lewis (who Speedy has been lucky enough to open for/go out dancing with) continues to inspire me with each of her projects, so it was a treat to return to the record that first drew me into their world.”

Along with praising Rilo Kiley’s influence, the album will also benefit a charity organization. Proceeds from the project will be donated to G.L.I.T.S., a NYC-based social justice, advocacy, and service organization that addresses the health and rights of transgender sex workers.

Listen to Sad13 cover Rilo Kiley’s “Paint’s Peeling” above and see the No Bad Words For The Coast Today: The Execution Of All Things Covers Comp cover art and tracklist below.

1. “The Good That Won’t Come Out” by Gladie
2. “Paint’s Peeling” by Sad13
3. “The Execution of All Things” by Mannequin Pussy
4. “So Long” by Eric Slick
5. “Capturing Moods” by Diet Cig
6. “A Better Son/Daughter” by Verdigrls
7. “Hail to Whatever You Found In The Sunlight That Surrounds You” by Sailor Boyfriend
8. “My Slumbering Heart” by Dump Him
9. “Three Hopeful Thoughts” by Gay Meat
10. “With Arms Outstretched” by Adult Mom
11. “Spectacular Views” by Lisa Prank
12. “Emotional” by Riverby
13. “Jenny You’re Barely Alive” by Aftercrush
14. “Glendora” by Anika Pyle

No Bad Words For The Coast Today: The Execution Of All Things Covers Comp is out 11/6 via Bandcamp. Pre-order it here.

Japanese quartet Chai have already garnered quite the following. Their sophomore album Punk soared to success in the US and afforded the group the opportunity to play festivals like last year’s Pitchfork. Now, Chai announce an exciting record deal with infamous indie label Sub Pop and share their whimsical “Donuts Mind If I Do” video.

The “Donuts Mind If I Do” video, directed by Hideto Hotta, show the women dining together against stunningly-scenic backdrops. The four women relax and enjoy donuts, proving their friendship will span generations as the visual cuts to show Chai as aging adults.

In a statement, director Hotta explained the concept behind the visual:

“In order for various concepts of society, societal structures to have been built up and exist today, there had to be changes to those concepts, to those structures in every era to continue to lead to the next society…with that said, in this music video we explore the Chai you know today, and then Chai as elderly women. On an all-white table cloth, eating donuts, sits Chai. They can even sip on the tea in the teapot if they’d like! Ultimately time passes, and the elderly Chai is still there, enjoying their last supper in the middle of the meadow, white-table cloth and all eating their donuts. Chai changes physically, but one thing that does stand still is them living in their truth. If finding true happiness is one of the goals the human race is constantly in search of, then conveying this in this visual, spreading what happiness means to Chai, to me, is something I feel is important in us living in our truths.”

Watch Chai’s “Donuts Mind If I Do” video above.

From the moment that the Los Angeles Lakers acquire Anthony Davis from the New Orleans Pelicans, much was made about how he would fit next to LeBron James. In many ways, Davis fits like a glove next to James, to the point that it was very fair from the jump to wonder if The Brow was a better Robin to James’ Batman than anyone with whom he’s ever played.

James has had many great teammates in his career — Chris Bosh, Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love, etc. — and during Game 2 of the 2020 NBA Finals, the best of the bunch chimed in on Davis’ partnership with him. Dwyane Wade agreed with a tweet sent out by Kendrick Perkins in which Perk called Davis the guy who “compliments LeBron better than any other player he’s ever played with.”

Of course, that is a much different conversation than “who is the best player to ever play next to LeBron,” and one can make a very strong case that distinction goes to Wade. But when it comes to how an individual’s skill set fits next to James, the stuff that Davis can do on both ends of the floor really do fit next to him perfectly. And fortunately for the Lakers, this partnership was a fruitful one during Game 2 of the 2020 NBA Finals — Wade sent this tweet in the game’s third quarter, right after Davis scored his 24th point of the evening on 11-for-12 shooting and as the Lakers led by double-digits.

Tayla Parx is less than two months away from releasing her sophomore record, but that isn’t stopping the singer from first sharing a standalone project. She’s now taking a break from her album rollout, which has graced us with tracks like “Dance Alone.” Instead, Parx shares the soulful EP A Blue State, featuring covers of songs by some iconic R&B stars.

To offer fans some uplifting music, Parx elected to reimagine the classic tracks “What’s Going On” by Marvin Gaye, “Everything Is Everything” by Lauryn Hill, and “I Smile” by Kirk Franklin. Parx drenches her soaring vocals in shimmering synths and snapping backbeats on each track, delicately adding her personal touch to the covers.

In a statement about her A Blue State EP, Parx said: “Before my album, I wanted to surprise you guys with a collection of songs that I’ve not only cried to but been inspired by. They’ve brought me an abundance of light in such a dark time. I hope to bring that same light to the people I care most about, my Taylatots. This one’s for you.”

Listen to her “What’s Going On” Marvin Gaye cover above.

A Blue State is out now via Tayla Made/Atlantic. Get it here.

Tayla Parx is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Since his early release from prison back in April, Tekashi 69’s moves have been highly-publicized. Staying true to his word, the rapper released his record TattleTales in early September, but that’s not all that has put the rapper in the headlines. Yesterday, reports circulated that Tekashi was rushed to the hospital after he overdosed from ingesting a mixture of caffeine and diet pills, but now the rapper’s lawyers have come forward to dispel the rumors.

While it’s true the rapper was taken to the hospital, Tekashi’s lawyer Lance Lazarro told Vulture that the rapper’s medical complications were not, in fact, due to a mixture of caffeine and diet pills. “He did not overdose,” Lazarro said. “He was treated and released on the same day.”

Original reports surfaced from the social media account The Shade Room, which claimed the rapper had been hospitalized in Florida due to a dangerous mixture of caffeine and Hydroxycut, a popular diet drug. The outlet claimed they had spoken the the rapper directly, who said he was back at home and feeling better than ever — he had even gone for his daily jog. The outlet stated the rapper had taken two Hydroxycut pills, instead of the recommended one per day, and felt his heart rate increase a concerning amount after drinking a McDonald’s coffee.

While Lazarro did not state why Tekashi was taken to the hospital, it seems as though his health was not seriously compromised.

It’s been a strange year for sports, to say the least, and one of the biggest challenges to the return has been scheduling. So, just as the NBA Finals are set to tip off Game 2 between the Lakers and Heat, the WNBA Finals are also underway in Game 1 on Friday night in Florida.

The top two teams in the WNBA during their abbreviated season in the Wubble, the Seattle Storm and the Las Vegas Aces, kicked off their five-game series. It features a host of superstars, one of whom is in the process of winding down her career but is still out to prove she still has plenty left in the tank in pursuit of a title. We’re talking, of course, about Sue Bird, the future Hall of Fame inductee. Bird put her full powers on display on Friday against the Aces, making history by dishing out a Finals single-game assist record. The record fell when she picked up her 12th dime before the fourth quarter even started.

This was not the only record set by Bird for her aptitude as a distributor — she set the Finals record for assists in a half, too.

And when it was all said and done, Bird, who turns 40 a little later this month, finished things up with 16 assists, her career-high for any game and one fewer than the Aces had as a team.

Bird didn’t do a whole lot of scoring on the evening — those duties went to Breanna Stewart (37 points) and Jewell Loyd (28 points) — but the Storm still came out on top. Seattle picked up a 93-80 win to go up in the best-of-5 series, 1-0, over Las Vegas.

Donald Trump’s positive coronavirus test result has sent a shockwave through American politics the country hasn’t seen in decades, drawing comparisons to fictional depictions of the president of the United States because there are few real-life examples of what’s currently happening in Washington.

On Friday evening, word broke that Trump would be helicoptered to Walter Reed Hospital in DC to continue his treatment for COVID-19, of which reports emerged on Friday that he was experiencing symptoms. With few official statements about his status and news he was heading to a hospital, though social media was abuzz about what was happening and the status of the president and the potential fallout in other positive tests from those around him.

We’ve already seen some viral shenanigans involving a misleading Simpsons meme about Trump. And uncertainty breeds rumors and speculation, which perhaps is why Dave started trending on Twitter on Friday night. The 1993 movie, which starred Kevin Kline and Sigourney Weaver, is about some serious presidential shenanigans that some were reminded of when Trump posted a brief video of himself assuring followers he was fine despite going to the hospital.

“I want to thank everybody for the tremendous support. I’m going to Walter Reed Hospital. I think I’m doing very well, but we are going to make sure that things work out,” Trump said in the 18-second video. “The First Lady is doing very well. So thank you very much, I appreciate it. I will never forget it.”

That served as the only update from the White House for several hours on Friday, which caused rampant speculation about what was actually going on and the health of the president. Which is why many who saw Dave started referencing the movie on Twitter.

Some speculation got far more wild than that, but the reason for the Dave references is simple: the movie’s plot revolves around a president who occasionally has a body double, who gets much more involved in things when the actual president has a medical emergency. The actual details of the plot are far more outlandish than what’s actually happening, as we only know that Trump has experienced mild symptoms of COVID-19 thus far. But the word “Dave” quickly trended on social media on Friday night.

Obviously there’s no evidence that Trump has a body double, but the very different demeanor the president had on Friday — and the lack of information the White House shared with the public about his health — inevitably led to people speculating wildly. Considering how tough the news is these days, it might not be a bad idea to lose yourself in an underrated classic this weekend instead of doomscrolling about what’s happening in real life.

It’s been over a year since Maren Morris released her breakout album Girl, and the months following it’s anniversary have not quite been what the singer expected. Rather than continuing a tour, Morris is stuck at home in quarantine with her infant son and witnessing the country rise up in protests against police brutality. Wanting to make her own protest anthem, Morris shares the ballad “Better Than We Found It” alongside a powerful video.

Directed by Gabrielle Woodland, Morris’ “Better Than We Found It” tells the stories of three families with different backgrounds. The video follows a young man who has lived in America under the DREAM Act and now faces deportation, two high school-age girls who organized a massive protest, and the family of a Black man who was shot and killed by police.

Describing the sentiment behind the visual, Morris said:

“I wanted to write something to address exactly how I feel right now, and this came together pretty quickly. It’s a protest song—it’s the most American thing to protest and protest songs have been so embedded in American culture: Bob Dylan, Nina Simone. I think the world right now is sort of in a perpetual mourning period and I wanted to have a song that had weight but also had hope. I still have hope for this country and for the future of it, and as a new mother I wanted to promise my son that I’m going to do everything in my power to leave this world better than the one I came into and the one I see right now.”

Echoing Morris’ statement, Woodland praised the singer’s poignant letter written to her infant song, which is included at the video’s close:

“I think Maren says it best in her letter to Hayes when she states, ‘Our education must grow along side our empathy.’ In present day America, we’re constantly told what to think about certain people, their lifestyles and situations that might be ‘different’ than the average American experience. For this video, Maren wanted to break down the barriers that separate us and remind everyone that, at the end of the day, we are all the same. We are all human and we need to take a lot more time to listen and understand each other. The political climate we live in right now doesn’t give a lot of room for people to converse, and it’s so easy look at our world in black and white. Maren and I both thought it was important to highlight real stories happening to actual people.”

Watch Morris’ “Better Than We Found It” video above.

When the NBA season restarted in the Bubble, the Sacramento Kings didn’t get off to a great start. Just as they were set to travel to Orlando, the team announced that three players — Buddy Hield, Jabari Parker, Alex Len — and an unidentified member of the traveling party had all tested positive for COVID-19.

Hield had personally drawn criticism after a video emerged of him playing pick-up basketball in a crowded gym in Oklahoma where many people were not wearing protective masks. Regardless, after the mandatory quarantine, he was able to suit up for the Kings, who promptly squandered the slim chance they’d been afforded to quality for the postseason in the eight seeding games.

Hield, who had been benched earlier in the season, showed some frustration toward head coach Luke Walton after a game against the Lakers in August, offering a cryptic response to the question of whether he was happy with his role on the team. Now, it appears that relationship has deteriorated further, with Hield reportedly avoiding phone calls from Walton.

Via Jason Jones of The Athletic:

But for Hield, things have changed. According to league sources, Hield has soured on Walton to the point he will not answer his coach’s phone calls. Messages to Hield’s agent, Brandon Rosenthal, and Walton were not returned.

In February, The Athletic reported Hield’s frustrations with Walton and how his benching was handled could lead to Hield wanting to be traded after the 2019-20 season.

Hield is doing his part on social media to stir up rumors about a trade by liking an Instagram post linking him to being traded to Philadelphia and liking a news alert on Twitter about Doc Rivers being hired to coach the 76ers.

Hield signed a four-year extension with the Kings in the fall of 2019 for more than $106 million, while Walton likewise is under contract with Sacramento for the next three years and would be owed his remaining salary if they were to fire him.

Though Hield struggled in Orlando, he’d played well in a reserve role for the Kings prior to the shutdown, shooting better than 45 percent from behind the arc, and would certainly draw some attention from various suitors around the league if Sacramento did indeed decide to go that route.

(The Athletic)