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Knicks Stun Celtics Again with 20-Point Comeback, Go Up 2-0 in the Series

The Knicks once again managed to stun the Celtics with another win in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, erasing a 20-point deficit to secure a 91-90 victory at TD Garden on Wednesday night.

The Celtics controlled the first three quarters of the game. Entering the fourth quarter, Boston enjoyed a 14-point lead. In the first five minutes and thirty seconds of the fourth, both teams were just exchanging baskets until the 8:27 mark, when the Knicks went on a 21-6 run, shocking both the Boston team and the home crowd.

The Knicks’ fourth-quarter charge was led by Jalen Brunson, who scored 17 points, including 7 in the fourth quarter, and had 7 assists. Josh Hart scored a team-high 23 points and grabbed 6 rebounds. Karl-Anthony Towns had another all-around game with 21 points and 17 rebounds. Mikal Bridges made an impact on both sides of the floor, scoring 14 points and dishing out 5 assists. On the defensive end, he grabbed 7 rebounds and 3 steals, including a crucial steal from Jayson Tatum that sealed the game for the Knicks.

As good as the Celtics were from the three-point line in the first round, Boston went cold from beyond the arc, making only 10 of their 40 three-point attempts. They only made 2 three-pointers in the fourth quarter and scored just 4 points in the last 5:05 of the game, while the Knicks scored 10 points in the same period. Overall, the Knicks limited the Celtics to just 17 points while scoring 30 points in the final period.

Boston’s leading scorers in the game were Jaylen Brown and Derrick White, each scoring 20 points. Meanwhile, Jayson Tatum only managed to score 13 points, with his last 4 points being the final ones for Boston.

Here’s the final 6:35 of Game 2 of the 2025 NBA Playoffs Eastern Conference Semifinals.

The series (Games 3 and 4) will now switch to MSG, with the New York Knicks holding a 2-0 lead.

Warriors steals Game 1 from Timberwolves while on the road (99 – 88)

The Golden State Warriors drew first blood in their playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, securing a hard-fought 99-88 victory on the Timberwolves’ home court in Game 1. However, the victory was overshadowed by an injury to their superstar guard, Stephen Curry.  

Curry went down with a left hamstring strain early in the second quarter and did not return to the game. Before his exit, Curry had scored 13 points in 13 minutes, looking sharp and setting the tone for the Warriors’ offense. The incident occurred after he hit a floater, following which he was seen grabbing at the back of his left leg. He immediately signaled to the bench and headed to the locker room.  

Despite losing their “best player”, the Warriors rallied and displayed their championship pedigree. After a close game in the 1st quarter, they managed build a 13 points lead to end the first half. Thanks to the hot shooting of Draymond Green, Buddy Hield and hustle plays of Jimmy Butler, the Warriors are able to create a 20-point separation to end the 3rd qtr.

Draymond Green had a strong all-around game with 18 points (including four three-pointers), 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals. Buddy Hield led the Warriors in scoring with 24 points and also pulled down 8 rebounds. Jimmy Butler was close to a triple-double, finishing with 20 points, 11 rebounds, 8 assists, and 2 steals.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr provided an update after the game, stating that Curry is considered day-to-day with the hamstring strain and will undergo an MRI on Wednesday to determine the severity of the injury. However, Kerr also indicated that the team is “definitely game-planning for him to not be available on Thursday” for Game 2, acknowledging that it’s “hard to imagine that he would play Thursday” with a hamstring issue.  

The Warriors’ ability to secure this road win despite Curry’s injury provides them with a significant advantage as the series progresses. It buys them some time and reduces the pressure to rush Curry back onto the court before he is fully healthy. However, the extent of Curry’s injury and the potential duration of his absence will be a major topic as the Western Conference semifinals continue.  

For the Timberwolves, dropping Game 1 at home while the Warriors missing the services of Curry is a missed opportunity. It will be a hard Game 2, even though there’s a chance that Curry will be sidelined for a game or two.

Timberwolves will need to make significant adjustments and find ways to generate more consistent offense, especially after a slow start where they missed all 15 of their first-half three-point attempts. Anthony Edwards, though late in the game, eventually found his rhythm in the second half, finishing with 23 points, but the team’s shooting slumped cost them the game.

Naz Reid had 19 points and Julius Randle added 16 points for the Wolves, who finished 5 for 29 from behind the arc and trailed by 23 points late in the third. While Rudy Gobert, the hero of Game 4 against the Lakers, just scored 9 points and 11 rebounds.

Game 2 is scheduled for Thursday in Minnesota, and all eyes will be on the Warriors as fans awaits the update regarding Stephen Curry’s status and how both teams adapt their strategies accordingly.

Dominique Malonga Dunks in her first practice with the Storm

She will be a problem once she gets her wheels rolling in the league.

Even before she was drafted by the Storm, Dominique Malonga have been known to be a game dunker in the Euro League and even at a young age. Here are some of her videp dunking in game and during practice.

Dominique Malonga is French professional basketball player born on November 16, 2005. She plays as a center and is 1.98 meters (6’6″) tall. She was drafted second overall by the Seattle Storm in the 2025 WNBA draft. She is a member of Lyon ASVEL Féminin in the French Ligue Féminine de Basketball (LFB) and the youngest member of the French national team at the 2024 Summer Olympics, where she won a silver medal.

Netflix Philippines is increasing price with the new 12% Digital VAT

Netflix Philippines has informed its subscribers that the streaming giant will increase its prices to accommodate the 12% value-added tax (VAT) on digital services provided by foreign companies.

In the email that Netflix Philippines sent to its subscribers, it stated: “As required by Republic Act No. 12023, which imposes a 12% Value-Added Tax (VAT) on digital services, Netflix will raise its subscription costs in the Philippines as of June 1, 2025.

The new monthly prices are as follows:

  • Monthly Mobile Plan: ₱169 (previously ₱149)
  • Monthly Basic Plan: ₱279 (previously ₱249)
  • Monthly Standard Plan: ₱449 (previously ₱399)
  • Monthly Premium Plan: ₱619 (previously ₱549)
  • The extra member slot fee for Standard and Premium plans will also go up, from ₱149 to ₱169 per month

Netflix currently has more than 2.7 million subscribers in the Philippines, and the additional 12% VAT is projected to give the government over ₱924 million in tax revenue from Netflix alone. Republic Act 112023 was signed into law late last year.

Marvel reveals the real meaning of that asterisk (*) in the Thunderbolts* title

Marvel Studios just released a new movie poster (video above) of Thunderbolts* and at the same time revealing the meaning of that asterisks (), in the new poster the new title of the movie is called “The New Avengers” which also includes an asterisks (*). The new title will not be a surprise to those who already watched the film in its first weekend, since it was reveal in the film.

The film is directed by Jake Schreier with a screenplay by Eric Pearson and Joanna Calo, Thunderbolts – The New Avengers stars Florence Pugh (Yelena Belova), Sebastian Stan (Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier), Wyatt Russell (John Walker / U.S. Agent), Olga Kurylenko (Antonia Dreykov / Taskmaster), Lewis Pullman (Bob Reynolds / Sentry / Void), Geraldine Viswanathan (Mel), David Harbour (Alexei Shostakov / Red Guardian), Hannah John-Kamen (Ava Starr / Ghost), and Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, all reprising their roles from previous Marvel series and films.

Thunderbolts – The New Avengers, is currently in theaters.

Government declared May 12th as a Special Non-working Holiday via Proclamation No. 878

Malacañang has declared May 12th as a nation wide special non-working holiday, this is to allow Filipinos to vote for both local and national elections. Proclamation No. 878 was signed by the President early this month.

This election will be a pivotal for the country, since a lot of things depends on this coming election, specially in the Senate and Congress.

You can read the entirety of Proclamation No. 878 here.

Indiana Fever dominates Brazil National Team (108 – 44)

The Indiana Fever move to 2-0 in preseason play with a 108-44 win over the Brazil National Team!

Kelsey Mitchell dropped 17 PTS, 3 STL and Caitlin Clark notched 16 PTS, 6 REB, 5 AST.

I mean, there’s no way the Brazil National Team will win this game, it was a matter of how many points Indiana Fever will score and how many 3-points and assists will Caitlin Clark will make. This is just the preseason but the atmosphere in the Carver-Hawkeye Arena was electric.

Indiana Fever will play one more preseason game against the Atlanta Dream this Saturday evening at the Gateway Center. WNBA regular season will start this May 16th and the Fever’s first game will be against the Chicago Sky at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on the 17th of May.

Gregg Popovich steps down as San Antonio Spurs Head Coach

San Antonio Spurs just announced that Gregg Popovich will be stepping down as the head coach for the team and will transition to team president. The announcement ends Popovich’s three-decade run with the Spurs that “saw him lead the team to five NBA championships, become the league’s all-time wins leader and earn induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame.”

According to the NBA official website:

Popovich’s career ends with a record of 1,422-869, which does include the 77 games — 32 wins and 45 losses — that were coached by Johnson this season. He also won 170 playoff games with the Spurs, the most by any coach with any one team and the third-most overall behind only Phil Jackson’s 229 and Pat Riley’s 171.

“The best there ever was,” Spurs great Manu Ginobili said last year of Popovich.

Popovich was a three-time NBA Coach of the Year, led the U.S. to a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics and coached six Hall of Famers in San Antonio — Ginobili, David Robinson, Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Dominique Wilkins and Pau Gasol. He went up against 170 different coaches during his time in the NBA and there have been 303 coaching changes made in the league, including interim moves, during the Popovich era.

Popovich, 76, missed all but five games this season after suffering a stroke at the team’s arena on November 2nd. He hasn’t been seen publicly since, although he expressed hope of returning to coaching before the season’s end

Mitch Johnson will now be the Spurs Head Coach permanently, as he was the acting head coach of the team during Gregg Popovich’s absence.

Denver Nuggets routs LA Clippers to advance to the semis of the 2025 NBA Playoffs (120 – 101)

Just barely a month after firing their head coach, Mike Malone and “essentially” letting go of their GM, Calvin Booth, the Denver Nuggets are advancing to the semis of the 2025 NBA Playoffs (120 – 101) and will face the OKC Thunders, who swept their series against the Memphis Grizzlies.

Nuggets defeated a healthy Clippers that includes a resurging Kawhi Leonard, a conditioned James Harden and improved Ivica Zubac. In their last outing, Leonard scored a team high 22 points and 5 rebounds, Harden only scored 7 points with 5 rebounds and 13 assists, but both player did not impact the game as people are expecting from the two superstars.

It was a close game until the last 3 minutes, where the Nuggets was able to build an 11-point lead to end the first half (47 – 58). In the 3rd, the Nuggets went on a 17 to nothing run, to create a 25 point lead with 7:30 still remaining in the quarter and basically ran away with the game.

Aaron Gordon lead Denver with 22 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists, followed by Christian Braun, who added 22 points with 4 rebounds and 5 assists. Aside from his production, Braun also provided the much needed defence against Harden. Denver’s best player Nikola Jokic was flirting with a triple-double game with his scored 16 points, 10 rebounds and 8 assists, and basically sat-put the whole 4th quarter.

In the post game interview, “In playoffs we know that everybody needs to step up, offensively, defensively, whatever, energy-wise. And everybody who plays needs to contribute something,” Jokic giving Braun his flowers, “It was special today the guys did that.”

Denver will be facing a well rested OKC Thunder, this Tuesday, May 6th at the Paycom Center, OKC.

2 Dead and several injuries as SUV crash at NAIA Terminal 1

An SUV crashed into the entrance of NAIA Terminal 1 Departure area on Sunday morning May 4th. According to the police, two died and three injured because of the incident.

You can watch CCTV footage of the incident as posted by @ABC-CBN News.

In a follow-up report, LTO ordered the 90-day suspension of the license of the driver involved in the NAIA Terminal 1 accident and NAIA Infra Corp. will “provide immediate aid to the victims of the car crash.”

Not a good way to start the week! 🙁

Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark is Questionable for her Preseason game against the Mystics

Indiana just announced (tweet above) that Fever superstar Caitlin Clark is questionable in their first season game against the Washington Mystics. The team said that this is due to a left leg injury.

It’s unclear if Clark will totally miss the game or will play on a limited capacity but one thing is for sure, a lot of Fever, particularly, CC fans are not happy to hear the news.

Here are few of the comments from CC/Indiana fans.

Checkout the specs of the new Isuzu D-Max EV

After officially announcing the production of the new Isuzu D-Max EV, Japan-based Isuzu officially unveil the specs of their latest EV pickup the new Isuzu D-Max EV. The first D-MAX EV, which was exhibited to the public as a prototype at the 45th Bangkok International Motor Show in Thailand in March 2024, is now in production.

Production of the D-MAX EV is scheduled to begin at the end of this year, with sales expected to start in 2026 in the UK and will be rolled out to other countries and areas based on market needs.

In a nutshell, the new Isuzu D-Max EV is an all-electric pickup truck featuring a 4×4 drivetrain. Its dual electric motors deliver a peak output of 140 kW, providing a claimed driving range of 263 km based on WLTP standards on a single charge. Notably, it retains a substantial 3.5-tonne towing capacity, demonstrating that this European-first production electric pickup offers significant commercial capability without sacrificing performance. The pricing details for this EV pickup are yet to be announced.

Below is the specs of the new Isuzu D-Max EV Pickup;

Powertrain:

  • Dual electric motors, one on each axle, providing full-time 4WD.
  • Total power output of 140 kW (190 hp).
  • Maximum combined torque of 325 Nm (108 Nm front, 217 Nm rear).
  • Rough Terrain Mode for enhanced off-road capability.

Battery and Range:

  • 66.9 kWh lithium-ion battery pack.
  • WLTP combined driving range of 263 km (approximately 163 miles).
  • WLTP city driving range of up to 361 km (approximately 224 miles).
  • Energy consumption (WLTP): 255 Wh/km.

Performance:

  • 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) acceleration in 10.1 seconds.
  • Top speed exceeding 130 km/h (over 80 mph).

Charging:

  • AC charging: Up to 11 kW, achieving a full charge (0-100%) in approximately 10 hours.
  • DC fast charging: Up to 50 kW, allowing a 20-80% charge in about 1 hour.

Dimensions and Weight:

  • Length: 5,280 mm.
  • Width: 1,870 mm.
  • Height (including roof rails): 1,810 mm.
  • Wheelbase: 3,125 mm.
  • Ground clearance: 210 mm.
  • Wading depth: Up to 600 mm.
  • Kerb weight: 2,350 kg.

Load Capacity:

  • Maximum payload: 1,010 kg (over 1 tonne).
  • Maximum towing capacity: 3,500 kg.

Suspension:

  • Front: Independent double wishbone.
  • Rear: Newly developed De-Dion suspension, replacing traditional leaf springs for improved handling and reduced noise and vibration.

Off-Road Capabilities:

  • Approach angle: 30.5 degrees.
  • Departure angle: 24.2 degrees.
  • Minimum turning radius: 6.1 m.


Key Features:

  • Updated 9.0-inch infotainment touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
  • New 7.0-inch digital driver’s display.
  • Eight-speaker audio system.
  • Dual-zone climate control.
  • Heated front seats.
  • Keyless entry and start.
  • Full suite of Advanced Driver Assist Systems (ADAS) including autonomous emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, lane-keeping assistance, traffic sign recognition, and trailer sway control.

Availability:

  • Left-hand drive production has commenced, with shipments to Europe expected in Q3 2025.
  • Right-hand drive production is scheduled for the end of 2025, with the UK market launch anticipated in February 2026.
  • Pricing is yet to be confirmed but is expected to be higher than the diesel models.

This article was originally published on allthingsev.net as Checkout the specs of the new Isuzu D-Max EV.

DMW and NBI Shutdown Church Operating as Illegal Recruitment Front

Following President Marcos Jr.’s order to safeguard overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from illegal recruitment, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) conducted an entrapment operation on April 28, 2025, leading to the closure of a church in Baras, Rizal.

Migrant Workers Secretary Cacdac directed the shutdown of Faithful Promise Foundation Philippines Inc., also known as Faithful Promise of Jesus Christ the Greatest Master Phil. Inc. and Faithful Promise Church in the Philippines, located in Santo Niño Compound, Sitio Paenaan, Baras, Rizal. The church was found to be illegally recruiting individuals for jobs in Japan, Korea, and Papua New Guinea.

Undersecretary Olalia explained that the operation followed surveillance and the arrest of Pastora Esclarmonde Estrada Basalio, who was recruiting without DMW authorization. He stated that initial victims were fellow parishioners who reported the illegal activities, which were subsequently validated. Olalia noted instances of offloaded workers, ongoing illegal fee collection, and the recruitment of both departed and prospective OFWs. He emphasized that undocumented or improperly documented departures put lives at risk, underscoring the DMW’s concern for the well-being of OFWs and their families.

NBI Cavite North District Office Chief Nuqui revealed that the recruiter charged victims Php50,000 for processing and documents under the pretense of community work. He also reported receiving information about victims who arrived in other countries without the promised jobs.

Assistant Secretary Alcantara indicated that most victims were destined for construction and basic elementary occupations in Japan. The recruiter allegedly promised various jobs, including factory workers, tea pickers, clerks, accountants, mechanical engineers, and construction workers in Japan, Korea, and Papua New Guinea, with salaries ranging from Php36,000 to Php120,000.

Victims were reportedly issued tourist visas under the guise of missionary work and instructed to misrepresent their purpose to Immigration. Some were prevented from leaving, others were already deployed, and some were awaiting departure.

The closure operation was a joint effort by the DMW’s Migrant Workers Protection Bureau (MWPB) and the NBI. The DMW encourages individuals victimized by this religious group to report their cases to the MWPB via the hotline +63 2 8721-0619, email mwpb@dmw.gov.ph, or Facebook page (@dmwairtip.

Source: @dmw.gov.ph

Watch the official trailer of Now You See Me: Now You Don’t

Officially the 3rd installment of the “Now You See Me” film franchise. It appears that Jesse Eisenberg will be the new leader of the Four Horsemen. Mark Ruffalo (Dylan Rhodes) was the leader in the first two Now You See Me films.

Now You See Me: Now You Don’t is directed by Ruben Fleischer, which features a screenplay penned by Eric Warren Singer, Seth Grahame-Smith, and Michael Lesslie. The film was produced by Bobby Cohen and Alex Kurtzman.

Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Dave Franco, Isla Fisher, and Morgan Freeman will be reprising their roles from previous films, with Justice Smith, Dominic Sessa, Ariana Greenblatt, and Rosamund Pike joining the cast.

Now You See Me: Now You Don’t is slated for a United States release on November 14th, 2025.

San Antonio Spurs’ Stephon Castle named 2025 NBA Rookie of the Year

Castle beat Atlanta’s Zaccharie Risacher and Memphis’s Jaylen Wells by a huge margin.

Stephon Castle is the 4th overall pick of the San Antonio, last year Spur’s Victor Wembanyama took home the ROY award.

Here’s the official announcement by for this year’s Rookie of the Year Award.

You can also read NBA’s official statement here.

Warriors push the Rockets to the brink of elimination in a thrilling Game 4 (109 – 106)

The Chase Center was raucous as the Golden State Warriors narrowly defeated the Houston Rockets 109-106 in a thrilling Game 4 of the NBA playoffs’ opening round, pushing Houston to the brink of elimination.

It was a close game where the biggest lead was just 12 points in the first quarter by the Warriors, but this lead was immediately erased by the Rockets in the second quarter. Houston even managed to build a 7-point lead before the end of the first half.

The Warriors were forced to sit Draymond Green in the first half due to foul trouble, but he was pivotal on the defensive end, including the last play against Sengun with 6 seconds remaining. Green finished with 6 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 assists, but his presence was more impactful than the numbers on the stat sheet suggest.

After a slow start, Steph Curry primarily played as a decoy for the majority of the game and added 17 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists.

Jimmy Butler, back from his hip injury sustained in Game 2, led the Warriors with 27 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists. He scored 14 of his 27 points in the final frame, including the Warriors’ last 7 points.

Brandin Podziemski made a significant contribution for the Warriors, scoring 26 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists. He was also a major presence on the defensive end down the stretch, blocking Fred VanVleet’s floater with 2 minutes remaining that could have given the Rockets the lead.

Houston’s leading scorer was Alperen Sengun with 31 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists. Fred VanVleet followed up his Game 2 performance with 25 points and 6 assists. Jalen Green was a non-factor, continuing a trend from Game 3, with just 8 points, 3 rebounds, and one assist. This is a stark contrast to Game 2, where Green was the Rockets’ leading scorer with 38 points and 6 assists.

The Rockets will look to extend the series as they head back home, while the Warriors will try to close it out on Wednesday, April 30th.

Dallas Wings officially intro Paige Bueckers

It’s official Paige Bueckers is now a Dallas Wings player, this was made official during the Introductory Wings Press Conference that includes the rest of the Wings draftees Aziaha James, Madison Scott, JJ Quinerly, and Aaronette Vonleh.

Paige Bueckers is the 1st overall pick by Dallas in the recent WNBA Draft, while Aziaha James was the 12th pick, JJ Quinerly at 27th and Aaronette Vonleh at 31st.

Paige Bueckers in her Dallas Wings jersey!

WNBA training camp starts this April 27th and regular season begins on May 16th.

CAAP airports to implement higher terminal fees starting April 21st

Here’s some bad news for the frequent flyer, sincce the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), through Memorandum Circular 019-2025, has announced that they will be increasing Passenger Service Charges (PSC) or terminal fees for the first time in about 20 years.

The adjustment will take effect for tickets purchased on or after April 21, 2025. Previous rates will apply for tickets bought before April 21st. CAAP explained that the increased fees will be use to fund necessary upgrades and improve passenger experience at CAAP-managed airports nationwide.

Below are the updated PSC/Terminal fees;

  • ₱900.00 – International Departures from International, Principal Class 1, and Principal Class 2 Airports
  • ₱350.00 – International Airports
  • ₱300.00 – Principal Class 1 Airports
  • ₱200.00 – Principal Class 2 Airports
  • ₱100.00 – Community Airports

CAAP said that the adjustment, driven by inflation and rising costs, will enable them to maintain safety standards and enhance airport facilities, especially in regional areas crucial for tourism and economic growth. Childen under 2 years old, OFW, Transite passenger and those who are denied entry are excempted from paying terminal fees.

Source: @caaphilippines

Pope Francis Dies at 88 years old

Joshua McElwee reporting for Reuters, “He was 88, and had suffered a serious bout of double pneumonia this year, but his death came as a shock after he had been driven around St. Peter’s Square in an open-air popemobile to greet cheering crowds on Easter Sunday.”

To choose for his successor, CNN reports “Cardinals from around the world must gather for the conclave in which Francis’ successor is selected. It typically takes between two and three weeks for a pope to be chosen, though it can stretch slightly beyond that if cardinals struggle to agree on a candidate.”

Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Pope Francis is the successor of Pope Benedict XVI after he resigned on February 28 2013. Bergoglio was elected via papal conclave on 13 March. He chose Francis as his papal name in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi. Pope Francis is “the first pope from the Society of Jesus (the Jesuit Order), the first from the Americas and the Southern Hemisphere, and the first born or raised outside Europe since the 8th-century Syrian pope Gregory III.”

Pope Francis was the 266th Pope of the Catholic Church, according to the official list maintained by the Vatican in the Annuario Pontificio (Pontifical Yearbook).

Indiana Fever exercised the 4th-year option on the rookie scale contract of Aliyah Boston

Indiana Fever writes;

Selected with the No. 1 pick in the 2023 WNBA Draft, Boston has averaged 14.2 points, 8.6 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.2 blocks over her two seasons with the Fever. Unanimously selected as the WNBA Rookie of the Year in 2023, a season in which she became the first rookie to lead the WNBA in field goal percentage (57.8 percent), Boston has also been honored as a WNBA All-Star during both of her two professional seasons.

The move will make sure that Boston will be on the Fever’s roster through the 2026 season. This is also a sign that Indiana plans to retain Boston after her 4th year with the team and is assure of a fully guaranteed money unlike the previous 3 years.

Warriors steal Game 1 in Houston, Curry and Butler Combine for 56 Points (95 – 85)

The Golden State Warriors drew first blood in their Western Conference Playoffs series against the Houston Rockets, securing a hard-fought 95-85 victory in Game 1 at the Toyota Center on Sunday night. Led by stellar performances from Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler III, the seventh-seeded Warriors upset the second-seeded Rockets, seizing crucial home-court advantage in the process.

Curry, who uncharacteristically struggled in a recent regular-season loss to Houston, was back to his dazzling best. He poured in a game-high 31 points on an efficient 12-of-19 shooting, including five three-pointers, while also grabbing six rebounds. Butler, in his playoff debut for the Warriors after a mid-season trade, provided invaluable support with 25 points, seven rebounds, and six assists. Brandin Podziemski made big plays down the line and was the 3rd leading scorer for the Warriors with 14 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals.

The Warriors built a commanding 23-point lead in the third quarter, and appears to be running away with the game. However, the young and resilient Rockets fought their way back, lead by Alperen Sengun, who led Houston with 26 points and nine rebounds. A floater by Amen Thompson cut the Warriors’ lead to a mere three points (76-73) with just 6:33 remaining in the game.

But just when the Toyota Center crowd sensed a potential comeback, Curry responded with a timely three-pointer, to extending the Warriors’ lead back to 82-75. Clutch plays from Curry, Butler and Podziemski in the closing minutes kept the Rockets at bay.

This victory marks the 100th career playoff win for Warriors coach Steve Kerr, who now ties Larry Brown for sixth-most playoff wins in league history.

Game 2 of the best-of-seven series will be this Wednesday night in Houston. The Houston Rockets will try to even the series before going to Golden State, while the Warriors will aim to take a commanding 2-0 lead before going back home.

Marvel release the official trailer of Fantastic Four: First Step

The film is directed by Matt Shakman, Fantastic Four: First Step will star Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards / Mister Fantastic, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm / Invisible Woman, Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm / Human Torch, Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm / The Thing, Ralph Ineson as Galactus and Julia Garner as Shalla-Bal / Silver Surfer.

Fantastic Four: First Step will be the first film, and beginning, of Phase Six of the MCU and is scheduled to be in theaters on July 25th.

Superstar Nora Aunor Passes Away at 71

The cause of her death has yet to be disclosed. She was married to actor Christopher de León from 1975 to 1996 and is survived by their children, Lotlot, Ian, Matet, Kiko, and Kenneth de León.

Mavs routs Kings behind hot shooting from Klay Thompson (120 – 106)

Kings are the favorite to win this contest but 4-time champs Klay Thompson had other things in mind, as he helped the Mavs advance to the play-in tournament earning a shot at the 8th spot of the West Playoffs. They will face Memphis Grizzlies Friday night.

It was a hot shooting night for Thompson, shooting 8-of-11 from the field, making 5 three-points in seven shots. Klay Thompson scored 23 points and 5 rebounds, while Anthony Davis lead the team with 27 points and 9 rebounds. Even without Kyrie Irving, Dallas got a lot of help from the team with P.J. Washington and Brandon Williams scoring 17 points, apiece, while Dante Exum added 11 points and 6 assists.

Kings kept the game close in the 1st quarter but in the Mavs broke the game open in the 2nd quarter with Klay leading the way. DeMar DeRozan lead the Kings with 33 points and 7 rebounds, followed by Zach LaVine with 20 points and 9 assists. Domantas Sabonis had another double-double game with 11 points and 13 rebounds, with 5 assists and 2 blocks.

The Dallas Mavericks will go to Memphis Friday night to secure the 8th seed in the 1st Round of the West Playoffs and face the OKC Thunders.

Google updates Google Maps to include West Philippine Sea

Google Maps has updated its maps to make the label “West Philippine Sea” (WPS) more visible for the waters west of the Philippines. This has been praised in the Philippines as it reinforces their claim over this part of the South China Sea.

Before, the WPS label might have been harder to see. Now, it’s clearer even when zoomed out. Filipino leaders and the military see this as important recognition of their rights, especially after the 2016 international court ruling that favored the Philippines over China’s broader claims in the area.

Under Administrative Order No. 29, the Philippines officially named this area the West Philippine Sea in 2012, covering 200 miles Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the West Philippine Sea. While China still calls it the South China Sea and disagrees with the international court’s decision, many Filipinos view Google’s update as a positive step in raising global awareness and acknowledging their sovereignty.

In a press release by the Philippines Government, Senate Majority Leader Francis ‘TOL’ Tolentino said “Growing global recognition for WPS represents a victory for all Filipinos. It is also an affirmation of the correctness of the Philippines’ current policy to assert its sovereign rights in line with international law and multilateralism.” Tolentino is the principal author of the landmark Philippine Maritime Zones Law (Republic Act 12064).