Russell Westbrook was involved in an altercation with a fan on Sunday outside the court at Phoenix's Footprint Center, after the Clippers defeated the Suns. The incident took place in a club lounge that visiting players can use as a shortcut from their locker room to the court, according to the Arizona Republic's Duane Rankin. Westbrook has had previous run-ins with opposing team's fans, including the infamous 2021 playoffs incident when he had popcorn dumped on his head in Philadelphia. Although Westbrook had an awful shooting night against the Suns, going just 3-for-19, he made a number of key plays down the stretch, and had 11 rebounds, eight assists, three blocks and two steals. Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue said that Westbrook's shot was not important, but rather his contribution in rebounding the basketball. The Clippers were careful with Kawhi Leonard, who played just 52 games this season, but he delivered 38 points in Sunday's game.

As the Celtics head to Atlanta for Games 3 and 4 of their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series, NBC Sports Boston is scrambling to find a fill-in announcer. Legendary play-by-play voice Mike Gorman, who recently had surgery for a detached retina, hasn't been cleared to fly. Meanwhile, Sean Grande, the team's current radio play-by-play voice, has committed to another event and isn't available for those games. NBC Sports Boston has confirmed that rather than bringing in an unfamiliar play-by-play voice, analysts Brian Scalabrine and Eddie House will call both games. "We're reaching out to a bunch of people to have some fun with it," said Scalabrine on his SiriusXM NBA Radio show. Brian Scalabrine is the lead analyst for NBC Sports Boston's game coverage of the Celtics and would have been the perfect option to call the games, but Scalabrine's partner, Mike Gorman, is currently not available for the playoff games. Jon Wallach will handle the radio call in Grande's absence, while ESPN and TNT will cover Game 3 and 4, respectively. If the series lasts long, Grande is expected to call Game 6 in Atlanta for NBC Sports Boston.

According to an anonymous poll conducted by The Athletic, Trae Young has been voted the most overrated player in the NBA. Young received 14.8% of the vote, leaving him technically behind the "other" category. The poll was conducted among 54 NBA players, with Young receiving eight total votes, and no other player receiving more than four. Young rose to fame when he led the Atlanta Hawks to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2021, and he was a huge factor in the Hawks' success. However, he has had poor individual performances in the past two postseasons, with an average of just 15.5 points per game on 31% shooting from the field. The anonymous poll of his peers likely reflects Young's recent struggles and the possibility of him being traded from the Hawks. However, this poll should be taken with a grain of salt, as 'overrated' is a subjective term that could be influenced by Young's media coverage.

As the NBA regular season draws to a close, teams are battling for spots in the play-in tournament. This tournament, which the league has used since 2021, features the 7th through 10th place teams in each conference. The 7th and 8th place teams play a game, and the winner advances to the playoffs as the 7th seed. The loser of that game plays against the winner of a game between the 9th and 10th place teams, with the winner becoming the 8th seed in the playoffs.

In the two years of tournament play so far, the 9th place team has won all of its games against the 10th place team and has won all but one of its games in the second round. The 7th place team has won all of its opening games and advanced to the playoffs, but neither the 7th nor 8th seeded teams have reached the second round of playoff play.

The Oklahoma City Thunder and the Utah Jazz are currently locked in a battle for the 10th seed in the Western Conference. Meanwhile, the LA Clippers face a range of possible outcomes as they try to secure their playoff position in the middle of the conference.

Despite not being in the 2023 NBA postseason, San Antonio Spurs’ fans have been vocal about rooting for their ex-players, who are currently playing in the playoffs. Amongst these players are Derrick White and Dejounte Murray, who started their NBA careers in San Antonio but were traded as part of the franchise's rebuild. While Murray made public comments about his time with the Spurs when traded to Atlanta, White had a quiet exit during his trade to Boston, and this behavior seems to have won over the Spurs’ loyalists. Many Spurs’ fans are rooting for White and the Boston Celtics over Murray’s Hawks, with several expressing their support for White and calling for his victory. Some fans are even suggesting that the Celtics sign the young guard to a more secure deal. White earned Mazzulla's confidence early on, and his strong contribution on both ends of the court has earned him a spot in the Celtics’ starting lineup for 70 of 82 games played this past season. The 28-year-old also took a significant jump in his defensive stats, averaging 0.7 steals and 0.9 blocks this season, making him the second among all point guards in the league in these categories. Whether Boston wins the playoffs remains to be seen, but it is quite evident that Spurs’ fans are rooting for their former player.

Andre Iguodala is the latest to heap praise on Paul George, stating that he is the second-most skilled player in the NBA behind Kevin Durant, according to his interview on the Point Forward podcast. While both players are undeniably talented, the comparison between them is not so straightforward. Durant has had the better career so far, with two championships, two Finals MVPs, and 13 All-Star and 10 All-NBA selections. George, on the other hand, has yet to make it to an NBA Finals, but has shown his scoring prowess with an average of 20.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.7 steals throughout his career.

However, injuries and LeBron James' dominance in the Eastern Conference have hindered George's chances of winning a championship. Even with his recent knee sprain, he remains a skilled player and a key component of the Clippers' success in the playoffs. A championship win for George would solidify his legacy as a first-ballot Hall-of-Famer and would also justify the greatness of his teammates, Russell Westbrook and Kawhi Leonard.

The Los Angeles Clippers are set to take on the Phoenix Suns in the first round of the NBA playoffs, and they know they have a tough matchup ahead of them with Kevin Durant. Having faced him in multiple NBA Finals, Clippers coach Tyronn Lue understands the difficulty in guarding Durant over a seven-game series. The Suns have gone undefeated in the eight games Durant has played with his new team, indicating that the Clippers have a monumental task ahead of them. Lue knows that no position can guard Durant and that he just has to be aware of where he is on the floor at all times. Before joining the Clippers in 2020, Lue coached the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2016 to 2018, helping the team win their first-ever NBA title with one of the best comebacks in league history against the Golden State Warriors. However, Lue later had to take on the Warriors two more times in the Finals, this time with Durant on the roster, and there was seemingly nothing he could do. Despite the challenge, the Clippers are up for it, knowing that they are in the playoffs and that it's all about being locked in.

New York Knicks guard Josh Hart might miss Game 2 against the Cleveland Cavaliers due to a sprained left ankle. The Knicks’ trade deadline acquisition was instrumental in the victory against the Cavaliers in Game 1, putting in 17 points and 10 rebounds, including a clutch three-pointer in the closing minutes. Though he was limping with the injured ankle, Hart scored the crucial 3-pointer with just 1:49 seconds remaining on the clock. The Knicks had listed him as doubtful for Game 2 before the play-offs match. Hart had participated only in one part of Monday's practice session and received treatment instead. Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau stated that Hart said he felt fine in the game and that it was more about seeing how he feels the next day since he rolled his ankle in the fourth quarter. R.J. Barrett and Quentin Grimes might have to fill the void if Hart misses the game as the Knicks attempt to carry forward their momentum and secure the series win.

Shooting guard's defensive skills give Cavs a boost

Isaac Okoro has missed the past six games with soreness in his left knee but has taken part in some contact during practice ahead of the Cavs' playoff matchup against the Knicks. Coach J.B. Bickerstaff says Okoro is still day-to-day. Okoro's defensive presence has been missed, as he is considered one of the best defenders on the team, according to his teammates. His return could make a big impact, especially in guarding the ball-handler during pick-and-rolls. Meanwhile, the Cavaliers are enjoying their fourth seed in the playoffs after being eliminated in the play-in tournament last season. Veteran Danny Green may not be part of the playoff rotation, having only played 71 total minutes in seven games since signing with Cleveland in February. Cavs fans are looking forward to the playoffs and hoping for the team to go as far as they can.

The Los Angeles Clippers are expected to play their first-round series against the Phoenix Suns without Paul George. George suffered a knee injury in March, and despite initial predictions of a 2-3 week recovery, he has not progressed enough in rehabilitation to play in the playoffs, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

George is an eight-time All-Star, and his absence presents a significant disadvantage for the Clippers, who will be going up against a formidable Suns team. Since adding Kevin Durant to the lineup, Phoenix has been on an 8-0 run, and now finds themselves among the championship favorites as the No. 4 seed in the West. Devin Booker, Chris Paul, and Deandre Ayton have all become essential in a Suns team that has thrived with Kevin Durant on board.

Without George, The Clippers will rely on Kawhi Leonard, Marcus Morris and Ivica Zubac to pick up the slack, making a first-round win against the Suns seem unlikely. Leonard and George are one of the most dangerous tandems in basketball when healthy, and the Suns will have breathed a sigh of relief knowing that the Clippers will be without George.

The New York Knicks are hoping that All-Star forward Julius Randle can join their lineup for Game 1 of their Eastern Conference Quarterfinal series against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday. Randle sprained his left ankle against the Miami Heat on March 29 and has missed the Knicks' final five games of the regular season. The 28-year-old forward has been a key figure for the Knicks this season, averaging 25.1 points and 10.0 rebounds per game. If Randle can't start, this will place more pressure on Jalen Brunson, who has been playing through pain for much of the second half of the season. The Cavaliers have Donovan Mitchell, who has been playing exceptionally, averaging more than 40 points in four straight games before being put on the bench for his team's final two tilts. However, since the NBA odds for Mitchell's total points prop has adjusted to 30.5, up from a high of 28.5 in his final regular-season tilt, bettors might be sacrificing a little juice. Mitchell has cleared 3.5 three-pointers in most of his previous games, making him a great bet to get at least four threes in this game. Overall, the Cavaliers are favored to win the series against the Knicks, but Randle's return could help increase the Knicks' chances to win Game 1.

Fox News has settled its defamation lawsuit with Dominion Voting Systems for a whopping $787.5 million, ending a two-year legal dispute that damaged the right-wing news organization's credibility. In the case that was about to go to trial in Delaware, Dominion had initially sought damages of $1.6 billion for false claims that Fox News had made that Dominion had rigged the 2020 presidential election. The settlement, the biggest publicly known payout in a media defamation lawsuit in US legal history, meant that Fox News executives and on-air personalities won’t have to testify about their election coverage. Though Fox News did not admit on-air that the organization had aired lies, they acknowledged that some claims made by Fox News had been found by the courts to be false. With the settlement reached, Dominion representatives hailed it as a "ringing endorsement for truth and democracy." Fox News echoed this sentiment by saying that the settlement reflected their commitment to the highest journalistic standards. The settlement ends two years of controversy surrounding inaccurate reporting about Dominion Voting Systems made by Fox News.

Celebrities such as Halle Berry and Viola Davis have joined the public outcry after 20-year-old Kaylin Gillis, who was black, was shot dead by homeowner Kevin Monahan in New York state after a car she was a passenger in mistakenly turned into his driveway while looking for a friend's house. Monahan, who is white, fired two shots from his patio as the car was leaving, hitting Gillis. Monahan was later arrested and charged with second-degree murder. The group of four, all young adults, had never interacted with Monahan before, and had only been on his property for a very short time. Gillis was pronounced dead on arrival in a nearby town.

There have been growing calls for justice following the shooting. Despite the arrest, protests are mounting and a GoFundMe page has raised more than $40,000 for Gillis' family to cover funeral expenses and other needs. Activists and celebrities are asking why a person owning a gun would shoot without first seeking to clarify the situation, especially given that the group of friends never left the car and posed no threat to Monahan.

According to tax returns released by the White House, President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden earned $579,514 in 2022, with an effective tax rate of 23.8%. Of this amount, most came from the president's $400,000 salary. The Bidens paid $169,820 in federal, Virginia, and Delaware income taxes, with a total donation of $20,180 to 20 different charities. The couple also owed $4,632 to the Internal Revenue Service. These numbers were comparable to those from the previous year when the Bidens made $610,702 and paid $150,439 in federal income taxes, resulting in a tax rate of 24.6%. The White House has been transparent in releasing the tax returns on Tax Day, in contrast to former President Donald Trump who refused to do so while in office. Additionally, Harris and Emhoff's tax returns were also released, showing they earned $456,918 last year.

Following a shooting on Interstate 295 in Yarmouth, Maine State Police officials found four people dead in a home in Bowdoin. Authorities have reported that the shooting incidents are connected. Responding to a call from Bowdoin, several vehicles hit with gunshots were reported by an official in the Yarmouth area. Officials reported that three drivers were shot while driving, with one seriously injured. An estimated dozen officers went into the woods near the two vehicles which were found in front of several police cruisers. A firearm that was missing from the scene was recovered and authorities currently have a single suspect in custody. It has been reported that there is no active threat to the area and no need for lockdowns. Yarmouth police urge community members to shelter in place. At this time, there is no word on what led to the shootings. The investigation is ongoing.

Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has rebuffed attempts by Democrats to replace California Senator Dianne Feinstein on the Senate Judiciary Committee temporarily. Feinstein, aged 89, was diagnosed with shingles in February and has been absent from the Senate since then. Democrats say her absence is holding up President Joe Biden's judicial nominees. However, McConnell claimed that a situational switch could result in Democrats pushing through their worst and unqualified nominees. He labelled the move as "extremely unusual", saying that Republicans wouldn't bar a partially absent colleague from the committee to enable Democrats to push through the controversial and unqualified nominees.

There have been calls from Democratic lawmakers for Feinstein to resign, but she has defended her position and requested her replacement on the panel until her return. However, any move to change committee appointments will require at least 60 votes to pass, and with Democrats narrowly ahead with a 51-49 majority, narrow margins are expected. Republican senators, including John Cornyn of Texas, have vowed to withhold their support to confirm the controversial and unqualified nominees as long as Feinstein is absent. Meanwhile, Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa has called the attempts to remove Feinstein "anti-human treatment".

Ralph Yarl, a 16-year-old honor student, was shot twice by an 84-year-old homeowner after ringing the wrong doorbell. Andrew Lester, the shooter, faced two felony charges for assault in the first degree and armed criminal action. However, Lester surrendered and was released on bond after Kansas City police released him two hours after the shooting. This sparked public outrage and criticism of the police departments handling. His family's attorneys, Lee Merrit and Ben Crump, unveiled that there was a racial component to the case. Despite the felony charges, Lester remained at large for a day and wasn't in custody as of Monday evening. The incident was described as unspeakable, and protesters have marched through the city, calling for Lester's arrest, underlining that justice is being served too slowly.

A police probable cause document indicated that no words were exchanged between Yarl and Lester before the shooting. Lester told police he shot Yarl due to his size, fearing for his life, and mistook Yarl for a break-in at his residence. Meanwhile, Yarl survived the shooting but suffered from gunshot wounds to his head and arm, and had been discharged from the hospital but not out of danger.

The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments on Tuesday in a case that could determine how far employers must go to accommodate their employees' religious beliefs. The case centers around Gerald Groff, an Evangelical Christian and former rural carrier at the United States Postal Service. In 2013, the USPS contracted with Amazon to deliver packages on Sundays, which conflicted with Groff's beliefs. Despite attempts at accommodation, including offering to adjust his schedule and asking other workers to cover his shifts on Sundays, Groff faced disciplinary action and ultimately resigned in 2019. Groff sued the USPS for violating Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, but lower courts ruled against him. The Supreme Court will now determine if employers must provide reasonable accommodations, even if it poses an "undue hardship" on the business. Some conservative justices suggested that accommodating religious beliefs in the workplace could burden other workers and impose substantial additional costs on employers. The decision could have significant implications for religious liberty in the workplace.

Following the recent disturbances in downtown Chicago that resulted in multiple arrests and injuries, the official tourism group, Choose Chicago, has issued a statement. The group, along with law enforcement and other city officials, has created an action plan, including increased staffing presence, social media monitoring of potential gatherings, and relocation of resources to downtown areas to address any future disturbances. In the meanwhile, the police will enforce curfews on unaccompanied minors in Millennium Park, and there will be bag checks at beaches, including the 31st Street Beach. The weekend saw groups of unruly teenagers gathering and police responding to reports of gunshots resulting in the injured. The weekend's events have raised questions about the city's safety and may affect tourism. However, Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson's statement asking not to demonize youth, even in the face of criminal behavior, has been criticized. WFLD-Ch. 32's report that their news crew had to leave as it was unsafe, combined with the shootings, has raised concerns among tourists and businesses. Overall, the plan of action by the tourism group and law enforcement is a step towards ensuring Chicago remains safe for visitors.

The ongoing feud between Governor Ron DeSantis and Disney is raising concerns for Floridians about the negative impact it is having on their state. Disney, the state's largest employer, has been under attack by the governor, who stripped the company of its 56-year-old “independent special district” status, which has granted it the privilege of creating its own regulations, building codes, and other municipal services. This move, instigated by DeSantis, was due to Disney's criticism of his Parental Rights in Education Act, which has been dubbed the “Don’t say gay” bill by the media, and has led to a costly legal battle between the two entities. As a result, taxpayers will have to foot the bill for Disney’s various municipal services and assume the tax district’s debt of around $1 billion.

The escalating tiff between DeSantis and Disney is not only worrying for Floridians but also raising concerns among some of the national political figures, including former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who stated that he does not believe in DeSantis’s actions toward Disney and considers him to be not a conservative. The dispute could result in Disney’s slow withdrawal or sale of its properties in the state of Florida, with a consequent loss of jobs and revenue, which would be severely felt by Floridians.

One person has died and four others have been hospitalized after a parking garage collapsed in lower Manhattan’s Financial District. The building “pancaked” leaving cars on top of one another and causing some to teeter on the unstable roof. Six workers were in the three-story garage when it collapsed, and one was trapped on an upper floor but rescued via a neighboring roof. Classes at the nearby Pace University were canceled, and an adjacent dorm and classroom building were evacuated. Concerns about the building’s stability led firefighters to withdraw their personnel at one point, and the search was conducted with drones and a robotic dog. According to Acting Buildings Commissioner Kazimir Vilenchik, permits for the building dated back to 1957 but there were “active violations” dating from 2003 onwards. The cause of the collapse is currently being investigated by engineers.

A 20-year-old woman lost her life when a homeowner in upstate New York shot her after the car she was in turned into the wrong driveway. Kaylin Gillis and three other people were trying to find a friend's house in Hebron when the group mistakenly entered Kevin Monahan's property. They were attempting to turn the car around when Monahan fired two shots, one of them hitting Gillis. The group had to drive to Salem, to get cell phone coverage and call 911. However, paramedics were unable to save her. When officers arrived at Monahan's house, he refused to come out, and a 911 dispatcher spoke to him before he was finally taken into custody. Monahan has been booked into the Warren County jail on a charge of second-degree murder. Gillis was an "innocent young girl who was out with friends looking for another friend's house," according to Washington County Sheriff Jeffrey Murphy. Murphy stated that there was "no reason for Monahan to feel threatened." The sad incident occurred only two days after a 16-year-old was shot and wounded after going to the wrong house to pick up his younger brothers.

Police have arrested a man in connection with the murder of four people in Bowdoin, Maine and the shooting on Interstate 295 in Yarmouth, which left three people injured. Joseph Eaton, 34, of Bowdoin, has been charged with the murder of all four victims found in a home on Augusta Road. On Tuesday morning, around 10:30 a.m., several vehicles were hit by gunfire on I-295 near exits 15 and 17/East Main Street. In total, three people were shot while driving along the highway. Of those three, one person remains in critical condition. Earlier in the day, police found the four bodies in Bowdoin. Authorities found the suspect in a wooded area off the highway, and stated there is no further threat to the public. The victims and suspect remain unidentified. Maine State Police have urged anyone with any information to contact them at 207-624-7076. The incident has rekindled discussion around gun violence prevention policies.

The Judge at the Moscow City Court has upheld the decision of the lower court, denying Wall Street Journal Reporter Evan Gershkovich’s plea to change the terms of his detention from a pre-trial detention centre in the notorious Lefortovo prison to house arrest. 31-year-old Gershkovich faces up to 20 years in prison on espionage charges in what has been seen as the latest crackdown by the Russian Government on foreign media news outlets since its invasion of Ukraine last year. The Wall Street Journal has refuted the accusations. 

Gershkovich remains in detention until 29th May, and his lawyers have so far been unsuccessful in releasing him on bail. Russia has detained the first US correspondent since the Cold War on spying allegations, causing outrage in the West and worldwide support for Gershkovich.

Experts claim the sweeping campaign of repression against independent journalists and civil society groups by the Kremlin is unprecedented since the Soviet era. Gershkovich's detention comes amid strained political tensions between Russia and the West and the increasing crackdown of opposition activists. 

As to whether Evan Gershkovich will walk free, that remains uncertain. The legal timeline in espionage cases can take up to 18 months according to Russian lawyers.

Several officials in McCurtain County, Oklahoma have been suspended from their positions by the Oklahoma Sheriffs’ Association after recordings emerged of their conversations about wanting to kill journalists and lamenting the inability to lynch Black people with ropes. The recordings were captured in March by a reporter from the McCurtain Gazette after a county commissioner’s meeting. Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt called for the resignation of McCurtain County Sheriff Kevin Clardy, County Commissioner Mark Jennings, sheriff's investigator Alicia Manning, and county jail administrator Larry Hendrix after the recordings surfaced. The sheriff's office claimed that the recording was “illegally obtained” and may have been produced in violation of state law prohibiting third-party secret recordings, but this has not stopped investigations by both local and federal authorities. The recording also touches on inappropriate comments made about a recent deadly fire, which has further incited calls for resignations.