Los Angeles Lakers power forward, Mo Bamba, has been ruled out for Tuesday's Game 1 contest against the Golden State Warriors due to left ankle soreness. According to sources, Bamba received an injection to treat the soreness and was using a crutch to walk at the team's shootaround. This injury report has listed Bamba as questionable before the game, and he may return for the next game. Though the Lakers' backup centers are Wenyen Gabriel and Tristan Thompson, Bamba, who played just 88 minutes total in the regular season for Los Angeles, figured unlikely to get many minutes in the matchup anyway because of his defensive limitations. However, his absence meant that the Lakers would be more likely to turn to Rui Hachimura/LeBron James frontcourt that wasn't effective versus Memphis. This grouping is unlikely to do better against ace rebounder Kevon Looney. Although Bamba's absence may not have a huge impact on the rotation, it is still a significant loss for the Lakers and may affect their performance against the Warriors.

On a recent episode of First Take, Snoop Dogg shocked host Stephen A. Smith by proclaiming that Golden State's Stephen Curry is the greatest point guard of all time. Despite being a lifelong fan of the Los Angeles Lakers and Magic Johnson, Snoop argued that Curry's revolutionary play style sets him apart from other point guards. While Smith initially mocked Snoop for his claim, the rapper stuck by his statement.

Curry's playoff performance this year seems to support Snoop's assertion. Through the first two rounds of the Western Conference playoffs, Curry is averaging 29.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 6.7 assists per game. He led the Warriors to a stunning upset over the #1 seed Utah Jazz and is now facing off against the Lakers, the team Snoop Dogg has supported his whole life.

Despite being a six-time All-Star, two-time MVP, and three-time NBA champion, Curry still faces detractors who argue that he hasn't done enough to prove he's the greatest point guard ever. Time will tell whether Curry continues to make his case, but for now, his biggest fan might just be Snoop Dogg.

Steph Curry made NBA playoff history during Game 7 between the Golden State Warriors and the Sacramento Kings. Curry's 21-point performance in the game elevated him to 13th place on the all-time playoff scoring list, ahead of Hall of Famer John Havlicek. He now has 3,777 playoff points and is set to surpass Larry Bird's 3,897 points next. The Warriors faced a possible elimination, but Curry's performance helped lead them to a win, advancing them to the second round of playoffs. The team will now face LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers. Curry's excellent season continues, with superb performances so far in the playoffs, averaging 31.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.7 assists. Curry, a two-time MVP and nine-time All-Star, has been with the Warriors for 14 seasons and led them to the NBA championship four times in the previous eight seasons. The win marked an important milestone for Curry as he continues to elevate his legacy as one of basketball’s all-time greats.

Miami Heat's Jimmy Butler averaged 37.6 points per game in the first round, but can he continue this level of performance against the New York Knicks and their dominant defense? Butler's 3-point shooting struggled in his previous game against the Knicks, and this could be a sign of things to come. In four games against the Knicks, Butler averaged just 0.8 3-pointers made per game. With the Knicks currently leading all playoff teams with a 101.9 Defensive Rating, Butler will have a tough time scoring against their suffocating defense. While still a dangerous player, Butler may not be able to replicate his previous performances against the Knicks, so taking the under on Butler's 1.5 made 3-pointers prop may be a wise decision.

Title: Will Jimmy Butler's 3-Point Shooting Be Affected by the Knicks Defense?

As the Golden State Warriors face off against the Los Angeles Lakers in the second-round playoff series, many are focused on the headlining discussions surrounding Steph Curry and LeBron James. However, X-factors like Kevon Looney could prove key to determining the outcome of the series. Looney's performance is crucial for optimizing both single- and dual-big lineups, especially as he battles on the boards alongside Anthony Davis. Keeping Davis under control will fall predominantly to Looney, making their matchup a crucial one to watch. On offense, Looney lacks the range to yank Davis away from the basket, but he will still need to pitch in against LeBron James. If Looney can hold his own against AD, the Lakers' defensive disruption will be more controlled, and the Warriors can pull Green elsewhere. As both teams enter the game at the Chase Center in San Francisco, every player's performance will be critical to winning this best-of-seven Western Conference semifinal series.

Joel Embiid, the center for the Philadelphia 76ers, has won the 2020-2021 NBA Most Valuable Player trophy, beating two-time winner Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets. Embiid earned his first MVP award by averaging 33.1 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game, making him only the second player in league history to average at least 30 points, 10 rebounds, and three assists, joining Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. He also winning his second straight scoring title while playing in 66 games, the second-highest of his career. With Embiid's leading performance, the 76ers secured the top seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. Jokic and Curry were the other two finalists for the award. Embiid's first MVP award will be a huge boost to the 76ers' hopes of reaching the NBA finals.

Legendary rapper and Lakers fan, Snoop Dogg, appeared on ESPN's "First Take" to share his thoughts on the upcoming Lakers vs. Warriors series. Snoop took the opportunity to poke fun at Warriors guard Jordan Poole, stating, "We're gonna be probably doubling Steph. So somebody else is going to be open. Jordan Poole, keep shooting. I like the way you've been missing, brother." Poole has struggled with his shooting during the Kings series, averaging 12.0 points per game while shooting just 33.8 percent from the field and 25.7 percent from beyond the arc.

Aside from his jabs at Poole, Snoop Dogg expressed concerns about Klay Thompson, who he sees as a born Laker and diehard fan. Snoop acknowledged Thompson's potential to perform well against his beloved Lakers due to his inspiration to play harder. While Snoop Dogg may be biased towards the Lakers, his analysis of Poole's performance and Thompson's potential motivation cannot be disregarded. It remains to be seen how Poole and Thompson will perform in the highly anticipated Lakers vs. Warriors series.

Andrew Wiggins has played a crucial role in the Warriors' playoff push, and he believes they're ready to defend their championship crown. Wiggins' return from a 23-game absence due to a family matter has given the Warriors a much-needed boost in scoring and rebounding. He's averaging 18.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.2 blocks, 1.2 assists, and 1.2 steals per game in the series against the Kings. Wiggins' performance has been a welcome sight for the defending champions, who struggled with consistency throughout the regular season. His solid all-around stat line in Game 6 (13 points, 7 rebounds, 2 blocks, and 2 steals) proves that he's back to his pre-absence form.

According to Wiggins, "We've got the pieces. We know we got the coaching for it. We've got the fans. I feel like we're in good shape. I feel like this series has prepared us, because this was tough. It was a dogfight, every game. It was hard." With his impressive performance so far in the playoffs, Wiggins may just be the key to the Warriors' championship aspirations.

As the Golden State Warriors advance in the Western Conference Semifinals, local businesses in San Francisco's Mission Bay neighborhood are hoping for a much-needed boost in sales after a difficult year during the pandemic. Restaurants and hotels in the area are expecting more customers and increased activity thanks to the basketball games and tourism they bring in. City leaders also noted the advantages of the semifinals starting in San Francisco, with fans of both teams coming to the city and spiking hotel occupancy. The postseason run also gives the city nationwide visibility as a travel destination. While businesses are grateful for the boost, they also recognize the need to plan ahead for when the games eventually stop. Some, like Mission Bay Wine & Cheese, have been creating events outside of the Warriors foot traffic to draw their own traffic. Nonetheless, this playoff run could be critical in helping small businesses recover from the impact of the pandemic.

The Golden State Warriors are set to face off against the Los Angeles Lakers in the conference semi-finals, and Klay Thompson couldn't be more excited. In a recent press conference, Thompson described playing against the Lakers in the playoffs as a "dream come true." The last time these two California-based franchises met in the postseason was back in 1991 when Thompson was just a year old. This will also mark the first playoff rematch between the Warriors and Lebron James since he left the Cavaliers in 2018. It's the fifth time the Warriors have faced James in the playoffs, with him being one of the greatest players to ever play the game.

One notable storyline is the Warriors' historical record against the Lakers, having only won one playoff series against them in 1967. However, Thompson is determined to make his mark in the upcoming series. He has scored at least 22 points in five of his last seven games, and he's eager to continue his hot streak against the Lakers. The first game is set for Tuesday night, and fans eagerly anticipate the showdown between these two legendary franchises.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is facing backlash for using the "illegal immigrant" label to describe those involved in a mass shooting near Houston last week, in which five people died, including a 9-year-old child. The shooter, Francisco Oropesa, has reportedly been deported multiple times but was able to obtain an AR-15 rifle. The governor's remarks have been criticized for detracting attention from the fact that Texas has once again become the location of a mass shooting and the too-easy access to firearms. Oropesa was captured Tuesday night and charged with first-degree murder. Witnesses said that he had repeatedly discharged his rifle from his property, prompting his neighbors to ask him to stop. Oropesa refused and then opened fire on them, including the child. While the victims are from Honduras, one victim was later found to have legal immigration status. Critics argue that Abbott's use of trigger words like "illegal immigrants" help incite violence, as was seen in the 2019 El Paso shooting that targeted immigrants.

As the May 11 deadline approaches for the end of Title 42, the pandemic immigration policy instituted by former President Trump, President Biden plans to send 1,500 military personnel to the Southwest border to help fill "capability gaps" in preparation for an increase in migrants. However, some are criticizing Biden's decision to send troops, pointing out that the Obama and Bush administrations have done so in the past. The deployment mirrors the approach used by the Trump administration in both 2018 and 2019 when it sent troops to the border ahead of expected upticks in migrant arrivals. Nevertheless, the Biden administration notes that the new addition is standard practice and is not expected to engage in law enforcement activities. Instead, troops are expected to offer monitoring and detection, data entry, and warehouse support, freeing up DHS law enforcement personnel to perform their critical missions. Meanwhile, House Republicans are coalescing around a wide-ranging bill that would revamp immigration laws and require more staffing at federal law enforcement agencies.

House Democrats have taken steps to deploy a secret weapon to avert a federal default if debt ceiling talks remain deadlocked. With the possibility of default projected as soon as June 1 and Republicans refusing to raise the debt ceiling without deep spending cuts, Democrats have begun the process of forcing a debt-limit increase bill to the floor using a discharge petition that could bypass Republican leaders. An emergency rule, introduced during a pro forma session held while the House is in recess, would start the process to allow signature collection from May 16 on such a petition, which requires the backing of over half of the chamber. The discharge petition would be added as an amendment to Democratic Representative Mark DeSaulnier's filed legislation, which has already been filed with various committees of jurisdiction. Failure to raise the debt ceiling would mean the US government cannot issue more securities, essentially stopping a key flow of money into the federal government and triggering economic chaos and a potential financial recession.

Authorities discovered seven bodies on a property in rural Oklahoma while searching for missing teenagers Ivy Webster, 14, and Brittany Brewer, 16. Police believe the girls, who were the subject of an endangered missing person advisory, were among the dead. They had reportedly been travelling with Jesse McFadden, a felon and registered sex offender, who was also found dead. Officials did not give any details about the cause of death. The Okmulgee County Sheriff's Office had issued a search warrant for McFadden's home and discovered the victims in nearby Henryetta. Sheriff Eddy Rice said the state medical examiner had to confirm the identity of the victims. The girls' fathers expressed their shock and grief at the news. Brittany's father, Nathan Brewer, said he was devastated and was planning to set up a GoFundMe page to help pay for funeral costs, as neither family had the resources to bury their daughter. Police did not give any further information about the case or the identities of the victims.

As the deadline for the US debt ceiling looms, the Republican-imposed crisis is becoming scarier, with speculation on when the US government could default. NBC News recently reported that Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said Monday that the deadline to extend the debt ceiling or face the first US default could be as early as June 1, adjusting the timeline as the path to avert a self-inflicted crisis remains murky on Capitol Hill. Yellen pointed to "inherently variable" federal receipts and outlays, adding that the actual deadline could slide to "a number of weeks later."

The US Treasury has limited financial tools available to mitigate the impact of the debt ceiling. The treasury secretary can use the measures to pay government bills, delay payments to certain funds, or suspend the sale of Treasury securities to the public, but none of these measures can prevent the inevitable. If Congress doesn't act, there will be a catastrophic chain reaction, causing millions of jobs lost, consumer confidence destroyed and the US's economic standing severely damaged.

There's concern that Republicans are willing to play games with the full faith and credit of the United States. The nation has never defaulted before, but the possibility is something Washington can ill-afford to gamble with. Whether this crisis will lead to a catastrophic financial event in the US is still speculation, but the fact remains that the stakes are high, and the US must not head toward the dangerous brink of default.

The conditions were ripe for disaster - a precipitation shortfall, pre-growing season lack of vegetation, and 50 mph wind gusts led to a deadly dust storm on I-55 in Illinois. The resulting zero visibility created a pile-up involving 40 to 60 cars and several semis, killing seven and injuring dozens. The severity of the crashes made the identification of two victims initially believed to be one more challenging. Hospitalized patients range from 2 to 80 years old with injuries varying in severity. A warning about blowing dust has been issued by the National Weather Service for three central Illinois counties. With severely limited visibility making driving in the region dangerous and potentially life-threatening, drivers are advised to remove their cars from the road as far as possible, turn off their lights, and keep their foot off the brake pedal. Ultimately, this tragic incident highlights the dangers that arise when unique weather conditions combine with a busy roadway, creating a sense of urgency around exploring what could be done to prevent a reoccurrence.

The US surgeon general, Vivek Murthy, has issued an advisory highlighting loneliness and isolation as a public health priority. Loneliness has been linked to a gamut of issues ranging from premature death, depression, and diabetes to heart attacks, dementia, anxiety, and even crime. Murthy noted that millions of Americans are reporting emptiness arising from a lack of social connection and urged officials to give this issue the same urgency as tobacco use, substance abuse disorders, and obesity. The pandemic has exacerbated social disconnection in the country, but the issue had been building up since the 1970s due to social norm changes, technological innovations, and built environment changes.

He cited jaw-dropping figures such as the time Americans spent alone rose by 24 hours a month between 2003 and 2020, while time spent with in-person friends decreased by ten hours a month. Polls from the 1970s showed 45% of Americans reported having reliable trust in other Americans, which dropped to just 30% by 2016. The advisory lays out a framework for advancing social connection, aimed at individuals, governments, workplaces, community organizations, and health systems to improve overall health.

The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have agreed to a seven-day ceasefire starting Thursday, as the conflict in Sudan enters its third week. However, it is not clear if its credibility can be trusted, given the rampant violations that undermined previous agreements. The fighting, between rival generals Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, has already led to the displacement of over 100,000 people, while 300,000 people have been internally displaced. Currently, residents in parts of the capital, Khartoum, are facing intense clashes and heavy shelling, exacerbating the worsening humanitarian crisis, which may continue unabated, according to UN’s prediction of a rise to more than 800,000 people fleeing Sudan by the end of the year. The intensification of the fighting is undermining regional stability and threatens to tear apart Africa's third-largest nation. Leaders of Sudan’s warring factions have also agreed to a seven-day ceasefire, marking several broken previous attempts at ceasefires, with only days of relative peace, before violence escalated again.

Oregon Secretary of State Shemia Fagan has been facing criticism, with many calling for her resignation, after it was revealed that she had accepted a $10,000-a-month consulting contract from two cannabis entrepreneurs (who are also Democratic donors) while her office audited regulation of their industry. Fagan has acknowledged her "poor judgment" in accepting the contract but maintains that she did not violate any ethics rules. She has apologized to the people of Oregon, welcomed any investigations, and released the contract which showed that she had to conduct research and compile information to help the cannabis firm abide by legal requirements in states other than Oregon or New Mexico. However, there are many lapses in Fagan's actions, including requesting auditors in her office to involve one of the contract holders in an audit examining the regulation of the cannabis industry. Gov. Tina Kotek has called for investigations into Fagan's conduct, but Fagan has refused to resign and says that she will rebuild trust in her office. Some critics, however, argue that she should resign immediately to clear the way for a replacement who can restore the trust that Fagan has undermined in the people of Oregon.

Senate Democrats have accused the US Supreme Court of having "the lowest ethical standards" of any court in the country. They have now called for tighter rules on the nine justices, but Republicans have resisted, accusing Democrats of being bitter over recent conservative rulings. The debate started after a wave of media reports on entanglements between two conservative justices and parties with interests in court cases. These involved Clarence Thomas accepting luxury travel and a real estate deal from Republican mega-donor Harlan Crow and Neil Gorsuch selling a property to a law firm executive with business before the court, with neither party disclosing their interactions fully.

The Supreme Court's highest court should not have the lowest ethical standards', said Senate Judiciary Committee chairman, Democratic senator Dick Durbin. Meanwhile, conservative former federal judge J. Michael Luttig has warned the Supreme Court to subject itself to the highest professional and ethical standards that would render the court beyond reproach and called on the court to enact a code of conduct. If the Supreme Court does not take such action, he cautioned, Congress has "the power under the Constitution" to prescribe ethical standards of conduct for the court.

All four former political officials accused of conspiring over a decade-long bribery plan to sway then-Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan have been convicted. Former ComEd lobbyist John Hooker, once City Club President Jay Doherty, Madigan confidant Michael McClain, and former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore all pleaded guilty to the charges, which included nine counts of conspiracy, bribery, and falsification of records. The announcement came after the jury had been deliberating for one week, and the proceedings lasted for two months. The federal investigation into corruption in Chicago-style politics led to the case. Madigan, who was targeted by the feds back in 2014, was the main alleged target of bribery to benefit ComEd. Other significant Illinois politicians' careers will be ending due to the case. Madigan is set to have his separate racketeering indictment trial in April 2024.

On Monday, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation confirmed the discovery of seven bodies on a property near Henryetta, following an AMBER Alert sent earlier in the day. The alert concerned 14-year-old Ivy Webster and 16-year-old Brittany Brewer, who were found dead on the property, alongside 39-year-old Jesse McFadden, who was set to stand trial on Monday for charges related to sex crimes against children. The identities of the other four individuals have not yet been released. In a statement, the Okmulgee County Sheriff's Office said that McFadden's wife and stepdaughter are also missing. A vigil was held at Henryetta High School in memory of the two teenagers, with Brewer's father speaking about his daughter's love for children and her dream to become a teacher. There are few details available at present, as the investigation continues.

The US Department of Defense has announced the deployment of 1,500 active-duty military personnel to the southern border to provide operational support to US immigration authorities. The troops will not carry out any law enforcement duties, but rather help with transportation, administrative duties, narcotics detection, data entry and warehouse support. This move has come as Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials prepare for an expected rise in illegal crossings of as many as 10,000 per day when pandemic-related migration restrictions under Title 42 expire. Daily migrant arrivals have already risen to over 7,000 in recent days. The deployment will provide some relief to CBP officials and will last for 90 days. President Biden gave the Pentagon emergency authorization to assist Homeland Security in its efforts to combat international drug trafficking last month. Several administrations have sought military support to manage the situation at the southern border with as many as 5,000 troops deployed there under the Trump administration. The troops are expected to begin arriving at the border as soon as May 10.

A private text message sent by Tucker Carlson to one of his producers has been discovered, contributing to events that ultimately led to his firing. In the message, sent in the hours after violent Trump supporters stormed the Capitol in January 2021, Carlson expressed his dismay that the attackers, who were white, had jumped someone he described as an "Antifa kid". He wanted them to hurt and kill the person. However, he also admonished himself, writing "I'm becoming something I don't want to be." The discovery of the text message "set off a panic" amongst Fox executives who worried that it would become public during legal proceedings and ultimately lead to a worse outcome for the network in the Dominion defamation trial. The incident raised questions about whether Carlson's private views on race and violence contributed to his firing. Carlson has long promoted white nationalist views on his show at Fox and he has hawked racist rhetoric for years.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has warned the Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy that the US could default on its debts as early as June 1 if Congress fails to raise the debt ceiling. While McCarthy's Republican Party wants wide-ranging spending cuts - a decades-old priority - to accompany the raise, Democrats believe a "clean raise," with no addendums or cuts, is needed as precedent shows. The consequences of a default include monthly mortgage payments and private student loan payments surging and Americans losing $20,000 in retirement savings. A short default could lead to 2.6 million job losses, according to Moody's Analytics. Republicans recently passed through a package for a short-term raise with cuts but Democrats have rejected it. Whether or not Congress will avoid economic catastrophe remains to be seen.