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  • Cloud Dev platform breach tied to compromised AI tool raises alarm for crypto frontends

    Cloud Dev platform breach tied to compromised AI tool raises alarm for crypto frontends

    The cloud development platform Vercel’s security incident has prompted alarm in the crypto industry, following the company’s disclosure that attackers compromised parts of its internal systems through a third-party AI tool.

    Because many crypto projects rely on Vercel to host their user interfaces, the breach highlights just how dependent Web3 teams are on centralized cloud infrastructure. That reliance creates an often overlooked attack surface—one that can sidestep traditional defenses like DNS monitoring and directly compromise frontend integrity.

    Vercel said Sunday that the intrusion originated from a third-party AI tool linked to a Google Workspace OAuth app. That tool had been breached in a larger incident affecting hundreds of users from multiple organizations, the company said. Vercel confirmed a limited subset of customers was affected, and its services stayed operational.

    The company has engaged external incident responders and alerted the police while also investigating how the data may have been accessed.

    Access keys, source code, database records, and deployment credentials (NPM and GitHub tokens) were listed for the account. But these are not independently established claims.

    As proof, one of those sample items included about 580 employee records with names, corporate email addresses, account status, and activity timestamps, along with a screenshot of an internal dashboard.

    Attribution remains unclear. Individuals connected to the core ShinyHunters group denied involvement, according to reports. The seller also said it contacted Vercel, demanding a ransom, though the company has not revealed whether negotiations were conducted.

    Third-party AI compromise exposes hidden infrastructure risk

    Rather than attacking Vercel directly, attackers have leveraged OAuth access linked to Google Workspace. A supply-chain weakness of this nature is trickier to identify, as it depends on trusted integrations rather than obvious vulnerabilities.

    Theo Browne, a developer known in the software community, said those consulted indicated Vercel’s internal Linear and GitHub integrations bore the brunt of the problems.

    He observed that environment variables marked as sensitive in Vercel are safeguarded; other variables that were not flagged must be rotated to avoid the same fate.

    Vercel followed up on this directive, urging customers to review their environment variables and utilize the platform’s sensitive variable feature. That kind of compromise is particularly worrying because environment variables often contain secrets such as API keys, private RPC endpoints, and deployment credentials.

    If these values were compromised, attackers might be able to alter builds, inject malicious code, or gain access to connected services for broader exploitation.

    Unlike typical breaches that target DNS records or domain registrars, the compromise at the hosting layer occurs at the build pipeline level. That allows attackers to compromise the actual frontend delivered to users rather than merely redirecting visitors.

    Certain projects store sensitive configuration data in environment variables, including wallet-related services, analytics providers, and infrastructure endpoints. If those values were accessed, teams may have to assume that they were compromised and rotate them.

    Frontend attacks have already been a recurring challenge in the crypto space. Recent incidents of domain hijacking have led to users being redirected to malicious clones designed to drain wallets. But those attacks usually come at the DNS or registrar level. These changes can often be detected quickly with monitoring tools.

    A compromise at the hosting layer differs. Rather than directing users to a phony site, attackers modify the actual frontend. Users may encounter a legitimate domain serving malicious code, but will have no idea what is happening.

    Investigation continues as crypto projects review exposure

    How far the breach penetrated, or whether any customer deployments were changed, is unclear. Vercel said its investigation is ongoing and it will update stakeholders as more information becomes available. It also said affected customers are being contacted directly.

    No major crypto projects have publicly confirmed receiving notification from Vercel as of publication time. But the incident is expected to prompt teams to audit their infrastructure, rotate credentials, and examine how they manage secrets.

    The bigger lesson is that security in crypto frontends doesn’t end at DNS protection or smart contract audits. Dependencies on cloud platforms, CI/CD pipelines, and AI integrations further increase risk.

    When one of those trusted services is compromised, attackers could exploit a channel that bypasses traditional defenses and directly affects users.

    The Vercel hack, tied to a compromised AI tool, illustrates how supply-chain vulnerabilities in modern development stacks can have cascading effects throughout the crypto ecosystem.

  • Bitcoin Drops Below $74,000 After Iran Rejects Second Round of US Peace Talks

    Bitcoin dropped below $74,000 Saturday evening after Iran rejected a second round of in-person peace talks with the United States, triggering a risk-off selloff across crypto markets.

    Key Takeaways:

    • Bitcoin fell to approximately $73,753 on April 19, 2026, after Iran rejected a second round of U.S. peace talks.
    • Iran’s refusal to negotiate stalled Strait of Hormuz diplomacy, wiping an estimated $83B from the broader crypto market.
    • Traders will watch for a U.S. response or renewed Pakistan-mediated talks, with $BTC support holding near $70,500.

    Geopolitical Tensions Push Bitcoin Below $74K After Iran Walkout

    The price of bitcoin ($BTC) slipped to approximately $73,753 on Bitstamp on April 19, 2026, a decline of roughly 2% over the prior 24 hours. The move wiped billions from total crypto market capitalization and pushed $BTC out of the $74,000 to $77,000 range it had held during recent consolidation.

    Iran’s state-run Islamic Republic News Agency confirmed Tehran’s withdrawal from a proposed second negotiating session. Iranian officials cited Washington’s excessive demands, contradictory positions, and what Iran described as an ongoing U.S. naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz as reasons for refusing further talks.

    The Strait of Hormuz is a critical oil transit chokepoint. Disruptions there carry direct implications for global energy prices and investor risk appetite, and crypto markets have tracked those signals closely throughout early 2026.

    The first round of talks took place April 11 and 12 in Islamabad, Pakistan, spanning more than 21 hours without producing a ceasefire or nuclear agreement. U.S. Vice President JD Vance disclosed that Iran chose not to accept American terms. Iranian officials described the session as preliminary.

    A brief stretch of optimism followed in mid-April after President Trump indicated Iran had reached out quietly for further dialogue. That signal temporarily pushed bitcoin toward $76,000 as risk assets broadly recovered. Saturday’s rejection reversed that move.

    The broader crypto market dropped alongside $BTC. Key technical levels now draw attention. Charts point to support around $70,500 to $71,000 and resistance near $75,000. $BTC has tested $76,000 multiple times in recent weeks and failed to hold above that level.

    The development comes on the heels of Trump’s Sunday warning to Iran, in which he made clear he no longer intends to be “Mr. Nice Guy.” Markets will watch for a formal U.S. response to Iran’s rejection, any renewed effort at Pakistan-mediated talks, and further developments in the Strait of Hormuz. Until diplomacy stabilizes, crypto volatility tied to this conflict is unlikely to ease.

    By 8:30 p.m. ET, bitcoin was struggling to hold above $74,000 but has managed to do so for the time being.

  • Frank Marshall Says ESPN Pulled His Doc ‘Rachel, Breathe’ “An Hour Before Broadcast” Over Rights Disagreement

    Frank Marshall Says ESPN Pulled His Doc ‘Rachel, Breathe’ “An Hour Before Broadcast” Over Rights Disagreement

    Director Frank Marshall says his documentary Rachel, Breathe was pulled from ESPN2 shortly before it was supposed to air Sunday night due to a disagreement with the network over rights to the project.

    “I’m sad to report that RACHEL, BREATHE, will not premiere on ESPN2 today,” Marshall posted on X on Sunday. “After several days of negotiations that should have been very simple and were not about money, but rights, the ESPN lawyers stopped talking to us an hour before broadcast and said, ‘sign it now or we are pulling the show’. I’m extremely disappointed for Rachel and John and entire team that spent 2 years making this film about hope, love and friendship.  We remain genuinely excited for the day this documentary reaches the world, it is simply not tonight. And just like Rachel, we remain resilient and the moment I know where and when the premiere is, you will hear from me.”

    Marshall directed and was a producer on the doc. According to a synopsis on The Kennedy/Marshall Company’s website: “Rachel, Breathe is an intimate exploration of the transformative power of running through the miraculous story of marathoner Rachel Foster. Five months after waking up from a coma no one expected her to emerge from, Rachel accomplished the unthinkable and completed the 2023 Boston Marathon. Despite the victory of that moment and feeling like she was on the path to a full recovery of her life as it was, new challenges arise. The film follows Rachel, now preparing to run the 2025 Boston Marathon as a reclamation of self, to prove that though her reality has changed, her essence remains the same. Interweaving Rachel’s journey to run Boston past and present, the film explores themes of loss, love, grit, friendship, redemption and transcendence.”

    According to a previous X post by Marshall, the doc was scheduled to premiere at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2, with a repeat airing on April 20 following coverage of the 130th Boston Marathon. A search on the ESPN2 website does not generate any results, but a look at the YouTube TV listings shows the doc scheduled to air at 9:30 am PT on Monday.

    Marshall produced along with Aly Parker, Tony Rosenthal and Joanna Forscher, the latter of whom is also credited as writer on the documentary.

    The Hollywood Reporter has reached out to ESPN for comment.

  • Crypto Is ‘Really Top on Our List’ — SEC Debuts Podcast Outlining Priorities

    Crypto Is ‘Really Top on Our List’ — SEC Debuts Podcast Outlining Priorities

    The SEC is sharpening its crypto policy focus as digital asset regulation rises to the top of its 2026 agenda. Leadership commentary signals a more structured approach to oversight while aiming to position the United States as a global hub for crypto innovation.

    Key Takeaways:

    • Atkins confirmed SEC will prioritize digital asset regulation policy.
    • Peirce highlighted the lack of a spot crypto framework.
    • Uyeda emphasized SEC reforms may boost capital access and markets.

    Inaugural Podcast Outlines SEC Crypto Priorities and Policy Direction

    U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) leadership is cementing and clarifying its digital asset policy framework as crypto regulation moves deeper into the agency’s 2026 agenda. On April 16, SEC Chairman Paul Atkins joined Commissioners Mark Uyeda and Hester Peirce in the inaugural Material Matters podcast episode titled “Commissioners Set the Course: 2026 Priorities.” The discussion outlined how the agency is defining regulatory direction on crypto and broader market structure.

    Atkins announced the launch of the Material Matters podcast on social media platform X, describing it as a new SEC initiative designed to give the public greater insight into the agency’s work and its broader economic impact. In the episode, he emphasized crypto as a top priority, stating:

    “In one area now that is really top on our list to try to get right with respect to regulation is the whole digital asset area, crypto assets.”

    The SEC chairman linked the effort to broader national ambitions, noting that President Donald Trump has repeatedly promoted the goal of making the United States a global crypto hub. “The President has often said that he wants to make America the crypto capital of the world. And so, we’ve been working hard about that,” he emphasized.

    Commissioner Uyeda also outlined broader regulatory priorities, emphasizing a return to the agency’s core mission of investor protection, fair, orderly, and efficient markets, and capital formation. He indicated that recent years marked a departure from traditional SEC principles, with greater focus on matters outside the agency’s longstanding disclosure-based approach. Uyeda suggested that restoring that balance is important to support public markets, improve access to capital, and keep rulemaking aligned with the SEC’s central mandate.

    Peirce Highlights Market Structure Gaps and Innovation Strategy

    Commissioner Peirce highlighted a key regulatory gap in the current market structure, stating: “Right now, there hasn’t been a regulatory framework around the spot trading of crypto assets. And that’s something that CFTC will be working on.” Her remarks indicate that regulators are focused on defining jurisdictional boundaries, including coordination with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), and implementing workable oversight. The discussion also referenced blockchain efficiencies such as peer-to-peer transfers and programmable execution, reinforcing the need for coordinated regulatory approaches as adoption expands.

    Peirce concluded by stressing the importance of maintaining U.S. competitiveness in financial innovation. She stated:

    “We do want to make this the place where people want to innovate whether it’s in crypto or something else.”

    The statement reflects a broader objective to balance investor protection with innovation. The episode signals that the SEC is working to solidify a durable framework that supports market development while addressing fraud and systemic risks.

  • Can edgeX [EDGE] rebound after its 17% drop? THESE signals say…

    edgeX [$EDGE] fell 17% over the past day, though the pullback may signal a reset rather than a breakdown. Market structure and positioning data pointed to conditions that often precede a recovery phase.

    Price action remained constructive on higher timeframes. Despite the sharp decline, the broader structure stayed net positive, with several indicators aligning for a potential rebound.

    Is $EDGE holding key support?

    Three technical signals converged to strengthen the bullish case for edgeX [$EDGE].

    First, price returned to a supply-turned-demand zone that triggered the 17th of April rally on the 4-hour chart. This level continued acting as critical support.

    Second, the latest candlestick printed a dragonfly doji, reflecting strong buyer response after intraday selling pressure.

    Source: TradingView

    That pattern often precedes upward moves, especially when it forms at key support levels.

    On top of that, price interacted with the lower Bollinger Band, a region commonly linked to support and mean reversion.

    Together, these signals placed $EDGE in a technically favorable position for a short-term bounce.

    Where could the price move next?

    Derivatives data added weight to the setup. The Liquidation Map showed dense clusters of unfilled orders above current price levels.

    These clusters, often marked in green and yellow, tend to attract price as liquidity gets filled. The largest concentration sat near the $1.4 level, suggesting a clear upside target if momentum builds.

    Source: CoinGlass

    Funding data supported this view. The Open Interest-Weighted Funding Rate remained positive at 0.0041%.

    This indicated traders with roughly $2.3 million in Open Interest leaned more toward long positions.

    Is momentum still in favor of buyers?

    Momentum indicators continued to support accumulation. The Accumulation/Distribution line trended upward and stood at 16.67 million.

    This signaled sustained buying activity despite recent losses.

    Source: TradingView

    At the same time, the Average Directional Index read 47, confirming that the broader trend retained strength.

    Even so, the recent dip suggested a cooling phase rather than a reversal. As long as the ADX holds above 25, trend strength persists, keeping the probability of further upside in play.

    Final Summary

    • edgeX’s [$EDGE] 17% drop appeared as a short-term reset, with the higher timeframe structure still leaning bullish.
    • $EDGE’s positive Open Interest-weighted Funding Rate signaled traders remained biased toward long positions.
  • ‘Fallen Angels’ Broadway Review: Rose Byrne and Kelli O’Hara Sparkle in Lackluster Noël Coward Revival

    ‘Fallen Angels’ Broadway Review: Rose Byrne and Kelli O’Hara Sparkle in Lackluster Noël Coward Revival

    There’s a bit of acting advice that’s often ascribed to Noël Coward: “Speak clearly and don’t bump into the furniture.”

    But if you’re Kelli O’Hara and Rose Byrne, by all means, slide down the staircase, nosedive over the settee and slur your words while tossing back two strong martinis and a case of Dom Pérignon. The actors check every one of those boxes during the drunken high point of “Fallen Angels,” the revival of a nearly forgotten Coward play that’s being performed on Broadway for the first time in 70 years.

    The show follows two upper-crust friends, Julia (O’Hara) and Jane (Byrne), who discover their former lover Maurice (Mark Consuelos) has touched down in London while their husbands are on a golf trip. Excited, yet anxious, over the prospect of reconnecting with the man that got away, the pair fortifies themselves with cocktails and bubbly during a boozy dinner. “Champagne is a great strengthener,” Julia assures Jane, who is worried that the two will “go down like ninepins” if Maurice is as “attractive and glamorous as ever.”

    But instead of paving the way for some good ol’ fashioned infidelity, the liquid courage causes the women to turn on each other, with the evening devolving into inebriated insults and recriminations. And the two stars, who at first seem to be playing in different registers with O’Hara launching her punchlines towards the balcony and Byrne aiming for the second row, harmonize to deliver a master class in physical comedy. It’s demented, hilarious fun to see Byrne kick off her heels and rappel down her chair or witness O’Hara dipping her after-dinner strawberries into her Cordial Medoc as though dunking shrimp into cocktail sauce. The two are so silly, so loopily in synch, that the scene, which occurs halfway through the second act, lifts the entire show, giving it a buoyancy that has been lacking during its exposition-heavy beginning.

    So what to make of “Fallen Angels”? First produced in 1925 when Coward was just 24, it was an attempt to put a stiff upper lip spin on French farce. Although scandalous in its day for its frank depiction of female desire and open discussion of infidelity and premarital sex (Maurice “had” Julia in Pisa and Jane in Venice and “Florence and Florence”), the show seems positively tame post-“Sex and the City,” “Bottoms” and “Booksmart.” When it premiered it was nearly banned by the censors, and Coward had to tone things down to get the Lord Chamberlain’s seal of approval. He added the naughty bits back in during a 1958 revision, but the show could have benefitted from a full rewrite, not just a polish.

    There are some lines that have Coward’s trademark sparkle (“I have heard that the worst part of parenting is the children”), while others feel like the product of a young playwright still trying to find his voice. And the main characters are little more than soused ciphers, whose one defining trait is their barely contained horniness. They lack the shading — the pathos hiding behind elegantly crafted quips — that Coward brought to the protagonists of his masterpieces, “Private Lives” and “Design for Living.”

    Roundabout Theater Company’s Interim Director Scott Ellis directs “Fallen Angels” with screwball flair, staging the crossed-wire mishaps, bedroom hijinks and tipsy pratfalls like a Jazz Age “Noises Off.” He also wisely encourages O’Hara and Byrne to go-for-broke and milk every punchline, but Ellis has less success coaxing memorable performances from the show’s supporting players. Aasif Mandvi and Christopher Fitzgerald barely register as Jane and Julia’s oblivious husbands, while Consuelos, who plays Maurice as a suave cuckolder with a dodgy European accent, should probably stick to daytime TV. But Tracee Chimo, who plays a bubbly, know-it-all maid, is a standout. Likewise, David Rockwell’s set, an elegant Art Deco dining and drawing room where much of the action unfolds, provides a stylish backdrop to the proceedings, while the chandelier that soars over the stage also serves as a sight gag that ends the show on a slyly subversive note.

    If only the 90 minutes that preceded that killer capper had more fizz to them. O’Hara and Byrne may be bleeding for every laugh, but you can’t ignore the fact that “Fallen Angels” is one of Coward’s lesser works. The play proves that even in his twenties, he was already perfecting his transgressive wit.

    However, the other elements of Coward’s genius, that alchemy of humor and humanity that made him one of the last century’s greatest playwrights, would come with age.

  • Rockets All-Star Kevin Durant ruled out for Game 1 vs. Lakers with right knee injury

    Rockets All-Star Kevin Durant ruled out for Game 1 vs. Lakers with right knee injury

    Kevin Durant was ruled out of Saturday’s Game 1 vs. the Lakers after suffering a knee injury in practice.

    LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kevin Durant missed the Houston Rockets’ playoff-opening loss against the Los Angeles Lakers with a knee injury, as both teams were left without their top scorer to begin the first-round series.

    Durant was ruled out for Game 1 on Saturday night by coach Ime Udoka, but the Rockets seem confident Durant’s bruised right knee isn’t a long-term problem.

    “Hopefully it’s a one game thing, but he tried it out in practice and it didn’t feel good enough,” Udoka said.

    Durant bumped knees with a teammate during practice on Wednesday, and he was added to the Rockets’ injury report on Friday. The fifth-leading scorer in NBA history led the Rockets with 26.0 points per game this season, his first in Houston.

    Udoka said Durant’s knee is “very tender. … Tough to bend in certain ways. Hit it in a very awkward spot, I suppose. Pain tolerance is one part, but (also) limited movement.”

    Reed Sheppard took Durant’s spot in the fifth-seeded Rockets’ starting lineup for the opener against the fourth-seeded Lakers, who were playing without NBA scoring champion Luka Doncic and high-scoring guard Austin Reaves indefinitely.

    Doncic (hamstring) and Reaves (oblique) were injured April 2. Both of their injuries typically take several weeks to heal, but Doncic traveled to Europe this month for treatment in hopes of getting back on the court sooner.

    Durant’s absence injects some hope into the Lakers’ intention to hang with the Rockets long enough for Doncic and Reaves to have an opportunity to return to the postseason.

    “We’re going try to make this season as long as possible so that we can get those guys back at some point,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said Friday. “We don’t know what that is, but that’s just our job. And their job is to do everything they can to be in a position to come back at some point. It may not work, but that’s what we’re trying to do.”

    It is the 37-year-old Durant’s 14th trip to the NBA playoffs.

    The series is his fourth career postseason meeting with 41-year-old LeBron James, who has faced off against Durant in three NBA Finals.

     

  • Starting 5: LeBron’s dimes lead Lakers, Joker & Murray take control, Knicks & Cavs take Playoff Game 1 wins

    Starting 5: LeBron’s dimes lead Lakers, Joker & Murray take control, Knicks & Cavs take Playoff Game 1 wins

    LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers took Game 1 over the Rockets, as The King handed out 13 assists.

    Not in our house.

    Saturday was for the home teams, as higher seeds opened the 2026 Playoffs 4-0.

    With four more Game 1s on the way — two on ABC, two on NBC & Peacock — what does today have in store?

    5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION 🏀

    April 19, 2026

    LeBron & Luke: James, Kennard lead Lakers over Rockets with Durant out

    Denver’s D: Joker & Murray boost scoring while Nuggets shut down Wolves to win Game 1

    East Winners: Spida’s 32 lead Saturday’s scorers, Brunson opens & KAT closes as Knicks, Cavs take Game 1’s

    ABC Doubleheader: Sixers, Celtics meet for record 116th Playoff game, Thunder’s road to repeat begins

    NBC Sunday Night Basketball: No. 1 Pistons clash with No. 8 Magic, Wemby makes Playoff debut

    BUT FIRST … ⏰

    Reloaded with four more Game 1’s…

    Scores & Schedule

    Sunday brings four more Game 1’s to get all first-round series underway.

    • ABC Doubleheader: No. 2 Celtics meet No. 7 Sixers (1 ET) and No. 1 Thunder start title defense vs. No. 8 Suns (3:30 ET)
    • SNB On NBC & Peacock: No. 1 Pistons clash with No. 8 Magic (6:30 ET) before Wemby makes his Playoff debut vs. No. 2 Blazers (9 ET)

    Playoff Bracket

    1. HOLLYWOOD NIGHT: LEBRON & LUKE SHOW TAKES GAME 1 FOR L.A.

    LeBron James, Luke Kennard

    Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images

    Houston and L.A. began their First Round series Saturday without the matchup’s top-3 scorers.

    In response, the game’s all-time leading scorer came out with seemingly one thing on his mind:

    Make something happen.

    Lakers 107, Rockets 98: James (19 pts, 8 reb) dished out eight 1st-quarter dimes, on his way to 13 total, and Luke Kennard netted Playoff career-highs of 27 points and 5 3s (100 3P%) to help the Lakers take a 1-0 lead.

    L.A. was without top scorers Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, while Houston missed Kevin Durant (knee contusion) after a practice collision. | Recap

    • “For me, I gotta do a little bit of everything,” LeBron said postgame. “That’s what the job requires. So that’s being a triple-threat: being able to rebound, being able to pass, being able to shoot. Also defend.”
    • James’ 5th assist – to Kennard – put him at the 2,100 mark for his Playoff career, joining only Magic Johnson as the only players to log that many
    • Getting to 8 in that 1st frame, LeBron set a career Playoff high for any quarter, and a Lakers record for most in any Playoff quarter in the play-by-play era
    • Finishing with 13, James became the first player age 41 or older with both double-digit assists and a points/assists double-double in a Playoff game
    LeBron & Bronny James

    Sean M. Haffey/NBAE via Getty Images

    The passing game wasn’t the only area where LeBron made history, as he and Bronny became the NBA’s first father-son duo to win a Playoff game together.

    • “That’s probably the craziest thing that’s ever happened to me in my career,” LeBron said of playing in the Playoffs with Bronny. “That’s just insane.”
    • Kennard’s Turn: The sharpshooter’s 27 points equal the 2nd-highest total ever for a player in his Lakers postseason debut, trailing Nick Van Exel by a bucket
    • Houston filled in for Durant with five 15+ point scorers, including Alperen Sengun (19), Amen Thompson (17), Reed Sheppard (17), Tari Eason (16) and Jabari Smith Jr. (16)

    Durant gets an extra day to heal his bruised knee, as the series picks up on Tuesday with Game 2 from L.A. (10:30 ET, NBC/Peacock).

    2. NUGGETS WIN GAME 1: 2ND-HALF SHUTDOWN COOLS RIVAL WOLVES

    Nikola Jokić

    Matthew Stockman/NBAE via Getty Images

    Nikola Jokić had 6 points at halftime. He finished with a 25-point triple-double.

    Jamal Murray went 0-for-8 from 3. He logged a game-high 30 points.

    Denver started 6-for-22 (27.3 FG%) from the field. They won by double-digits.

    Showing no panic, the 3-seed Nuggets let their game find its own way in time, and that paid off for a 1-0 First Round lead.

    Nuggets 116, Wolves 105: Denver shook off a quiet start to catch the Wolves by halftime and lead the rest of the way, with Joker (25 pts, 13 reb, 11 ast) and Murray guiding the group past Anthony Edwards (22 pts, 9 reb, 7 ast) and their rival Wolves.

    Not to be lost in Saturday’s Playoffs excitement, Denver has now won 13 straight games, dating back a full month to its last loss on March 18. | Recap

    • Cold Open: The Nuggets’ 6-for-22 start had them facing their largest deficit of the game (12 pts), and still trailing by double-digits going into the 2nd quarter
    • Tale Of Two Lines: With 3s not falling, Murray started driving, getting to the foul line eight times in his 14-point, 2nd-quarter rally. He finished 16-for-16 from the stripe
    • “We just had to keep shooting,” Murray said. “Myself included. I didn’t make a 3 today. But I didn’t stop shooting. And I was able to find guys and keep the defense on their toes.”
    • A Breakthrough: Then early in the 3rd, a 17-2 Denver run built a double-digit lead, with Jokić going on the attack for 12 of his 25 points in that quarter
    • Joker credited homecourt advantage: “Whenever we needed a little spark, [the fans] were behind our back, and I love to play in front of our crowds. I think they’re great.”

    Anthony Edwards

    From there, the Nuggets held the Wolves to just four made 3s and 43 points in the 2nd half. Minnesota had only seven halves all season of 43 points or fewer.

    • AE & KG: Edwards passed Kevin Garnett twice with his 237th career Playoff assist, in his 32nd career 20+ point playoff game, taking the franchise lead in both categories
    • Murray Joins Jokić: Murray reached his 20th career 30+ point Playoff game, joining Joker (35) as the only Nuggets ever with 20 or more such games
    • Jokić Tops MPJ: Joker passed former Nugget Michael Porter Jr. (166) for 2nd-most Playoff triples made in franchise history

    Game 2 from Mile High comes our way Monday night (10:30 ET, NBC/Peacock).

    3. EAST WINS: BRUNSON OPENS, KAT CLOSES, SPIDA LEADS ALL SCORERS

    Karl-Anthony Towns

    Elsa/NBAE via Getty Images

    Floater in the lane: ✅

    Contested wing 3-ball: ✅

    Fadeaway bank shot: ✅

    Transition triple: ✅

    Face-up fadeaway J: ✅

    Pull-up from long-range: ✅

    Jalen Brunson started Saturday 6-for-6 for 15 points in under 6 minutes.

    All that, and the Knicks were up just six, as both New York and Atlanta shot over 85% in the opening 4 minutes of their First Round series opener.

    Knicks 113, Hawks 102: Brunson scored 19 of his game-high 28 points in that 1st quarter, and Karl-Anthony Towns (25 pts, 8 reb) took control down the stretch, as New York outlasted CJ McCollum (26 pts, 4 3s) and Atlanta for a 1-0 series lead. | Recap

    • 2nd-Half KAT: After a 1-for-6 1st half, Towns took the baton from Brunson, scoring 19 of his 25 points in the 2nd half
    • “I was just rusty,” Towns said of his 1st half. “12 days, 13 days without playing… It takes a toll. So just trying to knock the rust off early in the game.”
    • It was Towns who sealed the win in the 4th, sinking a triple followed by an and-1 take for back-to-back 3-point plays, capping a 10-0 Knicks run and stretching their lead to 19
    • “I knew I was gonna get a chance to show what I could do in a pivotal moment,” said Towns. “I felt good about the 4th quarter and I’m glad I was able to make those shots for my teammates.”
    • JB Ties Clyde: Brunson recorded his 29th Playoff game of 25+ points as a Knick, tying Walt Frazier for the 2nd-most in franchise history. Only Patrick Ewing (43) has more

    New York and Atlanta tip off Game 2 at The Garden Monday night (8 ET, NBC/Peacock)

    Donovan Mitchell

    Jason Miller/NBAE via Getty Images

    With 2:01 remaining, the Cleveland crowd rose to its feet.

    The Cavs’ first unit subbed out to a standing ovation, up 16.

    Playoff basketball was back in The Land, celebrating a First-Round, Game 1 win for the third consecutive year.

    Cavaliers 126, Raptors 113: Donovan Mitchell poured in a game-high 32 points, setting an NBA record with his ninth straight 30+ point performance in a series opener, as the Cavs rolled to a 1-0 lead over RJ Barrett (24 pts), Scottie Barnes (21 pts, 7 ast) and the Raptors. | Recap

    • Applause-Worthy: Backing up Mitchell, Max Strus went for a Playoff career-high 24 pts, James Harden (22 pts) dished out 10 assists, and Evan Mobley (17 pts, 7 reb) controlled the paint
    • Go Time: In a 4-point game with 1:11 to play before halftime, Cleveland exploded into the 2nd half with a 27-9 carryover run, leading the rest of the way. Strus had 11 points (3 3s) in that decisive stretch
    • “Coming out in the 3rd quarter, we upped our intensity defensively,” Mitchell said of the getaway run. “And then obviously, offensively, we did what we do.”

    Mitchell’s record-setting nine-game, 30+ point streak in Game 1s has helped him to a 33.1 ppg average across 12 career Game 1s.

    This was his 32nd-career 30+ point Playoff game, and 13th for Cleveland, passing Kyrie Irving for 2nd-most in Cavs history.

    • “32 is 32, but I’m happy I got a steal…” Mitchell said. “I’m finding ways to get rebounds… Those are the little details that carry over to wins.”
    • Harden’s History: The Beard passed Larry Bird (3,897 pts) for 13th place on the NBA’s all-time postseason scoring list
    • “It’s tough for defenses to try to figure out which ways to guard both of us,” Mitchell said of his first Playoff pairing with Harden. “We gotta keep it up for the series.”

    James Harden

    4. TODAY ON ABC: 76ERS-CELTICS RIVALRY, CHAMPS START TITLE DEFENSE

    Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Maxey

    Isaiah Vazquez/NBAE via Getty Images

    The reunited 2024 champs and the Divisional rival who played them closer than anyone this season.

    The well-rested defending champions and the red-hot shooting squad who won the West Play-In Finale.

    ABC’s Playoff matineé doubleheader delivers on drama and deep storylines. Here’s what to watch for:

    (7) Sixers at (2) Celtics (1 ET): NBA Playoff Sunday tips off with the 116th postseason meeting of Philly and Boston, the most in NBA history.  The Celtics lead this series all-time, 66-50.

    The last time these two franchises met in the Playoffs, the 2023 East Semis went a full seven games, with Jayson Tatum delivering an iconic 50-ball to end it.

    • Jay & Jay: Scoring 20+ points in each of his last seven games, Tatum (21.8 ppg in 16 gm) is reunited with Jaylen Brown, who set career-highs (28.7 ppg) while leading the C’s all year
    • Before Tatum’s return, these two teams lived up to their thrilling history with three early season matchups, each decided by the final possession (2-1 PHI)
    • Philly’s Answer: The Sixers will look to attack with the duo of top-5 scorer Tyrese Maxey (28.3) and two-way talent VJ Edgecombe, the first rookie in 7+ years with 1100 points and 100 steals — not to mention Paul George, who’s averaged 21.2 ppg in his Playoff career
    Dillon Brooks, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

    Christian Petersen/NBAE via Getty Images

    Following Philly and Boston, OKC takes off on its road to two in a row.

    (8) Suns at (1) Thunder (3:30 ET): The reigning champs begin their quest to repeat, taking on Devin Booker, Jalen Green and the hot-shooting Suns.

    No NBA team has repeated since the Warriors in 2017-18, with seven straight unique champions since.

    • The Thunder are the NBA’s youngest champion in 50 years, and boast the league’s best defensive rating (106.5) since the 2019-20 Bucks, holding opponents 3.5 FG percentage points below the league average
    • Phoenix joins OKC with a top-10 defensive rating (112.9, 9th), while both teams rank top-5 in steals per game (9.5+)
    • The Reigning MVP: SGA is the first guard in NBA history to average 30+ ppg on 55% shooting. He also ranks 2nd in ppg (31.1), 2nd in iso ppg (8.3), 2nd in 30-pt games (43), and 1st in total clutch points (175)
    • Suns all-time leading scorer Devin Booker has the help of a hot hand in Jalen Green, who enters off the 2nd-ever back-to-back 35+ point performances in Play-In history

    5. SNB: NO. 1 PISTONS, NO. 8 MAGIC COLLIDE BEFORE WEMBY’S PLAYOFF DEBUT 

    Cade Cunningham, Paolo Banchero

    NBC & Peacock’s Sunday doubleheader features two of this Playoff field’s strongest contenders, in East 1-seed Detroit and West 2-seed San Antonio.

    But their respective First Round opponents are uniquely qualified to make this matchup tougher than seedings might suggest.

    (8) Magic at (1) Pistons (6:30 ET): Detroit begins its Playoff after its first 60-win season since 2006-07.

    The league leader in both steals (10.4) and blocks (6.4) per game, the Pistons operate with the identity of defensive physicality – something Orlando just utilized to overpower the Hornets in its Play-In win to get here.

    The Pistons are led by the rising All-Star duo of Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren.

    • Cade is back from his collapsed lung, and Detroit’s offensive engine was missed: The Pistons have a 120.4 OffRtg with Cade on-floor, and a 111.1 with him off; a 9.3-point swing
    • First-time All-Star Duren dominates the paint with the league’s 3rd-most PITP, while Ausar Thompson logged the most steals in a season (146) by a Piston since Ben Wallace in 06-07

    The Magic enter the series coming off a Play-In game statement, making their third straight Playoffs. The team split its four-game series with Detroit this season.

    • Paolo Banchero has 336 points through his first 12 career Playoff games (28.0 ppg), and led the way for Orlando in its Play-In win, with 12 first quarter points and a game-high 25 overall
    • Acquired last offseason, Desmond Bane has delivered offensively, leading the team in total points (1647) and total 3s (167), and ranking 2nd in assists (338)
    Victor Wembanyama, Deni Avdija

    Soobum Im/NBAE via Getty Images

    After a year of bending physics on the court — and transforming the Spurs into one of the league’s toughest teams — third-year superstar Victor Wembanyama’s about to make his debut on the league’s biggest stage: The Playoffs.

    (7) Blazers at (2) Spurs (9 ET): Wemby is set to make his first Playoff appearance against a Portland team that beat San Antonio once in three tries this season.

    • The Spurs return to the Playoffs for the first time since 2018–19, with their first 60-win season since 2016–17. They flipped from 60 losses to 60 wins in just two years
    • February March: Half those wins came in the final 2.5 months of this season, losing just four games after the start of February (30–4 record)
    • With Wemby on the floor, opposing teams shot 5.7% worse – the largest on/off difference of the decade – and the Spurs posted a 103.6 defensive rating, which would rank as the best in the league over a full season

    But it’s not just Wemby. He’s backed by a dynamic trio of guards.

    • Stephon Castle, the reigning Rookie of the Year, took a leap this season, increasing his points, rebounds, assists, and steals.
    • De’Aaron Fox, a two-time All-Star, finished second on the team in scoring and led the team in total clutch points.
    • Dylan Harper, the No. 2 overall pick in this year’s draft, provides a spark off the bench for this Spurs squad.

    Portland features the league’s third-best defense since the All-Star break, and an international All-Star on the rise, who’s coming off a huge performance.

    • Deni Avdija became the first player to record 40 points and 10 assists in a Play-In game, capping off a breakout year in which he joined Joker and Luka as the only players to average 24/6/6

     

  • ‘The Facts of Life’ Star Mindy Cohn Says She Is Fighting Cancer for a Second Time

    ‘The Facts of Life’ Star Mindy Cohn Says She Is Fighting Cancer for a Second Time

    Mindy Cohn took to Instagram on Sunday to reveal that she’s battling cancer for a second time.

    “Have been off social media for a while ‘cuz I had to go kick cancer’s ass,” Cohn wrote. “I did so with the extraordinary help of Providence Saint John’s hospital staff, especially my nurses Finja, Patty and Courtney and my hero, the phenomenal oncology surgeon [Anton Bilchik]…. Thank you to my family… who have been my advocates and always on the ready to help me when it’s ‘my turn.’ Recouping for another couple of weeks and then ready for my next adventure. Onwards! F**K Cancer!”

    In a 2017 interview with People, Cohn revealed that she had been secretly recovering from breast cancer for the past five years.

    “I kept that secret for a long time,” she said at the time. “I’ve always been an optimist, but the cancer metastasized. It kept spreading and coming back. I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop, and then it would. And then I’d wait for another shoe to drop, and it would. I was frustrated and enraged. I couldn’t control any of this. I couldn’t fix it.”

    Cohn is best known for playing Natalie Green on the NBC sitcom “The Facts of Life.” The show ran for nine seasons from 1979 to 1988. Most recently, she starred as Ann Holiday on the Apple TV+ series “Palm Royale.” She also appeared in the comedy film “Influenced” alongside Drew Barrymore and Gwyneth Paltrow.

    Cohn received several comments of support on her post from stars like Octavia Spencer, Rhea Seehorn, Chelsea Handler and Sarah Paulson.

  • Barack Obama Says His and Michelle’s Production Company Higher Ground Will Go Independent After Netflix Deal Ends

    Barack Obama Says His and Michelle’s Production Company Higher Ground Will Go Independent After Netflix Deal Ends

    Barack and Michelle Obama‘s production company Higher Ground is transitioning to an independent operation following eight years at Netflix.

    Barack Obama shared the news at an event held Saturday in Philadelphia that featured leaders in media, sports and entertainment as part of a celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States. Speaking on separate panels, both Barack and Michelle Obama talked about their work with Higher Ground.

    The former president specifically noted that after eight years of working exclusively with Netflix and being “very grateful for the launch that happened,” the Obamas are “in the process now of transitioning to a more independent [company] where we can work with a bunch of different studios.”

    The Hollywood Reporter has reached out to a rep for Higher Ground for comment.

    The Obamas inked their producing deal with Netflix in 2018. In 2024, Higher Ground and Netflix extended their partnership, with Higher Ground transitioning to a multiyear first-look deal for all of its film and TV projects.

    Higher Ground’s recent projects with Netflix include Oscar-nominated films Rustin, American Symphony and Crip Camp and the Oscar-winning and Emmy-winning film American Factory as well as the Will Forte series Bodkin and Sam Esmail’s apocalyptic thriller Leave the World Behind.

    More recently, Higher Ground has been setting up projects outside of Netflix, including the HBO sketch comedy series Life Larry, and the Pursuit of Unhappiness, from creator Larry David and Jeff Schaffer, which premieres in June. The project was was announced last month at SXSW during a panel with David and Schaffer.

    Saturday’s event in Philadelphia also featured Joe and Dr. Jill Biden, Bill and Hilary Clinton and George W. Bush as well as Nicole Kidman, Tina Fey, Colin Jost, Garth Brooks, Tom Brady, Ted Danson, Kate McKinnon, Jason Kelce, Jenna Bush Hager and Hoda Kotb.

    Abbey White contributed to this report.