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Harry Styles Defies Expectations With the Slow-Burning but Satisfying ‘Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally.’: Album Review

Superstars don’t stay relevant by doing what people expect, or even what their fans necessarily want. Crowd-pleasing is a fast track to becoming a nostalgia act, where an artist is trapped in a loop of playing to type (i.e. the hits and only the hits) year after year. It’s not a bad life — Paul McCartney, the Rolling Stones, Elton John and countless others are making millions playing their decades-old hits to adoring, affluent, increasingly older crowds, with new songs being an indulgence for them and a bathroom break for the fans.

But staying culturally relevant is a totally different game, one that requires a constant element of surprise, or at least the unexpected — a sense that the artist knows exactly what they’re doing, even if they’re not obvious about it. That combination of engagement and elusiveness, of knowing how much to say and how much to hold back, creates a tantalizing sense of mystery that keeps people curious, not only wanting more but wanting to know more.

That elusiveness is a big part of what keeps us engaged with the Beyoncés, Arianas, Lanas, Taylors and Kendricks of the world — not knowing what’s coming next, the anticipation of getting something unexpected and exciting, because what’s more exciting than getting something awesome that you didn’t even know you wanted? Of course, countless artists have tried to lead their audience into places the fans knew they didn’t want to go, and faceplanted accordingly. But the risk is also a big part of the reward — even if it can lead to some ambivalent reactions to one’s dancing ability.

Without putting Harry Styles in the same league as some of the above innovators, he has shown an unusually strong self-awareness in terms of his career, his audience and simply keeping people interested. After six years with One Direction, one of the biggest boy bands in history, his 2017 self-titled solo debut sounded like absolutely nothing he’d done before — not to mention nothing else on the charts — and gave him a clean slate from which he could go anywhere, yet “Fine Line” two years later found him shifting into the upbeat pop that fans probably expected from his debut. And although 2022’s “Harry’s House” continued in that musical vein, it arrived surprisingly quickly after the pandemic-delayed “Fine Line” tour, and basically made for a multi-year — and multimillion-dollar-spinning — extended album cycle.

So what’s the move with the fascinatingly punctuated “Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally.,” which comes out on Friday? Not what the title, or Styles’ stated inspirations from Berlin nightclubs, would lead people to expect, because there’s very little here that anyone would consider disco (albeit with one glorious exception we’ll get to in a moment).

There are a lot of upbeat songs, big drums, heavy bass and loud electronic noises to go with Styles’ alternately cheery or melancholy melodies, but the beats on this album tend to pound rather than groove; even the upbeat and promisingly titled “Ready Steady Go” stomps more than it swings. Throughout most of the album, there’s a sense of restraint, of holding back — even the songs with the heaviest beats would be almost impossible to dance to. There are lots of electronics, few guitars, and one song, “Coming Up Roses,” is a lovely ballad with Styles accompanied only by a piano and orchestra.

But in line with the sense of mystery and elusiveness mentioned above, it’s an album that reveals itself gradually, and there’s plenty for fans to grab onto. The shimmering pop songs “Taste Back” and “The Waiting Game” have the album’s sweetest melodies; “Pop” is driven by a Daft Punk-esque arpeggiated synthesizer hook; the closing “Carla’s Song” is the kind of track that could be an exuberant, set-closing, confetti-dropping finale in a more concert-friendly arrangement. Oddly, the memorably titled “Season 2 Weight Loss” is one of the least memorable songs.

Even more oddly, the one true banger — “Dance No More” — is the outlier in the batch. With a funky groove, ‘80s synthesizer stabs, party noises and a put-your-hands-in-the-air-wooo! chorus of “DJs don’t dance no more!,” it has a loose, fun, carefree vibe found nowhere else on the album. It’s a prime early candidate for Song of the Summer 2026 — and, perfectly on brand for this album, it’s sequenced way toward the end, the tenth of 12 songs (maybe to manage expectations?), and is followed by the slow, acoustic-guitar-led ballad “Paint by Numbers,” squelching the party vibe just as it was getting a late start.

Initially, fans may greet this album with confusion or hesitant enthusiasm, because it may not be what they were dreaming of or expecting. But do we really want the same birthday present every year? “Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally.” is actually the opposite of its opponent in pop’s 2026 heated rivalry: the new Bruno Mars album, which delivers — immediately, and on a silver platter — exactly what a majority of his fans presumably wanted. Styles could have done that easily — you can almost feel him not doing it, with the restrained vibe of many of the songs on this album — but artistically, he might be trying to play a longer game with songs that take some time to sink in.

However, his concerts are a different story — a musical group hug, filled with hits and sparkle and laughs and unselfconscious joyful dancing, and many of his songs often take on a different life onstage, where the heat and grit of a live band let them loosen up and swing. That will probably happen with a lot of the tracks here too — witness (in the unlikely event that anyone reading this hasn’t already) his performance of “Aperture” at the Brit Awards last weekend, which saw the low-key song transformed into an anthem.

So even if a lot of the songs on “Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally.” are a bit on the chill side, they almost definitely won’t be when he hits the stage. We’ll get to find out on Friday, when a one-off concert in England will be livestreamed in advance of the tour starting in earnest in May.

March 4, 2026
States Move to Restrict Access to HIV Medications and Care: What to Know
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Many states are limiting access to HIV medications through ADAP programs as federal funding has remained largely flat despite rising costs. Luis Alvarez/Getty Images
States are limiting or considering limits on programs that help people access HIV medications.

Reductions include lowering income eligibility thresholds, restricting drug coverage, and tightening enrollment rules.

Federal funding for HIV programs has remained largely flat for years, contributing to state budget shortfalls and is a key driver behind state-level restrictions.
Several states are cutting or considering reductions to programs that help people access HIV medications as federal funding has failed to keep pace with rising costs, according to a new report.

The February 2026 ADAP Watch report from the National Association of State and Territorial AIDS Directors (NASTAD), which tracks the fiscal health of state AIDS Drug Assistance Programs (ADAPs), warns that federal funding has “remained relatively unchanged over the last decade,” even as enrollment and healthcare costs have increased.

At least 18 states have already implemented cost-containment measures, and several others are weighing similar steps as budget shortfalls grow.
Several states have lowered income eligibility thresholds for their ADAPs or reduced the scope of covered medications, the report noted.

Florida, for example, recently reduced ADAP eligibility from 400% to 130% of the federal poverty level — a change estimated to affect more than 12,000 clients and leave many without direct access to antiretroviral medications or insurance premium assistance.

As part of its cost-containment strategy, the state has also dropped coverage of Biktarvy, a commonly prescribed single-tablet HIV regimen, and restricted coverage of Descovy to patients with specific clinical needs.

Other states have also tightened their rules. Pennsylvania lowered its eligibility from 500% to 350% of the federal poverty level, affecting roughly 1,600 clients.

Kansas has dropped its premium-assistance eligibility from 400% to 250%, while Delaware and Rhode Island have also reduced eligibility caps.

Some states have tightened recertification requirements or reduced formularies, including Arizona, Michigan, and Nevada, while several — such as Alaska and Oklahoma — have reinstated stricter six-month recertification policies.

In total, more than 20 states have adopted restrictions or are considering measures to reduce program spending.

The report points to flat federal funding for the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program as a key factor behind states’ cost-containment measures.

Although enrollment and medication costs have increased, federal appropriations have not kept pace, leaving states to shoulder more of the financial burden.

Those pressures follow broader federal funding reductions in HIV programs in recent years, including cuts to research and prevention initiatives.

In a press release, Carl Baloney, Jr., President and CEO of AIDS United, recently noted that sustained federal investment is essential to maintaining treatment access.

“Ending the HIV epidemic in the United States requires major investment from our federal government in HIV prevention, treatment, and support services in every state, county, and city in the country,” Baloney said.

“These investments prevent transmission, keep communities safe, save money over time by avoiding more expensive care later, and save lives. Each HIV infection prevented saves an estimated half-million dollars in lifetime treatment costs. Cutting public health infrastructure now is cutting our future,” Baloney continued.

ADAPs provide access to antiretroviral therapy and insurance assistance for low- and middle-income people living with HIV.

Consistent treatment enables people to achieve viral suppression, protecting their health and preventing transmission of the virus to others.

Reductions in eligibility, formulary changes, or limits on insurance assistance could disrupt medication access for some patients.

When treatment is interrupted, HIV can begin replicating again, weakening the immune system and increasing the risk of serious illness.

Interruptions may also increase the risk of drug resistance, potentially limiting future treatment options and making it harder to maintain current rates of viral suppression nationwide.
March 4, 2026
This Is How Much Sleep You Need to Lower Your Type 2 Diabetes Risk
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A recent study shows that getting between 7 to 7.5 hours of sleep may help lower your risk of diabetes. Image Credit: Artem Zhushman/Stocksy
A recent study suggested that 7 hours and 18 minutes of sleep may be the optimal amount to reduce the risk of insulin resistance, a precursor to type 2 diabetes.

The study noted that catching up on sleep on the weekend may actually increase the risk of impaired glucose metabolism.

Sleep, along with other lifestyle changes, can greatly reduce your risk of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.
There is a long-standing relationship between type 2 diabetes and sleep. Type 2 diabetes can disrupt your sleep, while certain sleep disorders can increase your risk of developing it.

“There are many benefits to getting adequate sleep. These include better cognitive function, emotional well-being, immune function, weight management, athletic performance, and even longevity,” Dav id Cutler, MD, board certified family medicine physician at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, CA, who was not involved in the study, told Healthline.

“Improved metabolic function and a lower risk of diabetes is also dependent on getting the right amount of sleep.”

A recent study published in the open-access journal BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care suggests that 7 hours and 18 minutes may be the “sweet spot” for reducing your risk of insulin resistance.

Insulin resistance is when cells in your muscles, fat, and liver don’t respond properly to insulin, leading to a buildup of glucose in your blood. This is a precursor to type 2 diabetes.

“Importantly, there appears to be a bidirectional relationship between sleep and metabolism. For instance, poor glycemic status itself has been linked to a higher likelihood of both short and extended sleep durations, as well as sleep disorders,” the researchers of the recent study said.

“This creates a potential vicious cycle wherein metabolic dysregulation disrupts normal sleep patterns, and the resultant abnormal sleep (including extended duration) further aggravates metabolic health.”
The researchers explain that the estimated glucose disposal rate (eGDR) is considered a reliable substitute for insulin resistance.

eGDR is a measure of insulin sensitivity. The higher the eGDR, the lower the risk.

The study’s researchers set out to investigate the association between weekday sleep duration and eGDR, as well as the moderating effects of weekend catch-up sleep.

The researchers categorized weekend sleep as:
none

up to 1 hour

1 to 2 hours

more than 2 hours
They calculated the eGDR using a formula that involved:

The average eGDR was 8.23. Individuals slept for an average of 7 hours and 30 minutes on weekdays. A little over 48% of participants reported catching up on sleep on the weekend. They slept for an average of 8 hours during this time.

Analysis of the data showed an inverted U-shaped relationship between sleep duration and eGDR. The “sweet spot” appeared to be at 7 hours 18 minutes.

Below this threshold, greater nightly sleep was associated with higher eGDR. Above the threshold, more nightly sleep was associated with a lower eGDR. This was particularly true among females and those between the ages of 40 to 59.

Further analysis showed that for those sleeping less than the optimal threshold during the week, 1 to 2 hours of catch-up sleep at the weekend was associated with a higher eGDR compared with no catch-up sleep.

For those who slept more than the optimal threshold during the week, 2 hours of catch-up sleep at the weekend was associated with a lower eGDR after accounting for potentially influential factors, such as:
lifestyle

ethnicity

marital status

educational attainment
“What a great study, and so good to see further evidence that the myth of 8 hours of sleep is too much. This supports a prior study between the U.K. and China, which also showed 7 hours to be optimal for mental health and cognitive performance,” said Alex Dimitriu, MD, double board certified in Psychiatry and Sleep Medicine and founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine, who was not involved in the study.

“In the end, our lives exist on a spectrum between sleep and wake — too much sleep is often linked to illness and depression, while too little sleep is linked to anxiety and insomnia. Our autonomic nervous system sets this balance, and here we see additional support for an optimal balance — around 7 hours of sleep.”

This was an observational study, which means that no firm conclusions about cause and effect can be drawn. The researchers acknowledged that the study relied on self-reported data. They also noted that they couldn’t rule out reverse causation, meaning that disrupted glucose metabolism may interfere with sleep rather than the other way around.

“These correlational findings suggest that sleep patterns, particularly weekend recovery sleep, may be relevant for metabolic regulation in diabetes and could inform considerations for healthcare professionals in managing patient care,” said the research team.

“Sleep loves regularity and rhythmicity — and is one of the biggest metabolic levers we have. This study adds further support for the importance of sleeping about 7 to 7.5 hours per night. No need to stress that you didn’t sleep 8 hours. But also, don’t let this be a slippery slope to start getting 6,” said Dimitriu.
Previous research has shown a direct link between sleep habits and type 2 diabetes.

Individuals with type 2 diabetes often experience issues with sleep. This can negatively affect their mood, health, and quality of life.

“Sleeping less than 7 hours may be associated with an elevated state of alertness, which also comes with elevated adrenaline and cortisol levels, all of which can raise blood glucose. Conversely, sleeping too much may be associated with other illnesses and lack of mobility — both of which can also have negative metabolic impacts,” said Dimtriu.

The reverse is also true, however. Sleep disorders, like obstructive sleep apnea, can increase the risk of metabolic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes.

“Diet and exercise are also major determinants in controlling the development of diabetes. But since poor sleep will often trigger a worse diet and a diminished capacity for exercise, focusing on sleep can target many birds with one stone,” said Cutler.
March 4, 2026
Highguard has raided its last fortress, will shutdown on March 12

Highguard, the live-service multiplayer shooter that was announced at the Game Awards 2025, is shutting down on March 12. Developer Wildlight Studios shared that the game would be winding down alongside details of its final update, which include a new character, weapon and skill trees.

“Today we’re sharing difficult news. We have made the decision to permanently shut down Highguard on March 12,” Wildlight Studios shared via a statement on the Highguard X account. “Since launch, more than two million players stepped into Highguard’s world. You shared feedback, created content, and many believed in what we were building. For that, we are deeply grateful. Despite the passion and hard work of our team, we have not been able to build a sustainable player base to support the game long term. Servers will remain online until March 12. We hope you’ll jump in with us one more time to show your support and get those final great matches in while we still can.”

When Highguard shuts down next week, it will have been available to play for a grand total of 46 days. That’s longer than the two weeks Concord received, but tragic for an online multiplayer game that was still in some form of active development. Wildlight Studios laid off some of its staff not long after Highguard launched, but a smaller team of developers has been supporting the game with new content since then, adding things like a “5v5 raid mode” and today’s final update.

While it’s easy to chalk up Highguard‘s failure to a shrinking appetite for live-service games or an inability to find an audience for the game’s mix of competitive hero shooter and MOBA strategy mechanics, the reality is more complicated. The first hint that Highguard‘s launch might be troubled was the dearth of information or marketing shared about the game after its debut at the Game Awards. Wildlight Studios’ staff was full of former Respawn employees who shadowdropped Apex Legends to great success, and Bloomberg reports Wildight’s executives thought they could pull off something similar with Highguard. The difference is, little was known about Apex Legends until after it launched, while players had over a month to stew on the Highguard trailer and form all sorts of opinions.

Wildlight’s inability to keep players coming back — SteamDB shows the game peaked at over 97,000 concurrent players and is now sitting at around 300 — also hurt its chances. Dwindling player counts reportedly played a role in one of Wildlight’s investors, Tencent, pulling funding, which reduced the runway the studio had to continue working on the game and likely prompted its layoffs. It would be simple if the lesson here was for future studios to give up developing online multiplayer games, but it really seems like not one, but all of these elements led to Highguard‘s ultimate demise.

March 4, 2026
Meta signs a multimillion dollar AI licensing deal with News Corp

Meta has signed an AI licensing deal with News Corp that will allow the Meta AI maker to use content from The Wall Street Journal and other brands in its chatbot responses and for training of its AI models. News Corp confirmed to Engadget that it had struck a deal with Meta, but didn’t provide specifics on the terms of the arrangement. According to The Wall Street Journal, Meta will pay News Corp. “up to $50 million a year” for a three-year deal that covers content from The Journal, as well as the media giant’s other brands in the US and UK.

News Corp previously struck a five-year deal with OpenAI that was valued at around $250 million. During a recent appearance at Morgan Stanley’s annual Technology, Media & Telecom (TMT) conference, News Corp CEO Robert Thomson hinted that the media company was in the “advanced stage with other negotiations.”

He described the company’s overall approach to such arrangements as “a woo and a sue” strategy, depending on whether companies want to pay for content or scrape it without permission. “We have what you might call a woo and a sue strategy,” he said. “We’ll woo you. We’d like you to be our partner. But if you’re stealing our stuff, we are going to sue you. So there’ll be a discount for those who hand themselves in, and there’ll be a penalty for those that resist.”

A spokesperson for Meta confirmed that the two companies had reached an agreement . The company, which has been reorganizing its AI teams as it looks to create its next model, has struck a number of licensing deals in recent months. It previously signed multi-year agreements with USA Today, People, CNN, Fox News and other outlets. The company said at the time that “by integrating more and different types of news sources, our aim is to improve Meta AI’s ability to deliver timely and relevant content and information with a wide variety of viewpoints and content types.”

Update, March 3, 2026, 4:18PM PT: This story was updated with additional information from a Meta spokesperson.

March 4, 2026
Ripple Announces Major Expansion in Payment Solution Ripple Payments
Ripple has announced a significant expansion of its enterprise payment solution, Ripple Payments.

The company announced that it offers an end-to-end stablecoin infrastructure by integrating custody, virtual accounts, and a combined fiat + stablecoin payment channel into the platform. According to Ripple, the platform is currently active in more than 60 markets and has processed over $100 billion in transaction volume to date.

The company claimed to offer a licensed and institutionally standardized infrastructure that unites traditional finance and the digital asset ecosystem under one roof. The statement noted that at a time when financial institutions are racing to implement stablecoin payments, Ripple stands out with its broad regulatory coverage, global network, and new product features.

Ripple recently strengthened its platform with the acquisitions of Palisade (custody and treasury automation) and Rail (virtual accounts and collection solutions). Thanks to this integration, customers can now:
- It can collect payments in fiat currency and stablecoins.
- They can store assets securely,
- It can perform currency/stablecoin conversions.
- Funds can be transferred to operational accounts through a single platform.
Additionally, named virtual accounts and wallets can be created, collection flows can be automated, and funds can be consolidated into a single account. Ripple President Monica Long stated that digital assets should be treated with the same seriousness as traditional finance, emphasizing that institutional-level infrastructure, licensing, and deep liquidity are critical in this area.

What are the New Features?

Managed Custody: Provides a secure and scalable wallet infrastructure for institutional clients. Enables high-speed transaction signing and automated transfer of funds to operational accounts.

Unified Collection: Businesses can accept fiat and stablecoin payments through named virtual accounts. Automated conversion and reconciliation processes are consolidated into a single account.

Advanced Liquidity Management: The platform enhances efficiency in cross-border payments by enabling timely and cost-effective liquidity transfers between assets.

Ripple stated that global stablecoin transaction volume reached $33 trillion last year, and stablecoins accounted for 30% of total on-chain transaction volume. This growth, it was noted, is accelerating the fintech ecosystem.

*This is not investment advice.
March 4, 2026
Trump held private meeting with Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong before urging banks to support crypto bill

A delegation from Coinbase, led by CEO Brian Armstrong, was at the White House on Tuesday, according to Crypto in America’s Eleanor Terrett.

The visit was reported hours after President Donald Trump issued a statement on Truth Social, urging banks to make a deal with crypto firms over the key crypto market structure bill.

It was confirmed by Politico that Trump had held a closed-door meeting with Armstrong before making his public comments.

In his remarks, Trump criticized banks for standing in the way of pro-crypto bills such as the GENIUS Act and the CLARITY Act, warning that delays could push innovation to countries like China and hurt American investors.

The CLARITY Act, which aims to establish a comprehensive federal framework for digital asset market structure and delineate jurisdictional boundaries between the SEC and CFTC, faces a major Senate stalemate due to unresolved disputes over stablecoin yield provisions.

Banks have pushed for a ban on stablecoin yields in a bid to curb deposit flight, whereas crypto figures like Armstrong have contended the push unfairly targets crypto firms.

Despite efforts by administration officials to mediate between banks and crypto companies, no resolution has been reached.

However, during his speech at the World Liberty Forum last month, Armstrong said a breakthrough in the bill talks may be near. He expressed optimism that negotiations are back on track, saying there is a “win-win-win” path forward for crypto firms, banks, and consumers.

Disclosure: This article was edited by Vivian Nguyen. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.

March 4, 2026
Christian Bale Weighs in on “Bold Choice” to Make a New ‘American Psycho’: “All the Best to ‘Em”

Christian Bale is giving his first thoughts on the new American Psycho movie coming courtesy of Luca Guadagnino.

In what may be his most famous performance, Bale starred as Patrick Bateman in the 2000 original film, and at the premiere of his movie The Bride! on Tuesday, Bale reacted to the news of a new adaptation.

“Whoever wants to give it a shot, give it a pop,” he told The Hollywood Reporter when asked if he had any young actors in mind for his role. “I loved making it with [director] Mary Harron so many years back, fantastic memories of it all. Bold choice of anyone to try to do a — I don’t know if they’re doing a remake or what, I don’t know anything else about it. But all the best to ’em, I like brave people.”

A new Patrick Bateman has not yet been cast, but Guadagnino teased the upcoming movie at CinemaCon last year. It is said not to be a remake of the Bale film, following an investment banker who lived a double life as a serial killer, but rather a new take on author Bret Easton Ellis‘ 1991 novel of the same name. Scott Z. Burns is writing the script. “We are really working hard to bring to the screen a new adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis’ American Psycho, a book that I deeply love that is something that influenced me so much,” Guadagnino said at the time.

Several members of the original American Psycho team have also previously reacted to the new adaptation news, with co-star Matt Rott noting, “It feels like a business venture more than anything else, but being that it’s based on a book, there can be multiple interpretations, so why not? I think they have their work cut out for them, for no other reason than Christian’s performance is exceptional.”

Producer Chris Hanley added, “Everybody’s calling me, going like, ‘How stupid to make [American Psycho].’ I’m not like that. Luca is a great director. He’s never made a bad movie.”

March 4, 2026
Demi Lovato and Keke Palmer Reflect on Their Inappropriate Age-Gap Relationships as Teens: “I Was Being Exploited”

Demi Lovato and Keke Palmer are realizing just how much they have in common as fellow child stars, including some not-too-positive experiences.

During a recent conversation on the Baby, It’s Keke Palmer podcast, the two stars reflected on the challenges of growing up in the entertainment industry at a young age. Palmer led the Nickelodeon sitcom True Jackson, VP as a teen, and Lovato starred in the Camp Rock movies on Disney Channel and the sitcom Sonny with a Chance.

“I became the breadwinner of my family just by proxy. You know what I mean? It’s just what happened,” Palmer recalled. “They had to help with my career and we’re seeing money that we never had seen. That stress for me, especially not being able to process it, was a big triggering point. And then never wanting to be sad or make anybody feel bad about it because I don’t want them to be stressed. And then not having a lot of time to have fun and be a kid.”

Lovato knew exactly where The ‘Burbs actress was coming from. “I actually had this mantra that was like, if you’re going to work me like an adult, I’m going to party like an adult. And I got into some bad stuff at a young age,” she said, referring to her past struggle with substance abuse.

Despite being teens, they both agreed that other people their age couldn’t relate to their lifestyle and working adult hours, leading them to seek connection with people much older.

“I found myself dating. I’m 15, why was my boyfriend 20?” Palmer recounted. “We were trying to find outlets, though, and a way to process this.”

Lovato replied, “Why was my boyfriend 30? … Nobody our age could understand. But then you look back in hindsight — when I turned 30, I was like, ‘That’s not OK.’”

Palmer remembered thinking these age-gap relationships were “normal in my mind” at the time because “you’re mature for your age,” but now realizes how inappropriate they were.

“The moment when you realize, and you get to the age of a lot of people that were around you and doing stuff, it’s almost a mental break that can happen,” she said. “Because you realize, ‘You were taking advantage of me.’ ‘Oh, I was being exploited.’ At 15, I’m thinking, ‘My boyfriend’s older, because I’m doing an older job … This is the way it is.’ It seemed normal in my mind.”

The Nope actress later shouted out Hilary Duff’s new song, “Mature,” from her recently released album, Luck … or Something. “I love the Hilary Duff song that she came out with,” Palmer said. “It’s like, ‘Oh, shit, we all had the same damn life.’ People kept telling us, ‘You’re so mature for your age!’”

Duff, who also starred on Disney Channel growing up in Lizzie McGuire, recently told Glamour that her track “Mature” was “about a relationship that I had … with someone older than me, and that was not illegal, but inappropriate when you have this much time removed from it.”

Lovato related to Duff’s song, telling Palmer that she also wrote a single, titled “29,” about turning the age of her ex-boyfriend at the time they started dating when she was a teen. It was released in 2022. Lovato is now married to songwriter Jordan “Jutes” Lutes.

March 4, 2026
Starting 5: Throwback Tuesday on NBC, Murray drops 45, Celtics spoil Giannis’ return
Stepback Monday. Throwback Tuesday.

Before NBC’s throwback broadcast tonight for Spurs-Sixers (8 ET | Tap to Watch), Jamal Murray delivered a classic scoring clinic for Denver.

5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION 🏀

Mar. 3, 2026

Monday Fire: Murray erupts to edge Utah in crunch time, C’s overcome Giannis’ return to stay rolling

Roundup: Rockets quartet combines for 103, Clippers rally in Garland’s debut

Coast 2 Coast Tuesday: A blast from the past meets two young superstars, Suns seek key win at Kings

On League Pass: An emerging Cavs connection faces Cade, Duren and the East-best Pistons

Power Rankings Spotlight: Schuhmann breaks down the Wolves’ recent rise, more Tuesday matchups

BUT FIRST … ⏰

A stacked slate…

Ten games tip off tonight, headlined by NBC’s throwback broadcast for Spurs at Sixers (8 ET | Tap to Watch), featuring Bob Costas, Doug Collins, Mike Fratello and other notable NBC voices.

Coast 2 Coast Tuesday wraps with the Suns visiting the Kings (8 PT | Tap to Watch).

(New) LeBron Tracker: LeBron James is 11 FGM away from passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (15,837) for the most in NBA history.

That would make him the all-time leader in points, field goals, 10-pt games, 20-pt games and 30-pt games. To see the historical leaders in FGM, tap here.

1. MONDAY FIRE: MURRAY POPS OFF, CELTICS SPOIL GIANNIS’ RETURN

On a two-game skid amid a heated West race, the Nuggets entered Monday searching for a spark.

Instead, Jamal Murray delivered a full-blown inferno.

Nuggets 128, Jazz 125: Murray scored 17 in the 1st half, but Denver still found itself down one, with Keyonte George (36 pts, 14-22 FG) feeling it for Utah.

Then Murray leveled up, dropping 28 in the 2nd half while shooting 8-of-10 from the field with five 3s, before sinking the go-ahead free throws with 32 ticks left to give Denver a timely road dub. | Recap
- Golden Hand: Murray finished with 45 points, 8 assists and 8 3s, including 18 points in the 3rd to flip the game
- Denver Duo: Nikola Jokić added 22 points, 12 boards and 5 dimes, as he and Murray scored Denver’s final 16 points to outduel George in a back-and-forth finish
- Big Buckets: It’s Murray’s seventh career 45+ point game, matching Carmelo Anthony for the 3rd-most in Nuggets history, while trailing only Jokić (12) and Alex English (8)
Gary Dineen + Patrick McDermott/Getty Images

Bigger Picture: Two of Murray’s seven 45-point outings have come this season – coinciding with his first All-Star nod – as he’s averaging career highs in points (25.7), rebounds (4.4), assists (7.3), and field goal percentage (48.4).
- The Murray Effect: The leap has Denver posting an NBA-best 120.5 ppg, despite missing Jokić for 16 outings, as the Nuggets sit just one game back of Houston for 3rd in the West
- “It was a Jamal night,” said Nuggets coach David Adelman postgame. “I love these nights because he has these in him. He can take over a game … and that’s what we needed.”
Gary Dineen + Patrick McDermott/Getty Images

Giannis is back, but the C’s refuse to slow down.

Celtics 108, Bucks 81: After missing 5+ weeks with a calf strain, Giannis Antetokounmpo made his presence felt right away, powering his way to the rack early en route to 19 points and 11 boards in 25 minutes.

But Boston was too much, as Payton Pritchard (25 pts, 9 ast, 5 3s) and rookie Hugo González (18 pts, 16 reb, 3 stl, 2 blk) led six double-digit scorers in a near wire-to-wire win, despite being without Jaylen Brown (illness). | Recap
- C’s Surging: It’s the Celtics’ seventh win in eight games as they improve to an NBA-best 12-2 since Jan. 30
- Winning Both Ways: Boston leads the league in OffRtg this season (120.3). Amid its 12-2 run, its defense has followed suit, allowing an NBA-best 96.4 ppg
- Clamps Of Its Own: That’s nearly 10 points fewer than the next closest team in that span (NYK: 106.07 ppg allowed)
2. ROUNDUP: ROCKETS CORE COOKS, CLIPS RALLY BACK

In D.C., Houston’s quartet took over to hold 3rd in the West.

Rockets 123, Wizards 118: Alperen Sengun (32 pts, 13 reb) and Kevin Durant (30 pts, 7 reb) combined for 62 points, while Amen Thompson (22 pts, 12 reb) and Reed Sheppard (19 pts, 10 ast, 6 stl, 2 blk) shined on both ends, as the Rockets outpaced the Wiz for their fourth win in five games. | Recap
- Sheppard Spark: It’s a career-high in steals for Sheppard, who is the youngest Rocket to post 15+ pts, 10+ ast, and 5+ stl in a game
- Wild West: At 38-22, Houston is a half-game up on 4th-place Minnesota and one game up on 5th-place Denver
The Clips keep closing the gap in the NBA SoFi Play-In Tournament race out West.

Clippers 114, Warriors 101: After trailing by 17 in the 2nd quarter, Kawhi Leonard scored 15 of his team-high 23 points in the 2nd half, where LA outscored Golden State 72-45 to earn a key comeback dub. | Recap
- Garland’s Debut: In his Clippers debut, Darius Garland tallied 12 pts, 2 reb and 2 ast off the bench, as LA’s reserves scored 52 points
- Benn Boost: That included 17 points and 7 boards from Bennedict Mathurin, who continues to excel with LA, averaging 18.8 ppg with his new team
- Gaining Ground: It’s the Clippers’ second straight win, moving them just 1.5 games back of the Warriors for 8th
3. COAST 2 COAST TUESDAY: SPURS AT SIXERS THROWBACK, SUNS VISIT KINGS

Brian Sevald + Isaiah Vazquez/NBAE via Getty Images

Tonight (8 ET), a blast from the past meets two teams – and stars – shaping the now.

NBC turns back the clock when the Spurs visit the Sixers, featuring a vintage broadcast led by Bob Costas, Doug Collins, Mike Fratello and other classic NBC voices from the 1990s and early 2000s.

But this is more than a throwback – it’s a duel between two Playoff contenders led by young superstars, catapulting their franchises forward.
- Then: At the turn of the century, the Spurs and Sixers were defined by rising generational talents – Tim Duncan and Allen Iverson – one a steady anchor, the other an electrifying guard
- Now: Those contrasting blueprints are back, with a transcendent big leading San Antonio in Victor Wembanyama and a lightning bolt jolting Philly in Tyrese Maxey
Full Circle: Wemby and Maxey aren’t just following legendary footsteps – they’re matching record production, joining the stars who came before them.
- The Alien Fundamental: Last Thursday, Wemby became the first player since Duncan to record 1,000+ points, 500+ rebounds and 125+ blocks through the first 45 games of a season
- The Answer Maxed: That same night, Maxey passed Iverson for the most 3s in Sixers history. They are now the only Sixers to tally 1,600+ points and 115+ steals through the first 58 games of a season
- “AI is someone we’ve all looked up to,” said Maxey on Thursday. “Who I’ve looked up to being a small guard. To be able to pass him in anything in basketball – that’s cool.”
The parallels run deeper, showing up not just in numbers, but in style and impact.
- Turbo Charged: This season, Maxey leads the league in fast break points and points off turnovers – categories Iverson also topped in 2000-01 en route to the Kia MVP
- Anchor Excellence: That same year, San Antonio led the league in DefRtg with Duncan manning the middle
- Another Force: This season, the Spurs rank 3rd in DefRtg (110.5). With Wemby on the floor, that number improves to 105.3 – a figure that would top OKC’s NBA-best 106.1 DefRtg
That impact has translated to wins.

After missing the postseason last year, both teams are back in the Playoff picture, with San Antonio holding 2nd out West and Philly sitting 6th in the East.

Like Duncan and Iverson, both teams’ stars are driven by the same goal.
- “I just want to win,” said Maxey in January. “I leave it all out on the court every single night. That’s the legacy I want to leave behind.”
- “Winning is so important to me,” said Wemby last month. “It’s just how I’m built … I’ll do whatever it takes.”
Kate Frese + Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images

The second leg of NBC’s Coast 2 Coast Tuesday brings more Playoff implications as the West’s 7th-place Suns seek a timely win in Sacramento (10 PT).
- Hanging Tough: Despite being without Devin Booker (since Feb. 10) and Dillon Brooks (since Feb. 21) for multiple games, Phoenix has held firm in 7th, just 2 games back of the Lakers for the final guaranteed Playoff spot
- Stepping Up: They’ve done it with Grayson Allen (23 | 3 GP), Collin Gillespie (16.2) and Jalen Green (15.4) combining for 54.6 ppg over the last five outings
- Calling Card: Phoenix’s top-10 defense continues to set the tone, holding each of its last four opponents to 110 points or fewer, capped by a last-second win against the Lakers
Now, the Suns will look to knock off another West foe in Sacramento, which has earned two dubs in its last four games.

4. ON LEAGUE PASS: EAST ELITE COLLIDE IN CLEVELAND

A battle of beasts approaches in the East.

Both sit in the top four of the conference standings, with both teams powered in part by dynamic guard-center duos.

Tonight (7 ET, League Pass), the Pistons and Cavaliers meet at Rocket Arena as 1st- and 4th-place teams, respectively, running back Detroit’s overtime win last Friday. Their sights are equally set on the Playoffs and beyond.

On one side is the All-Star partnership of Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren.
- Pivotal Parts: Cunningham is an elite scorer-facilitator with 25.5 points and 9.8 assists per game, while Duren averages a double-double (18.5 pts, 10.7 reb)
- Well-Oiled Machine: With them both on the floor, Detroit is posting a 123.3 OffRtg, along with a +12.6 NetRtg
- Side Of Jam: The 5th-year guard and 4th-year center entered Monday with 31 alley-oops this season, the most of any duo in the league
- “There’s a lot of them where I’m shocked he goes and gets them,” Cunningham said.
- “He throws me bad passes, for real, for real,” joked Duren. “But I just catch them.”
On the other side is a budding bond between James Harden and Jarrett Allen.
- Sharpened Swords: Cleveland is 7-1 with Harden in the lineup, reaping rewards from the 11-time All-Star’s 24.5 points and 8.1 assists per game this season
- Big-Man Boost: Jarrett Allen had averaged 13.9 ppg this season before Harden’s arrival. But since the Beard’s debut, that mark has improved to 21.5
- Cav Camaraderie: With Harden and Allen on the floor, the Cavs have produced a 123.3 OffRtg, in addition to a +19.5 NetRtg
- “He’s one of the best guards to play with as a big man,” Allen said. “And he just came in and made so many looks of mine easy.”
- “He has so much touch around the rim,” Harden said. “That’s one of the most underrated parts of his game.”
More Heavyweights Meet: Another top-5 East showdown tips off on League Pass (7:30 ET), as the 5th-place Raptors host the 3rd-place Knicks, with New York 14-4 in its last 18 games.

5. POWER RANKINGS SPOTLIGHT: WOLVES KEEP CLIMBING

Justin Ford/NBAE via Getty Images

The Wolves aren’t just surging up the West standings – they’re also climbing John Schuhmann’s latest Power Rankings.

In the last 22 days, Minnesota has dropped just one game – a stretch fueled not just by a red-hot Anthony Edwards, but by balance and continuity on both ends, writes Schuhmann:

The Wolves went 3-0 on a trip out West last week, climbing into 4th place in the West with their win in Denver on Sunday afternoon. They’ve won six of their last seven games overall and six of their last seven on the road.

… Their starting lineup has now played 621 minutes together, 152 more than any other lineup in the league. | Read More

Tonight on League Pass (8 ET), Edwards and the Wolves host the Grizzlies, with Minnesota just a half-game back of Houston for 3rd in the West.

Adam Pantozzi + Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images

Chasing History: Five more games get underway on League Pass, with superstars LeBron James and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander eyeing major milestones.

In Los Angeles, James leads the Lakers against the Pelicans (10:30 ET), entering the night 11 field goals away from passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (15,837) for the most in NBA history.

In Chicago, the Thunder face the Bulls (8 ET), with SGA seeking his 124th straight 20-point game, which would put him two shy of Wilt Chamberlain’s all-time record (126 straight games).

Meanwhile, the surging Hornets host the Mavs (7 ET), while the Wizards meet the Magic (7 ET) and the Nets visit the Heat (7:30 ET).
March 3, 2026