Can Lakers beat the Thunder? What we learned from series vs. Rockets

LeBron Jamesand theLos Angeles Lakersbounced back in a big way to avoid playing Game 7 of their Western Conference first-round series against theHouston Rockets.

James had 28 points, eight assists and seven rebounds asthe Lakers beat the Rockets 98-78on Friday, May 1. It was his league-record 157th playoff game with at least 25 points, five rebounds and five assists.

The Lakers played with a sense of urgency and energy that was missing from their home loss on Wednesday.

“My mindset was to play with aggression,” James said during a postgame interview on Prime. “(The Rockets) changed the aggression level in Games 4 and 5. … Most of our guys haven't been in a close-out game situation. … So I had to come out and set the tone for my team and just try to find a way to close this thing out.”

The Lakers will be asked to produce the same level of energy if they want to compete with the defending champions, theOklahoma City Thunder, in the second round.

The NBA playoffs bring out more than high‑stakes basketball, as stars showcase their sneaker style on the league’s biggest stage.

See the coolest kicks worn during the 2026 NBA Playoffs, where footwear becomes part of the spotlight.

Above, The shoes of Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks are seen during the first half of Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs against the Atlanta Hawks at Madison Square Garden on April 18, 2026, in New York City.

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Coolest kicks of the NBA playoffs as stars show their sneaker style

The NBA playoffsbring out more than high‑stakes basketball, as stars showcase their sneaker style on the league’s biggest stage.See the coolest kicks worn during the 2026 NBA Playoffs, where footwear becomes part of the spotlight.Above, The shoes of Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks are seen during the first half of Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs against the Atlanta Hawks at Madison Square Garden on April 18, 2026, in New York City.

The Lakers must continue to get strong contributions from players such as Rui Hachimura, who helped neutralize the Rockets and kept them from having any chance of battling back into the game with several big shots. Hachimura finished with 21 points and six rebounds. He shot 5-of-7 from the 3-point line.

The Lakers will need all the rest they can get before the series with the Thunder begins on Tuesday, May 5, in Oklahoma City. The three days off won’t be enough time to get guard Luka Doncic back, though.

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Doncic has not played since suffering a hamstring injury on April 2 in a blowout loss to the Thunder during the regular season.

Without the guard, Los Angeles will be tasked with overcoming the Thunder's defense and finding a way to generate enough offense to match the likes of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Austin Reaves will be asked to shoulder some of that offensive responsibility. He made his return to the Lakers on Wednesday for Game 5 after missing time due to a left oblique muscle strain. He returned to the starting lineup in Game 6.

Reaves has 37 points, eight assists and seven rebounds combined in his first two games back. He will need to round back into form at the 3-point line, where he's made just 2-of-12 this week.

The Thunder will enter the series well-rested, having swept the Phoenix Suns. OKC will enter the second round having had a full week off.

The Thunder could also see the return of Jalen Williams in the series. He has not played since April 22 due to a hamstring strain.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:What's next for Lakers after win over Rockets? Thunder await

byJastin

in

May 02, 2026

Can Lakers beat the Thunder? What we learned from series vs. Rockets

LeBron Jamesand theLos Angeles Lakersbounced back in a big way to avoid playing Game 7 of their Western Conference first-round series a...

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Jacob Misiorowski injury update: Brewers optimistic they avoided disaster

Jacob Misiorowskiavoided a major injury, and perhaps won't have to miss any time on the mound at all.

Milwaukee Brewersmanager Pat Murphytold reportersSaturday, May 2 that he thinks Misiorowski's "going to be fine," some 15 hours after theright hamstring injury the right-hander sufferedthe night before, when he took a no-hitter into the sixth inning of theBrewers' 6-1 victory over the Washington Nationals.

Misiorowski, 24, was overpowering most of the night, striking out eight, retiring the last 11 batters he faced, averaging 101 mph on his fastball in the first inning and throwing 43 pitches between 100 and 103 mph. He did not know he had a no-hitter when he struck out the first batter of the sixth, and then, after throwing one pitch to leadoff hitter James Wood, motioned for a trainer to come out.

That sent a chill through the Brewers dugout – and the industry at large – given Misiorowski's high-velocity repertoire and the inherent risk involved. But the injury did not involve his golden arm.

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Instead, he exited due to a barking hamstring, at least for the moment keeping the Brewers' extensive injury list a little lighter. Veteran right-hander Brandon Woodruff was placed on the IL with shoulder inflammation Friday, and the club is also awaiting the return of Quinn Priester, who is on a rehab assignment.

Milwaukee Brewers catcher Gary Sanchez wears a special chest protector to commemorate Jackie Robinson Day during the game against the Toronto Blue Jays at American Family Field on April 15, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> The Pittsburgh Pirates' Konnor Griffin celebrates with a traffic cone after making his major-league debut in a 5-4 defeat of the Baltimore Orioles at PNC Park on April 3, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Cleveland Guardians players warm up as the launch of NASA's Artemis II is shown on the center-field video board at Dodger Stadium on April 1, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Two F-35C planes from Air Test and Evaluation Squadron NINE Detachment Edwards Air Force Base perform a flyover before the Opening Day game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on March 26, 2026.

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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season

Despite the injuries – including the potential loss of key reliever Angel Zerpa to season-ending arm surgery – the Brewers entered Saturday 17-14.

Misiorowski, a 6-7, 200-pounder, leads the major leagues in strikeouts (59 in 38 innings), strikeout percentage (37.2%) and whiff percentage (39.5%). His lone IL stint came in August 2025 due to a left tibia contusion, though he returned shortly thereafter.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Jacob Misiorowski injury update: Brewers ace avoids injury list

byJastin

in

May 02, 2026

Jacob Misiorowski injury update: Brewers optimistic they avoided disaster

Jacob Misiorowskiavoided a major injury, and perhaps won't have to miss any time on the mound at all. Milwaukee Brewersmanage...

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The story behind Lady Gaga's next-level 'Devil Wears Prada 2' cameo

Spoiler alert! We're discussing details about a major cameo in “The Devil Wears Prada 2” (in theaters now). Stop reading now if you haven’t seen the movie yet and don’t want to know what happens.

It’s been the worst-kept secret in Hollywood.

Over the last few weeks,Lady Gagahas sparked feverish speculation that she would make a cameo in “The Devil Wears Prada 2.” In early April, she released the soundtrack’s pulsing lead single “Runway,” a house-pop stomper with rapper Doechii. And early last week, the superstar walked the red carpet at the sequel’s glitzy New York premiere.

Now, we can confirm that Gaga does indeed appear briefly in the new movie as herself.

After a slew of budget cuts, Runway magazine can no longer afford to fly John Legend and his piano to Italy to perform during their show at Milan Fashion Week. At the suggestion of right-hand man Nigel (Stanley Tucci), editor-in-chief Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep) reluctantly agrees to call in a favor and ask Gaga, even though she says that Gaga is "impossible" and that her last Runway cover nearly "killed me."

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The two women briefly congregate backstage for an amusingly chilly meeting. "I was surprised to hear from you," Gaga dryly tells Miranda. "You don't like me."

"Oh, what an absurd notion," Miranda responds with a forced laugh. "You are such a favorite, and we are so grateful that you're doing this for us."

"Well, of course I'm doing it," Gaga says. "Nigel said I'd never get another cover if I didn't do it."

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Miranda leaves the dressing room with a half-hearted "break a leg," and Gaga snaps at her team, "Who let her in here?!"

As models strut down a circular runway, Gaga takes the stage to perform “Shape of a Woman” − one of three new songs that she recorded for “Prada 2,” including end-credits anthem “Glamorous Life.”

Simone Ashley, who plays Miranda’s new assistant Amari, says it was “an amazing honor” to share the screen with both Gaga and Streep backstage at the fashion show.

“I wasn’t actually meant to be in that scene,” Ashley recalls. “I was in my sweats eating an orange when one of the [assistant directors] came in like, ‘We need you in the scene! It’s Gaga day!’” As it turns out, “she is the most wonderful, grounded, kind human being. To get to work with her and Meryl, it was just like, ‘Don’t fall down! Don’t fall down!’ ”

Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Stanley Tucci and Emily Blunt stepped out on April 22, 2026, to celebrate "The Devil Wears Prada 2" at the film's European premiere in London. See their red carpet looks.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Meryl Streep (from left), Anne Hathaway, Stanley Tucci and Emily Blunt.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Anne Hathaway and Donatella Versace

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Lady Amelia Spencer (from left), Lady Kitty Spencer and Lady Eliza Spencer.

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'The Devil Wears Prada 2' cast lights up London at European premiere

Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Stanley Tucci and Emily Blunt stepped out on April 22, 2026, to celebrate"The Devil Wears Prada 2"at the film's European premiere in London. See their red carpet looks.

Costume designer Molly Rogers was similarly verklempt after encountering the 16-time Grammy winner.

“I have never felt so fangirl,” Rogers says with a chuckle. “I literally wasn't functioning like my normal self. I mean, I'm in fitting rooms with Meryl and Emily Blunt and Annie Hathaway, but Gaga? She is next level. We went to see her in concert and I was just daunted by her. She was looking at me like, ‘So what’re we going to do?’ And I was like, ‘Whatarewe going to do?!’ ”

Gaga is dressed in archival Versace during her extravagant performance. But because she was in the middle ofher Mayhem Ball tourwhen “Prada 2” filmed last summer, Rogers also wanted to incorporate some elements of her “Mayhem” album era into the movie. As a result, she wears a jewel-encrusted headpiece and carries a cane reminiscent ofher “Abracadabra” video.

“We found that sequined helmet in this crazy rental place in Rome,” Rogers recalls. “We went in there and just raided it, because it was all about giving her a heightened concert moment.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Lady Gaga, Meryl Streep share moment in 'Devil Wears Prada 2' cameo

byJastin

in

May 02, 2026

The story behind Lady Gaga's next-level 'Devil Wears Prada 2' cameo

Spoiler alert! We're discussing details about a major cameo in “The Devil Wears Prada 2” (in theaters now). Stop reading now if you...

Read More