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At the turn of the century, it was Allen Iverson who served as the bridge between hip-hop and basketball while also boasting a massive amount of pop culture influence. Part of the influence came after he retired, when the Philadelphia 76ers icon inspired Post Malone’s breakout hit “White Iverson” in 2015. A decade later, Posty […]
The New York Knicks are riding hot as a rocket blast in the 2025 NBA Playoffs, and Nick Jonas has an inkling that his role in Broadway‘s The Last Five Years might have something to do with the team’s success.
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“OK, so real quick: The Knicks are in the playoffs, and they could advance to the next round if they win their game against the Celtics tonight,” the superstar explained in an Instagram video posted Wednesday (May 14). “During rehearsals for The Last Five Years, I said to our director, ‘I really think Jamie,’ my character, ‘should be a New York basketball fan.’ And she was like, ‘Great. What team?’
“And I was like, ‘Well, hmm…good question, what team.’ And eventually we decided to make Jamie a Knicks fan,” the pop singer-turned-Broadway star continued.
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From his dressing room, Jonas then showed off a vintage Knicks crewneck found by The Last Five Years costume designer Dede Ayite, explaining that he wears the shirt during every performance of “Moving Too Fast,” one of Jamie’s first big musical numbers in the show.
“So I’m not saying that the Knicks are in the playoffs and could potentially go to the next round because of The Last Five Years and because of this,” he then concluded, gesturing to his costume. “But coincidence? I think not.”
While the Knicks ultimately lost Wednesday night’s game, they’re still currently leading the Celtics 3-2 in the Eastern Conference semifinals, and will have home court advantage going into Game 6 on Saturday night (May 16) at Madison Square Garden.
Meanwhile, Jonas has six more weeks of his run on Broadway before The Last Five Years closes its limited engagement at the Hudson Theatre on June 22. After that, he’ll segue full force into album mode, with the Jonas Brothers’ seventh LP, Greetings from Your Hometown, set for release Aug. 8 — two days before the kickoff of JONAS20: Living the Dream Tour, the North American trek celebrating their 20th anniversary as a band.
Check out Jonas’ witty theory before it expires on his Instagram Stories here.
Michael Jordan will bring his years of basketball excellence and experience to television screens in the next NBA season after NBC Sports made a big announcement. Michael Jordan will join the network’s team as a special contributor covering NBA action.
The announcement was made on Monday (May 12) and highlights that Michael Jordan will be joining the NBA on NBC roster, with Air Jordan sharing in a statement his feelings on the new partnership.
“I am so excited to see the NBA back on NBC. The NBA on NBC was a meaningful part of my career, and I’m excited about being a special contributor to the project. I’m looking forward to seeing you all when the NBA on NBC launches this October,” Jordan said.
The NBA launched a series of new deals with various networks, and the revival of the NBA on NBC brand was part of the updated coverage formats. Jordan, a six-time NBA champion and Hall of Famer, will join former NBA stars Jamal Crawford, Reggie Miller, and Carmelo Anthony in analyst roles. Mike Tirico and Noah Eagle will provide play-by-play calls for games.
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Photo: Don Juan Moore / Getty
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Source: Boston Globe / Getty / Jayson Tatum
It’s not looking good for the Boston Celtics right now. After a strong regular season, they were heading into the playoffs with a high chance of repeating as NBA champions. Now, they are on the brink of elimination and will likely have to pull off the impossible without their star player, Jayson Tatum.
The Boston Celtics came into their Conference Semifinals matchup with the New York Knicks as prohibitive favorites. However, they flopped in both home games, surrendering 20-point leads, allowing Jalen Brunson and the Knicks to steal two games in TD Garden.
The Celtics did find their form in Game 3 and didn’t relinquish their massive lead, smoking the Knicks in Madison Square Garden, leaving many to believe they have found their groove.
Then came Game 4, which was a repeat of Games 1 and 2, but this time the Celtics will limp back to Boston down 3-1 and likely without superstar Jayson Tatum, who left the game with what looked like a serious non-contact leg injury, an unfortunate end for what was one of his best games in the series.
After he was taken off the court, a visibly emotional Tatum was wheelchaired back to the Celtics locker room, covering his face to hide his tears.
The Sports World Reacts To Jayson Tatum’s Scary Injury
The reactions to the scary injury, many speculate, could be a torn Achilles, were instant, with names like LeBron James, Patrick Mahomes, and more all throwing up prayers for the NBA champion.
There’s still no word on the severity of Tatum’s injury, with his head coach, Joe Mazulla, saying his star player will undergo an MRI. But if the Celtics can extend it, chances are very high we will not see Big Deuce for Game 4 or the remainder of this series.
The sports world is awaiting the results of that MRI. Until it comes, you can see more reactions in the gallery below.
1. Julian Edelman
2. Grant Williams
3. Isaiah Thomas
4. Jalen Brunson speaks on the injury following the game
5. Karl-Anthony Towns
6. Josh Hart
7. Kendrick Perkins
8. Ben Stiller
9. Skip Bayless
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It’s the NBA Playoffs! With the Knicks stealing Game 1 of the east semifinals with a win, the Celtics are looking to even up the series with one win apiece. However, New York could win Game 2 and go up 2-0 going back to Madison Square Garden in New York City for Game 3.
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Keep reading to learn the other streaming options to watch Game 2: New York Knicks vs. Boston Celtics online without cable.
When Does New York Knicks vs. Boston Celtics 2025 Start?
Game 2: Knicks vs. Celtics series broadcast live on TNT. The NBA Playoff games are available to livestream on Sling TV, Hulu + Live TV and DirecTV.
Game 1: New York, 108 vs. Boston, 105
Game 2: New York at Boston, May 7 at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT
Game 3: Boston at New York, May 10 at 3:30 p.m. ET/12:30 p.m. PT
Game 4: Boston at New York, May 12 at 7:30 p.m./4:30 p.m PT
Game 5*: New York at Boston, TBD
Game 6*: Boston at New York, TBD
Game 7*: New York at Boston, TBD
*If necessary
How to Watch New York Knicks vs. Boston Celtics 2025 With Sling TV
To watch the Knicks vs. Celtics on TNT, Sling TV Orange starts at $23 for the first month, $45.99 per month afterward (the streamer’s current deal), with nearly 35 channels that are streamable on smart TVs, smartphones, tablets and on web browsers.
The service even gets you live access to broadcast and cable networks such as Disney Channel, ESPN, ESPN2, TBS, AMC, BBC America, BET, CNN, FreeForm and more. Please note that channel availability and price depends on your local TV market. Learn more about Sling TV here.
How to Watch New York Knicks vs. Boston Celtics 2025 With Hulu + Live TV
The Knicks vs. Celtics series on TNT are available to watch with Hulu + Live TV too. Prices for the cable alternative start at $82.99 per month, while each plan comes with Hulu, Disney+ and ESPN+ at no additional cost.
Hulu + Live TV might be best for those who want all of these streaming services together in one bundle. It also features many other networks, including ABC, Hallmark Channel, BET, CMT, Disney Channel, NBC, Fox Sports and more.
How to Watch New York Knicks vs. Boston Celtics 2025 With DirecTV
A subscription to DirecTV’s new My Sports package — which comes with TNT for Knicks vs. Celtics — gets you access to live TV, local and cable channels, starting at $69.99 per month. The service even offers a five-day free trial to watch for free if you sign up now.
You can watch local networks such as NBC, ABC and Fox, while you can also watch many cable networks, including FS1, MLB Network, NBA TV, NFL Network and others.
Which Celebrities Are Making Appearances During New York Knicks vs. Boston Celtics?
It’s likely there will be a number of celebrities and famous recording artists in attendance during the Knicks vs. Celtics, such as Knicks fans LL Cool J, 50 Cent and Fat Joe:; Celtics fans Jack Harlow, Gucci Mane and Nelly; and others. Tune in to the games to find out who’s sitting courtsideon celebrity row.
How to Buy New York Knicks vs. Boston Celtics 2025 Tickets Online
Want to attend the Knicks vs. Celtics series in person? There are still last-minute tickets available via Vivid Seats (get $20 off purchases of $200 and over with code BB30), SeatGeek (your first purchases can get $10 off ticket order $250 and with code BILLBOARD10), StubHub and GameTime (score $20 off ticket orders of $150 and over with code SAVE20). Prices vary depending on the city and seats available.
Moreover, you can save $150 off when you spend $500 with promo code BILLBOARD150, or $300 off when you spend $1,000 with promo code BILLBOARD300 at TicketNetwork.com.
For Game 2, Knicks vs. Celtics takes place on Wednesday (May 7) starting at at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT broadcasts on TNT. The NBA Playoff game is also available to livestream on Sling TV.
Want more? For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best Xbox deals, studio headphones and Nintendo Switch accessories.
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New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson proved why he was named this year’s Kia Clutch Player of the Year after delivering a huge three-point make against the Detroit Pistons in their first-round series. Despite a spirited performance from the upstart Pistons, Jalen Brunson, who seemingly lives for these moments, dropped the dagger from beyond the arc and sank the hopes of Detroit.
The Knicks visited the Pistons with a 3-2 advantage in their best-of-seven series, which got testy in game 4 with the Pistons showing plenty of fight in the contest and coming away with the win. It appeared that the Pistons were on their way to capturing the win on their home court, but the tight defense of the Knicks and their hot shooting tied things up towards the end of regulation.
Brunson faced yet another round of boos and insults from fans and a relentless onslaught of speed, offense, and defense from Detroit’s young core of Cade Cunningham, Ausar Thompson, and Jalen Duren. However, with the game tied 113-all and just 20 seconds on the clock, Brunson tied the cape around his neck and went to work.
With the much taller Thompson guarding him, Brunson shrugged off the coverage, hit a crossover dribble, and drained one of the biggest three-pointers of the 2025 NBA Playoffs. After hitting the shot, Brunson blew kisses to the crowd, and the Pistons made an effort to score, but the Knicks’ defensive scheme headed off their plans.
Brunson and the New York Knicks will now face the defending champion Boston Celtics in what’s expected to be a must-see series.
On X, Jalen Brunson’s clutch heroics were the top-trending topic. We’ve got reactions below.
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Photo: Gregory Shamus / Getty
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Getty Images / Luka Doncic / Kobe Bryant
Luka Doncic hasn’t delivered an NBA Championship to the city of Los Angeles yet, but he is quickly earning the respect of Lakers fans.
Some unknown individual defaced a Downtown Los Angeles mural of the late Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna “Gigi” Bryant, with graffiti, turning it into a canvas for a dispute between street artists.
The touching tribute piece, which features Bryant donning his Lakers jersey while kissing a young Gigi on the cheek, was covered in white paint and graffiti tags.
TMZ Sports reports that someone wrote “keep running your mouth p***y” in the top corner where the mural’s creator, “Sloe Motions,” name is located.
That message or threat is crossed out with a reply stating, “Leave a name, p***y! Don’t B scared.”
Well, it looks like Luka Doncic, who is currently in his first year of donning the purple and gold after the Dallas Mavericks shockingly traded him to the Lakers, is stepping up to fix the mural and is opening up his wallet.
Per TMZ Sports:
There’s a happy ending to this story … as TMZ Sports has learned Lakers superstar Luka Doncic has donated $5,000 to help restore the mural.
It’s an incredible gesture … as that is the total amount the fundraiser was hoping to rake in for the effort.
That’s dope of the NBA superstar.
Kobe Bryant & His Daughter’s Global Impact
Following the tragic passing of the iconic NBA superstar and his daughter as a result of a helicopter crash, murals sprang up all over Los Angeles and around the globe honoring the Lakers legend and his daughter, who aspired to follow in her father’s footsteps on the basketball court.
Weirdly, a LA native would do such a thing to a piece of art honoring someone who is the embodiment of the city and brought so much joy to Lakers fans.
Salute to Luka Doncic.
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Source: Getty Images / Giannis Antetokounmpo / John Haliburton
If this is the final time we see Giannis Antetokounmpo in a Milwaukee Bucks uniform, he went out fighting, both literally and figuratively.
Things got extremely chippy at Gainbridge Fieldhouse after final buzzer of the Indiana Pacers stunning 119-118 overtime victory over the Bucks, eliminating the Bucks from the 2025 NBA Playoffs.
Giannis Antetokounmpo got into it with Pacers guard Ben Mathurin at center court first, which led to the hoopers having to be separated. It looked, at first, as if the players were exchanging pleasantries, as players always do at the end of the game, but. Mathurin pushes Giannis, who had his hand on the back of Mathurin’s head.
Then Antetokounmpo got into it with Tyrese Haliburton’s father, John Haliburton, after his son sealed the Pacers’ win with a game-winning drive past the Greek Freak. Antetokounmpo shook hands with John Haliburton before two butted heads and began screaming at each other before they each had to be separated.
Following the game, Tyrese Haliburton spoke about the incident, saying that his father was in the wrong, adding that a conversation would be had.
“I don’t think that my pops was in the right at all there. … We will have a conversation and I’ll talk to Giannis, it’s unfortunate we’re all grown men,” Haliburton said during the post-game press conference.
Antetokounmpo was also asked about the incident, and he added during his post-game press conference that “I believe like being humble in victory, ” and that he felt “disrespected,” but noted that all parties involved talked, adding “I think we’re in a good place.”
Social Media Is Reacting To The Chippy End
As expected, the two incidents have social media talking, especially if this is Giannis’ final game as a member of the Milwaukee Bucks franchise.
Many believe the NBA champion will be traded and sent to a contender because it’s not looking suitable for the Bucks next season. The team has no first-round picks in the upcoming NBA Draft, and outside of Damian Lillard, who suffered a torn Achilles in his last game, putting an asterisk on his career, and whether he will play next season, there isn’t much to lure Antetokounmpo back.
Damn.
We won’t find out any time soon, but until then, you can view more reactions in the gallery below.
5. Nah chill
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Draymond Green found himself trending on X after his teammate, Jimmy Butler, was injured by Amen Thompson during a play under the basket. Golden State Warriors fans called the play by the Houston Rockets a dirty one, prompting fans on X to call out Draymond Green’s well-documented record of being a physical player that others have referred to as dirty.
The Golden State Warriors and the Houston Rockets faced off in Game 2 of the first round of the NBA Playoffs on Wednesday (April 24) in Houston. The play in question occurred when Amen Thompson shot a floater and missed, with Jimmy Butler going for the defensive rebound. As Butler grabbed the ball, Thompson undercut him, causing the forward to crash down hard on his tailbone. A foul was called on the play, and Butler shot two at the line before heading back to the locker room and never returned.
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Warriors fans, angered that their reliable star was out of the game, called out the play. There were even some suggesting that Green pushed Thompson into Butler, but that was debunked on video replay. What we saw in the replay was Green boxing out, not shoving anyone. That said, Warriors fans were upset about the play, but the counter from NBA fans was brutal.
On X, several examples of Green’s physical play and roughhousing on the court that he’s known for were shown, all in an attempt to frame Green as the truly dirty player and take the heat off Thompson. Others brought up some of Green’s past antics, such as stomping on the chest of a downed player and other reported acts of on-court violence.
Coach Steve Kerr defended his player by saying that the taunts from the Rockets fans were disrespectful and asked them to tone down the “F You Draymond” chants. Kerr’s comments also got a response from basketball fans on X.
We’ve got reactions from all sides regarding the Draymond Green, Amen Thompson, and Jimmy Butler dustup below.
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Photo: San Francisco Chronicle/Hearst Newspapers / Getty
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Ahead of the NBA Playoffs, the pro basketball league tips off the NBA Play-In Tournament to determine which teams will take the last spots in the Eastern and Western Conferences. Since there are eight teams battling for four spots, it’s going to be one thrilling and exciting tournament when it starts on Tuesday (April 15).
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Keep reading to learn the other streaming options to watch the NBA Play-In Tournament online without cable.
When Does NBA Play-In Tournament 2025 Start?
The NBA Play-In Tournament games broadcast live on ESPN and TNT, with tipoff starting on Tuesday (April 15) with the Atlanta Hawks vs. Orlando Magic at 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT. The NBA post-season games are available to livestream on Sling TV.
Who Is In the NBA Play-In Tournament 2025?
The NBA Play-In Tournament pits the eight lowest seeded teams in contention against each other to see which teams will make the final four spots in the NBA Playoffs. There are six single-elimination games spread over three nights of hoops action.
Tuesday, April 15
Orlando Magic vs. Atlanta Hawks, 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT — TNT
Golden State Warriors vs. Memphis Grizzlies, 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT — TNT
Wednesday, April 16
Chicago Bulls vs. Miami Heat, 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT — ESPN
Sacramento Kings vs. Dallas Mavericks, 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT — ESPN
Friday, April 18
East Magic/Hawks loser vs. East Bulls/Heat winner, Time TBD — TNT
West Warriors/Grizzlies loser vs. West Kings/Mavericks winner, Time TBD — ESPN
How to Watch NBA Play-In Tournament 2025 With Sling TV
To watch the NBA Play-In Tournament on ESPN and TNT, Sling TV Orange + Blue starts at $33 for the first month, $65.99 per month afterward (the streamer’s current deal), with more than 45 channels that are streamable on smart TVs, smartphones, tablets and on web browsers.
The service even gets you live access to broadcast and cable networks such as Disney Channel, ESPN2, NBC, Fox, TBS, Bravo, Discovery Channel, Fox News, MSNBC, National Geographic, USA Network, Fox Sports and more. Please note that channel availability and price depends on your local TV market. Learn more about Sling TV here.
How to Watch NBA Play-In Tournament 2025 With Hulu + Live TV
The NBA Play-In Tournament games on ESPN and TNT are available to watch with Hulu + Live TV too. Prices for the cable alternative start at $82.99 per month, while each plan comes with Hulu, Disney+ and ESPN+ at no additional cost.
Hulu + Live TV might be best for those who want all of these streaming services together in one bundle. It also features many other networks, including ABC, Hallmark Channel, BET, CMT, Disney Channel, NBC, Fox Sports and more.
How to Watch NBA Play-In Tournament 2025 With DirecTV
A subscription to DirecTV’s new My Sports package — which comes with ESPN and TNT for NBA Play-In Tournament — gets you access to live TV, local and cable channels, starting at $69.99 per month. The service even offers a five-day free trial to watch for free if you sign up now.
You can watch local networks such as NBC, ABC and Fox, while you can also watch many cable networks, including FS1, MLB Network, NBA TV, NFL Network and others.
Which Celebrities Are Making Appearances During NBA Play-In Tournament?
It’s likely there will be a number of celebrities and famous recording artists in attendance during the NBA Play-In Tournament, such as Warriors fans E-40, Jessica Alba and Carlos Santana; Hawks fans T.I., Ludacris and 2 Chainz; Bulls fans Chance the Rapper, Common and Bill Murray; and others. Tune in to the games to find out who’s sitting courtsideon celebrity row.
How to Buy NBA Play-In Tournament 2025 Tickets Online
Want to attend the NBA Play-In Tournament games in person? There are still last-minute tickets available via Vivid Seats (get $20 off purchases of $200 and over with code BB30), SeatGeek (your first purchases can get $10 off ticket order $250 and with code BILLBOARD10), StubHub and GameTime (score $20 off ticket orders of $150 and over with code SAVE20). Prices vary depending on the city and seats available.
Moreover, you can save $150 off when you spend $500 with promo code BILLBOARD150, or $300 off when you spend $1,000 with promo code BILLBOARD300 at TicketNetwork.com.
Starting on Tuesday (April 15) at 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT, the NBA Play-In Tournament 2025 broadcasts on ESPN and TNT. Post-season games are also available to livestream on Sling TV.
Want more? For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best Xbox deals, studio headphones and Nintendo Switch accessories.