This Recreation 7 between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets might be an all-timer. Not solely is it the deciding recreation in a hotly contested collection between two extremely gifted groups, the storylines surrounding this matchup have made it much more compelling.

The Nuggets are a machine. That is the sixth consecutive 12 months they’ve made it to the playoffs, they usually’re the defending champions. The duo of Jamal Murray and three-time MVP Nikola Jokić is borderline unstoppable. As a franchise they’re 4-3 in Recreation 7’s, however this core group of gamers is 3-1. They have the expertise and the expertise.

However do not look now, the Timberwolves are coming. They’ve made the playoff three years in a row. Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Cities are coming into their very own. The vibes are impeccable. They’ve even made Rudy Gobert likable!

That alone won’t be sufficient for them to beat the Nuggets, however the Timberwolves have one different factor on their aspect for Recreation 7: historical past. Sunday is the twentieth anniversary of Minnesota’s 83-80 Recreation 7 win over the Sacramento Kings within the second spherical, by which birthday boy Kevin Garnett scored 32 factors with 21 rebounds, 5 blocks, and 4 steals.

Will a Timberwolves participant flip in a KG-esque efficiency that may elevate them over the Nuggets? Or will the expertise of Jokić and Co. finish Minnesota’s run? Observe all of the Recreation 7 motion beneath.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, the nation’s international minister and different officers had been declared useless from a helicopter crash, Iranian state media mentioned on Monday.

The Iranian authorities held an emergency assembly following the announcement of Raisi’s loss of life and afterward Iran’s supreme chief, Ali Khamenei, named First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber as performing president. Khamenei additionally introduced 5 days of mourning would happen within the nation.

The crash left Iran with out two of its most pivotal diplomatic figures as regional tensions stay excessive from the continuing Israel-Hamas battle.

Iranian state-run media introduced Raisi’s loss of life in a put up on Monday, together with the deaths of Overseas Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, the governor of Iran’s East Azerbaijan province and different authorities officers who had been aboard the helicopter.

No rapid trigger for the crash was supplied, however state media launched photos on-line exhibiting what it referred to as was the wreckage from the helicopter the group was touring in. The helicopter crashed in foggy circumstances in a mountainous space in northern Iran as they returned from an occasion alongside Iran’s border with Azerbaijan.

Instant worldwide response got here from Iran’s neighbors. Pakistan’s authorities introduced it might observe a day of mourning over the information. In Russia, President Vladimir Putin despatched his condolences to Khamenei, Russian state media reported.

Rescue groups searched intensely for the helicopter

Earlier, IRNA reported that the president of the Iranian Crimson Crescent Society confirmed that rescue and search groups had recognized Raisi’s helicopter.

On Sunday, Iran’s Inside Minister, Ahmad Vahidi, mentioned a “onerous touchdown” of the president’s helicopter and mentioned the search-and-rescue operation had been underway, according to IRNA.

IRNA reported that two passengers on the flight had communicated with rescue employees. Twenty rescue groups, together with drones and canines, had been despatched to the scene, and the Iranian navy had additionally deployed troops to help within the rescue effort, IRNA added.

The Fars Information Company posted what it mentioned was video footage of rescue groups that had been dispatched to the realm. Earlier within the day, the Iranian authorities’s X account posted an image of Raisi seated subsequent to Azerbaijan’s president, Ilham Aliyev, on the opening of a dam alongside the border between the 2 nations.

Raisi was elected in 2021 and is a relative hard-liner

A former cleric and choose, Raisi was elected president in 2021.

When he got here into workplace, Raisi mentioned Iran would proceed to honor its nuclear cope with the U.S., regardless of then-President Donald Trump’s resolution to drag out of the settlement in 2018.

Nonetheless, Raisi has been seen as extra of a hard-liner than his predecessor, former Iranian president Hassan Rouhani.

Final month, Raisi celebrated Iran’s assault on Israel following an airstrike in Damascus that killed seven members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Iran blamed Israel for the bombing, however Israel by no means claimed duty. Israel mentioned it and its allies intercepted 99% of the missiles and drones Iran fired throughout its retaliatory strike.

Iran’s president is the top of its authorities, however the nation is dominated by Khamenei, its supreme chief.

Iran’s supreme chief units nationwide insurance policies and supervises their implementation and in addition controls the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and police drive, in keeping with the Council on Overseas Relations.

Iran’s structure dictates that if the president dies whereas in workplace, the primary vp takes over with the approval of the nation’s supreme chief, Reuters reported. A brand new election should then be held inside 50 days.

Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi died on Sunday in a helicopter accident in a distant space of northwestern Iran.

Together with him have been Iran’s Overseas Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian, the consultant of the Supreme Chief in Tabriz, and the governor-general of Japanese Azerbaijan province, the place the crash befell.

Raisi is the second Iranian president to die in workplace for the reason that 1979 Islamic Revolution. The primary was Mohammad Ali Rajaei, who was assassinated by the Mujahedeen-e-Khalq Group, a militant group that broke away from the revolution, in 1981. But, the 2 deaths happen in very completely different contexts.

Below the Iranian system, the Supreme Chief, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has the ultimate say on all necessary issues in Iran. Khamenei is 85 and Raisi, 63, who had been fastidiously groomed to increased workplace, seemed to be one of many major contenders to exchange him. Raisi’s demise opens the door to different potential candidates at a time when Iran is going through extreme challenges together with financial issues, home alienation, and rising tensions with its regional arch-foe, Israel.

For a few years, Mojtaba Khamenei, the second son of Khamenei and his shut aide, has been thought-about a number one candidate to succeed him. One other risk is Alireza Arafi, a outstanding member of the Meeting of Consultants which nominally chooses the chief.

Raisi’s father-in-law, Ahmad Alam-ol-Hoda, additionally involves thoughts. Alam-ol-Hoda is a robust determine within the japanese metropolis of Mashhad and is the Supreme Chief’s consultant in Khorasan Razavi province. Raisi’s widow and Alam-ol-Hoda’s daughter, Jamileh Alam-ol-Hoda, is alleged to have wished to be Iran’s First Woman, and that will have been achieved provided that her husband turned the chief. She has been advocating for the title since October 2023, when she introduced the time period of “First Woman” to the political rhetoric of the Islamic Republic. Maybe she would accept “First Daughter.”

One other highly effective determine is Ahmad Khatami, a member of the presidium of the Meeting of Consultants. Like Raisi, Khatami is a hardliner who has been positioned on the European Union’s sanctions listing for “inciting violence towards protesters,” together with “demanding the demise penalty,” for many who took half within the protest motion following the demise in police custody of Mahsa Amini in 2022. Khatami can also be a member of the Guardian Council, the physique that vets candidates for president and different elected workplace. Below Iran’s Structure, new elections for president should be held inside 50 days.

Raisi’s demise scrambles the choreography for the seating of a brand new Meeting of Consultants, chosen in latest elections. The brand new Meeting was presupposed to convene this week and select the brand new chief of its presidium, its governing physique. Raisi, who had been the deputy head of the presidium, was the frontrunner for the highest job, which theoretically would have given him the ability to approve or reject the Meeting’s alternative for Khamenei’s successor. Now, there must be an election to decide on a alternative for Raisi in South Khorasan province.

Iran may even have to pick out a brand new president at a time when voter turnout in latest elections has been at historic lows.

Vice President Mohammad Mokhber Dezfouli can be briefly taking cost of the Govt department, underneath Article 131 of Iran’s Structure.

A council consisting of the Speaker of the Parliament, the Judiciary Chief, and the First Vice President is obliged to rearrange a brand new presidential election inside a most interval of fifty days.

It’s probably that Mokhber, who has run necessary monetary conglomerations in Iran, will run for the presidency together with a perennial candidate, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, the present speaker of parliament.

Qalibaf, a former mayor of Tehran and head of the Air Drive of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) ran unsuccessfully for the presidency thrice starting in 2005, when he misplaced to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Qalibaf is taken into account a relative average however his probabilities of successful this time are unclear. He’s additionally probably to get replaced as speaker of the parliament.

Over the course of Khamenei’s management, Iran’s permitted political spectrum has grow to be increasingly slim. The upcoming presidential elections are more likely to be uncompetitive and the general public’s morale is at an all-time low. The system might attempt to introduce some reformist figures to make the election extra engaging to Iranians who’ve misplaced their religion within the institution. One risk is Es’haq Jahangiri, vice chairman underneath Hassan Rouhani, who preceded Raisi.

Jahangiri has sought to distance himself from Rouhani, saying that he was stripped of his energy throughout Rouhani’s second time period (2017-2021). This might increase Jahangiri’s likelihood to outlive vetting by the Guardian Council. Nevertheless, Jahangari lacks a powerful fan base amongst atypical Iranians.

Given the quick time obtainable earlier than elections, the council has little time to vet candidates. Subsequently, we’re more likely to see acquainted names, who’ve gone via the vetting course of earlier than.

Will Raisi’s demise and a brand new president change the scenario dramatically for the Iranian folks? The quick reply is not any. The prevailing hardline doctrine in each home and overseas insurance policies is more likely to be continued.

Saeed Azimi is a political journalist based mostly in Tehran. Discover him on X (previously referred to as Twitter) at @saeedazimi1772. 

Cher’s mark on the style business is undoubtable, because the storied musician has had many memorable fashion moments since she stepped into the highlight within the Nineteen Seventies. 

Cher, who’s celebrating her 78th birthday on Monday, turned recognized for her daring fashion firstly of her music profession, the place the singer frequently wore extremely embellished seems to be and indulgent headpieces.

A trademark of Cher’s fashion is her shut relationship with clothier Bob Mackie, who dressed Cher in some avant garde seems to be which have stood out in her sartorial evolution. Two of Mackie’s most memorable vogue seems to be for Cher got here on the 1986 and 1988 Academy Awards, the latter of which Cher gained the award for finest actress for her function in “Moonstruck.” 

For the event, Cher donned a Bob Mackie sheer slipdress embellished with black fringe sequined particulars. She paired the look with a black scarf and matching sequined earrings. 

Two years prior, Cher attended the Oscars in one other memorable Bob Mackie outfit. The musician attended sporting a midriff-baring black sequined cutout look paired with an extravagant feathered headpiece.

Mackie’s relationship with Cher dates again to the early Nineteen Seventies. The style designer first met Cher when she was a visitor on “The Carol Burnett Present,” which he designed costumes for. In 1971, he began creating Cher’s costumes for “The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour.”

Whereas Cher had an affinity for sequins, she additionally sought out Mackie’s less complicated seems to be. For the 1974 Oscars, as an example, Cher opted for a colourful, floral two-piece set full with an identical headpiece. 

Cher and Mackie’s relationship nonetheless reigns to at the present time. In March 2023, the duo reunited on the pink carpet for NBC’s “Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter and Love” the place Cher wore a Bob Mackie black sequined jacket paired with plaid trousers. 

The style world additionally hasn’t slowed down on its embrace of the music icon. In 2022, Balmain designer Olivier Rousteing enlisted Cher to shut out his spring 2023 ready-to-wear present. She walked the runway sporting a sculpted silver bodysuit paired with chunky black boots. 

“’Fashion icon’ doesn’t come near describing her achievement of defining greater than a half-century’s price of vogue’s developments,” Rousteing mentioned after the runway present. “And, on this difficult age that compels us to battle for long-overdue adjustments, her spectacular, long-term dedication to devoted activism is an instance to all.” 

Simply this month, Cher continued her fashion streak with an look on “The Jennifer Hudson Present,” the place she wore a lingerie-inspired bodysuit paired with a black blazer jacket and plaid trousers. 

Along with her daring fashion sensibility and experimental spirit, Cher’s fashion is timeless and continues to be extremely watched.

Males’s Singles Qualifying Draw | Girls’s Singles Qualifying Draw

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Paris, France – The easiest tennis gamers on the earth are in Paris, France this week for the enjoying of the second Grand Slam of the season, the French Open. Of those standout gamers, a number of have ties again to varsity tennis, together with 25 gamers who’re competing within the Males’s and Girls’s Qualifying Singles Attracts as they give the impression of being to affix the over 20 gamers with collegiate ties already within the Singles Fundamental Draw.

That includes each names of recent and previous within the school tennis neighborhood, gamers akin to JJ Wolf (Ohio State), Astra Sharma (Vanderbilt), Gabriel Diallo (Kentucky), Yuliia Starodubtseva (Outdated Dominion), and Maxime Cressy (UCLA) are just some of the names which have carried over their success on the school stage on to the skilled excursions.

Competing for considered one of 16 qualifying spots in each the boys’s and ladies’s singles predominant attracts, this yr’s qualifying play will span from Monday, Could twentieth via Friday, Could twenty fourth. For individuals who do qualify, they are going to be given a time without work on Saturday earlier than predominant draw play begins in Paris on Sunday, Could twenty sixth.

Take a look at the tables beneath to see the whole listing of the entire former alum competing within the 2024 French Open Qualifying Attracts.

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Collegians within the Males’s Qualifying Draw

Participant	Faculty	Present Rank
JJ Wolf	Ohio State	107
Valentin Vacherot	Texas A&M	116
Patrick Kypson	Texas A&M	150
Alexis Galarneau	NC State	153
Gabriel Diallo	Kentucky	166
Maxime Cressy	UCLA	176
Alexander Ritschard	Virginia	184
Oliver Crawford	Florida	205
Henri Squire	Wake Forest	211
Ryan Peniston	Memphis	219
Murkel Dellien	Wichita State	222
Tristan Boyer	Stanford	224
Aziz Dougaz	Florida State	227
Clement Chidekh	Washington	280

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Collegians within the Girls’s Qualifying Draw

Participant	Faculty	Present Rank
McCartney Kessler	Florida	122
Lulu Solar	Texas	128
Astra Sharma	Vanderbilt	130
Yuriko Lily Miyazaki	Oklahoma	133
Arianne Hartono	Ole Miss	136
Leolia Jeanjean	Lynn, Baylor, Arkansas	143
Yuliia Starodubtseva (29)	Outdated Dominion	144
Martina Capurro Taborda	Oklahoma	162
Gabriela Knutson	Syracuse	189
Justina Mikulskyte	Kentucky	226
Carol Zhao	Stanford	228

Tyrese Haliburton scored 26 factors and the Indiana Pacers rode one of the sensational first halves in Recreation 7 historical past to a 130-109 victory over the New York Knicks on Sunday, advancing to the Japanese Convention finals for the primary time in 10 years.

The Pacers made 29 of their 38 photographs within the first half, a capturing share of 76.3%. That was the best within the postseason since 1997, when the NBA started conserving detailed play-by-play for all 4 quarters. They led 70-55 at that time and pulled away each time the Knicks tried to make a run within the second half.

The No 6-seeded Pacers set an NBA playoff file by ending at 67.1% capturing for the sport and superior to face top-seeded Boston in a sequence that begins on Tuesday. Indiana final reached the convention finals in 2014, dropping to Miami.

Jalen Brunson left within the second half with a damaged left hand, one remaining damage for a Knicks group that was hit onerous by them. They received OG Anunoby again on Sunday after he missed the earlier 4 video games with a strained hamstring, however he clearly wasn’t transferring properly and was taken out of the sport after simply 5 minutes.

Pascal Siakam and Andrew Nembhard every scored 20 factors and Aaron Nesmith was 8 for 8 en path to his 19 for the Pacers.

Donte DiVincenzo made 9 three-pointers and scored 39 factors for the Knicks, who had been making an attempt to achieve the convention finals for the primary time since 2000 however couldn’t overcome the losses of Julius Randle, Mitchell Robinson and Bojan Bogdanovic, earlier than dropping Anunoby and at last Brunson.

Brunson completed with 17 factors and 9 assists, capturing 6 for 17 after scoring 40 or extra factors 5 occasions on this postseason. Alec Burks got here off the bench for 26 factors.

“Realizing that this group gave its greatest effort all 12 months lengthy, I can reside with the consequence,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau mentioned. “It’s disappointing, however in the long run there’s solely going to be one pleased group. Twenty-nine groups will fall quick. This group fought like loopy and there’s no remorse.”

The third Recreation 7 between the franchises – the Knicks received within the 1994 Japanese Convention finals and the Pacers pulled out a 97-95 victory the following 12 months within the East semifinals – was an opportunity for the Pacers to point out off the offense that led the NBA with 123.3 factors per recreation.

They scored 39 factors within the first quarter, essentially the most in a Recreation 7 within the play-by-play period, trying each bit just like the group that set an NBA file this season by reaching 140 11 occasions.

The Pacers made 10 of their first 11 photographs – it might have been 11 of 12, however Myles Turner’s dunk try bounced again out of the basket – and didn’t decelerate a lot the remainder of the half. Knicks followers who had been screaming and chanting earlier than the sport had been quickly groaning because the Pacers made shot after shot, irrespective of how properly the Knicks defended them.

The Pacers led 39-27 after capturing 16 for 21 from the sphere (76.2%) and seven for 9 from three-point vary (77.8%) within the first quarter. Indiana then went 13 for 17 (76.5%) within the second quarter, with the lead rising to 22 factors.

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The Knicks lower it to 70-55 at halftime, then scored the primary seven out of the break as a part of a 12-3 begin to the second half that trimmed it to 73-67. However with the Pacers main by seven, the Knicks dedicated three straight turnovers that helped Indiana push the result in 84-70.

Josh Hart performed by way of an belly pressure for the Knicks, fouling out with 10 factors and eight rebounds.

Rafael Nadal returned to Roland Garros on Monday to gauge his standing forward of the beginning of the French Open on Sunday.

To the delight of his followers, the 37-year-old tennis legend practiced with coach Carlos Moya.

Roland Garros is the location of his a lot of Nadal’s most superb moments, and the place he has received 14 of his 22 Grand Slam titles, however he hasn’t performed the occasion since profitable his twenty second main over Casper Ruud in 2022.

On Tuesday, Nadal practiced once more, taking a observe set from world No. 28 Sebastian Korda, 6-3.

After getting crushed by Hubert Hurkacz, 6-1, 6-3, within the third spherical of the Italian Open on Could 11, Nadal mentioned he was unsure if he would play Roland Garros.

“Let’s see what’s happening, how I really feel myself mentally tomorrow, after tomorrow, and in a single week,” Nadal mentioned final week on the Italian Open. “If I really feel prepared, I (am) going to attempt to be there and struggle for the issues that I’ve been preventing (for for) the final 15 years, (even) if now (that) appears unattainable.”

After that Spanish outlet AS reported that Nadal “feels high-quality” bodily and is “much less dejected” than anticipated after his early departure in Rome.

Assuming there aren’t any hiccups this week and “issues go effectively,” Nadal will make what could possibly be his closing look on the main he has dominated since profitable his first title in 2005, per AS.

There isn’t any means of figuring out how match he might be or what number of matches he can play. Competing in seven best-of-5 set matches throughout a fortnight could be a bridge too far contemplating how little aggressive tennis he has performed within the final couple of years.

His place within the draw can even be crucial. Nadal is at the moment ranked No. 276 on the planet and if he’s unseeded within the event, he might doubtlessly face Novak Djokovic or Carlos Alcaraz as early as the primary spherical. The draw might be made Thursday at 2 p.m.

It’s unclear if Nadal will announce formal retirement plans, however he has indicated he needs to compete within the Paris Olympics at Roland Garros.

Fellow Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz has mentioned he needs to play doubles with Nadal there.