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NBA sees 168 players sit out of games due to illness, injury as playoffs approach

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The NBA regular season is set to finish on Sunday, but dozens of players appear to be wrapped up a bit early.

In fact, 168 total players sat out of action on Friday night due to either a listed injury or illness.

Among those 168 players were Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic, each of the last two MVPs, whose teams faced off against one another.

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Reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault, whom Gilgeous-Alexander plays for, said his stars “earned the right to sit,” considering they again snagged the top seed in the Western Conference.

“If we didn’t clinch [the No. 1 overall seed] coming into tonight, everybody would be playing,” Daigneault told reporters ahead of their game against Jokic’s Denver Nuggets, via ESPN. “We’ve earned the right through 80 games to manage their bodies and stuff like that.”

Stars to take the floor on Friday include LeBron James amid his Los Angeles Lakers’ injury woes and Victor Wembanyama, who needed to play 20 minutes to be eligible for season awards and admitted he would not have played if he had already met the criteria. Jokic must play Sunday if he wants to be considered for awards.

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With the new wave of load management, another form of today’s basketball was on display, as the Boston Celtics made 29 3-pointers, tying an NBA record, against the New Orleans Pelicans. It was the fourth time in the history of the NBA that this had been accomplished, but the last time it was done, you only have to go back to Monday, when the Memphis Grizzlies did it.

On April 3, the NBA saw just the second time in history that a slate of at least nine games had an average margin of victory of at least 24 points. The first time was five days prior.

All 30 NBA teams played in their 81st games on Friday and will play in their 82nd and final game of the regular season Sunday.

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Swalwell faces expulsion effort following bombshell assault allegations

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Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., is moving to expel Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., from Congress following reports of alleged sexual misconduct and assault, arguing that he has no place in the House.

Luna joined “Saturday in America” to announce the move, calling for accountability for members of Congress. She said it would be “unacceptable” for Swalwell to end his gubernatorial bid while still getting to remain in office.

Swalwell was accused by a former staffer of sexual assault while she was intoxicated. The San Francisco Chronicle first broke the story of the anonymous ex-staffer, and three additional women have since spoken to CNN with allegations of misconduct.

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Luna argues Swalwell should not remain in office while facing the accusations and plans to bring a disciplinary motion next week.

If Democrats want to protect this type of garbage, I wouldn’t recommend it, but they’re [going to] be put on the board for that,” Luna said, adding she doesn’t believe he should be paid by the taxpayers while the scandal plays out.

The congresswoman called on the alleged victims to come to her office, saying they “deserve a platform” and that transparency is needed from lawmakers.

SWALWELL CALLS SEXUAL MISCONDUCT ALLEGATIONS ‘FLAT-OUT FALSE,’ SAYS HE WILL FIGHT THEM ‘WITH EVERYTHING’

“I hate having to be kind of the hall monitor of Congress, if you will, but it’s gotten really bad,” Luna said.

Fox News Digital reached out to Swalwell’s congressional office, as well as his gubernatorial campaign, for comment on Luna’s remarks. 

“I’m not [going to] serve with these sexual deviants. That’s not what Congress is all about. And I think that we need to focus on the business of the American people, and it doesn’t include this stuff,” she later added.

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Swalwell is a candidate for governor of California but has since faced calls to drop out, including from within his own party. He has pledged to fight the allegations against him.

“A lot has been said about me today through anonymous allegations, and I thought it was important that you see and hear from me directly. These allegations of sexual assault are flat-out false,” Swalwell said in a video posted Friday.

“They are absolutely false. They did not happen. They have never happened. And I will fight them with everything that I have.”

California Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement Saturday, “As we continue to learn more, these allegations from multiple sources are deeply troubling and must be taken seriously.”

Meanwhile, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office in New York City said it was investigating allegations against Swalwell. 

“We urge survivors and anyone with knowledge of these allegations to contact our Special Victims Division at 212-335-9373,” an office spokesperson said. “Our specially trained prosecutors, investigators, and counselors are well-equipped to help you in a trauma-informed, survivor-centered manner.”

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Shane Lowry makes hole-in-one at Masters to suddenly get himself in contention for green jacket

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The drinks are on Shane Lowry in Augusta.

The Irishman recorded a hole-in-one on the sixth hole at Augusta National on Saturday, putting patrons into a frenzy.

It was the seventh-ever ace at the sixth hole and Lowry’s second hole-in-one at the Masters. He also recorded an ace on the 16th hole in 2016.

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He is now the only player in golf history to have two aces at Augusta National.

Any Masters ace is memorable, but this one might have some extra significance since Lowry shot up the leaderboard and moved into a tie for second at 8 under par.

Once Lowry hit the hole-in-one, he was four shots back of Rory McIlroy, who entered the day six shots ahead of the field, good for the largest 36-hole lead in tournament history.

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However, he bogeyed the first hole while Patrick Reed birdied his first three holes, suddenly cutting McIlroy’s lead to two. But Reed bogeyed the fourth hole, and McIlroy birdied the third for the two-shot swing.

Lowry, 39, is looking for his second career major, having also won the Open Championship in 2019 at Royal Portrush.

Lowry hit the cup-retaining putt at the Ryder Cup last year at Bethpage after spending most of the weekend partnered with McIlroy.

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Cruise passengers debate BBQ versus chicken and waffles as new free lunch menu debuts

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Dining on one popular cruise ship is getting a comfort-food shakeup — and passengers are divided over the change.

Carnival Cruise Line is testing a new free lunch menu, “Chicken, Waffles & Waves,” on select ships, offering a mix of fried chicken, waffles and classic barbecue in one location, according to Cruise Hive and other reports.

The new venue has been spotted on several Conquest-class ships, including Carnival Freedom, Liberty, Glory and Valor. It replaces a previous barbecue-focused station, expanding the menu to include a broader range of comfort food options, though some BBQ will still be available.

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“We are testing some new food options,” Carnival brand ambassador John Heald said in a Facebook post this week, adding, “Some very, very exciting new food options.”

He also noted the testing extends beyond lunch to new dinner menus, pointing to Carnival Liberty as one ship featuring the lunch offerings on Deck 10.

As the name suggests, the lunch menu centers on chicken and waffles, though the items are served separately, allowing guests to mix and match. Options include classic fried chicken, spicy varieties and hot honey-glazed versions, along with chicken tenders in flavors like buffalo and Korean-style sauce.

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On the barbecue side, guests can choose from slow-cooked pork butt or beef brisket, paired with sides such as mac and cheese, coleslaw and potato salad.

The concept blends elements of Carnival’s existing food partnerships, including Guy Fieri’s Pig & Anchor BBQ and Shaquille O’Neal’s Big Chicken, though it is not officially tied to either brand.

The new venue is free to guests, as are many of Carnival’s other casual dining options, which is a key selling point for budget-conscious travelers.

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But early reactions suggest the concept is a work in progress.

In Reddit threads, some passengers praised the variety and convenience, noting short lines and easy access compared to busier buffet areas. Others, however, say the menu focuses too much on fried food, with calls for healthier alternatives.

“I can get deep fat fried food on land,” one woman commented on Heald’s post. “Can’t they try something that isn’t cooked in a vat of oil? Something Mediterranean would be lovely,” she added.

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Others who had tried the new options since the rollout were less positive. “I did not like the chicken,” one person wrote on Reddit, adding, “Over cooked and dry.” Someone else said the waffles could be crispier.

But longtime Carnival cruisers were already split on the old BBQ, with some calling it tasty and others saying it was “hit or miss” or even “terrible.”

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Some Reddit users suggested the new chicken-and-waffles option could be an upgrade from the old BBQ setup, especially if it delivers a Shaq’s Big Chicken-style experience.

Others are looking forward to trying it. “That sounds like a glorious brunch spot,” one Redditor said.

The cruise line has taken a similar approach with other quick concepts, including its “Bagels at Sea” breakfast option, which began as a trial and has since expanded to more ships. Industry insiders say the move reflects a growing emphasis on fast, casual dining that better fits modern travel habits.

A recent Cruise Critic report noted, “The days of buffet- and main-dining-room-only dining are long gone.”

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Fox News Digital has reached out to Carnival for comment.

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