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  • 1 key addition this offseason for every NBA team

    1 key addition this offseason for every NBA team

    Cooper Flagg was the 2025 No. 1 draft pick for the Dallas Mavericks.

    Atlanta Hawks | Key Addition: Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Kristaps Porziņģis

    Yes, we’re sneaking in two names off the jump – but both bring elements that could elevate Atlanta’s defense to another level. Alexander-Walker pairs with 2024-25 steals leader Dyson Daniels to form a perimeter duo built on length and disruption, while Porziņģis adds rim protection inside. On offense, his pick-and-roll threat with Trae Young could add another dimension, leaving Atlanta better equipped on both ends.

    Boston Celtics | Key Addition: Anfernee Simons

    With Jayson Tatum sidelined for the foreseeable future with an Achilles injury, Boston needed another shot-creator — and Simons brings exactly that. The former Blazer averaged 20.7 ppg over his last three seasons and can heat up in a hurry, giving the Celtics a reliable secondary scoring option alongside Jaylen Brown.

    Brooklyn Nets | Key Addition: Michael Porter Jr.

    Only two players have hit 185+ triples at 39% or better in each of the past three seasons – Steph Curry and Michael Porter Jr. That shooting prowess gives Brooklyn an established floor-spacer and off-ball threat who, alongside Egor Demin (No. 8 overall) and four other 2025 first-round picks, should help lift an offense that finished tied for last in scoring last season (105.1 ppg).

    Charlotte Hornets | Key Addition: Kon Knueppel

    Fans’ first look at Knueppel saw the No. 4 overall pick lead Charlotte to an NBA 2K26 Summer League title while earning championship game MVP honors. Now, he’ll look to help the Hornets end a nine-year playoff drought by complementing LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller in a young backcourt brimming with shooters.

    Chicago Bulls | Key Addition: Noa Essengue

    This year’s No. 12 overall pick pairs length, athleticism and defensive instincts with a developing offensive game. At 18 years old, Essengue — as well as newly-acquired Isaac Okoro — gives Chicago additional two-way versatility, adding upside and depth to a rebuilding roster.

    Cleveland Cavaliers | Key Addition: Lonzo Ball

    The player Chicago swapped Okoro for? Ball, who brings playmaking and pace to a Cleveland offense that scored an NBA-best 121.9 ppg last season. The Cavs also added Larry Nance Jr., though they lost Ty Jerome in free agency. With their All-Star core returning following an East-best 64-18 record, Ball and Nance will look to give Cleveland additional firepower for a deeper playoff push.

    Dallas Mavericks | Key Addition: Cooper Flagg

    After leading Duke in points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks in his lone collegiate season, Flagg flashed his versatility in his limited Summer League action. This year’s No. 1 pick gives Dallas a 6-foot-8, multi-positional option who can defend various positions and contribute on both ends from Day 1.

    Denver Nuggets | Key Addition: Jonas Valančiūnas

    No Western Conference team has more regular-season wins over the last four years than Denver. In that same span, it’s been outscored by 9.2 points per 100 possessions when Nikola Jokić sits. Valančiūnas joins the Nuggets to help close that gap, entering alongside Cam Johnson, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Bruce Brown — who won the 2023 NBA title with Denver — to add depth and veteran experience to a perennial contender.

    Detroit Pistons | Key Addition: Duncan Robinson

    A third-year leap from Cade Cunningham resulted in Detroit tripling its win total last season, leading to its first playoff appearance since 2019. One of only two players (alongside Nikola Jokić) to average 25+ points and 9+ assists last season, Cunningham now has Robinson – a career 39.7% 3-point shooter – to space the floor. Caris LeVert also joined Detroit via free agency, while Jaden Ivey is set to return from injury to boost its backcourt.

    Golden State Warriors | Key Addition: N/A

    The Warriors have yet to make any major trades or free-agent signings this summer but added Alex Toohey (No. 52) and Will Richard (No. 56) in the second round of the draft. Richard averaged 10.3 ppg in the NBA 2K26 Summer League after helping lead Florida to the 2025 NCAA national title.

    Houston Rockets | Key Addition: Kevin Durant

    Houston made the splash of the summer, acquiring Durant in a historic seven-team, 13-player trade that also brought Clint Capela and Dorian Finney-Smith to the Rockets.

    A four-time scoring champ and two-time Finals MVP, Durant — who’s averaged 25+ ppg on over 50% shooting in each of his last 12 seasons — joins last year’s No. 2 seed out West as they eye a Finals run.

    Indiana Pacers | Key Addition: Jay Huff

    After losing Myles Turner in free agency, the 2025 Eastern Conference champs added stretch-5 Jay Huff from Memphis. One of five centers to shoot over 40% from 3 on 200+ attempts last season, Huff averaged 6.9 ppg while providing rim protection for the Grizz.

    LA Clippers | Key Addition: Bradley Beal, Chris Paul

    CP3 is back in LA – along with more veteran experience. The Clips added proven playmaking and scoring through Paul and Beal, as well as frontcourt depth in John Collins and Brook Lopez. The two stretch bigs can help space the floor while the veteran guards ease playmaking pressure from James Harden and Kawhi Leonard, giving LA more flexibility for a deep playoff push.

    Los Angeles Lakers | Key Addition: Deandre Ayton

    Ayton joins the Lakers after a buyout from Portland, filling a glaring need in the middle for Los Angeles. The former No. 1 overall pick gives LeBron James and Luka Dončić a reliable lob threat and interior size the team lacked after trading Anthony Davis. The Lakers also added veteran guard Marcus Smart, who strengthens the perimeter defense and adds playoff experience to a roster aiming for a deep postseason run.

    Memphis Grizzlies | Key Addition: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Ty Jerome

    Both dangerous from downtown, Caldwell-Pope and Jerome join the Grizzlies to offset the departures of Desmond Bane (Orlando) and Luke Kennard (Atlanta). With Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. leading the charge, Memphis hopes the new additions can sustain an offense that ranked second in scoring last season (121.7 ppg), while KCP also provides an edge defensively.

    Miami Heat | Key Addition: Norman Powell

    Miami added Powell in a three-team trade with the Clippers and Jazz, sending Kevin Love and Kyle Anderson to Utah. Coming off a career-high 21.8 ppg last season, Powell bolsters a Heat offense that ranked 24th (110.6 ppg), joining Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro and Andrew Wiggins as Miami looks to reestablish itself as an East contender.

    Milwaukee Bucks | Key Addition: Myles Turner

    One of the biggest names of the 2025 free agent class, the former Pacers mainstay joins the Bucks on a four-year deal. Indiana’s all-time leading shot blocker provides rim protection alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo while replacing Brook Lopez as a stretch-5 offensively. Cole Anthony also signed with Milwaukee, adding backcourt depth following Damian Lillard’s departure.

    Minnesota Timberwolves | Key Addition: Joan Beringer

    The Wolves allowed the fifth-fewest points in the NBA last season (109.3 ppg), and their lone offseason addition was 2025 first-round pick Joan Beringer (No. 17), who adds depth to a defensive frontcourt anchored by fellow Frenchman Rudy Gobert. At 6-foot-11, Beringer flashed his rim-protecting upside with seven – yes, seven – blocks in his Summer League debut.

    New Orleans Pelicans | Key Addition: Jordan Poole

    With the departure of CJ McCollum, New Orleans brought in Poole to spark an offense that finished 25th in scoring last season (109.8 ppg). The Pels also added a pair of lottery picks in guard Jeremiah Fears (No. 7) and big Derik Queen (No. 13), who both looked sharp in Summer League, though Queen will miss the start of the season with a torn ligament in his left wrist.

    New York Knicks | Key Addition: Jordan Clarkson

    New York was two wins shy of its first NBA Finals appearance since 1999 last season, yet finished last in the league in bench points. Insert Jordan Clarkson, a former Kia Sixth Man of the Year who turned in 16.2 ppg for Utah in 2024-25. The Knicks also added Guerschon Yabusele, who recorded 11.0 ppg on 50.1% shooting with the Sixers last season. Meanwhile, two-time Coach of the Year Mike Brown takes over as head coach.

    Oklahoma City Thunder | Key Addition: Nikola Topić

    Even without making any moves in free agency, OKC added to its championship roster. The Thunder will debut two first-round picks this season – this year’s No. 15 overall pick Thomas Sorber and 2024 lottery selection Nikola Topić (No. 12 overall), who missed all of last season with an ACL injury but flashed his playmaking in Summer League with a Vegas-best 7.3 assists per game along with 11.0 points.

    Orlando Magic | Key Addition: Desmond Bane

    The Magic swung a blockbuster trade to land Bane, sending Cole Anthony, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and multiple first-round picks to Memphis. A career 41.0% 3-point shooter, Bane averaged 19.2 points, 6.1 rebounds and 5.3 assists last season, giving Orlando a proven scoring guard alongside Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner.

    Philadelphia 76ers | Key Addition: VJ Edgecombe

    Philly injected a jolt of athleticism through the draft in Edgecombe, who dazzled in his Summer League debut with 28 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and one high-flying hammer. This year’s No. 3 pick, Edgecombe broke Baylor’s freshman steals record last season, bringing a spark to a Sixers squad that finished 26th in defensive rating.

    Phoenix Suns | Key Addition: Jalen Green

    A new season, and a new-look Suns squad. On the other side of the seven-team swap that sent Kevin Durant to Houston, Phoenix landed Green, Dillon Brooks and a trio of draft picks — including 7-foot-2 center Khaman Maluach (No. 10 overall). At 23, Green brings scoring, athleticism and upside, ready to ignite the Suns’ offense alongside Devin Booker.

    Portland Trail Blazers | Key Addition: Jrue Holiday

    The Blazers added a defensive stalwart in Holiday, pairing the veteran with their young backcourt of Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe. Damian Lillard also returns to Portland but will be sidelined for the foreseeable future with a torn Achilles. Regardless, Lillard’s leadership, combined with Holiday’s versatility and championship experience, gives the Blazers a strong foundation to develop their promising duo.

    Sacramento Kings | Key Addition: Nique Clifford

    Powered by Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan and Domantas Sabonis, the Kings finished last season with a top-10 offense and a 27-24 record under Doug Christie. They’ll now add rookie sharpshooter Nique Clifford to the mix – the No. 24 pick who earned First Team 2K26 Summer League honors, averaging 15.2 ppg while shooting 45.8% from 3. Dennis Schröder will also step in at point guard, helping fill the void left by De’Aaron Fox.

    San Antonio Spurs | Key Addition: Dylan Harper

    Fresh off drafting back-to-back Kia Rookies of the Year in Victor Wembanyama (2023-24) and Stephon Castle (2024-25), the Spurs hope Harper, this year’s No. 2 overall pick, can make it three straight. The do-it-all guard joins Castle and De’Aaron Fox in the backcourt, where his offensive instincts and playmaking could flourish in San Antonio’s free-flowing system.

    Toronto Raptors | Key Addition: Collin Murray-Boyles

    Toronto’s defense took a major leap after the All-Star break last season, jumping from 26th to 2nd in defensive rating. The Raptors hope Murray-Boyles can help maintain that momentum. Known for his relentless motor, the No. 9 overall pick showed off his defensive intensity in the NBA 2K26 Summer League, averaging 1.8 steals and 1.0 blocks with 10.5 points across four games.

    Utah Jazz | Key Addition: Ace Bailey

    A pure shooter who can hit from anywhere, this year’s No. 5 overall pick brings size, length and a versatile offensive game to Utah, capable of attacking the rim, splashing step-back jumpers and spacing the floor. The Jazz also added veterans Georges Niang, Kyle Anderson and Jusuf Nurkić to provide experience around their young nucleus.

    Washington Wizards | Key Addition: CJ McCollum, Tre Johnson

    After getting an NBA-high 35% of their minutes from rookies last season, the Wizards added another high-upside prospect in this year’s No. 6 overall pick, Tre Johnson. The Texas guard led the SEC in scoring as a freshman (19.9 ppg) while shooting 39.7% from deep, joining a young core now anchored by CJ McCollum, who offers a veteran scoring presence.

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  • European leaders to join Zelensky in Trump meeting

    European leaders to join Zelensky in Trump meeting

    (Clockwise from top left) British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, French President Emmanuel Macron, European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. — Reuters
    • Zelensky, EU leaders head to US for peace talks.
    • Donald Trump offers security guarantees for Kyiv.
    • Kyiv, Moscow trade drone strikes as fighting intensifies.

    BRUSSELS: European leaders will join Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on a Monday visit to Washington to see President Donald Trump in a collective bid to find a way to end to Moscow’s invasion, with the US offering security guarantees for Kyiv.

    The meeting follows a summit in Alaska between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin that failed to yield any breakthrough on an immediate ceasefire that the US leader had been pushing for.

    Trump, who pivoted afterwards to say he was now seeking a peace deal, on Sunday posted “BIG PROGRESS ON RUSSIA. STAY TUNED!” on his Truth Social platform, without elaborating.

    Trump’s Russia envoy Steve Witkoff said on Sunday that Trump and Putin had agreed in their summit on “robust security guarantees” for Ukraine.

    But Zelensky, on a Brussels visit on Sunday hosted by European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, rejected the idea of Russia offering his country security guarantees.

    “What President Trump said about security guarantees is much more important to me than Putin’s thoughts, because Putin will not give any security guarantees,” he said.

    Von der Leyen hailed the US offer to provide security guarantees modelled on — but separate from —  NATO’s collective security arrangement, known as Article 5.

    “We welcome President Trump’s willingness to contribute to Article 5-like security guarantees for Ukraine, and the coalition of the willing, including the European Union, is ready to do its share,” von der Leyen said.

    Hopes for ‘productive meeting’ 

    Trump’s pivot to looking for a peace deal, not a ceasefire, aligns with the stance long taken by Putin, and which Ukraine and its European allies have criticised as Putin’s way to buy time with the intent of making battlefield gains.

    Zelensky also said he saw “no sign” the Kremlin leader was prepared to meet him and Trump for a three-way summit, as had been floated by the US president.

    The leaders heading to Washington on Monday to appear alongside Zelensky call themselves the “coalition of the willing”.

    They include British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron,, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, and von der Leyen.

    Also heading to Washington will be Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Finnish President Alexander Stubbs, who get on well with Trump.

    On Sunday they all held a video meeting to prepare their joint position.

    Speaking to US broadcaster CNN, Witkoff said: “I’m hopeful that we have a productive meeting on Monday, we get to real consensus, we’re able to come back to the Russians and push this peace deal forward and get it done.”

    US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking to NBC on Sunday, warned of “consequences” — including the potential imposition of new sanctions on Russia — if no peace deal is reached on Ukraine.

    Territorial ‘concessions’ 

    European leaders have expressed unease from the outset over Trump’s outreach to Putin, who has demanded Ukraine abandon its ambitions to join the EU or NATO. They were excluded from Trump’s summit with Putin.

    Witkoff, in his CNN interview, said the United States was prepared to provide “game-changing” security guarantees to Ukraine as part of a process that would involve territorial “concessions”.

    According to an official briefed on a call Trump held with Zelensky and European leaders as he flew back from Alaska, the US leader supported a Putin proposal that Russia take full control of two eastern Ukrainian regions in exchange for freezing the frontline in two others.

    Putin “de facto demands that Ukraine leave Donbas,” an area consisting of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions in eastern Ukraine, which Russia currently only partly controls, the source said.

    In exchange, Russian forces would halt their offensive in the Black Sea port region of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia in southern Ukraine, where the main cities are still under Ukrainian control.

    Several months into its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia in September 2022 claimed to have annexed all four Ukrainian regions even though its troops still do not fully control any of them.

    “The Ukrainian president refused to leave Donbas,” the source said.

    Meanwhile, the conflict in Ukraine rages on, with both Kyiv and Moscow launching attack drones at each other Sunday.


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  • East Bengal beat Mohun Bagan 2-1 in quarter-finals

    East Bengal beat Mohun Bagan 2-1 in quarter-finals

    Dimitrios Diamantakos struck twice as East Bengal defeated Mohun Bagan Super Giant 2-1 in a tense Durand Cup 2025 quarter-final match at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (Salt Lake Stadium) on Sunday.

    The Greek forward converted a first-half penalty (38’) before doubling the lead early in the second half (52’). Anirudh Thapa (68’) pulled one back for Mohun Bagan, but East Bengal held firm to book their place in the semi-finals of Asia’s oldest football tournament.

    The Kolkata Derby began with the teams adopting contrasting approaches. Jose Molina’s Bagan stuck to a traditional 4-4-2, while Oscar Bruzon packed the midfield, leaving Hamid Ahadad as the lone striker.

    East Bengal suffered an early blow when Ahadad limped off in the 25th minute, but his replacement Diamantakos quickly turned the game in their favour.

    East Bengal had the better of exchanges when the first water break was taken at the half-hour mark. Their persistence paid off when Bipin Singh was brought down inside the box minutes later and the referee pointed to the spot.

    Diamantakos made no mistake putting it past a diving Vishal Kaith, who guessed right, but could not beat the placement.

    Bagan tried to equalise but the nearest they came was when a strike from Lalengmawia Ralte in injury time went wide of Prabhsukhan Singh Gill’s outstretched dive and his right post.

    Molina brought in Australian Jason Cummings in the second half in place of Pasang Dorjee Tamang in an effort to get the equaliser. However, it was Diamantakos who got his second instead, after a well-constructed move.

    Lalchungnunga played the ball cross-field from his half to Edmund Lalrindika, who tapped it back on the volley to Miguel.

    The Brazilian playmaker received the ball in the middle of the Bagan half, changed track to take out one defender and found Mahesh with a forward ball.

    The Manipuri threaded a pass forward to Diamantakos lurking inside, who controlled and took a touch forward, before pulling the trigger with his left on the half-turn. The ball took a deflection off Spanish defender Alberto’s legs and went in.

    Kevin Sibille, East Bengal’s Italian centre-back, then brought up a crucial goalline save minutes later, off a Jamie Maclaren attempt from close range, to deny Bagan a goal.

    After a sustained spell of Bagan pressure, Liston found the diminutive Thapa unmarked and in space, just outside the Bagan box, from a corner.

    Thapa curled a right footer and it went in through traffic in front of Prabhsukhan’s goal. It was a one-goal game with 20 minutes left to play.

    Molina then made a triple change in the 70th minute. Dimitrios Petratos, Dippendu Biswas and Deepak Tangri were brought in, in place of British defender Thomas Aldred, Sahal Abdul Samad and Thapa, respectively.

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  • Oops! Earendel, most distant star ever discovered, may not actually be a star, James Webb Telescope reveals

    Oops! Earendel, most distant star ever discovered, may not actually be a star, James Webb Telescope reveals

    The most distant star ever discovered may have been misclassified: Instead of being a single star, the object — nicknamed Earendel from the Old English word for “morning star” — may be a star cluster, a group of stars that are bound together by gravity and formed from the same cloud of gas and dust, new research suggests.

    Discovered by the Hubble Space Telescope in 2022, Earendel was thought to be a star that formed merely 900 million years after the Big Bang, when the universe was only 7% of its current age.

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  • Management of Idiopathic Lower Extremity Ulcers With Chronic Venous Stasis Ulcer Therapy

    Management of Idiopathic Lower Extremity Ulcers With Chronic Venous Stasis Ulcer Therapy


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  • CM Punjab arrives in Japan

    CM Punjab arrives in Japan

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    LAHORE, Aug 17 (APP):Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif arrived at Handa Airport, Tokyo, where she was warmly received by senior officials of the Japanese government and members of the diplomatic corps.

    According to a handout issued here on Sunday, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Japan Abdul Hameed along with his team, welcomed the Chief Minister and her delegation on arrival.

    A large number of overseas Pakistanis also gathered at the airport to extend a warm reception to chief minister.

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  • Anuvu to sell 100% of company to Platinum Equity

    Anuvu to sell 100% of company to Platinum Equity

    In 2021, Anuvu’s predecessor Global Eagle emerged from Chapter 11 restructuring after selling substantially all its assets to a group comprising the firm’s first-lien investors, including but not limited to certain funds managed by affiliates of Apollo Global Management, Inc., Eaton Vance Management, Mudrick Capital Management, and Crestline Investors, Inc. Two months later, Global Eagle rebranded as Anuvu.

    Now privately-held Anuvu confirms it intends to sell 100% of the company to Beverly Hills, California-based Platinum Equity, which manages roughly $50 billion of diversified assets.

    Financial terms have not been disclosed, but the transaction will include Anuvu’s inflight connectivity (IFC) and Media units, and allows the company to pay off debt, deploy free cash flow in new investments, and continue to scale its network infrastructure, CEO Josh Marks tells Runway Girl Network.

    Anuvu provides both IFC and inflight entertainment (IFE) content service provisioning to airlines, and counts a raft of operators as customers, including notably Southwest Airlines for IFC. It has asked the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for permission to transfer non-common carrier earth station licenses to a newly registered company owned by Platinum Equity.

    Anuvu’s arrangement with Platinum Equity is structured for tax efficiency and corporate simplification. Pre-closing, Anuvu expects to realign its current operations into two subsidiary entities, each managing one of its two primary lines of business IFC and Media technology.

    “By adjusting our IFC and Media corporate structure as part of an ownership change, we simplify back-office and customer complexity while also driving tax efficiency,” explains Marks.

    “We plan to transfer our FCC licenses to the IFC subsidiary. The contemplated corporate changes will occur after receiving regulatory approvals and before closing, and will not impact our current operations or customers.”

    He confirms that:

    Anuvu will continue to operate both IFC and Media.

    Founded in 1995, Platinum Equity describes itself as “a global investment firm with ~$50 billion of assets under management, teams and investors around the world, and a diverse, global portfolio of operating companies in a wide range of industries. Our current portfolio of approximately 60 companies operates in a diverse range of industries, generates $100+ billion of aggregate revenue and employs approximately 200,000 people across the globe.”

    Platinum Equity’s prior investments in telecommunications carriers include Covad, Securus, DSLnet and Matrix Telecom.

    “Platinum Equity Advisors are experienced investors in aerospace, telecommunications and media-related services. Platinum’s platform investment in Anuvu allows us to pay off debt, deploy free cash flow in new investments, and continue to scale our network infrastructure, distinctive content and digital capabilities,” says Marks.

    “This transaction is the next milestone in our successful transformation post-COVID, reflecting our significant free cash flow generation, customer growth, and successful deployment of new technologies, including our Anuvu Constellation MicroGEO satellites. NuView Alpha and Bravo entered commercial service this month and are actively deployed on our North American network with excellent performance.”

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    Featured image credited to istock.com/Patamaporn Umnahanant

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  • Acemagic F3A mini PC with powerful 12-core AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 chip gets massive $390 discount

    Acemagic F3A mini PC with powerful 12-core AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 chip gets massive $390 discount

    The Acemagic F3A is a pretty decently equipped mini PC that promises excellent computing horsepower, thanks to the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 APU that sits inside it. Thanks to an ongoing sale on Acemagic’s official online store, the barebones variant of the capable mini PC can now be purchased with a discount of around $390 after clipping a coupon, bringing its price down to just $569.

    The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 APU that powers the F3A mini PC is quite the beast. Packing 4 Zen 5 and 8 Zen 5C cores for a total of 12 cores and 24 threads, the high-end Strix Point APU manages performance that puts it well ahead of the Intel Core Ultra 9 285H in multi-core benchmarks such as Cinebench 2024. For the vast majority of CPU-intensive workloads, the system is unlikely to leave any room for complaints. Dual SODIMMs and a single M.2 slot are present for memory and storage requirements.

    As our review of the F3A mini PC indicates, the thermal system does its job rather well and keeps temperatures within tolerable limits even under sustained loads. We were also quite impressed with how quiet the system was, not just when idling but also under full tilt. The Minisforum AI X1 Pro (curr. $1,249 on Amazon) does win in terms of overall efficiency, but not by a massive margin. The overall build quality is passable, but not quite something worth phoning home about.

    Of course, like most mini PCs, the Acemagic F3A lacks support for internal discrete GPUs. The RDNA 3.5-based Radeon 890M iGPU does admirably, and can offer decent 1080p gaming performance in older titles at modest settings, as our detailed review points out. However, there is no OCuLink port, which means folks opting for eGPUs will have to settle for slower USB4-based connections. Speaking of ports, the F3A mini PC packs a healthy bunch, listed below:

    • Dual USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A (Front), Dual USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A (Rear)
    • DisplayPort 2.0, HDMI 2.1
    • Dual USB4 Type-C
    • Dual 2.5G Ethernet
    • 3.5 mm audio jack

    All told, the Acemagic F3A mini PC is a decently equipped system with the very powerful AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 APU. At its current sale price, the value proposition is even more attractive, considering that OCuLink connectivity is not essential. For a deeper look at the mini PC, feel free to check out our in-depth review before pulling the trigger.

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  • What to know about every Eastern Conference team’s 1st week

    What to know about every Eastern Conference team’s 1st week

    Pascal Siakam and the Pacers tip off their season with a Finals rematch against the Thunder. 

    Following the release of the full 2025-26 schedule, we looked at each team’s opening week of games to break down key matchups and storylines entering the new season. We begin with the Eastern Conference below and will be back tomorrow with the West.

    Note: All games are available on NBA League Pass unless otherwise indicated.

    Atlanta Hawks

    • Oct. 22 vs. Raptors
    • Oct. 24 at Magic
    • Oct. 25 vs. Thunder
    • Oct. 27 at Bulls

    The Hawks will debut their new-look lineup – with offseason additions Kristaps Porziņģis, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Luke Kennard joining Trae Young, a healthy Jalen Johnson, Kia Most Improved Player Dyson Daniels and Kia Rookie of the Year runner-up Zacharrie Risacher – when they open the season at home against the Raptors. That’s followed by a challenging back-to-back, beginning in Orlando against a Magic team that ended Atlanta’s 2024-25 season in the SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament before returning home to host the defending champion Thunder. Atlanta then closes out Week 1 in Chicago.

    Boston Celtics

    • Oct. 22 vs. Sixers
    • Oct. 24 at Knicks (Prime)
    • Oct. 26 at Pistons
    • Oct. 27 at Pelicans

    Boston opens the 2025-26 season at home against a familiar opponent – the Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA-record 588th all-time meeting (regular season and postseason combined) between the teams – but with an unfamiliar lineup. Without Jayson Tatum (Achilles), Jrue Holiday (Portland) and Kristaps Porziņģis (Atlanta) from its 2024 title team, Boston will roll out a new-look starting five this season. After opening at home, the Celtics hit the road for three straight games, beginning in New York with the NBA’s first-ever game streamed live on Prime Video, followed by stops in Detroit and New Orleans to wrap up Week 1.

    Brooklyn Nets

    • Oct. 22 at Hornets
    • Oct. 24 vs. Cavaliers
    • Oct. 26 at Spurs
    • Oct. 27 at Rockets

    Michael Porter Jr. – who was acquired from Denver via trade this summer – will make his Nets debut when Brooklyn opens the season in Charlotte against LaMelo Ball and the Hornets on Oct. 22. Two days later, the Nets return to Brooklyn for their home opener against a Cavs team that swept their season series a year ago. The new-look Nets then head to Texas for a back-to-back starting in San Antonio against Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs, followed by a matchup with former Net Kevin Durant and the Rockets.

    Charlotte Hornets

    • Oct. 22 vs. Nets
    • Oct. 25 at Sixers
    • Oct. 26 at Wizards

    After winning the NBA 2K26 Summer League title behind All-Summer League Second Team selections Kon Knueppel (No. 4 pick in 2025 Draft) and KJ Simpson, the Hornets open their season at home against Brooklyn. Knueppel is one of five top-10 picks projected for Charlotte’s opening day roster, joining LaMelo Ball (3rd, 2020), Brandon Miller (2nd, 2023), Tidjane Salaün (6th, 2024) and offseason addition Collin Sexton (8th, 2018). After the home opener, the Hornets visit Philadelphia and Washington looking to snap a pair of losing streaks – they’ve dropped 10 straight to the Sixers and five straight to the Wizards.

    Chicago Bulls

    • Oct. 22 vs. Pistons
    • Oct. 25 at Magic
    • Oct. 27 vs. Hawks

    After three straight seasons hovering around 40 wins and ending with Play-In eliminations, the Bulls will look to break through in 2025-26 as they open the season facing three East squads that are on the rise. Chicago tips off the season at home against a Pistons squad coming off a historic 30-win improvement last season. That’s followed by a quick trip to Orlando to face a Magic team with its young stars healthy and the addition of Desmond Bane. The Bulls return home to take on the Hawks, who added veterans Kristaps Porziņģis, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Luke Kennard to complement their young talent.

    Cleveland Cavaliers

    • Oct. 22 at Knicks (ESPN)
    • Oct. 24 at Brooklyn
    • Oct. 26 vs. Bucks
    • Oct. 27 at Pistons (Peacock)

    A year ago, the Cavs tied the NBA’s second-longest win streak to open a season with a franchise-best 15-0 start. Repeating that early success will be a challenge with three of Cleveland’s first four games coming against top-six finishers in the East last season. The Cavs open the season with an NYC doubleheader, facing the Knicks and Nets, before returning for their home opener against Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks. Cleveland closes its opening week in Detroit against the rising Pistons. A year ago, the Cavs went a combined 15-1 against these four opponents. Can they replicate that success and get off to another strong start?

    Detroit Pistons

    • Oct. 22 at Bulls
    • Oct. 24 at Rockets
    • Oct. 26 vs. Celtics
    • Oct. 27 vs. Cavaliers (Peacock)

    Last season, the Pistons completed one of the largest single-season turnarounds in league history – more than tripling their win total from the previous season – but it didn’t start out that way. Detroit opened the 2024-25 campaign with four straight losses and was 11-17 through 28 games before going 33-21 the rest of the way. Can the Pistons avoid another slow start? They’ll have to overcome some strong competition to do so, with three of their first four games coming against teams that finished top-two in their respective conferences – the Rockets (52-30), Celtics (61-21) and Cavs (64-18) – after opening the season in Chicago.

    Indiana Pacers

    • Oct. 23 vs. Thunder (ESPN)
    • Oct. 25 at Grizzlies
    • Oct. 26 at Timberwolves

    Just four months and one day after falling to the Thunder in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals, the Pacers will open their season at home against the defending champs. However, they will do so without two key pieces from last year’s title run – Tyrese Haliburton with a torn Achilles suffered in Game 7 and Myles Turner, who joined the rival Bucks in free agency. Two more West playoff teams round out Indy’s opening week as they hit the road to face Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr. and the Grizzlies, followed by Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves.

    Milwaukee Bucks

    • Oct. 22 vs. Wizards
    • Oct. 24 at Raptors
    • Oct. 26 at Cavaliers

    When the Bucks host the Wizards to open the 2025-26 season, they will welcome home a foundational player of Milwaukee’s 2021 championship team – Khris Middleton – who was traded to Washington at last year’s deadline after 11-plus seasons in Milwaukee. That homecoming game is followed by a two-game road trip with stops in Toronto (Bucks swept season series 3-0 last year) and Cleveland (Cavs swept season series 4-0). Milwaukee got off to an uncharacteristic slow start (2-8 through 10 games) last season and will look to avoid digging another such hole this year.

    Miami Heat

    • Oct. 22 at Magic
    • Oct. 24 at Grizzlies
    • Oct. 26 vs. Knicks

    The Heat open the 2025-26 season with connections to each of their first three opponents. First up is an all-Florida matchup with the Magic in Orlando in the season opener for both teams. That’s followed by a clash of last season’s two 8-seeds in the Playoffs after the Grizzlies and Heat both used the SoFi Play-In Tournament to secure their spot. Finally, Miami’s home opener comes against its arch-rival – the New York Knicks. Over 175 total games played between the regular season and playoffs, these teams are separated by just five wins (Knicks lead 90-85) and a total of 61 points.

    New York Knicks

    • Oct. 22 vs. Cavaliers (ESPN)
    • Oct. 24 vs. Celtics (Prime)
    • Oct. 26 at Heat

    The Knicks start things off with the first ESPN game of the season (when the Knicks host the Cavs on Oct. 22) and the first Prime Video game ever (when the Knicks host the Celtics on Oct. 24). New York (51-31) finished the 2024-25 season ranked third in the East behind Cleveland (64-18) and Boston (61-21) and now opens the 2025-26 season against those two squads, including a 2025 East Semifinals rematch with the Celtics before the Knicks hit the road to visit the rival Heat to close out its opening week.

    Orlando Magic

    • Oct. 22 vs. Heat
    • Oct. 24 vs. Hawks
    • Oct. 25 vs. Bulls
    • Oct. 27 at Sixers

    Last season, the Magic used the SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament to secure their playoff berth as the 7-seed. The other three Eastern Conference teams in that tournament – the Miami Heat, Atlanta Hawks and Chicago Bulls – are Orlando’s first three opponents as the Magic tip off 2025-26 with a three-game homestand in the span of four days. After opening the season against its only in-state rival (Miami), the Magic will host the new-look Hawks – after Orlando ended Atlanta’s season back in the Play-In – before wrapping up Week 1 against Philly.

    Philadelphia 76ers

    • Oct. 22 at Celtics
    • Oct. 25 vs. Hornets
    • Oct. 27 vs. Magic

    When the Sixers open the season in Boston on Oct. 22, they’ll look to snap a pair of three-game losing streaks – Philly has dropped its last three games to the Celtics and has lost three straight season openers. Then, the Sixers return to Philly for their home opener, hosting the Hornets in a battle of No. 3 overall picks – Philly’s VJ Edgecombe (2025) in his home debut and Charlotte’s LaMelo Ball (2020). To close out their opening week, the Sixers host the Magic in a clash of under-25 stars in Tyrese Maxey and Paolo Banchero.

    Toronto Raptors

    • Oct. 22 at Hawks
    • Oct. 24 vs. Bucks
    • Oct. 26 at Mavericks
    • Oct. 27 at Spurs

    The early portion of Toronto’s schedule is road heavy — with 10 of the Raptors’ first 15 games coming outside of Canada, including their season opener on Oct. 22 in Atlanta against the new-look Hawks. Two days later, the Raptors have their home opener against a Bucks team that swept the season series with Toronto last year. Then, it’s time for a Texas two-step with a Mavs-Spurs back-to-back on Oct. 26-27 as the Raptors face the past two Kia Rookies of the Year in San Antonio and this year’s top pick in Dallas.

    Washington Wizards

    • Oct. 22 at Bucks
    • Oct. 24 at Mavericks
    • Oct. 26 vs. Hornets

    Washington heads to Milwaukee to open up the season – in what will be Khris Middleton’s first game back in Milwaukee – they’ll try to end the Bucks’ recent dominance in the matchup, having gone 18-3 over the past 21 matchups. Two days later, the Wizards will host Cooper Flagg and the Mavs in a matchup of this year’s No. 1 pick (Flagg) against last year’s No. 2 pick (Alex Sarr). That’s not the only top-five pick Washington will face to open Week as they host Kon Knueppel (4th, 2025), LaMelo Ball (3rd, 2020) and Brandon Miller (No. 2, 2023) of the Hornets in Washington’s home opener.

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  • Cape Verde bounce back, send Rwanda home

    Cape Verde bounce back, send Rwanda home

    MOÇÂMEDES (Angola) – Cape Verde defeated Rwanda 75-62 on Sunday to stay in contention for a spot in the 2025 AfroBasket quarterfinals.

    Cape Verde took the floor with a sense of urgency, disrupting every one of Rwanda’s attempts to attack.

    Patrick Lima opened the scoring with a three-pointer, foreshadowing what was to come for Cape Verde, who eventually shot 9-for-28 from deep.

    Lima’s three-pointer came after a block shot from Edy Tavares, who finished with three swats.

    Early in the game, the Cape Verdeans led 9-0, with Rwanda showing no sign of containing their opponents’ dominance.

    The Rwandans trailed 16-2 in the opening quarter. They mounted a short-lived comeback in the second quarter, finishing just eight points behind at halftime with the score at 37-29.

    Cape Verde will not know their position in Group A until after Sunday’s later game between Côte d’Ivoire and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

    It was the islanders’ second win in three Group A games. Meanwhile, Rwanda joined three other teams — Madagascar, Uganda, and Libya — who were eliminated after the group phase.

    This report is being updated.

    FIBA

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