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NEW YORK (AP) — Police arrested a 30-year-old person inside Trump Tower on Monday after getting a report of a disorderly person on an “elevated surface” inside the building, authorities said.

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New York City Police responded at around 4:30 p.m. to the skyscraper where President Donald Trump keeps a penthouse. The tower also houses private condominiums, restaurants, shops, and a soaring public atrium that is open to tourists.

Independent journalists on the scene posted video of security officials evacuating people from the atrium and police officers later exiting the building. The officers were wearing helmets and safety harnesses of the kind used by emergency responders who specialize in rescuing people from high places.

The NYPD’s emergency service unit took the person into custody without further incident, police said. It wasn’t immediately clear what charges the person might face and the incident remains under investigation, police said.

Trump Tower has been the scene, over the years, of protests, bomb scares and the occasional stunt. A person tried to scale the building in 2016 and got to the 21st floor before officers dragged him in.

General Daily Insight for April 22, 2025

Lucky breaks bring us chances to heal. The intuitive Moon works in tandem with expansive Jupiter at 7:04 am EDT, nourishing our intuition, luck, and generosity. Later, the Moon coordinates with galactic medic Chiron, giving us the ability to find deep emotional healing and support. Luna then busies itself arguing with offbeat Uranus, spurring us to cling to the past or familiar habits. Success can be found by remembering that it’s important to embrace change even when it’s hard. Leap into the future!

Aries

March 21 – April 19

A lucky conversation with someone can put your life on an astonishing upward trajectory. You might discover that someone is looking for a candidate with your exact talents or knowledge base — and meanwhile, you’ve probably been hunting for someone who could use your specific set of skills! Alternatively, you could be the person searching for someone who has extremely niche abilities, while that other person needs your big-picture support to be successful in their field. Whichever side of the equation you’re on, get connected.

Taurus

April 20 – May 20

Focusing on your inner security can make positive ripples. You’re strong enough to level up your life, but you’ll need to look on the bright side. When you start paying attention to what makes you feel insecure or stressed, it may knock you off balance. To avoid this, set a limit on how much of your brain’s space you give to stress. Being disciplined with how you speak to yourself and where you direct your thoughts will set you up for unimaginably amazing wins.

Gemini

May 21 – June 20

Knowledge is power. You might not have realized how much information you already had within you — you may even have genuine expertise to put to use! Someone who appreciates your abundance of knowledge could be right around the corner. A new friendship will have a chance to blossom, though it could also be a business connection or romantic attraction. Whatever the details are, the most direct path to success will be sharing what you know with a grateful audience. Don’t dim your light!

Cancer

June 21 – July 22

Being alone with yourself can make you more aware of what’s at stake. People from your past may be encouraging historic bad habits. If you fall prey to their temptations, seeing your progress slip away could be discouraging. This backstep doesn’t mean that you might as well give up! Take a step back and contemplate ways to recapture any of that healthy progress that slipped through your fingers. After all, it’ll only get harder to regain if you just keep letting it go.

Leo

July 23 – August 22

Your current luck comes from your relationships with others. Even if you’re typically quite independent or usually want to be the leader, today’s astrological events can be better utilized by prioritizing the people in your life. Working hard in an effort to do everything on your own is impressive, but many hands should make much lighter work. Plus, being on a team is a special kind of connection. Invest in others — that way, they’ll be able to invest back in you.

Virgo

August 23 – September 22

Old habits die when faced with the desire to change. Your ability to consistently work hard to eliminate negative influences and habits from your life is likely stronger than usual, since you have extra motivation from the cosmos to find a method that works for you. It may be that you were trying to start without having the foundational answers and getting nowhere. With a little more research and support, you’ll be moving on to better uses of your energy in no time!

Libra

September 23 – October 22

Someone could be seeking you out as a mentor. Whether or not you’re already familiar with what it takes to teach someone else, give it your best shot! Do the necessary research to guide your student toward the answers that they’re looking for. It’s likely that they look up to you and see you as someone that they want to be like in the future, regardless of how you feel about yourself. As long as you’re encouraging and genuine, it’ll be hard to go wrong.

Scorpio

October 23 – November 21

You can only control yourself. Don’t be discouraged by any opposition when it comes to following your dreams, being thwarted by unexpected tasks and setbacks — you can still make it to the finish line! It may feel like you’re not making the progress that you thought you should be making, but it’s not your fault if external events are throwing up blockades. You can only respond to whatever’s being given to you with patience and ingenuity. Keep an open, optimistic mind.

Sagittarius

November 22 – December 21

Your patterns may have you spinning in circles. It’s possible that your mindset is leading you in a loop, taking you back to the beginning in a similar formula to whatever you did last time. When you feel yourself starting to go down old paths that you know brought you frustration and dissatisfaction the last few times, it’s vital to take a beat, step back, and ask if this is really the only way forward. You can break the loop and move forward.

Capricorn

December 22 – January 19

Familiar doesn’t always mean healthy. You might think that because you’ve been consistent, you’re on the right track. While this could be true in certain areas, be aware of where consistency may be hurting you. Doing too much of anything can be unhealthy or draining, and if you’re not acting in moderation, you might be overdoing it and circling back around to inhibiting your progress. Be aware of how much or how little you’re doing something, because balance makes all the difference.

Aquarius

January 20 – February 18

You’re not who you used to be. You might find that you’re no longer identifying with decorations, clothing, personal belongings, or even people that have been in your life for a while. They may begin to seem like they’re a part of the old you, and perhaps shedding this skin could help you usher in a new era for yourself. That being said, don’t be too quick or excessive in your quest to cut yourself free. You can always get rid of something later.

Pisces

February 19 – March 20

You’re embracing any changes that you once put off. Perhaps you’ve found yourself at the end of a cycle that feels similar to the ending of a pattern you’ve already experienced. Are there any changes you should have made back then that are still asking to be implemented in your life? The situation may be more serious after so much time has passed without your energy committed to that internal improvement. It’s in your best interest to commit to leveling up.

By DÁNICA COTO

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Puerto Rico’s governor on Monday urged people to moderate their energy consumption as she warned that the island has no additional generation to fall back on days after a massive blackout hit the U.S. territory.

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Gov. Jenniffer González said officials are waiting for an explanation from Luma Energy, a private company that oversees transmission and distribution of power in Puerto Rico, about what caused the island-wide outage on April 16. It affected 1.4 million customers and left more than 400,000 others without water.

The governor announced that two subcommittees have been created: one to help the island’s so-called energy czar to audit Luma’s contract and another to identify potential companies to replace Luma if its contract is terminated.

“There have been multiple incidents,” she said when asked whether the blackout was reason enough to cancel Luma’s contract, something she pledged to do while campaigning for governor. “The operator sold itself as an expert…That perception of expertise has proven to be false.”

Luma did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The company has five days to explain why a transmission line failed and provide details about whether it complied with required flyovers of transmission lines to ensure they remain free of tree branches and other obstructions.

A preliminary report from Luma released late Friday found that a transmission line apparently failed because of overgrown vegetation.

“The fact that this happened indicates either that the patrol didn’t take place or that the line inspector didn’t detect it. That tree didn’t grow there overnight,” said Josué Colón, Puerto Rico’s so-called energy czar and former executive director of the island’s Electric Power Authority.

He said protective equipment that was supposed to detect and isolate the failure also failed, which caused the transmission system to collapse.

“The system then enters a cascade event that is irreversible,” he said. “The important thing now is that this doesn’t happen again.”

González said Puerto Rico’s government has launched its own investigation into the blackout to compare it to Luma’s report and determine any discrepancies.

González stressed that the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has been in communication with her since the outage occurred, adding that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency authorized the extended use of industrial generators.

On Monday, some 20,000 customers remained without power, although officials said other issues were to blame.

“Our system is fragile,” González said.

Earlier on Monday, she, Colón and other officials met behind closed doors to review Luma’s preliminary findings, recommend next steps and talk about an ongoing search for a company that can provide 800 megawatts of additional generation in the upcoming months.

April 16 marked the second massive blackout to hit Puerto Rico in less than four months. The previous one happened on New Year’s Eve.

Puerto Rico has struggled with chronic outages since September 2017, when Hurricane Maria hit the island as a powerful Category 4 storm, razing a power grid that crews are still struggling to rebuild.

The grid already had been deteriorating following decades of a lack of maintenance and investment under the state’s Electric Power Authority, which is struggling to restructure more than $9 billion in debt.

Follow AP’s coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america

TALLAHASSEE — In a snub to Gov. Ron DeSantis amid a widening House probe into first lady Casey DeSantis’ signature welfare-assistance program, the Florida Senate will not take up confirmations of two state agency heads before the end of the legislative session.

Senate Ethics and Elections Chairman Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, confirmed Monday that his committee will not consider the confirmations of Agency for Health Care Administration Secretary Shevaun Harris and Department of Children and Families Secretary Taylor Hatch at the panel’s final meeting Tuesday.

DeSantis tapped Harris, who previously led the Department of Children and Families, to head the health-care agency in February and selected Hatch, a former head of the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, to replace her at DCF.

Harris and Hatch are among nominees requiring Senate confirmation who won’t get hearings before the legislative session is slated to end May 2.

“We’re sort of, you know, we’ve run out of rope. We’re out of time,” Gaetz, a former Senate president, said Monday.

The lack of Senate confirmation, first reported Monday by the Florida Phoenix, means Harris and Hatch could continue to serve for at least another year.

Under Florida law, appointees who are not confirmed can serve for 30 days after the end of the legislative session. The governor can reappoint them for another year. Appointees who fail to receive Senate confirmation a second time cannot remain in their posts.

The governor’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment asking whether the governor intends to reappoint Harris and Hatch.

The Agency for Health Care Administration and the Department of Children and Families are at the forefront of a state House inquiry into Hope Florida — a program spearheaded by Casey DeSantis that operates across numerous state agencies — and the Hope Florida Foundation, Inc., a direct-support organization affiliated with the Department of Children and Families.

The House Health Care Budget Subcommittee is scrutinizing the foundation’s receipt of $10 million as part of a $67 million legal settlement that Centene, Florida’s largest Medicaid managed-care company, reached last fall with the Agency for Health Care Administration.

After receiving the money from the settlement, the foundation gave $5 million grants to Secure Florida’s Future, a nonprofit tied to the Florida Chamber of Commerce, and Save our Society from Drugs.

Those groups within days made contributions to Keep Florida Clean, a political committee headed by James Uthmeier, who was then Ron DeSantis’ chief of staff and is now state attorney general. Keep Florida Clean fought a proposed constitutional amendment in November that would have allowed recreational use of marijuana.

The House’s probe has fueled an unusually public feud between House Speaker Daniel Perez, R-Miami, and the governor that intensified in the runup to the last two weeks of the 60-day legislative session.

Gaetz said Monday that questions surrounding Hope Florida and the foundation contributed to his decision to hold off on considering the secretaries at his committee’s final meeting Tuesday.

“That’s the whole point. In order to give the committee time to ask questions, to debate the issues, you’ve got to have some time. We have a very full agenda tomorrow, as you can see, packed and stacked, and there are controversial appointments on that agenda that will take a lot of time,” Gaetz said.

Gaetz’s committee is slated to consider more than 100 appointees serving on dozens of boards.

“So in good conscience, even if I could have, I wouldn’t have tried to wedge in more appointments, because it would be unfair to all of the other decisions we have to make tomorrow,” Gaetz said.

Harris and Hatch were among the leaders who appeared before the House subcommittee in recent weeks amid the probe of the foundation, which did not file required federal tax documents and other records, and the settlement and the grants.

Subcommittee Chairman Alex Andrade, R-Pensacola, grilled Harris on April 11 about the $10 million settlement, repeatedly asking her what the money was spent on.

In a video posted hours later on social media, Harris called the meeting “an ambush,” as the governor and his allies continued to clash about the issue with House leaders on social media and conservative media outlets.

DeSantis has called the settlement “100 percent appropriate” and accused House leaders of politically targeting Casey DeSantis, who is a possible candidate for governor in 2026.

The foundation’s board members held a meeting last week — its third since its inception in 2022 — to strengthen the nonprofit’s structure as the House inquiry continues.

Here are the top stories for Monday, April 21, 2025. Get the weather forecast for today here.

SUBSCRIBE NOW: Get our free Morning Update email. Sign up here.

In wake of state ban, Boca Raton pitches new homeless outreach partnership with Palm Beach County

Cavaliers wear down overmatched Heat in 121-100 rout in series opener

Sunday morning gunfire near popular Fort Lauderdale nightlife zone leaves man seriously wounded

Financial independence eludes Hope Florida ‘graduate’ 3 years later

Descendants of slave owners and enslaved people in the Caribbean call for reparations at the UN

Lane Kiffin mocks Miami’s reported $4.3 million Carson Beck NIL deal

South Florida’s 2025 NFL draft prospects who could hear their names called this week

Man who fatally shot 23 at El Paso Walmart set to plead guilty to murder nearly 6 years on

15 years after Deepwater Horizon oil spill, lawsuits stall and restoration is incomplete

Vance and Modi are likely to discuss a potential US-India trade deal. Here’s what to know

 

 

 

 

 

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis died Monday morning, Cardinal Kevin Ferrell, the Vatican camerlengo, announced.

“At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church,″ Farrell said in the announcement.

“He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with faithfulness, courage, and universal love, especially for the poorest and most marginalized.

“With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite, merciful love of God, One and Tribune.″

Today is Monday, April 21, the 111th day of 2025. There are 254 days left in the year.

Today in history:

On April 21, 2016, Prince, one of the most inventive and influential musicians of modern times, was found dead at his home in suburban Minneapolis from an accidental fentanyl overdose; he was 57.

Also on this date:

In 1836, an army of Texans, led by Sam Houston, defeated the Mexican Army, led by Antonio López de Santa Anna, in the Battle of San Jacinto, the final battle of the Texas Revolution.

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In 1910, author Samuel Langhorne Clemens, better known as Mark Twain, died in Redding, Connecticut, at age 74.

In 1918, German Air Force pilot Manfred von Richthofen, nicknamed “The Red Baron,” was killed at age 25 after being shot during a World War I air battle over Vaux-sur-Somme, France.

In 1930, fire broke out inside the overcrowded Ohio Penitentiary in Columbus, killing 322 inmates in the deadliest prison disaster in U.S. history.

In 1975, with Communist forces closing in, South Vietnamese President Nguyễn Văn Thiệu resigned after nearly 10 years in office, fleeing the country five days later.

In 1980, Rosie Ruiz was the first woman to cross the finish line at the Boston Marathon, but was later exposed as having cheated by entering the racecourse less than 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) before the finish line. (Canadian Jacqueline Gareau was named the actual winner of the women’s race.)

In 2015, an Egyptian criminal court sentenced ousted Islamist President Mohammed Morsi to 20 years in prison over the killing of protesters in 2012. (Morsi collapsed and died during trial on espionage charges in June 2019.)

Today’s Birthdays:

• Actor-comedian-filmmaker Elaine May is 93.
• Author-activist Sister Helen Prejean is 86.
• Singer Iggy Pop is 78.
• Actor Patti LuPone is 76.
• Actor Tony Danza is 74.
• Actor Andie MacDowell is 67.
• Musician Robert Smith (The Cure) is 66.
• Actor Rob Riggle is 55.
• Actor James McAvoy is 46.
• Former NFL quarterback Tony Romo is 45.
• Actor Gugu Mbatha-Raw is 42.

Q: Ira, I’m playing Pelle Larsson and Nikola Jovic in this series and I’m playing them a lot. Let’s see what they can do in the playoffs. Who cares about Duncan Robinson and Kyle Anderson? They’re not going to be here for long. – Barry.

A: Except that never has been the Heat or Erik Spoelstra way. No matter the odds, the Heat play to win. The Heat already have a reasonable sense of what Pelle Larsson and Nikola Jovic are and what they could be. You don’t push from a No. 10 seed and give up a lottery spot only to utilize the postseason for player development. That said, in this series and after the way Game 1 against the Cavaliers played out, there could be something to be said for both Pelle and Nikola. While Alec Burks and Duncan Robinson can provide needed spacing, Pelle’s feistiness might provide needed energy, and Nikola’s length might at least help impede. Plus both have the ability to diversify the offense beyond the one-dimensional play of Alec and Duncan. Erik Spoelstra said at Wednesday morning’s shootaround that both are cleared to go, Pelle from his ankle sprain, Nikola from his broken hand. How ready? Perhaps that is what we need to see next.

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• Submit your “Ask Ira” question here!

Q: The Heat need to get Tyler Herro some defensive help. – Sandy.

A: And at times they have, including in the play-in round, when, at points he was surrounded by Bam Adebayo, Haywood Highsmith, Andrew Wiggins and Davion Mitchell. The difference is that against Cleveland you also have to be able to score, which means balancing defensive lineups with offensive elements, as well. If Wiggins can become more of a scorer, it would be easier for Erik Spoelstra to play more of a defensive lineup.

Q: No votes for Kel’el Ware for Rookie of the Year? That doesn’t sound right. – Michael.

A: That is not what happened. The NBA on Sunday merely named the three finalists for each of the major awards, with no Heat players on that list. That does not mean Heat players did not receive votes, only that they did not receive enough to be one of the three finalists for each award, with the winners to be announced later in the playoffs. And, frankly, when it comes to Kel’el Ware for Rookie of the Year, Bam Adebayo for Defensive Player of the Year or Tyler Herro for Sixth Man of the Year, that sounds about right. But, again, it does not mean they did not receive votes from the media panel. The real question is whether Kel’el is named to one of the All-Rookie teams, Bam to one of the All-Defensive teams, with Herro a longshot for one of the All-NBA teams.

The three-day NFL draft begins Thursday night (8 p.m.; TV: ESPN, NFL Network, ABC and ESPN Deportes), and the Miami Dolphins have 10 picks to improve their roster including their first-round pick at No. 13.

Here’s who the South Florida Sun Sentinel predicts the Dolphins will select in Thursday’s first round:

Dave Hyde, Columnist

Michigan cornerback Will Johnson

The Dolphins needed a starting safety before Jalen Ramsey wanted a trade. Now they’re desperate. Johnson checks all the needed boxes to fill one of their cornerback positions.

Chris Perkins, Dolphins columnist

Michigan cornerback Will Johnson

This was my choice before the Ramsey situation. It just makes sense. He’s a playmaker, and this team needs playmakers. Yes, there is an injury concern but I’d roll the dice. Johnson fits the Dolphins’ need better than the next-best cornerback, Texas’ Jahdae Barron, who would also be acceptable.

David Furones, Dolphins Writer

Michigan cornerback Will Johnson

I had Johnson taken two picks before the Dolphins selection at 13 in my mock draft, but this draft now becomes about getting the best cornerback after Travis Hunter following the Ramsey trade development. Move up if you have to if you’re the Dolphins, but maybe he does fall to Miami.

Keven Lerner, Assistant Sports Editor

Texas CB Jahdae Barron

Barron, who won the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation’s top DB, can play boundary cornerback or slot/nickel CB. He has short arms and his tackling is shaky, but his 5 interceptions last season show he has play-making potential, which the Dolphins badly need.

Steve Svekis, Assistant Sports Editor

Georgia edge rusher Mykel Williams

If Michigan’s Johnson is available, he would be my pick here, but I don’t believe he will be. I like Williams, and Georgia has had an excellent track record recently of sending players into the NFL who can wreck an opposing pass game. Plus, the Dolphins have question marks on the edge in Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb, who each is coming off a second major leg injury in their careers. This 20-year-old looks the part, and perhaps the Dolphins can trade down, grab some 2026 draft ammo, and snag Williams.

Dolphins Deep Dive: How does Ramsey’s status change draft strategy? | VIDEO

Speeding through a school zone in Broward will get a lot more expensive under a new rule being considered by the County Commission.

A county traffic study looking at cars driving past two schools — Dillard High School in Fort Lauderdale and Meadowbrook Elementary in Broadview Park, a community near the city — found more than 300 going more than 10 mph over the speed limit while students were arriving in the morning, and more than 200 during afternoon dismissal.

If those drivers were ticketed at $100 each, plus administrative fees, the county would reap $8,651,070 per school year, according to Office of Management and Budget Director Norman Foster.

Meadowbrook and Dillard would be directly affected by the measure being considered because they are in or adjacent to unincorporated areas. The measure will install traffic cameras in the school zones outside the schools to photograph the license plates of drivers going more than 10 mph over the speed limit. Tickets would be sent to the vehicle’s registered owner.

Commissioner Steve Geller, the ordinance’s sponsor, said it includes protections to prevent school zones from becoming speed traps. The cameras cannot be used to ticket drivers traveling at night, he said, and they won’t kick in until at least 50 feet after the start of the zone, giving drivers a reasonable amount of time to slow down.

Drivers travel on Sunrise Boulevard near Dillard High School in Fort Lauderdale on Thursday, April 17, 2025. A recent Broward County study recorded nearly a fifth of drivers speeding past two local schools, Meadowbrook Elementary and Dillard High. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

He also is adding an amendment that would require cities to implement the same protections if they pass their own speed-camera rules and use them to ticket drivers in school zones.

“The overwhelming majority of the roads are county roads,” Geller said. “In order to get an agreement to use the county right of way and use the county light poles, any city would have to comply with the county ordinance.”

The state passed a law in 2023 allowing local governments to use traffic cameras for school zones. Since then, various cities in Broward have passed measures incorporating their use, with others considering it.

County Commissioner Robert McKinzie, who represents Dillard High School’s district, said his constituents are concerned that the measure is promoting revenue collection over actual safety.

“The tag reader is just going to capture you speeding. It’s not going to slow you down,” McKinzie said. “The neighbors have been asking for calming devices.”

Speed humps, flashing lights, and signs that tell drivers how fast they’re going slow drivers down without going after their wallets, McKinzie said. “This is a revenue generator. It may help. I’m not saying it won’t. But the verdict’s not in.”

A school-zone sign alerts drivers along Sunrise Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale near Dillard High School on Thursday, April 17, 2025. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

McKinzie said he expects the measure to pass and he’s leaning against it, but he has not made up his mind.

The County Commission meets Tuesday to consider the ordinance.

Rafael Olmeda can be reached at rolmeda@sunsentinel.com or 954-356-4457.

You can’t scare them. You can’t break them. You can’t unnerve or unhinge them.

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The Miami Heat showed that again on the road Sunday.

You can out-talent them, though.

Cleveland showed that in its 121-100 win in Game 1 of their best-of-seven playoff series.

“Let’s have fun, Spo,’’ Cleveland star Donovan Mitchell said just before tip-off to Heat coach Erik Spoelstra as a TNT microphone relayed.

Fun? Was he kidding? Fun for the Heat was beating ninth-seeded Chicago and eighth-seeded Atlanta in the play-in games, also on the road, to advance to these playoffs.

Fun wasn’t what awaited in the playoffs. Top-seeded Cleveland has three All-Stars, the league’s highest-scoring offense with the top 3-point shooting percentage and the ninth-rated defense. All that matters. What makes it matter even more is Cleveland has the best player in the series in Donovan Mitchell as Sunday confirmed.

Mitchell had 30 points to lead all scorers despite starting 0 for 6 on his 3-pointers. He made up for that by making 9 of 10 of his two-point shots and two of his final three 3-pointers.

“When he plays like that, we’re nearly unbeatable,’’ Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson said. “In the second half, he was really, really good offensively.”

That’s what the Heat is up against with no equal talent to match. Cleveland is rested, too. So, it was fair to wonder if the Heat would suffer a similar fate as the other game-weary, play-in team, Memphis, in the West. Memphis was trounced by Oklahoma City earlier Sunday, 131-80.

But Memphis is Memphis.

“They make you play for 48 minutes,’’ Atkinson said. “I know that’s a cliché, but a lot of teams don’t.”

“Miami’s not going anywhere,’’ as TNT’s Charles Barkley said.

Still, there’s not going anywhere and not going where you want. The Heat kept it close most of the night. Down eight points at half. Down six points late in the third quarter. They kept flirting with doing more damage like when Bam Adebayo hit a step-back 3-pointer to cut Cleveland’s lead to 95-88 with more than eight minutes left in the game.

“I feel like we had it to seven or eight points several times,’’ Spoelstra said. “Then there’d be a loose ball, an offensive rebound, a kick-out (3-pointer) or they just generated a 3 to keep their distance. We have to be better in those areas, for sure.”

Cleveland’s talent thundered from there, outscoring the Heat 26-12 for the lopsided final. Now there’s two open days until Wednesday for everyone to decide what it means. You don’t need two days of analysis, though.

Cleveland has superior talent. It was the best team in the East this year and the Heat were the 10th-best. It wasn’t just Mitchell It got 27 points from Darius Garland and 28 off the bench from Ty Jerome. All three of them scored more than Adebayo (24) or Tyler Herro (21), the leading scorers for the Heat.

So, something remarkable would have to play out for the Heat to win the series. An injury. A hero. An unbelievable game or two. Something to offset the depth of talent Cleveland puts on the court.

The legitimate question coming out of Game 1 isn’t if the Heat win this series. It’s if they steal a game in Cleveland and put some can spice into this series. It’s if a rookie like Kel’el Ware can process the uptick of emotion in the playoffs so more of the good stuff he showed this season can wash away the two-point, three-rebound performance in Game 1.

“We’re going to learn a lot playing them,’’ Atkinson said.

There is some truth, as Barkley said on TNT, that the Heat’s well-known culture won’t allow Cleveland to overlook this series.

“That’s Erik Spoelstra over there, Bam over there, that’s Tyler Herro,’’ Barkley said. “They can’t screw around with Miami.”

The Heat won’t be intimidated by the moment. That’s a given.

But can they match Cleveland’s talent? That’s what the series rides on and, as Game 1 showed, Cleveland had all the fun for a reason.

 

CLEVELAND — Observations and other notes of interest from Sunday night’s 121-100 NBA playoff loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers:

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– For years, the question seemingly was how to get Jimmy Butler help.

– Does it now turn to how to get Tyler Herro help?

– When it comes to shot creation for the Heat, there is Herro and …?

– Sunday it basically was a case of there being no bad shots for Herro, no matter how many he took.

– Because who else?

– Yes, Bam Adebayo scored.

– But he is not a shot creator.

– He is not the one-on-one factor so essential in playoff basketball.

– And then you look at the Cavaliers.

– To think, there actually was a juncture where there was thought of Cleveland trading Darius Garland.

– Instead, he is the perfect scoring complement to Donovan Mitchell.

– As Sunday’s box score showed.

– You know who Herro could use alongside?

– Darius Garland.

– But we digress.

– Terry Rozier certainly wasn’t the answer, even though it seemed to make sense 15 months ago.

– Jaime Jaquez Jr. hasn’t been that.

– Like Rozier, he doesn’t even play.

– Andrew Wiggins’ disposition is not of an attack player.

– Which is why the Warriors dealt for Butler.

– As for Davion Mitchell’s offense in this one, it was too little too late.

– Tyler Herro or bust can work during the regular season.

– It can work in the play-in.

– But in the playoffs, it is about intensive defensive focus.

– And that, as Sunday showed, is asking a lot.

– With Tyler Herro seemingly asking for a friend on offense.

– Able to do only so much for so long before running on fumes.

– As expected, the Heat stayed with their play-in lineup of Kel’el Ware, Adebayo, Wiggins, Herro and Alec Burks.

– Wiggins opened defensively on Mitchell, Herro on Garland.

– Haywood Highsmith was first off the Heat bench.

– Playing ahead of play-in star Mitchell.

– Who entered second.

–  Duncan Robinson was the Heat’s third reserve.

– With Kyle Anderson again making it nine deep.

– With his first 3-pointer, Robinson extended his all-time lead on the Heat’s playoff list. He entered with 143, with LeBron James second at 123.

– Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said at the morning shootaround that it was time to move on from the play-in success and focus on creating new success.

– “That’s over,” he said. “So now it’s on to the next challenge.”

– He added, “We didn’t have more days to prepare and I think that’s good, that’s a good thing.”

– He also said, “Momentum in the playoffs doesn’t necessarily carry over. It’s more about our fundamentals, bringing that competitive edge.”

– The mindset, Spoelstra said, is now thinking in terms of a series, compared to the one-and-done of the play-in.

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– “You have to be ready for everything in a series,” he said. “There’s going to be things that go your way, things that don’t go your way. You have to be able to manage that.”

– Of the Cavaliers, he said, “They’re a quality opponent. I mean, they’ve played consistent, at a consistently high level all season long, very few dips. I guess if you have 64 wins, there’s not going to be many dips. You have to respect what they’re done.”

– The Cavaliers went in with ample respect for the Heat defense, including the zone.

– “I think they’re definitely really, really talented and really good in that regard, as far as the zone, being able to mix it up defensively with their schemes,” guard Donovan Mitchell said. “They’re in the gaps. They’re always going to play hard. They’re always going to be where they need to be and helping each other.”

– Mitchell added, “So, for us, continue to find our ways that we beat it and then continue to keep making the simple plays over and over.”

– The game was the Heat’s first-ever in the playoffs against the Cavaliers.

– The Heat previously had faced all other Eastern Conference teams in playoff series: Boston (seven times), Chicago (seven times), New York (six times), Indiana (five times), Milwaukee (four times), Atlanta (three times), Brooklyn (three times), Charlotte (three times), Detroit (three times), Philadelphia (three times), Orlando (once), Toronto (once) and Washington (once).

– In fact, the Heat had multiple playoff series against a pair of Western Conference teams before a postseason series against the Cavaliers: Dallas (twice) and San Antonio (twice).

CLEVELAND — The Oklahoma City Thunder set the standard for No. 1 seeds earlier in the day, when in their Western Conference playoff opener against the Memphis Grizzlies they went up by 56 points and won by 51.

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Four hours later, against that backdrop, the Miami Heat took the court against the East No. 1 seed Cleveland Cavaliers, a team second only to the Thunder in the NBA this season.

The makings for something similarly awful certainly was in place, with the Cavaliers closing regular season 27 games ahead of the Heat.

So all things bring relative, a relatively respectable effort by Erik Spoelstra’s team in the opening game of the best-of-seven series, a 121-100 loss at Rocket Arena that had the Heat within six late in the third period.

“We’ e been seeing ’em play all season,” Heat center Bam Adebayo said of what his team experienced Sunday. “You understand what it is.”

The Cavaliers’ superior depth of talent proved to be too much for a Heat team coming off a grueling play-in victory two nights earlier against the Atlanta Hawks.

“Obviously they’re number one in the east for a reason,” Heat guard Tyler Herro said.

Cleveland got 30 points from Donovan Mitchell, 28 from Ty Jerome and 27 from Darius Garland, as well as 12 points and 11 rebounds from center Jarrett Allen.

From the Heat, there were 24 points from Adebayo, 21 from Herro and 18 from Davion Mitchell.

Game 2 is Wednesday night back on the Cavaliers’ court, with the winner of this series to play the winner of the series between the Indiana Pacers and Milwaukee Bucks that Indiana leads 1-0.

“We’ll have to be better,” Spoelstra said.

Five Degrees of Heat from Sunday night’s game:

1. Closing time: The Cavaliers led 31-24 at the end of the first period and moved to a 16-point lead in the second quarter before the Heat closed within 62-54 at the half.

The Heat then fell behind by 13 in the third quarter, closed within six later in the period, before going into the fourth down 87-79.

From there, the Heat closed within seven before Cleveland pushed back to a 17-point lead midway through the final period, effectively ending it.

The Cavaliers’ largest leads of the game came at the end of the game, in what proved to be an evening of attrition for the Heat.

In the end, the Heat lamented their 14 turnovers and the 14 offensive rebounds allowed.

“The extra possessions got them some extra life,” Spoelstra said. “We’ll have to be better in those areas, for sure.”

2. His part: Herro was up to 17 points by the intermission, despite drawing almost the entire focus of the Cavaliers defense, scoring 12 in the second period to keep the Heat afloat.

Most of Herro’s offense came off his own shot creation.

Herro was coming off 38- and 30-point performances in the play-in round, against Chicago and Atlanta, respectively.

But the toll of all too often being forced to play 1-on-5 on the perimeter took its toll, with Herro tailing off significantly in the second half. He closed 7 of 18 from the field.

“I got to continue to be be aggressive, find my spots,” Herro said. “Obviously they’re denying me, picking me up full court.”

With the need for his offense, Herro finished with just one assist.

“It’s up to us to figure out how to get in the flow, get the ball where it needs to go,” Spoelstra said, “and that’s what we’ll work on the next couple of days.”

3. His part, too:  Adebayo extended his career-best postseason streak of 20-point games to 11.

It was the 61st postseason game for Adebayo in double figures, tying him for third place on that Heat all-time postseason list with Chris Bosh and Jimmy Butler. The franchise leader is Dwyane Wade (166), followed by LeBron James (85).

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He closed one rebound shot of his 32nd career playoff double-double, at 10 of 22 from the field, with nine rebounds.

Like his coach and teammates, he lamented the Heat’s turnovers.

“For us I feel like it’s the 14 turnovers,” he said of the key to the game. “In the playoffs, it’s like having 20.”

4. Not his time: When the Heat drafted 7-foot Kel’el Ware last June at No. 15 out of Indiana, the thought was he eventually could provide the type of length needed in matchups such as this against the Cavaliers Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley.

Instead, Ware closed the first half with neither a rebound nor a point.

In addition, Ware, who turned 21 Sunday, very much showed his youth in defending the paint against the Cavaliers’ attacking game.

That again often had Spoelstra going with 6-foot-5 Haywood Highsmith in his power rotation.

“It was just getting this game under my belt,” Ware said, “seeing what the physicality was like.”

Ware’s first rebound did not come until 1:50 into the second half, off a missed Adebayo free throw. His first points came on a putback dunk with 7:01 to play in the third period.

He closed with two points and three rebounds.

“This is the life of a young player, you’re being fed through a firehouse,” Spoelstra said. “He’s important to what we do. He’ll get to work.”

5. Time to marinate: There now will be only one game in the series over the next five days, Wednesday night’s 7:30 p.m. Game 2 back at Rocket Arena, before Game 3 at 1 p.m. Saturday in the first of two at Kaseya Center.

If nothing else, it will give the Heat time to regroup after Friday night’s overtime play-in victory in Atlanta, Saturday’s optional practice at Cleveland State and then Sunday’s game less than 45 hours after advancing to this series.

“We’ll just have to clean some things up and get ready for game two,” Herro said.

The Cavaliers, by contrast, had been off a week prior to Game 1.

General Daily Insight for April 21, 2025

There’s a knock at the door of our hearts. The thoughtful Moon conjoins transformative Pluto at 2:20 am EDT, heightening our intuitions and providing opportunities for revelations and catharsis for those who are open to it. The Moon then works together with communicative Mercury to provide the words that will bring our feelings out of our hearts and into the universe. Whether we allow someone to be there to listen to us or not, we can set free any words trapped in our hearts.

Aries

March 21 – April 19

Friendship brings your aspirations into view. Networking is especially encouraged today, as you’re able to express yourself with the passion that is needed to get the attention of others. You’re someone who has so much to give, and if you’re able to find the right people to grow with, then you may see each one of you elevating at the same time as a team. It’s okay to be a part of something while still being true to your soul’s unique energy.

Taurus

April 20 – May 20

Being honest with yourself can supply you with fresh courage. You’re likely not the type to run and hide when opposition comes along, but when everything is going well, you might find that you have less motivation to push ahead. Instead of defining yourself by the current you’re fighting against, go with the flow and see how much farther you can get. Most importantly, find the voice to speak up for what you want. There’s no need for you to suffer in silence!

Gemini

May 21 – June 20

Exploring your dreams in depth will open new doors. You might find that you’ve been focusing so hard on achieving the support to make your dreams a reality that you unknowingly lost sight of what you were dreaming of. It’s time to refocus your direction in life and determine where it is you’re really headed. Trying to succeed blindly might land you somewhere that you don’t want to be. Regardless of your inner drive, you ought to be aware of where it’s taking you.

Cancer

June 21 – July 22

You’re changing how you see yourself. You might usually show the world a specific side of yourself that protects the more vulnerable core, leading others to see you as either overly casual or stoic. This could be due to worries about what people may say when they see your true feelings or because you feel weak showing your heart. Either way, remember that everyone has deeper emotions and feels vulnerable sometimes. Tenderness is part of being human, so try to accept it within yourself.

Leo

July 23 – August 22

You’re meeting people you might not normally meet. This person or group from another walk of life may meet you in an unexpected place. Listening to what they have to say is a great way to open your mind. Right now, you might not be aware of the wisdom that they’ve developed, and even if their advice isn’t for you, simply recognizing the existence of such information is incredibly valuable. When you don’t judge a book by its cover, its contents can truly enlighten you.

Virgo

August 23 – September 22

Getting your thoughts organized can help in many ways. There may have been less time to focus on cleaning up and putting away the clutter lately, or you might feel unprepared for a speech or performance that you have coming up. Instead of allowing this anxiety to grow as you procrastinate taking care of your responsibilities, face it head-on and fight back against any hesitancy. You’ll be able to truly relax once it’s no longer nagging at the back of your mind.

Libra

September 23 – October 22

Sharing joy will multiply it exponentially. You might be about to meet someone (or multiple someones!) with whom you share a common interest. Maybe you’ll even meet while pursuing this interest! Perhaps you’re both at a concert for a mutually loved musician or attending a convention regarding a hobby you share. It’ll be easier to strike up a conversation when you already like the same subject, so don’t be shy. The more people who enjoy the same interest as you, the merrier!

Scorpio

October 23 – November 21

Setting down grudges should bring a sense of relief. It may have felt as if an actual weight was on your shoulders, preventing you from moving forward. There are some doorways in life that you just can’t get through when you’re carrying a boulder of shame, frustration, and regret, but you could feel like setting it down would be a betrayal. Instead of dragging guilt around forever, remind yourself that the past is the past. You deserve to take lighter steps into the future.

Sagittarius

November 22 – December 21

Communication will bring new life to stagnant connections. Someone that you haven’t spoken to in a long time may show up again, making their feelings known to you. This can provide much-needed closure in situations that were confusing to you in the past while supporting fresh starts with those who have made the changes necessary to welcome you back into their life. Listen to what they have to say, but don’t feel like you can’t share your side of the story as well.

Capricorn

December 22 – January 19

Expressing yourself is the name of today’s game! You may have been knocked off-balance in the past, made to feel as though you weren’t able to rise to the same level that others are. Discouragement like that can be tough to overcome. Fortunately, a positive experience with expressing yourself could be right around the corner. You have the power to change your story! If nerves threaten to inhibit your joy, remind yourself of all the good that can come from seizing this opportunity.

Aquarius

January 20 – February 18

You may have less of a filter today. Even if you’re normally able to keep up an amazing poker face or hold in any more blunt thoughts, you might find that you don’t have that same ability now. Every idea that crosses your mind has the potential to become words, so keep an extra vigilant eye on what you say. That being said, you have the ability to speak the truth and have others appreciate your boldness. Choose your statements wisely.

Pisces

February 19 – March 20

Dreams can currently guide you toward your future. These dreams might seem odd at first, even confusing or stressful. Take a deep breath — they don’t have to literally come true. Try to take note of any details that could be symbolic of whatever your dreams are trying to tell you about your life. You could be getting vibes off of someone that your subconscious is picking up on even though your conscious mind missed them. Pick up a dream journal and investigate.

How much do you know about home inspections?  MSN

How much do you know about home inspections?  MSN

How much do you know about home inspections?  MSN

How much do you know about home inspections?  MSN

How much do you know about home inspections?  The Washington Post