Armenia and Turkey are set to partially reopen their land borders for the first time in over three decades. The land borders will initially be opened for diplomats and citizens of third countries, which will then be followed by the beginning of the tourist season. The decision to open the land borders was made after Turkey first opened the border in February to send humanitarian aid transports and relief workers following the earthquakes that struck Armenia. The borders between the two countries have remained closed for decades, and diplomatic and commercial ties have not existed for three decades. The talks are the first attempt to restore links between the two countries since a 2009 peace accord, which was never ratified. The war over Karabakh further strained relationships, with Turkey supporting Azerbaijan in the conflict against Armenia. However, the change in policy and willingness to establish communication marks a new phase. It remains to be seen what effect the open borders will have on the relationship between the two countries, but it could lead to improved economic prospects for Armenia, which has struggled since the border closure in 1993 in support of Azerbaijan.

Jordan Poole came up huge for the Warriors in their win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday night, scoring 19 points in the fourth quarter to help Golden State secure a crucial victory as they push for a playoff spot. Poole's performance begs the question: can he be the key to the Warriors' postseason success?

While Steph Curry and Klay Thompson are the stars of the team, Poole's scoring and energy have been invaluable, especially in the absence of key players like Andrew Wiggins and James Wiseman. His speed and ability to get to the basket make him a potent offensive weapon, and his defense has also improved significantly this season.

Of course, it's not just up to Poole. The Warriors will need contributions from across the roster if they hope to make a deep postseason run. Draymond Green was solid all around against the Sixers, and Kevon Looney played tough defense against Joel Embiid.

But if Poole can continue his hot streak and provide consistent scoring punch, the Warriors may just have what it takes to make some noise in the playoffs. With six games left in the regular season and a tight race for playoff positioning in the West, every game matters. Can Poole and the Warriors rise to the challenge? Only time will tell.

Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors considers the new-look Lakers a “serious threat” in the Western Conference if they can make it to the playoffs. The Lakers have added depth to their roster with sharpshooters Malik Beasley and D’Angelo Russell on the offensive end, and defensive player Jarred Vanderbilt. The team needs to secure their spot in the postseason first to justify their capabilities. The Lakers are currently ranked 10th in the West, but they have played better since the trade deadline. They are only three wins away from catching the sixth-seeded Golden State Warriors. However, the Lakers need both of their leading stars, LeBron James and Anthony Davis, to be back in full health. Even if one of them is injured, it would be hard to imagine them making noise in the postseason. If the Lakers can make it to the playoffs via the play-in tournament, they will play either the No. 1 or No. 2 seeded team in the West in the first round. It remains to be seen where the Lakers will finish this season, given the tight race in the Western Conference.

Gary Payton II, who was acquired by the Golden State Warriors in February, has yet to play for the reigning champions due to a core muscle injury. However, Payton has been ramping up his on-court activities, including shooting, and the team announced that his workload is expected to intensify in the coming days. The Warriors hope that this positive development will lead to Payton's return before the regular season ends on April 9th. Coach Steve Kerr remains optimistic, saying that Payton is "doing well" and that "there's definitely hope and optimism that he'll be able to play at some point."

Although there is no clear timeline for his return, Dr. Nirav Pandya of UC San Francisco predicts that Payton could be back in around three weeks, given the nature of his injury. With four regular-season games left on the schedule, Payton's return could provide the team with a much-needed defensive lift amid a tight Western Conference race. Despite missing the first 35 games of the season, Payton played 14 of the last 16 games for the Trail Blazers. He was a key player in the Warriors' title run last year and could prove to be a valuable asset once he is fully recovered.

Klay Thompson played a pivotal role in leading the Golden State Warriors to a 121-108 victory over the Houston Rockets on Monday night. After the game, Thompson revealed that he used the 2018 Rockets team - which previously gave the Warriors a run for their money with stars like James Harden and Chris Paul - as motivation. Thompson scored 29 points, grabbed seven rebounds, and went 5 of 13 from 3-point range in the win. Stephen Curry also had a standout performance by scoring 30 points, grabbing seven rebounds, and dishing five assists. The Warriors' victory snaps an 11-game losing streak on the road and puts them back in the playoff spots in the Western Conference. Coach Steve Kerr commented that the team struggled with focus in the first half but eventually got back on track. The win is a good sign for the Warriors as they continue their pursuit of a championship. With Thompson continuing to channel his "Game 6 Klay" persona, it seems that Golden State's championship hopes are alive and well.

With only a dozen games left in the regular season, the Phoenix Suns have just suffered three consecutive losses, which has led to doubts about whether or not they can stay in the fourth seed in the Western Conference. The Suns have the toughest schedule remaining out of the four teams chasing the fourth seed, with home games against the 76ers and the Nuggets, and a road game against the Kings, all playoff contenders in their respective conferences. Despite the obstacles, the Suns own the tiebreaker over the Warriors, Clippers, and Mavericks, and they have a half game lead on the Clippers, a two-game lead on the Mavericks, and a 2.5-game lead on the Warriors.

The Suns will have to play without star player Kevin Durant for at least one more week due to a lingering ankle injury. Coach Monty Williams has called on the team to remain positive despite the loss of Durant. While the remaining games on the schedule will be tough, the Suns have shown themselves to be a playoff-caliber team, having won more games than any other Suns team in the last 10 years. The team has the talent and the determination to stay in the West's top four, but they'll have to bring their A-game every night from now until the end of the season.