After a dominant performance by Anthony Davis in Game 1 of the Lakers-Warriors Western Conference semifinals series, the Lakers are looking to take a 2-0 lead over the Golden State Warriors before heading back to Los Angeles. Davis had an impressive stat line with 30 points, 23 rebounds, five assists, and four blocked shots. The Lakers are hoping to avoid a repeat of their first-round playoff series with the Memphis Grizzlies, where they dropped Game 2 after winning Game 1. Davis emphasized the importance of being "greedy" and not settling for a split with the Warriors. The Lakers understand the threat that the Warriors pose and are looking to bring their best defensive effort in Game 2 to secure another victory. Kerr acknowledges the difficulty of facing Davis and says, "You can see it on tape, but you got to feel it in order to understand how to attack." With Davis and LeBron James leading the Lakers, they are aiming to make a deep playoff run and cement Davis's legacy as a franchise great.

Indian benchmark indices, Sensex and Nifty, closed lower on Wednesday, ending their eight-day rally as investors exercised caution ahead of the US Federal Reserve's interest rate decision and mixed global market trends. The 30-share BSE Sensex lost 161.41 points or 0.26% to settle at 61,193.30, while the broader NSE Nifty fell 57.80 points or 0.32% to end at 18,089.85. Stocks of information technology, metals and public sector banks witnessed a decline of roughly 1% each. Reliance Industries, Tata Consultancy Services, Infosys, and Larsen & Toubro were among the index majors that added to the weak trends in equity, while Hindustan Unilever, Asian Paints, Tata Motors, UltraTech Cement, ITC, and Nestle ended among the gainers. The caution ahead of the Fed's decision was also prompted partly by fears among investors that any upward rate hike could lead major economies into a recession and hinder growth. Foreign institutional investors, however, bought equities worth Rs. 1,997.35 crore according to exchange data.

Kosmos Energy has been the focus of growing interest from investment analysts and experts, as the oil and gas producer continues to report positive earnings and consistent delivery of shareholder value. Supportive to this audience, Bloomberg reports that seven research firms give an overall “Hold” rating to the shares with an average 1-year price target of $154.71. Despite the present bearish sentiments permeating the industry with some potentially negative macro-economic risks, the company's resilience and long-standing success records continue to reassure investors. Kosmos Energy’s most recent quarterly earnings results show a surpassing of industry expectation by $0.03 per share, following stringent management led unconventional assets exploration. The firm's innovative production techniques via cutting-edge technology within niche markets have also enhanced its growth potential, a factor that is higher above its rivals operating simultaneously on or within regional markets. Recently, the firm has appointed Maria Morus Hanssen, J. Mike Stice, and John Grant to its board, poised to drive the company's continued ascendancy within the global energy arena further. Appealing returns on equity of up to 66% substantiate the management focus in core markets securing its place among top-performing companies in the industry. Thus, Kosmos Energy remains an attractive opportunity for investors' portfolios.

According to a report by Circana, value sales of Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) saw a growth of 5.8% adding €33bn to the sector. However, this inflation-driven growth has masked the overall decline in volume as consumers cut back on consumption. Demand in unit sales across the six largest markets in Europe - France, Italy, Germany, Spain, UK, and the Netherlands - declined by 1.1% annually, deepening further by 1.4% in Q4 2022, marking the fifth consecutive quarter of decline and is not forecast to return to normalcy until the end of 2023.

Forensically examining the pandemic's influence, inflation and the cost of living crisis on over 230 FMCG categories, 2000+ product segments, and over ten million SKUs, the report highlights the rise of the ‘prosumer’ - a more price-aware, adaptable consumer fixing what they buy and how they consume to reduce the impact of intense price rises on their wallets. According to Circana, shoppers are buying less to moderate the continued effect of price increases in their grocery shopping.

With the energy crisis and the entrenched war in Ukraine affecting supply chains and ingredient costs, shoppers have had to change how they buy and use everyday products, which has resulted in a decline in FMCG sales.

Persimmon shares have fallen 60% from their June 2021 highs and are 20% lower than they were in April 2020. With multiple interest rate hikes hurting consumer confidence and mortgage approvals lagging, the housing market has struggled. However, with the International Monetary Fund predicting that interest rates will fall to pre-pandemic levels and inflation to stabilize by early 2024, the trend could reverse. Past records show that consumer confidence can boost home sales once again. In the meantime, Persimmon shareholders have experienced a decrease in dividend yield from 235p to 60p earlier this year, which is still above the FTSE 100 average. The company expects to sell 9,000 homes this year, pointing towards positive trends. The question remains whether the good times will return and the stock will reach the PS30 levels it had seen before.

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Los Angeles Lakers power forward, Mo Bamba, has been ruled out for Tuesday's Game 1 contest against the Golden State Warriors due to left ankle soreness. According to sources, Bamba received an injection to treat the soreness and was using a crutch to walk at the team's shootaround. This injury report has listed Bamba as questionable before the game, and he may return for the next game. Though the Lakers' backup centers are Wenyen Gabriel and Tristan Thompson, Bamba, who played just 88 minutes total in the regular season for Los Angeles, figured unlikely to get many minutes in the matchup anyway because of his defensive limitations. However, his absence meant that the Lakers would be more likely to turn to Rui Hachimura/LeBron James frontcourt that wasn't effective versus Memphis. This grouping is unlikely to do better against ace rebounder Kevon Looney. Although Bamba's absence may not have a huge impact on the rotation, it is still a significant loss for the Lakers and may affect their performance against the Warriors.

Legendary rapper and Lakers fan, Snoop Dogg, appeared on ESPN's "First Take" to share his thoughts on the upcoming Lakers vs. Warriors series. Snoop took the opportunity to poke fun at Warriors guard Jordan Poole, stating, "We're gonna be probably doubling Steph. So somebody else is going to be open. Jordan Poole, keep shooting. I like the way you've been missing, brother." Poole has struggled with his shooting during the Kings series, averaging 12.0 points per game while shooting just 33.8 percent from the field and 25.7 percent from beyond the arc.

Aside from his jabs at Poole, Snoop Dogg expressed concerns about Klay Thompson, who he sees as a born Laker and diehard fan. Snoop acknowledged Thompson's potential to perform well against his beloved Lakers due to his inspiration to play harder. While Snoop Dogg may be biased towards the Lakers, his analysis of Poole's performance and Thompson's potential motivation cannot be disregarded. It remains to be seen how Poole and Thompson will perform in the highly anticipated Lakers vs. Warriors series.

Miami Heat's Jimmy Butler averaged 37.6 points per game in the first round, but can he continue this level of performance against the New York Knicks and their dominant defense? Butler's 3-point shooting struggled in his previous game against the Knicks, and this could be a sign of things to come. In four games against the Knicks, Butler averaged just 0.8 3-pointers made per game. With the Knicks currently leading all playoff teams with a 101.9 Defensive Rating, Butler will have a tough time scoring against their suffocating defense. While still a dangerous player, Butler may not be able to replicate his previous performances against the Knicks, so taking the under on Butler's 1.5 made 3-pointers prop may be a wise decision.

Title: Will Jimmy Butler's 3-Point Shooting Be Affected by the Knicks Defense?

Steph Curry made NBA playoff history during Game 7 between the Golden State Warriors and the Sacramento Kings. Curry's 21-point performance in the game elevated him to 13th place on the all-time playoff scoring list, ahead of Hall of Famer John Havlicek. He now has 3,777 playoff points and is set to surpass Larry Bird's 3,897 points next. The Warriors faced a possible elimination, but Curry's performance helped lead them to a win, advancing them to the second round of playoffs. The team will now face LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers. Curry's excellent season continues, with superb performances so far in the playoffs, averaging 31.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.7 assists. Curry, a two-time MVP and nine-time All-Star, has been with the Warriors for 14 seasons and led them to the NBA championship four times in the previous eight seasons. The win marked an important milestone for Curry as he continues to elevate his legacy as one of basketball’s all-time greats.

Andrew Wiggins has played a crucial role in the Warriors' playoff push, and he believes they're ready to defend their championship crown. Wiggins' return from a 23-game absence due to a family matter has given the Warriors a much-needed boost in scoring and rebounding. He's averaging 18.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.2 blocks, 1.2 assists, and 1.2 steals per game in the series against the Kings. Wiggins' performance has been a welcome sight for the defending champions, who struggled with consistency throughout the regular season. His solid all-around stat line in Game 6 (13 points, 7 rebounds, 2 blocks, and 2 steals) proves that he's back to his pre-absence form.

According to Wiggins, "We've got the pieces. We know we got the coaching for it. We've got the fans. I feel like we're in good shape. I feel like this series has prepared us, because this was tough. It was a dogfight, every game. It was hard." With his impressive performance so far in the playoffs, Wiggins may just be the key to the Warriors' championship aspirations.

Joel Embiid, the center for the Philadelphia 76ers, has won the 2020-2021 NBA Most Valuable Player trophy, beating two-time winner Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets. Embiid earned his first MVP award by averaging 33.1 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game, making him only the second player in league history to average at least 30 points, 10 rebounds, and three assists, joining Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. He also winning his second straight scoring title while playing in 66 games, the second-highest of his career. With Embiid's leading performance, the 76ers secured the top seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. Jokic and Curry were the other two finalists for the award. Embiid's first MVP award will be a huge boost to the 76ers' hopes of reaching the NBA finals.

On a recent episode of First Take, Snoop Dogg shocked host Stephen A. Smith by proclaiming that Golden State's Stephen Curry is the greatest point guard of all time. Despite being a lifelong fan of the Los Angeles Lakers and Magic Johnson, Snoop argued that Curry's revolutionary play style sets him apart from other point guards. While Smith initially mocked Snoop for his claim, the rapper stuck by his statement.

Curry's playoff performance this year seems to support Snoop's assertion. Through the first two rounds of the Western Conference playoffs, Curry is averaging 29.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 6.7 assists per game. He led the Warriors to a stunning upset over the #1 seed Utah Jazz and is now facing off against the Lakers, the team Snoop Dogg has supported his whole life.

Despite being a six-time All-Star, two-time MVP, and three-time NBA champion, Curry still faces detractors who argue that he hasn't done enough to prove he's the greatest point guard ever. Time will tell whether Curry continues to make his case, but for now, his biggest fan might just be Snoop Dogg.

As the Golden State Warriors face off against the Los Angeles Lakers in the second-round playoff series, many are focused on the headlining discussions surrounding Steph Curry and LeBron James. However, X-factors like Kevon Looney could prove key to determining the outcome of the series. Looney's performance is crucial for optimizing both single- and dual-big lineups, especially as he battles on the boards alongside Anthony Davis. Keeping Davis under control will fall predominantly to Looney, making their matchup a crucial one to watch. On offense, Looney lacks the range to yank Davis away from the basket, but he will still need to pitch in against LeBron James. If Looney can hold his own against AD, the Lakers' defensive disruption will be more controlled, and the Warriors can pull Green elsewhere. As both teams enter the game at the Chase Center in San Francisco, every player's performance will be critical to winning this best-of-seven Western Conference semifinal series.

The Golden State Warriors are set to face off against the Los Angeles Lakers in the conference semi-finals, and Klay Thompson couldn't be more excited. In a recent press conference, Thompson described playing against the Lakers in the playoffs as a "dream come true." The last time these two California-based franchises met in the postseason was back in 1991 when Thompson was just a year old. This will also mark the first playoff rematch between the Warriors and Lebron James since he left the Cavaliers in 2018. It's the fifth time the Warriors have faced James in the playoffs, with him being one of the greatest players to ever play the game.

One notable storyline is the Warriors' historical record against the Lakers, having only won one playoff series against them in 1967. However, Thompson is determined to make his mark in the upcoming series. He has scored at least 22 points in five of his last seven games, and he's eager to continue his hot streak against the Lakers. The first game is set for Tuesday night, and fans eagerly anticipate the showdown between these two legendary franchises.

As the Golden State Warriors advance in the Western Conference Semifinals, local businesses in San Francisco's Mission Bay neighborhood are hoping for a much-needed boost in sales after a difficult year during the pandemic. Restaurants and hotels in the area are expecting more customers and increased activity thanks to the basketball games and tourism they bring in. City leaders also noted the advantages of the semifinals starting in San Francisco, with fans of both teams coming to the city and spiking hotel occupancy. The postseason run also gives the city nationwide visibility as a travel destination. While businesses are grateful for the boost, they also recognize the need to plan ahead for when the games eventually stop. Some, like Mission Bay Wine & Cheese, have been creating events outside of the Warriors foot traffic to draw their own traffic. Nonetheless, this playoff run could be critical in helping small businesses recover from the impact of the pandemic.