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Valentine's Day is just around the corner, and hopefully, you've got a spectacular day planned, complete with chocolate and presents. But before you wrap things up, I have a few digital gift ideas that might be worth adding to your list.

You may think of PowerShell as the command-line interface and scripting language on Windows, did you know that you can use it on Linux? Here's how to take advantage of cross-platform commands and scripting

A bombshell report from Reuters has revealed that Elon Musk has locked U.S. government officials out of key data systems containing personal information on millions of federal employees.

According to the report, which cites two anonymous federal agents, senior officials at the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) suddenly lost access to crucial department databases. The move reportedly stems from Musk’s leadership at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a role assigned to him by former President Donald Trump to "curb government spending."

SEE ALSO: Why Elon Musk is part of the controversy involving D.C.'s deadly plane crash

Despite DOGE’s limited authority over OPM and other federal agencies, a "team of current and former" Musk employees have embedded themselves deep within the agency since Trump took office on Jan. 20. Since the inauguration DOGE has morphed from a non-governement advisory panel into the rebranded tech unit inside the White House.

According to the report, the team set up sofa beds in the OPM Director’s office to work around the clock, securing access to a massive database known as Enterprise Human Resources Integration. This system holds sensitive information, including birth dates, Social Security numbers, performance appraisals, home addresses, pay grades, and service records of government employees.

As a result, tracking Musk and his allies’ activities within OPM has become significantly more difficult.

This comes as Trump and Musk push for all 2.2 million federal employees to accept deferred resignations, aiming to replace them with MAGA loyalists. Meanwhile, on Friday, David A. Lebryk, the highest-ranking career official at the Treasury Department, reportedly resigned after refusing to grant Musk’s operatives access to the government’s entire payment system — responsible for processing $6 trillion in payments annually.

Musk’s exact motivations for seeking unfettered access to the Treasury Department and government personnel databases remain unclear. However, his actions suggest a push for sweeping control over federal systems, granting him unprecedented influence under the guise of cutting $2 billion from government spending.

With access to these systems, Musk could bypass legal hurdles and potentially shut off funding for social programs opposed by him and Trump, further expanding his grip on federal operations.

Samsung's Galaxy S phones get all the attention, but they're not for everyone. Many people gravitate toward Samsung's budget and mid-range phones—the Galaxy A series—which are better than you might think.

Meteors occur when Earth passes through grouped particles of space debris. When each particle hits our atmosphere—at speeds up to 46 miles a second!—it vaporizes and causes a silent, glowing streak of light.

Whether you're deleting your Instagram account or just want everything for safekeeping, it's easier than you might think to download all of your Instagram posts, Stories, and Reels.

Curved monitors enhance your overall viewing experience, particularly if you like sitting close to the screen. If you're in the market for a monitor upgrade, our handpicked recommendations can help.

Taking screenshots on the Steam Deck is relatively easy, but finding and sharing them can be a hassle. After some initial confusion, I’ve come up with a screenshot workflow that works for me.

Leaving your streaming account logged in on a hotel TV can expose your personal information and give others free access to your subscriptions. Here’s how to fix it.

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Sunday, February 2, 2025:

AcrossPunxsutawney ___, Groundhog Day character

• The answer is Phil.

Bird with "great blue" and "great white" varieties

• The answer is Heron.

Something rehabilitated by a P.R. firm

• The answer is Image.

Material for party balloons and hospital gloves

• The answer is Latex.

Home made of sticks, say

• The answer is Nest.

Down___ Connors, Bill Murray's character in "Groundhog Day"

• The answer is Phil.

Muscled guy

• The answer is He man.

So, so angry

• The answer is Irate.

Pricey sections of theaters

• The answer is Loges.

"Ready for another customer!"

• The answer is Next.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Featured Video For You The Wordle Strategy used by the New York Times' Head of Games

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Mini Crossword.

When NASA launched a spacecraft to an asteroid, scientists patiently waited for their chance to look at bits of the space rock in a laboratory, hoping it would answer some of humanity's most enduring questions. 

For Danny Glavin, a senior sample scientist, he wanted to solve a relentless mystery in his life's work: Why are all known living things only based on the left-handed forms of amino acids, the molecules that build proteins? 

His moment arrived nearly a decade later. Glavin and a team of researchers probed the grit from Bennu, a carbon-rich asteroid made of loosely bound boulders, but what they found threw them a curveball. Rather than supporting one of the leading hypotheses — that the early solar system favored the left-handed variety and brought those ingredients to primitive Earth — it showed no favoritism at all. 

"I have to admit, I was a little disillusioned or disappointed," Glavin said. "I felt like this invalidated 20 years of research in our lab and my career."

SEE ALSO: NASA's asteroid sample reveals key chemistry that could lead to life Researcher Jason Dworkin holds up a vial containing a Bennu sample. Credit: NASA / James Tralie

Many amino acids, whether they're used in biology or not, come in two mirror-image forms. Each molecule has a central carbon atom with other atom groups attached, oriented in one direction or the reverse. This property, called chirality, is like a left and right hand: They're similar, but if you stacked them, the thumbs would be hitchhiking opposite ways.

In Earth life, the amino acids are always "left-handed," and sugars, which partly make up the backbone of DNA, are always right-handed, giving the double helix its signature twist to the right. The homogeneity found among both is especially confounding to scientists because the left and right-handed versions of all these molecules are equally available in nonliving chemical mixes. 

Practically speaking, if all biological molecules took the reverse form, that might work just fine. So if life could have taken the other path, why didn't it? Is uniform "handedness" a secret ingredient in the recipe for life, and more specifically, did it have to turn left? Did the bias toward left-handed amino acids begin in the cosmos, or did it happen later on this planet?

"A fundamental question for all of us is whether life had to be the way it is," said Iris Chen, professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering at UCLA, who wasn't involved in the asteroid study. "Is the universe predisposed to our kind of life, or is our biology the result of accidents and chance?"

NASA chose carbon-rich asteroid Bennu to study the chemical origins of life. Credit: NASA

Scientists knew early on they would use the material collected by NASA's $800 million OSIRIS-Rex mission, short for Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security-Regolith Explorer, to analyze the "handedness" of individual amino acids. Bennu's mineral fragments could be older than the 4.6 billion-year-old solar system. These grains of stardust could have come from dying stars or supernovas that eventually led to the creation of the sun and planets.

To do their study, they brewed a sort of "Bennu tea," boiling a small amount of the rocks and dust in water and acids to extract organic compounds. Then they used mass spectrometry techniques to identify organic molecules, including 14 of the 20 amino acids life uses to build proteins, which carry out genetic instructions. Some of the latest findings were published this week in the journal Nature Astronomy. 

"I have to admit, I was a little disillusioned or disappointed. I felt like this invalidated 20 years of research in our lab and my career."

Over the past few decades, researchers have found that meteorites — rocks that have traveled space and crash-landed on Earth — have had a higher concentration of left-handed amino acids than right-handed ones, in the neighborhood of 60 percent more. Perhaps space rocks delivered the compounds that then underwent chemical reactions near Earth's deep-sea vents to form the first cells. The rest is evolution, perhaps.

Those results, coupled with the knowledge that space rocks have bombarded the planet for eons, have led scientists to believe ancient asteroids, the solar system's time capsules, would also reveal more left-handed amino acids. If the solar system indeed harbors more lefties, perhaps polarized light in space was the culprit. A slight favoritism in the environment could turn into a larger disparity over time. 

Scientists think meteorites and planetary body collisions may have delivered origins of life chemistry to early Earth, including left-handed amino acids. Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center Conceptual Image Lab illustration

But the Bennu researchers found lefties and righties comingling equally. Now Glavin wonders if the previous studies on meteorites are invalid, perhaps contaminated with Earth proteins when they fell to the ground. Jason Dworkin, project scientist for the OSIRIS-Rex mission, thinks there may be a different reason for Bennu bucking the trend. 

"Bennu is an example of one type of future meteorite which is too fragile to survive landing on Earth, and so it's not really in our collections," Dworkin said. 

Maybe the reality is that life's design was determined by a coin flip. Once a successful pattern was established, the template continued through evolution. Proteins and enzymes, tiny drivers inside cells, fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. If life emerged with left-handed amino acids, switching to right-handed amino acids later might have stopped everything from working. There are vast advantages to uniformity: If people were based on right-handed amino acids, they wouldn't be able to eat and digest plants or animal products based on left-handed amino acids.

Researchers have made mirror versions of biological proteins with right-handed amino acids in a lab. They function similarly, but they're much harder to destroy. Enzymes that would typically break them down are rendered useless. Like your hair dryer on an international vacation, the tool won't work if the plug and outlet don't match. 

A diagram of a left-handed and right-handed version of an amino acid from a meteorite. Credit: NASA illustration

Some scientists considering the implications of this problem have expressed concerns about the future development of mirror cells in laboratories. If people became infected with harmful mirror bacteria, their immune systems might be defenseless, unable to wage any sort of counterattack. A group of biologists recently wrote an extensive paper on the risks, as reported by The New York Times. 

Despite Glavin's disappointment that Bennu didn't present a chirality bias, the research continues. He and his collaborators plan to study more samples of the asteroid to investigate other amino acids' handedness. 

And there might be a silver lining: Some astrobiologists have proposed using disproportionate handedness of molecules as a biosignature. An even mix of both types in an extraterrestrial sample might suggest molecules were made chemically without the involvement of living things. But an excess of one type could be a clue for alien life. 

"Frankly, it actually might make the search for life easier in some respects because we don't have this risk potentially of a false positive," Glavin said. "We (could) believe that if there's an amplification of one or the other, that there may be biology behind it."

A robotic spacecraft has beamed home crisp videos and snapshots of Earth eclipsing the moon.

Though lunar eclipses generally aren't that unusual — stargazers can watch Earth's shadow obscuring the moon a few times a year — this was different.

Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost lander, a private spacecraft hired by NASA to take experiments to the moon, got a rare front-row seat of the spectacle in space. The phenomenon occurred when the blue marble came between the moon and the spacecraft.

Blue Ghost, named after an exotic species of firefly, captured the below footage while flying laps around Earth as it gears up for its first attempt at a lunar touchdown. Almost two weeks ago, the spacecraft witnessed another majestic moment when Earth eclipsed the sun. 

"Right now, we are in a period where we're mostly just coasting for the next week-and-a-half or so, until we do our (Trans Lunar Injection) maneuver," said Will Coogan, Blue Ghost's chief engineer, in a video update, referring to the step that puts the lander on a moonbound trajectory. "During that period, we're going to do a bunch of payload operations, continue with system checkouts, just make sure everything is precisely tuned before we do that." 

SEE ALSO: Private moon spacecraft just took a breathtaking snapshot of Earth Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost lunar lander captures Earth on the horizon from its top deck, with the moon in the distant background. Credit: Firefly Aerospace

Firefly's lander, originally scheduled to lift off in late 2024, is the first NASA Commercial Lunar Payload Services mission of the year. The program has invested $2.6 billion in contracts with vendors from the private sector to help deliver instruments to the moon and send back crucial data. 

The company is carrying 10 experiments for the space agency. NASA wants to see a regular cadence of moon missions to prepare for astronaut-led Artemis expeditions in 2027 or later.

Once Blue Ghost escapes Earth's gravitational pull, it will take four days for it to arrive at the moon. The spacecraft will spend 16 days in lunar orbit before dropping to the surface, planned to happen on March 2. The descent is expected to last about one hour.

Watch this time-lapse video of Firefly's Blue Ghost lander capturing Earth eclipsing the moon.

Last week, after flying some 715,000 miles, the team completed test runs on a NASA experiment dubbed SCALPSS, short for Stereo Cameras for Lunar Plume-Surface Studies. It will observe the effects of engine plumes on lunar soil. 

As lunar trips become more frequent, the space agency wants to understand the impact those landings will have on other close vehicles and instruments. Firefly successfully received high-resolution images from all six of the SCALPSS cameras.

Tweet may have been deleted

"It's been kind of a perpetual grind. We've been working very hard to try and make this dream a reality," Coogan said. "The first images came down, and it forced everybody to pause and realize this thing we've been trying for, for all these years, is finally actually happening, and it's working." 

The mission seems to be going smoothly so far, but the team hasn't encountered the hardest part yet. Landing on the moon is onerous. The moon's exosphere provides virtually no drag to slow a spacecraft down as it approaches the ground. Furthermore, there are no GPS systems on the moon to help guide a craft to its landing spot.

So far just one company, Intuitive Machines, has made the journey all the way through lunar touchdown. Its craft landed sideways near the moon's south pole in February 2024, still managing to operate from its awkward position.

TL;DR: Live stream Boston Celtics vs. Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA with FuboTV, Sling TV, or YouTube TV.

The Boston Celtics head to Wells Fargo Center to face the Philadelphia 76ers in an Eastern Conference matchup. The Celtics are 33-15, which puts the team in second place. The Sixers are 19-27, which puts the team in 11th place.

The Celtics have won three of their last five games, and are coming off a win over the Chicago Bulls. The Sixers have won four of their last five games, and all of those wins have come consecutively.

When is Boston Celtics vs. Philadelphia 76ers?

Boston Celtics vs. Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA starts at 6 p.m. ET on Feb. 2. This game takes place at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.

This game will air on ESPN.

How to watch Boston Celtics vs. Philadelphia 76ers

You need to choose a streaming service to watch the NBA without cable or satellite TV. We've found some of the best streaming services to consider for the Celtics vs. Sixers basketball game.

Best for single game: FuboTV Opens in a new window Credit: Fubo TV FuboTV Pro Plan Get Deal

FuboTV offers you more than 250 channels of live TV and the option to watch on 10 screens at once. You can try FuboTV with a seven-day free trial period. 

FuboTV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, FOX, FS1, FS2, Golf Network, Marquee Sports Network, Monumental Sports, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network. 

Most live sports: YouTube TV Opens in a new window Credit: YouTube TV YouTube TV $49.99/month for your first two months (save $46) Get Deal

YouTube TV's base plan is $49.99 per month for two months for new subscribers ($72.99 per month regularly). The base plan includes over 100 live TV channels, including ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, Fox Sports 1, and NBA TV.

Most affordable: Sling TV Opens in a new window Credit: Sling TV Sling Orange Plan Get Deal

Sling TV suggests the streamer's Orange Plan for the game, which costs $20 for the first month and $40 monthly after that.

Sling TV’s sports channels feature ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNews, ESPNU, FOX, FS1, FS2, NBA TV, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network.

How to watch Celtics vs. Sixers from anywhere in the world

If you're traveling outside of the U.S. during this game, you might need to use a VPN to unblock this live stream. VPNs can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server, meaning you can unblock live streams of the NBA from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Boston Celtics vs. Philadelphia 76ers for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the U.S.

4. Sign in to your favorite streaming app

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to live streams of the NBA without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to live stream Boston Celtics vs. Philadelphia 76ers before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the NBA?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Boston Celtics vs. Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream LA Clippers vs. Toronto Raptors in the NBA with FuboTV, Sling TV, or YouTube TV.

The LA Clippers head to Scotiabank Arena to face the Toronto Raptors in a non-conference matchup. The Clippers are 27-20, which puts the team in sixth place in the Western Conference. The Raptors are 15-32, which puts the team in 12th place in the Eastern Conference.

The Clippers have won three of their last five games, and are coming off a win over the San Antonio Spurs. The Raptors have won five games in a row.

When is LA Clippers vs. Toronto Raptors?

LA Clippers vs. Toronto Raptors in the NBA starts at 3:30 p.m. ET on Feb. 2. This game takes place at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.

How to watch LA Clippers vs. Toronto Raptors

You need to choose a streaming service to watch the NBA without cable or satellite TV. We've found some of the best streaming services to consider for the Clippers vs. Raptors basketball game.

Best for single game: FuboTV Opens in a new window Credit: Fubo TV FuboTV Pro Plan Get Deal

FuboTV offers you more than 250 channels of live TV and the option to watch on 10 screens at once. You can try FuboTV with a seven-day free trial period. 

FuboTV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, FOX, FS1, FS2, Golf Network, Marquee Sports Network, Monumental Sports, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network. 

Most live sports: YouTube TV Opens in a new window Credit: YouTube TV YouTube TV $49.99/month for your first two months (save $46) Get Deal

YouTube TV's base plan is $49.99 per month for two months for new subscribers ($72.99 per month regularly). The base plan includes over 100 live TV channels, including ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, Fox Sports 1, and NBA TV.

Most affordable: Sling TV Opens in a new window Credit: Sling TV Sling Orange Plan Get Deal

Sling TV suggests the streamer's Orange Plan for the game, which costs $20 for the first month and $40 monthly after that.

Sling TV’s sports channels feature ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNews, ESPNU, FOX, FS1, FS2, NBA TV, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network.

How to watch Clippers vs. Raptors from anywhere in the world

If you're traveling outside of the U.S. during this game, you might need to use a VPN to unblock this live stream. VPNs can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server, meaning you can unblock live streams of the NBA from anywhere in the world.

Live stream LA Clippers vs. Toronto Raptors for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the U.S.

4. Sign in to your favorite streaming app

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to live streams of the NBA without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to live stream LA Clippers vs. Toronto Raptors before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the NBA?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream LA Clippers vs. Toronto Raptors in the NBA with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Dallas Mavericks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA with FuboTV, Sling TV, or YouTube TV.

The Dallas Mavericks head to Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse to face the Cleveland Cavaliers in a non-conference matchup. The Mavs are 26-22, which puts the team in eighth place in the Western Conference. The Cavs are 39-9, which puts the team in first place in the Eastern Conference.

The Mavs have won three of their last five games, and are coming off back-to-back wins over the New Orleans Pelicans and Washington Wizards. The Cavs have also won three of their last five games, all of those wins have come consecutively.

When is Dallas Mavericks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers?

Dallas Mavericks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA starts at 3:30 p.m. ET on Feb. 2. This game takes place at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland.

How to watch Dallas Mavericks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers

You need to choose a streaming service to watch the NBA without cable or satellite TV. We've found some of the best streaming services to consider for the Mavs vs. Cavs basketball game.

Best for single game: FuboTV Opens in a new window Credit: Fubo TV FuboTV Pro Plan Get Deal

FuboTV offers you more than 250 channels of live TV and the option to watch on 10 screens at once. You can try FuboTV with a seven-day free trial period. 

FuboTV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, FOX, FS1, FS2, Golf Network, Marquee Sports Network, Monumental Sports, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network. 

Most live sports: YouTube TV Opens in a new window Credit: YouTube TV YouTube TV $49.99/month for your first two months (save $46) Get Deal

YouTube TV's base plan is $49.99 per month for two months for new subscribers ($72.99 per month regularly). The base plan includes over 100 live TV channels, including ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, Fox Sports 1, and NBA TV.

Most affordable: Sling TV Opens in a new window Credit: Sling TV Sling Orange Plan Get Deal

Sling TV suggests the streamer's Orange Plan for the game, which costs $20 for the first month and $40 monthly after that.

Sling TV’s sports channels feature ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNews, ESPNU, FOX, FS1, FS2, NBA TV, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network.

How to watch Mavs vs. Cavs from anywhere in the world

If you're traveling outside of the U.S. during this game, you might need to use a VPN to unblock this live stream. VPNs can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server, meaning you can unblock live streams of the NBA from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Dallas Mavericks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the U.S.

4. Sign in to your favorite streaming app

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to live streams of the NBA without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to live stream Dallas Mavericks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the NBA?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Dallas Mavericks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Chicago Bulls vs. Detroit Pistons in the NBA with FuboTV, Sling TV, or YouTube TV.

The Chicago Bulls head to Little Caesars Arena to face the Detroit Pistons in an Eastern Conference matchup. The Bulls are 20-28, which puts the team in 10th place. The Pistons are 23-24, which puts the team in eighth place.

The Bulls have lost three of their last five games, and are coming off a loss to the Boston Celtics. The Pistons have also lost three of their last five games, all of those losses have come consecutively.

When is Chicago Bulls vs. Detroit Pistons?

Chicago Bulls vs. Detroit Pistons in the NBA starts at 3 p.m. ET on Feb. 2. This game takes place at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.

How to watch Chicago Bulls vs. Detroit Pistons

You need to choose a streaming service to watch the NBA without cable or satellite TV. We've found some of the best streaming services to consider for the Bulls vs. Pistons basketball game.

Best for single game: FuboTV Opens in a new window Credit: Fubo TV FuboTV Pro Plan Get Deal

FuboTV offers you more than 250 channels of live TV and the option to watch on 10 screens at once. You can try FuboTV with a seven-day free trial period. 

FuboTV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, FOX, FS1, FS2, Golf Network, Marquee Sports Network, Monumental Sports, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network. 

Most live sports: YouTube TV Opens in a new window Credit: YouTube TV YouTube TV $49.99/month for your first two months (save $46) Get Deal

YouTube TV's base plan is $49.99 per month for two months for new subscribers ($72.99 per month regularly). The base plan includes over 100 live TV channels, including ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, Fox Sports 1, and NBA TV.

Most affordable: Sling TV Opens in a new window Credit: Sling TV Sling Orange Plan Get Deal

Sling TV suggests the streamer's Orange Plan for the game, which costs $20 for the first month and $40 monthly after that.

Sling TV’s sports channels feature ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNews, ESPNU, FOX, FS1, FS2, NBA TV, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network.

How to watch Bulls vs. Pistons from anywhere in the world

If you're traveling outside of the U.S. during this game, you might need to use a VPN to unblock this live stream. VPNs can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server, meaning you can unblock live streams of the NBA from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Chicago Bulls vs. Detroit Pistons for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the U.S.

4. Sign in to your favorite streaming app

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to live streams of the NBA without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to live stream Chicago Bulls vs. Detroit Pistons before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the NBA?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Chicago Bulls vs. Detroit Pistons in the NBA with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: For just $95.99 (reg. $159), this 6.8" Foldable Touchscreen Car Display brings Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to your car, offering voice control, app mirroring, and hands-free navigation.

Those of us with slightly older can get a little cranky without the tech conveniences of the newer cars. Fumbling with your phone for directions, skipping through playlists, or answering calls while driving can be as seamless as you'd get with a new car for just $95.99.

Whether commuting to work or hitting the road for a weekend getaway, this 6.8" Foldable Touchscreen Car Display upgrades your car’s dashboard into a smart, connected hub. Compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, this foldable screen wirelessly syncs with your phone to display your favorite apps.

Need directions? Let Siri or Google Assistant guide you. Want to switch playlists? Just use voice commands to keep your hands on the wheel. And with Bluetooth, FM transmission, or an AUX jack for audio, your music and calls will sound crystal clear.

The 1024x600 HD IPS screen ensures sharp visuals whether you’re navigating, watching a quick video during a pit stop, or just enjoying the view. It even supports a rearview camera to make parking less stressful.

Unlike expensive built-in car systems, this display doesn’t require professional installation — or a small fortune. At just $95.99, it’s a budget-friendly, DIY solution to bring smart tech into any vehicle. And with its foldable design, it’s as portable as it is convenient.

Don’t wait too long to upgrade your vehicle and stay connected, all while keeping safety in the driver’s seat.

Get the 6.8" Foldable Touchscreen Car Display while it's just $95.99 (reg. $159) for a little while longer.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Mesay 6.8" Foldable Touchscreen Car Display with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto Support $95.99
$159.99 Save $64.00 Get Deal

TL;DR: Streamline your creative process with a lifetime of 1min.AI’s Advanced Business Plan for $99.99 (reg. $540) — multiple AI platforms in one for life.

Most of us are stretched pretty thin. One thing we don't want to happen is to have our work suffer because of it. What if there were a tool that could write your articles, design stunning visuals, edit videos, and even help you manage your documents?

The multi-tool of the AI world, 1min.AI is an all-in-one AI platform designed for creators, entrepreneurs, and anyone juggling multiple projects. For just $99.99 (down from $540), this lifetime subscription ensures you’ll never need to piece together productivity tools again. 

1min.AI is more like your new creative assistant. Need a blog post in minutes? Done. Want a unique logo or eye-catching image for your next campaign? No problem. Struggling to summarize or translate a dense PDF? It handles that, too.

This platform runs on advanced AI models like GPT-4, Claude 3, and Gemini Pro, meaning every task you throw its way is met with speed and precision. It’s not perfect — no AI tool is — but it’s incredibly efficient, saving you time and effort so you can focus on the big picture.

One of 1min.AI’s standout features is its versatility. With tools for keyword research, article generation, image editing, audio enhancement, and even chatbot creation, it’s perfect for content creators, marketers, and small business owners looking to streamline their workflow.

Instead of juggling multiple apps (and their monthly fees), you’ll have everything in one easy-to-navigate platform. If you’ve ever found yourself overwhelmed by the sheer number of tools needed to stay productive, 1min.AI is the streamlined solution you’ve been waiting for.

And with this lifetime subscription, you’ll pay once and reap the benefits forever — no recurring fees, no hidden costs, just unlimited access to AI magic.

Get a lifetime of 1min.AI's Advances Business Plan for just $99.99 (reg. $540) while it's still on sale.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: 1min.AI 1min.AI Advanced Business Plan Lifetime Subscription $99.99
$540.00 Save $440.01 Get Deal

TL;DR: Get a grade-A refurbished Apple MacBook Pro 13" with Touch Bar, 8GB RAM, and 512GB SSD for $377.97 (reg. $499.99).

Apple’s MacBook Pro 13" is a sleek blend of power and innovation, and if you’ve never experienced the Touch Bar (discontinued in 2023), you’re in for a treat. This grade-A refurbished MacBook Pro doesn’t just look like new — it performs like new, offering the perfect combination of performance, affordability, and functionality.

From its Retina display to its multitasking capabilities, this MacBook will revolutionize how you work and play. And that Touch Bar? It's like having your own personal shortcut hub — one you didn’t know you needed but will never want to live without.

A divisive opinion? The Touch Bar is actually fantastic. Need quick access to your favorite tools or emojis? The Touch Bar has you covered. Editing photos or videos? Customize it for precision controls. It adapts to different apps, so whether you’re binge-watching, working, or designing, everything you need is right at your fingertips.

With a powerful 3.1GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor (Turbo Boost up to 3.5GHz), 8GB of RAM, and a spacious 512GB SSD, this MacBook Pro is more than ready to tackle your daily tasks. Its 13.3" Retina display offers vivid visuals, while the backlit keyboard and Force Touch trackpad make every interaction smooth and intuitive. Plus, with four Thunderbolt 3 ports, you have the ultimate flexibility for connectivity and charging.

This grade-A refurbished MacBook Pro is near-mint, so you’re getting premium Apple quality for a fraction of the price. It’s sustainable, cost-effective, and includes all the power and features of a new MacBook.

Grab this grade-A refurbished Apple MacBook Pro 13" with Touch Bar for $377.97 (reg. $499.99) while stock is still available.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Pro 13" Touchbar (2017) 3.1GHz i5 8GB RAM 512GB SSD Space Gray (Refurbished) $377.97
$1,499.00 Save $1,121.03 Get Deal

TL;DR: Grab a lifetime license to Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for $59.97 (Reg. $219) — get eight essential apps, no subscriptions, and offline access for uninterrupted productivity.

Tired of juggling subscriptions and battling unreliable internet connections? With Microsoft Office Professional 2021, you can own a lifetime license for only $59.97, a fraction of its $219 value. This limited-time offer gives you many of the tools you need — Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, OneNote, Publisher, and Access — without the hassle of recurring fees. 

Office 2021 is a reliable, offline-friendly solution for productivity. While the 2024 version only gives you five apps, this one includes eight. Whether you’re crafting reports, analyzing data, or giving a standout presentation, these familiar apps work seamlessly without requiring an internet connection. You can save, edit, and access files locally, making it a great option for those who travel frequently or work in areas with spotty Wi-Fi.

Unlike the newer MS Office 2024, this version doesn’t overload you with AI integrations or features you may never use. It’s lighter on your system, easier to navigate, and comes with more apps (eight compared to five in Office 2024). Plus, with a lifetime license tied directly to your device, you’ll never worry about subscriptions or unexpected price hikes.

Who could benefit?

• Professionals: Simplify workflow and communications with Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.

• Students: Tackle essays, projects, and presentations with confidence.

• Small business owners: Manage finances, communications, and databases efficiently.

• Personal users: Manage household budgets, communicate effectively, and stay organized.

Remember, this offer is only valid for a limited time. Upgrade your Windows PC (Windows 10 or 11 required) and unlock tools designed to boost productivity.

Get a lifetime of Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for only $59.97 (regularly $219) while this price is still available.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows: Lifetime License $59.97
$219.99 Save $160.02 Get Deal