CenterHigh
WMUR9 (Hearst, Manchester NH)News report · Aug 7, 10:11 PM
NBA player Brandon Clarke's cause of death revealed
Authorities have determined Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke's cause of death. The 29-year-old died in May.
← Today's headlines
22 sources checked · Left, Center, and Right included · 2h ago
Different Spin
NBA player Brandon Clarke's cause of death revealed
Fox News explicitly states the cause of death as an "accidental heroin and cocaine overdose," while other sources remain general.
1 Left20 Center1 Right
DIFFERENT SPIN
HOW EACH SIDE WORDED IT
Left-leaningCenter-leftNBA player Brandon Clarke died from effects of heroin and cocaine, officials say
CBS NewsHigh
Right-leaningCenter-rightLate NBA player Brandon Clarke died of accidental heroin and cocaine overdose, authorities say
Fox NewsMixed
accidental heroin and cocaine overdose
Center baseline · 
WMUR9 (Hearst, Manchester NH)HighNBA player Brandon Clarke's cause of death revealed
As of August 8, 2026 at 12:55 AM, this is how Optics News reads the wording differences in this story.
What happened Authorities have determined Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke's cause of death. The 29-year-old died in May.
The headline split The left frames it as "NBA player Brandon Clarke died from effects of heroin and cocaine, officials say". The right frames it as "Late NBA player Brandon Clarke died of accidental heroin and cocaine overdose, authoritie...".
Match confidence High confidence. 22 sources checked, Left/Center/Right all represented. Best read as a clear framing signal — not a fact-check.
Same-event confidenceHigh
22 sources across Left, Center, and Right all describe the same event.
Framing confidenceModerate
70/99 — meaningful wording shift across the spectrum.
WHAT EACH SIDE EMPHASIZED
Left / center-leftNBA player Brandon Clarke died from effects of heroin and cocaine, officials say
CBS News · Center-left · News report
CenterNBA player Brandon Clarke's cause of death revealed
WMUR9 (Hearst, Manchester NH) · Center · News report
Right / center-rightLate NBA player Brandon Clarke died of accidental heroin and cocaine overdose, authorities say
Fox News · Center-right · News report
SEE THE HEADLINES
Open source
Center-leftHigh
CBS NewsNews report · Aug 8, 12:55 AM
NBA player Brandon Clarke died from effects of heroin and cocaine, officials say
Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke died in May from the effects of heroin and cocaine, authorities said Friday.
CenterHigh
WGAL Susquehanna / KOAT7 (Hearst, Albuquerque)News report · Aug 7, 10:55 PM
Cause of death revealed for missing Taos woman, Melissa Casias
Melissa Casias was reported missing back in June 2025.
Center-rightMixed
Fox NewsNews report · Aug 7, 10:20 PM
Late NBA player Brandon Clarke died of accidental heroin and cocaine overdose, authorities say
accidental heroin and cocaine overdose
Brandon Clarke was found dead in his Los Angeles home from the effects of heroin and cocaine in what authorities ruled an accidental overdose.
CenterHigh
WBIR10 (Tegna, Knoxville)News report · Aug 7, 10:16 PM
Memphis forward Brandon Clarke's cause of death released
The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner on Friday said the 29-year-old basketball player’s death was accidental.
CenterHigh
WFMY News 2 (Tegna, Greensboro)News report · Aug 7, 10:16 PM
Memphis forward Brandon Clarke's cause of death released
The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner on Friday said the 29-year-old basketball player’s death was accidental.
Show all 22 sources
CenterHigh
KING5 (Tegna, Seattle)News report · Aug 7, 10:16 PM
Memphis forward Brandon Clarke's cause of death released
The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner on Friday said the 29-year-old basketball player’s death was accidental.
CenterHigh
WUSA9 (Tegna, Washington DC)News report · Aug 7, 10:16 PM
Memphis forward Brandon Clarke's cause of death released
The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner on Friday said the 29-year-old basketball player’s death was accidental.
CenterHigh
KARE11 (Tegna, Minneapolis)News report · Aug 7, 10:16 PM
Memphis forward Brandon Clarke's cause of death released
The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner on Friday said the 29-year-old basketball player’s death was accidental.
CenterHigh
WCNC Charlotte (Tegna)News report · Aug 7, 10:16 PM
Memphis forward Brandon Clarke's cause of death released
The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner on Friday said the 29-year-old basketball player’s death was accidental.
CenterHigh
WWL-TV 4 (Tegna, New Orleans)News report · Aug 7, 10:16 PM
Memphis forward Brandon Clarke's cause of death released
The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner on Friday said the 29-year-old basketball player’s death was accidental.
CenterHigh
WVEC 13News Now (Tegna, Norfolk)News report · Aug 7, 10:16 PM
Memphis forward Brandon Clarke's cause of death released
The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner on Friday said the 29-year-old basketball player’s death was accidental.
CenterHigh
The Spokesman-Review (Spokane)News report · Aug 7, 10:15 PM
Former Gonzaga star Brandon Clarke's death ruled accidental overdose of cocaine, heroin - Fri, 07 Aug 2026 PST
Former Gonzaga forward Brandon Clarke died of an accidental overdose of heroin and cocaine, the L.A. County Medical Examiner ruled in a report released Friday.
CenterHigh
WTAE Pittsburgh (Hearst)News report · Aug 7, 10:11 PM
NBA player Brandon Clarke's cause of death revealed
Authorities have determined Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke's cause of death. The 29-year-old died in May.
CenterHigh
WBAL Baltimore (Hearst)News report · Aug 7, 10:11 PM
NBA player Brandon Clarke's cause of death revealed
Authorities have determined Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke's cause of death. The 29-year-old died in May.
CenterHigh
KCRA3 Sacramento (Hearst)News report · Aug 7, 10:11 PM
NBA player Brandon Clarke's cause of death revealed
Authorities have determined Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke's cause of death. The 29-year-old died in May.
CenterHigh
WLWT Cincinnati (Hearst)News report · Aug 7, 10:11 PM
NBA player Brandon Clarke's cause of death revealed
Authorities have determined Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke's cause of death. The 29-year-old died in May.
CenterHigh
WXII12 (Hearst, Greensboro)News report · Aug 7, 10:11 PM
NBA player Brandon Clarke's cause of death revealed
Authorities have determined Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke's cause of death. The 29-year-old died in May.
CenterHigh
WYFF4 (Hearst, Greenville)News report · Aug 7, 10:11 PM
NBA player Brandon Clarke's cause of death revealed
Authorities have determined Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke's cause of death. The 29-year-old died in May.
CenterHigh
WMTW8 (Hearst, Portland ME)News report · Aug 7, 10:11 PM
NBA player Brandon Clarke's cause of death revealed
Authorities have determined Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke's cause of death. The 29-year-old died in May.
CenterHigh
KMBC9 (Hearst, Kansas City)News report · Aug 7, 10:11 PM
NBA player Brandon Clarke's cause of death revealed
Authorities have determined Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke's cause of death. The 29-year-old died in May.
CenterHigh
WMUR Hearst WLKY32 (Louisville)News report · Aug 7, 10:11 PM
NBA player Brandon Clarke's cause of death revealed
Authorities have determined Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke's cause of death. The 29-year-old died in May.
Details70/99 Wording Gap · High confidence · 22 sources
70/99 Wording GapHigh confidence22 sources · 3 bias bucketsStable · 22 sources · all three buckets · comparable news formatFormats: News report
SOURCE MAP CHANGES
Aug 7, 10:11 PM: WMUR9 (Hearst, Manchester NH) joined the source map.
Aug 7, 10:11 PM: WTAE Pittsburgh (Hearst) joined the source map.
Aug 7, 10:11 PM: WBAL Baltimore (Hearst) joined the source map.
Aug 7, 10:11 PM: KCRA3 Sacramento (Hearst) joined the source map.
Now: Wording Gap is 70/99 and story health is stable · 22 sources · all three buckets · comparable news format.