Victor Wembanyamas Shaolin retreat pushed him through brutal mountain training, meditation, and martial arts discipline, transforming his conditioning, focus, and composure during the Spurs playoff run.

SportsLine's model and team of experts have revealed top NBA props picks and NBA predictions for the NBA Playoffs on Thursday

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Alexander Rossi hobbled into his Indianapolis 500 media day interview on crutches Thursday.He's still planning to start Sunday's big race.Three days after having surgery on his right ankle and the middle finger of his left hand following a crash, the Californian told reporters he'd been cleared to drive and then spent most of his interview session playfully poking fun at questions about his health and himself.I have to be on crutches because it's a non-weight bearing injury, but fortunately to drive a race car, you don't have to bear weight, he said. Range of motion is good. Pain is minimal. Swelling, as you can see, I fit into my race boot, so good to go.He was injured early in Monday's practice when his car spun going through the second turn on the Brickyard's 2.5-mile oval. He slammed hard into the outside wall then took a second shot when the trailing Pato O'Ward couldn't avoid hitting the side of Rossi's car.Rossi, the 2016 Indy winner, was eventually transferred to a local hospital where he had surgery Monday night. Rossi's Ed Carpenter Racing team members spent Monday night and Tuesday preparing his backup car, the one he used last year when he led the race, hopeful Rossi would return to the cockpit and start from the No. 2 spot that he earned in last weekend's qualifying.Rossi said he needed the two surgeries to stabilize the injuries just to give him a shot to compete. Hes still being fitted for a brace and a boot that still allow him to use the car pedals properly.I dont know if Im allowed to talk about the values of the two impacts, but they were very high, Rossi said, briefly turning serious. And the fact that were here, having this conversation and joking about a sore ankle is pretty amazing.Earlier this week, team president Tim Broyles sounded confident Rossi would be back in his car on race day, but he first had to demonstrate to IndyCar's medical team he could drive on the simulator, climb in and out of the car within a certain time frame, prove he could react properly to certain situations in his boot and do all of it over several different increments. Only then was he cleared.On Friday, he faces one more hurdle making sure he's comfortable back in the cockpit during the final practice session on Indianapolis Motor Speedway's 2.5-mile oval.He's not the only one with some work to do on Carb Day. O'Ward also will be in a backup car.Whatever we get (Friday) Im going to be very grateful for, hopefully, the rain decides to at least stay away a little bit and well get some running in, the Mexican driver with Arrow McLaren said. I want to get one full run. It's very important for me. I have a new car. Regardless of it, the car will be good. It would be nice to just get a run just pepper out anything it might have.O'Ward qualified sixth on the 33-car starting grid. Defending Indy champ Alex Palou won the pole.But if the rain holds off, it will give Rossi a two-hour window to test his car, his foot and his hand as he again seeks a second career Indy win.If we do our jobs correctly, close to zero, he said when asked what he expected in terms of pain on race day and before he was asked if he could avoid a painkilling shot. "I didnt say that. I said if we do our jobs correctly, close to zero."___AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

Thunder star wing Jalen Williams will be evaluated day by day, game-to-game with a left hamstring injury, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania on Thursday.

Mark Scheifele scored his third goal of the game in overtime to help Canada narrowly avoid an upset with a 6-5 win over Norway on Thursday at the world hockey championship.

Crows coach Matthew Nicks has conceded that his side needs a couple of big scalps to rediscover belief in what remains a frustrating Adelaide season.

A thousand lucky New Yorkers will get to experience the World Cup at MLS prices, first-year Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced Thursday. Critics and supporters were left divided.

United States center back Chris Richards tore ligaments in his ankle, Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner said Thursday, three weeks before the start of the World Cup.The 26-year-old Richards went down in the second half of Palaces 2-2 draw with Brentford on Sunday in the Premier League. He could return for the UEFA Conference League final next Wednesday against Rayo Vallecano in Leipzig.He tore, I think, two ligaments in his ankle, Glasner said Thursday after confirming that Richards would sit out Sundays season finale against Arsenal. Its now 50-50 for him, for us that he can play the (Conference League) final.The injury will be a concern for US coach Mauricio Pochettino, who is days away from announcing his World Cup squad.Its stable, but its quite swollen, and now we have to deal with the swelling, Glasner said. Of course, he needs to get back on the pitch to be available, and it will be really a race against time.He is in from sunrise until sunset having treatments, Glasner added.The World Cup runs from June 11 to July 19 in the U.S., Mexico and Canada.The Americans play in Group D and open against Paraguay on June 12 in Inglewood, California.___AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup

The Texans waived-injured cornerback Ajani Carter.If he clears waivers, Carter will revert to injured reserve.Hes due an $885,000 base salary this season.Carter joined the Texans last season and was primarily on the practice squad. He played in two regular-season games.Carter is a former University of Houston and North Shore player who went undrafted and signed with the Kansas City Chiefs. He played 20 snaps on special teams against Tennessee for 74 percent participation.A Utah State transfer, the 6-foot-2, 200-pound former all-district wide receiver tied for third on the Coogs last year with three pass breakups and allowed one or no catches in six games. He played 453 snaps, 360 on defense and 92 on special teams.At Utah State, he intercepted four passes overall.He had 33 catches for 495 yards and seven touchdowns in high school on a state championship squad, beating Duncanville as part of a 16-0 season. He also played baseball and ran track.Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com

The boys filmed themselves laughing and encouraging each other as they raped two girls in separate attacks.